1/35 Tamiya JS-2

[Blanketyblank]

 

Hi all,

 

OOB  except for the Fruilmodel tracks. I really need to get a more streamlined process for painting and weathering as a lot of my early steps, such as zenathil highlighting, quickly disappeared under later layers. I lost count how many times I had to reapply washes. I am very happy how it turned out considering it is only my second tank after returning to the hobby.

 

A few wobbles along the way, mainly from issues with matt varnish frosting. I had to throw out bottles of both VMS and W&N galleria matt varnishes because of it. Even a brand new bottle of W&N galleria gave a bit of frosting. In case you are wondering I used both an airbrush and paintbrush; and also used a dehumidifier to get the humidity around 50 and temp at 20 degrees C. Any tips for a good matt varnish would be gratefully received. I don't think my nerves could cope trying to use it again!

 

Thanks

 

Alan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FrancisGL]

Hi Blanketyblank,

For your second model, I think you can be more than happy and proud of the result.
You have fully captured the art-box of the kit, I really like its heavy look, and the figures are also very good, giving it life and a sense of scale.
If I understand you correctly, you didn't want your model to have any shine? If so, I use the AK183 ultra-matt varnish, and in my case it is terribly matt, which I love.
I made a Trumpeter JS-2, although with a satin finish, if you are interested in seeing it, I will give you a link to it, as it is published in the forum.

Cheers

Francis 👍

[IanC]

That's a great model. I love the figures. As for varnish, I really like W&N, but if you want to try something else I've had some success with Vallejo Ultra Matt.

[Blanketyblank]

Thank you both for the kind words and advice. I will try both those varnishes. I have used W&N in the past on aircraft with no issues but am stumped as to what went wrong this time.

 

Francis - I checked out your JS2 and thought it was excellent. Slightly more authentic looking than my lazy effort 

[Matt P]

Great result 👍 and the finish looks just perfect to me.

 

I use Vallejo matt varnish thinned with Tamiya (or equivalent home made) thinners which gives a good matt finish and is probably cheaper than W&N.

[Blanketyblank]

👍 luckily I used a paint mule before the final coat of matt varnish so the issues with W&N and VMS showed up on it first. I used the brand new bottle of W&N for the actual final matt coat and it wasn’t too bad.  However there was a slight bit of frosting in some of the nooks and crannys. 

[Dan_S]

Looks great, lovely finish and nicely weathered - big fan of the Tamiya JS-based kits, I recently finished the JSU-152 and have the JS-2 in the stash. Excellent work on the kit figures too.

 

Shame to hear the VMS varnish gave trouble, I've not had that issue with their matt varnish myself. I've used Ammo Lucky varnish and Vallejo's Mecha varnish to some success, but have personally replaced them all with the VMS range.

 

 

[Blanketyblank]

Thanks Dan.  I have heard nothing but good things about VMS varnish and still have faith in their satin and gloss varnishes. I did shake the living daylights out of the Matt but to no avail.  I will check out the varnishes you mention. Cheers. 
 

I am a fan of the Tamiya JS kits too and still have these in the stash. Another JS-2 to go. 

 

 

[Gav G]

Fantastic build.  For only your 2nd, that's an excellent result.

 

I tried VMS gloss and could not get it to spray decently at all, so you're not the only one.  In fact I've seen similar posts elsewhere.  I'd highly recommend Tamiya XF-86 and Mr Hobby GX113 matt varnishes, both thinned with Mr Color Leveling Thinner.

Edited February 8 by Gav G

[Blanketyblank]

Thanks Gav

 

VMS say that you shouldn’t thin their varnishes to spray but I found them all to far too thick. The matt one is especially gloopy. I used their thinners but still had an issue. 
 

The Mr hobby varnish always gets listed as having no issues. I will add them both to my lengthening list lol. My usual adage is “ If in doubt, buy Tamiya”, but I didn’t know they did a Matt varnish. 👍 I only knew of their Matt base.  
 

I do have a spray booth and a good mask but I only prefer to spray acrylics. I have some Mr Color Thinner 110, which I assume is cellulose thinners. It smells like it would strip the enamel off your teeth! 

[Bullbasket]

That's an excellent model, well painted and weathered, and the figures are first class also. Nice work all round.

 

John.

[Blanketyblank]

Thanks John,

 

While most of my small stash (14kits) is armour, I do have a few aircraft kits. 
 

After the lengthy weathering process on this one I feel I need to lie down in a darkened room for a while, and maybe try a thing with wings next. 

[LeeM]

Excellent model. The finish is superb. What colour did you use on the shackles and tow rope?

Regarding VMS Matt it can be a bit hit and miss. Especially if it has been frozen or a couple of years old. Regarding the VMS Gloss varnish I think there is a reason you don't see it being used on thier website. The claims made for the gloss do not reflect reality. 

Edited February 8 by LeeM

[Blanketyblank]

Thanks Lee,

 

As far as the tow ropes go, I first used diluted pva glue to harden them up, as they are just the string provided in the kit. Then a black primer coat, tamiya XF-56 metallic grey for the wire and ammo atom Russian green for the shackle. I then went to work with a chipping sponge on the shackles using layers of German black brown and AK chocolate. Throw in a dark wash, some dry brushing, tamiya weathering master powders and finally rust and polished metal pigments. 
 

Yeah, my VMS varnishes are a couple of years old. I will give the remaining satin and gloss coats a good test before using them in anger again. 
 

On another note to celebrate finishing the JS-2 I called into my nearest model shop this morning. I am proud to say I didn’t buy another model but got amongst other bits and pieces some Tamiya XF-86 as suggested, as well as TS-80 Matt in a rattle can and some lacquer Matt clear too. I know I said I prefer to spray acrylics but I will give these a try. The shop didn’t have any of the other products mentioned but my usual online shop of the Scale Model Shop should have them. 

[Blanketyblank]

Just noticed there is a label on the spraycan saying not to spray on decals and stickers D’oh!

 

That’s not much use as a final coat! 

[Milan Mynar]

It is really great work.

[Blanketyblank]

Thanks Milan 👍
 

 

[Pete1961]

Nicely done. Weathering looks great!

[Blanketyblank]

Thanks Pete,

 

I think the JS-2 is a proper beast of a tank. I decided a good few years back not to build anything with a black cross or swastika on it for personal reasons so this is as close as I am going to get to a tiger or king tiger 

[StuartH]

Tremendous final result. I love the chipping effects and the figures are spot on too 👏

Great work 👍

[Model Mate]

Excellent work on the JS -the restrained weathering, dirt and chipping are spot on. 
I had a bit of a varnish dilemma myself recently - my conclusion…. Tamiya acrylic sprays really well and looks pretty good, albeit not 100% Matt. For me that’s no bad thing on tanks and planes. Not particularly impressed with Vallejo “ultra Matt” - again, not completely Matt. My old-faithful remains W&N oil based Matt for when I need true Matt (i.e. figures). Sprays nicely and is the only truly Matt varnish I know of.

[Blanketyblank]

Thanks both of you.

 

From what I have read part of what can cause frosting is water; either humidity, dampness or as the solvent.
 

Removing the water from the equation, via the W&N oil based or Tamiya lacquer, will hopefully pay off. The next time I am in my local Hobbycraft store I will pick up some.

 

I am going to need to biggest the paint mule in the world to try out all these varnishes!

[Blanketyblank]

In case anyone is interested, here is the link to the article I used to paint the faces. 

https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/painting-skin-face-basic-level-sbs.124485/

 

I think using the Prussian blue for the 5 o’clock shadow is what brings them alive.

 

 

I put a black dot on top of my paints that are mentioned in the article so I can easily see in future which ones are used for face painting  

[LeeM]

22 hours ago, Blanketyblank said:

Thanks Lee,

 

As far as the tow ropes go, I first used diluted pva glue to harden them up, as they are just the string provided in the kit. Then a black primer coat, tamiya XF-56 metallic grey for the wire and ammo atom Russian green for the shackle. I then went to work with a chipping sponge on the shackles using layers of German black brown and AK chocolate. Throw in a dark wash, some dry brushing, tamiya weathering master powders and finally rust and polished metal pigments. 
 

Yeah, my VMS varnishes are a couple of years old. I will give the remaining satin and gloss coats a good test before using them in anger again. 
 

On another note to celebrate finishing the JS-2 I called into my nearest model shop this morning. I am proud to say I didn’t buy another model but got amongst other bits and pieces some Tamiya XF-86 as suggested, as well as TS-80 Matt in a rattle can and some lacquer Matt clear too. I know I said I prefer to spray acrylics but I will give these a try. The shop didn’t have any of the other products mentioned but my usual online shop of the Scale Model Shop should have them. 

Thanks for the reply regarding the tow ropes.

If trying your VMS again give them a really good shake, apparently the molecules separate over time.🤔

[robgizlu]

Nice tracks and nice grainy textures

Rob