Dragon Wagon Update Pics

Thanks Ed ... appreciate the compliment.

Sherm,
got it!
seems so simple now.
thanks.

and i just hopped over from the 'finished' thread.
absolutely stunning!
congratulations on another great build.

ed.

Ed - After paint, after decals, after dull coat after drybrushing and before pastels.
Second last step for me.

Mark - Absolutely, especially around the tips of the rocket tubes. I'd even apply more there myself.

Bill,
just as i suspected: a 'simple' technique that requires a 'test' kit or a leap of faith.
luckily, i have little to risk. i like to try one new thing per build.
even if it does not always work out as planned!
thanks for the pointers. but i have a few more questions.
where does it fit in in the finishing cycle?
obviously, it is after the paint.
but is it after future/clear coat ?
(that would make it easy to fix mistakes,but might not make right visual effect)
over decals?
after flat coat ?

am i making this overly complicated?
pretend my only armor model is half primed and moved off the bench at the moment in favor of some wingy thing. [:0]
now i've done it!
let the heckling begin!

can't be any more dangerous than Chris making cracks about Sheila's pace !!

ed.

QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw QUOTE: it just makes me want one, but then the mrs. would steal it and then I would have to buy another Chris, Get a Dragonwagon for Mrs. Lizard and a FAMO for yourself! (Still have the problem with the $$ and the space, but...) lol Bill

Yea Bill that would be great, but spending as much as a house payment on two kits would'nt go over well with her even if she did get one. Of coarse at the pace she is doing the P-38 , the house will be paid off by the time she's done. O.K. Dave please lock her out of this topic.

Thanks Robert for tips. I like the pencil lead tech. It looks good. Would it work on my Sherman Calliope.
mark956

Re: refrigerated CA - I've had some last up to 18 months by refrigerating it.
No, I don't warm it up to use it, I only keep it in there when it's not in use for any length of time.
If I don't refrigerate, I've had some go bad after only 5 or 6 months.

QUOTE: Robert: You really do keep your ca in the refridgerator? I thought that was urban legend stuff! Do you warm it back up before you use it? How much extra life do you figure it gives you??

You know,

I keep mine in the fridge too. Don't ask me why, I always saw my dad do it and I just followed.

Brian:

QUOTE: Bill, my E-100? Aren't you gonna have yours done soon? You live a little closer to Robert than I do! It would be cool to see all those tires explode under 150 tons of fictional armor, though!

Yeah, right. I've been so sick lately with this cold, flu, or whatever it is that I haven't gotten much modeling done at all. Certainly nothing with any detail level to it. But you're right about one thing, it would be cool to see the explosion! (Do you really think I could make it heavy enough to blow up those rubber tires??? Shipping costs to Canada might be a little prohibitive, though.) Besides, I wouldn't want to mess up any of Robert's beautiful work. (He might force me into a donught buffet!! lol)

Robert:

You really do keep your ca in the refridgerator? I thought that was urban legend stuff! Do you warm it back up before you use it? How much extra life do you figure it gives you??

Bill

You definitely have to be careful when you're invited to a modeller's home for a meal.
Dragon Wagon tires in the freezer, assorted varieties of CA glue in the fridge.

MMMMMMMMMMM .... food that sticks to the ribs.

Eric - PEPSI !!! ....
this is a Coke household I'll have you know !!!

Had lots of spare time over the last couple of days ...... Pics of the finished DW & M36 should be up as early as tonight.

Might actually be a fairly marketable item!

QUOTE: The tires were sanded down after sitting in the freezer for a while (quite a while, I forgot they were there).

That would be something....

Sitting down at Robert's house, he hands you a nice, cool beverage and low and behold, you have a Dragon Wagon Tire floating in your Pepsi!

Thanks for the tips, Robert.
Just good ol' Tamiya OD, straight, eh? That's what I always use, too, but I really like the color you achieved. I'm gonna have to try the lead technique.

You know, I think you already told me your thoughts on the frozen tire sanding in another post! Sorry for the redundant Q.

Bill, my E-100? Aren't you gonna have yours done soon? You live a little closer to Robert than I do!
It would be cool to see all those tires explode under 150 tons of fictional armor, though!

Bill - the tires are rubber but have a seam line right down the middle that needs to be removed. Freezing before sanding cuts down on the amount of time needed to remove the seam. No paint on them at all Bill, they've only been sanded.
The graphite gives a metalic sheen to the finish.

Michael - not worn down but certainly has a weathered look to it in varous spots.

Thanks all for the comments.

Robert, it looks better and better. Looking forward to the finished product! - Ed

Dragon wagon looks brilliant, as expected. though I would have thought the keys on the keyboard in the background might have been ground down a little more by now...

QUOTE: it just makes me want one, but then the mrs. would steal it and then I would have to buy another

Chris,

Get a Dragonwagon for Mrs. Lizard and a FAMO for yourself! (Still have the problem with the $$ and the space, but...) lol

Bill

looks good robert. I never knew you actually got time to model

Robert,


As usual, you have left me with quite an impression. Wow! I think it's all been said above, and I congratulate you on yet another beautiful build. When do you find the time?

Hey, how about putting Brian's E on that baby?? Two huge vehicles together, at the same time! lol

Why did you do the freezing bit on the tires? Are they vinyl? They look very nice. What did you use to paint them? They look a very realistic rubber grey to me. I'd like to get something close to that on my "rubber" tank parts!

One more "stupid" question. What effect does the graphite give you? Is it a somewhat metallic sheen to the parts, or does it look like worn paint down to the bare metal? I've never done graphite myself, but really want to try it.

Thanks for being patient with me.

Bill

Thanks again all for your kind words.

Brian - the base coat is Tamiya's XF-62 O.D. The pencil lead tends to give it a little darker look until the pastels are applied.
The tires were sanded down after sitting in the freezer for a while (quite a while, I forgot they were there). This was the first time I tried this method and I had mixed results. The heat generated by the sanding quickly took away any advantage to freezing the tires so I think the next time I try this I will work the tires in smaller sections and keep cycling them back to the freezer.

Ed - the pencil lead technique is one that I've used for many years and I've always liked the results. What I use is lead from a drafting pencil (something I have left over from a past career). First I grind down the lead and place it into a small container. My first go over the vehicle I use my finger tip for application to the larger more open areas. Just dip the finger in the lead and rub it onto the model. If I pick too much up on my fingertip, I just rub some off on a piece of cardboard. Then I use a small course brush to apply some lead into areas where I can't get my finger. I use a scrubbing action to really make it work. The brush I use is a stencil brush that can be purchased at any Arts & Crafts store. As with any other technique, a little practice on a sample piece goes a long way to getting it to the level that you desire.
Hope this helps a bit.

Robert:
it just keep getting better and better !
ur dragon wagon rules !!!
can i say that my little bro built his first afv last weekend ? and it was ....
a sherman ! and his fave things 2 play with rite now r a boley (1/87 scale)
plastic dragon wagon and a corgi die-cast tank.... which is another sherman !

i find that the best way 2 keep him from playing with my models is 2 get him some similar stuff 2 play with ! and then we have mini-tank battles
before bedtime...
frosty

Hey!

I see you and I work at the same pace ... nothing wrong with that! The project is coming along GREAT! What kind of tank are you going to put on it??

Ron.

Sherm,
amazing work!
it seems the gallery wants you to load her up w/ war prizes tho.

i suspect that the graphite technique is a 'basic' one to the armor gang,
but i am a recent convert to the Dark Side. can you give me a basic run through?

i imagine that you grind the pencil lead to powder.
then you you put it on w/ brush? soft cloth? fingertip? [:0]
any and all?

thanks for the inspiration & information.

ed.

Looking great, Robert!
I love the color. Which OD is it? Something you whipped up yourself, perhaps? I like the darker ODs, which seems like what you've done.

Did you sand all the tires using the "freeze-n-sand" method? Previously, you mentioned it worked a bit. What are your thoughts about it overall? Something you would recommend?

very nice job!! looks like a clean build all round. that said, it is time for some dirt!!

Looks fantastic!

Looks great Robert.
As always....you da man.


Mike

Thank you all for your kind words. It has been a joy to work with this kit, by far the best that I've seen from Tamiya or anyone else for that matter.

MGM - you'll like the pencil lead (graphite) technique once you try it, very easy to work with and great results.

Dwight - Ah yes the great debate, where to stop. I've been on and off as to where to complete this one. Dust her up a bit and call it a day, or get it down and dirty. Decisions, decisions!!! LOL

Dave - I feel honoured to be a member of "Animal's Truck Brigade", junior ranks of course.

I'll keep you all posted as to the progress.

Looks great Sherm,

Alot of stinkin' pieces there !



You said you allready had something for the back ? Or are you going to make one?