Gamera

Mike: Wow! Looks great to me! I think some people do over weather peacetime vehicles, the rain streaks look good, and overall she looks fine for a well-maintained peacetime AFV

i agree it looks really nice. not overly weathered. my modern vehicles tend to be in good shape, no rust or chipping. depending on the location, environmentals are a different thing. motor pool in Germany looks like yours. 1 week in somalia, half the country is on board.

Mike: Wow! Looks great to me! I think some people do over weather peacetime vehicles, the rain streaks look good, and overall she looks fine for a well-maintained peacetime AFV.

I do notice a little silvering on the turret decal on the last photo. Since it's a flat surface you could probably just slice it in a few places and flood it with more decal setting solution or gloss and then recoat it with matte varnish.

Okay, guys, I'm calling this one done! Only a week over the deadline, and that's not bad considering how far over I've been at other times!

I have research photos of AS-90s without an external radio antenna, and photos of them with the driving mirrors dismounted, so I decided to leave off these details. The mast pedestal would have required modification (which the plans fail to mention) and the mirror parts were so incredibly fragile they broke in removing them from the sprue.

I got all the bits that had fallen off remounted, finished up the driving lights and applied that last decal (I shaved off a moulded tie-down so the decal would have a chance of fitting), then gave her a quick touch of dust. I tried some experimental streaking, going to a chalky kind of stain to create contrast against the dark camo -- the jury is out in how effective it was... One day I'll do a round of flat over shiny decals, and I'll bring several models up to date on that count, but at this time I'm all done with this one. I could keep on adding dust, dirt, stains, scratches and such, but the bench is piled high with other projects and I need to declare this one ready for display.

So without further ado, here's the evidence!

Thanks for looking, and it's been an educational build -- I've never used so much PE before (and may never again!)

Cheers, Mike/Thunderbolt379

Okay, this should be my last WIP shot! I identified 11 jobs remaining on the AS-90 and got to six of them today. Here she is right now:

Remaining to do: one last part to reattach (port side smoke discharger that fell off) -- that completes all reattachments/repairs. Fit the headlights and protective grills, fit the driving mirrors, get that last decal on somehow, do the radio mast, give her the dust treatment, and -- if I have the brainpower left for it -- remask and get some clear flat over the decals on the stowage boxes.

At that point, she's done!

Tomorrow -- with any luck!

Mike/TB379

Thunderbolt379

Great to hear -- sometimes we put off jobs that seem like they'll be a PITA, but they work a charm! (And jobs that seem straightforward fight us every step of the way...)

M/TB379

gee sounds like putting of airbrushing, specifically for this build my DANA and an M-1117 4x4. both are base coated and i know i don't paint that badly. BUT TODAY i really stripped down and cleaned my BADGER PATRIOT and dired up my SOLTAR for the first time. that was sweet i see freehand spidey web german camo in the future.

Great to hear -- sometimes we put off jobs that seem like they'll be a PITA, but they work a charm! (And jobs that seem straightforward fight us every step of the way...)

M/TB379

Mike, sounds fantastic! I must admit I still haven't gotten much done- I did paint the chrome on the hydraulic pistons that elevate the gun which I'd been dreading. Shouldn't have, the Alclad chrome worked great.

Progress report, guys -- yesterday I did another major round of wash and drybrush weathering, and yesterday evening I put the decals on, all but for one which is a puzzlement as the space for it to go is very tight indeed, and may call for a detail to be removed for the decal to settle down acceptably.

Today I worked on the sighting unit over the mantlet, preparing some etched parts and getting them, plus the driving mirrors and MG cradle, into NATO green, plus getting the metal upper parts of the rear mudflaps into NATO black. My last job for tonight will be to do some oil wash weathering on the flaps.

Targets for tomorrow: assemble and mount the sight, assemble and mount the MG, with some weathering on the gun itself, fit the headlights and protective grills, fit the mirrors and mudflaps, and paint the indicator lights and whoopee light. If I can do that lot, there's precious little to go, such as reattaching the various parts that have fallen off, making and mounting a radio mast, and doing the dust work.

The decals are glossy, unfortunately, and while those on the lower hull are not too much of an issue, there are four on the turret on angled surfaces which catch the light badly and I'm thinking of carefully masking and applying some clear flat, but that should be the very last task. If I can get my head down to the job tomorrow I might be able to declare this beast finished.

Cheers,

Mike/TB379

Thats kinda what I was thinking, you explained it perfectly. Thanks.

Jibber -- the shinier the finish, the easier the washes are to handle. On a flat finish they will invade the surface and leave a stain you can't remove, and it's recommended that you glosscoat, then finish with a final sealant coat for whatever finish you're after. My first few times, I used them over the low-lustre MM enamel RLM matches, and over Humbrol enamel metallics, and they worked perfectly, though with a hint of staining which, as it happens, enhanced the result as a post-shade around recessed lines. Since then, on aircraft, I've used Microscale Satin as both surface prep and final seal coat, with the washes locked in between, and couldn't be happier with the result.

M/TB379

Wayne that was my thought, how difficult would it be on armor with all the recess areas. I bought the entire set a while back and haven't had time to experiment. I have a couple builds coming up so I'll pick one and try them out. If nothing else I can wash it off.

I do have a question that I meant to ask, should you "seal" the vehicle off before using them. Such as Future or a varnish? Would that help with the clean up?

I would think a sludge wash would be difficult to wipe down, especially around delicate pieces. That being said i might try it on a slab sided vehicle like a ww1 tank.

Mike: Looks terrific so far! The AS-90 is a cool looking SPG and I love the camo job you've done on her.

Garzonh: Congrads on your first badge, watch out they're addictive though!

Terry: I tried the Flory wash on my Crusader and well, it looks pretty good but I think looking at her now I'd have been better off with a regular oil pin wash. Of course your results may be significantly better!

Hey thanks!.... now I have my first one... yeeeeeiii

The badges are on p1, Garzon -- they've been there for a while!

Thanks re the AS-90, it's turning out quite nicely!

M/TB379

Looks very good, and the cammo colors look nice.

Very good built.

By the way, im still waiting on the badge for this GB....

Here's an update -- today I unmasked the turret ring and the front fenders, and unwrapped the barrel from the recuperator job, and did the drybrush profiling on hull and turret. I managed to knock off another bit of etch, which brings me to three to reattach. I wasn't able to get CA today, so it could be a couple of days before I can get to final assembly.

I used Gunship Grey to profile the black areas, and RAF Interior Green to profile the green, I'm never sure how well it shows up, though.

Target for tomorrow: The rear mudflaps need a final bit of airbrushing; begin a second round of oil wash and dot filter weathering, extending to the turret, and possibly more rust, dirt and bare metal work. I could spray the driving mirrors at the same time as the mudflaps; and I must search my bench for the etched sets, which are around here somewhere, as there are a few pieces still to go, including parts for the headlight protectors and a sighting unit. There are two vision ports to be unmasked.

I'll see what I can get to, but with luck I'll be looking at decals the day after.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thanks, I've seen the aircraft guys using them but not so much on armor? I'm going to try them.

Hi Terry -- yep, as Gamera said, it's a paint on, wipe off process. They are clay-based, an ultra-fine grind of pigments suspended in water with a hint of detergent. It settles into recessed lined and dries there, and you wipe away the excess with a faintly moistened cloth, Q-tip or whatever. I've used them on aircraft for the last several years, with excellent results, and while I seal with clearcoats now, the first couple of projects I used them on are not top-coated and the washes are still as perfect now as they day they were done.

M/TB379

Thanks, I need to work with them a bit. I know a lot of guys are liking how its applied and the look they're getting. Seems a little messy but its probable not much different that cleaning up with White Spirit among others.  

Terry, I hope Mike doesn't mind me jumping in here but the Flory washes are 'sludge' washes- you apply them and then wipe away the excess. The oil wash you only apply a little bit and then leave it on. I've used both and they work well but it's a little different technique between them.

Mike thats looking great, I'm really liking the finish. I have a question for you if you don't mind, I have a full set of Florey washes and haven't used them yet. So what makes them any different from oil washes? I use oil washes on almost every build but sometimes its difficult to keep it in the recesses without a lot of clean up when necessary. If I understand them correctly, they can be applied and then easily cleaned away?

Thanks Terry

Mike: Looks good! Still stuck in the same place here- hoping I can get some work done today.

No worries, guys, keep plugging away!

Well, I made some progress today. I did a first round of oil wash weathering plus some drybrushing in enamels, all on the hull. Turret tomorrow... I also did the wash and drybrush work on the tracks and wheels, then mounted same. The tracks are not sealed together as my last tube of CA has gone hard as a rock, they're just press-fit but holding fine. Fresh CA tomorrow, hopefully, and I can reseal three or four etched parts that have parted company. It appears I never posted any shots when I got to the painting stage, apologies for that! The evidence:

The recuperator was sprayed with an acrylic mix, then treated with Micro Satin and Florey wash in the recesses of the concertina structure, and finished with Tamiya XF-86 Clear Flat. The masking has not yet been removed:

And a closer angle:

Target for tomorrow: Unmask the turret ring, unmask and fit mudflaps, continue with wash and drybrush, secure loose items, possibly get to some remaining fine details. I'll do my best to push it along, as I would like to have it finished in a few days.

Thanks for looking,

Mike/TB379

I know what you mean. I did get the M40 sprayed with the dark coat of mud but I still need to do the spade and all the other stuff now.

If I get off my duff, I might finish a model for this GB by September.  Danged job!

Mike, good to hear you're back up and running!

I was hoping to get a little done this weekend but everyone is on vacation so I'm working. Probably won't have a whole lot of energy left for modeling.

No worries. Well, I must have been inspired because I dragged out the plans and the model and reviewed where I'm at, masked up and got a mixed earth shade on the recuperator sleeve, then got a basecoat onto the tracks. I can work up the tracks over the weekend, get a wash into the accordion structure of the sleeve and, if need be, a flat coat over that.

I have the topside MGs to finish, the mud flaps to mount/unmask, the running gear to mount... Possibly respray the NATO black roadwheels because I use that shade for tire black, I'll need to add the 5% gloss I used in the camo so they match. Then there are small details to finalise, drybrushing, oil wash, decals and dust... The headlights need their lenses painted and added, then there are PE protectors to go over them. A couple of prepainted vision ports get unmasked, and if she's looking the part at that point I'd call her done.

Cheers, M/TB379

Thanks Mike, I'll come stumbling across the finish line sometime!