Hummel Late DML#6321 Smart Kit WIP--Oct 11

Sounds like a good enough story from my end Tony!

It's true that it doesn't take much to polish up the track contact points. If you look closely at photos with good lighting, you'll often see the glint of shiny surfaces even in field/cross-country circumstances.

Satch the marking and paint scheme are from the 2 Pz.Div. 43-44

I've done five other sets of Friuls, most all would say they are too rusty looking just like you see in the picture. I would alway lightly sand the contact high spots.

So on this set I gave a more used look to just one side, the other side is still rusty looking so i've only got to correct one side. I've worked around a lot of heavy tracked construction equipment over the years laying telephone cable around the country, mostly on the shoulder and right of way of the road or cross country.

Rock free top soil will polish up the tracks just like sand or gravel will over time. I've seen pallets of new tracks brought on the job site that looked just like the rusty ones if they were not painted from the factory.

I've never been any where near a real tank so all i've had to go by is the above experience.

Bill that base is just something I threw together to take pictures on. Made from a wall plaque and kitty litter. You know I was sitting here last night looking at that picture before you posted to see if I needed to make any adjustments and noticed that the driver couldn't see out unless that scope was removed. I thought well it's just sitting there and the view port is open to get some ventilationand then along comes eagle eye WildBill.

That's my story and i'm stickin to it.                                                                                         Tony the Mutt

Do you have an historical context for this?  IE unit, location, time frame?  I'm in a hotel so I can't look up your markings but I recognize the divisional insignia.  Just can't put my finger on it.

As for the tracks, the newness can be accounted for in many ways.  Could be a road march, could be hard surface cross country, or could be new tracks for a veteran vehicle.  Who's to say?

Getting closer to the finish line with this one Tony! The choice of gravel for the base is an interesting one, any particular reason for that out of curiosity?

I also noticed (and sorry I didn't catch this before) that you've got the driver's visor posed in the open position but have left the armored glass block in position. These were detachable and when the visor was open the block was removed...otherwise the driver couldn't really see out the opening in the front plate. Not sure if that's something you can address at this stage or not.

Tony--really cool unique camo there!

I have to say that, IMO, I think the tracks look way too "new" now. They reallly looked "real" to me in the previous photo before you went all shiny with them. Of course, if the vehicle were traveling in gravel like that base you have there, they might just shine up a bit more than normal, from wear. But I"m not sure if they may be too bright now?

About ready to head for the finish line. All the hardware is installed and all it needs is to let it dry for another day or two then apply the flat coat and start on the chalks and pigments.

So don't go away just yet.                                                                                                        Tony the Mutt

Thanks everyone I kinda thought that I should stop right there.

Thanks for coming by and taking the time to tell me what you think.                                                Tony the Mutt

Wow Tony, the tracks look AWSOME!.

Bob

Briliant work on the tracks there Tony.

Terry.

Phase 3 track progress.

Is this any better? Never been around a real tank in my life just heavy tracked construction equipment. So what do you think?

Tony the Mutt

The toot was my pleasure guys.

I use the same oils IB with Terpenoid(blue label) as thinner. My mix:I'll start out with say a BB size ball of oil to about a teaspoon or so of thinner. If to weak a little more oil and if to strong a little more thinner. Keep it stirred up because this stuff separates quickly.

I can tell you right now I bet that brush is germ free.

As for the rain I would but the jet stream is not in your favor my friend. Besides they would have to change the words to the song and it just wouldn't be the same.

See You Guys Later                                                                                                               Tony the Mutt

mutt,

Great tutorial on the tracks. If I ever use Friuls I will use this process.

Item of note....PLEASE tell me that the toothbrush you used is not in your toothbrush holder?

I definitely like the "Burnt Sienna" oil wash you did on the tracks. I am going do this on my Sturm.

What was the mix that you used? I use Windsor Newton Oils.

As for the rain...sent it my way.

Nice shoes, Tony, this is going to be a nice ride.

Thanks for the black-track write up, I wondered how it would compare, seems like it's worth a shot.

Bill 

Yeah Andy it is for metal tracks only i'm afraid and I appreciate your comments too.

Rob I think you'll like it if you try it and Thanks again for your "At a Boy" as well.

Tony the Mutt

PS: Oooops almost missed you Bill and Thanks as always your approval goes a long way.

Wow those are awesome looking tracks Tony, I might get me a bottle or two of that stuff. Thanks for posting a step by step on the use of the stuff.

Rob

Rain Rain go away Please.

How's it going everybody? Got a little something to show you. Here are the tracks after one coat of Burnt Sienna oil wash for the rust effect and a couple of coats of a weaker mix Raw Umber oil wash to take the edge off the Sienna.

After I finish the weathering on the Hummel i'll use my chalks or pigment to match it on the tracks.

Well that's it for today and Thanks                                                                                             Tony the Mutt

OK I told everyone I was going to try "Black4Tracks" from TankRats AFVdepot on my Friuls instead of "Blacken It" this time. I've used Blacken It on five sets of tracks and each time after a long soak,tooth brushing and every degreaser known to me the tracks were always covered with silver spots on the detail side. I would cover these with  heavy applications of umber oil washes. It was no big deal it just took a lot of extra drying time between coats.

Then a new product hits the market and I figured what the heck nothing ventured nothing gained so I ordered a bottle. The tracks for the Hummel would be a good test because of the very small details deep down inbetween the treads. So without farther ado lets do it.

Tank Rat told me to just degrease with a dish washing liquid like Joy,no reason to get exotic so I did just that and I also used my old tooth brush to scrub them down front and back,rinsed and used the wife hair drier until good and dry.

Useing a small container I poured all but about an ounce over the tracks and swished it around a little. After they begain to blacken I took them out and placed them on that blue lid you saw earlier. I dipped my tooth brush in the solution and scrubbed them down again front and back to make sure all the details were exposed to the Black4Track and put them back in the container for an another minute or so.

To stop the chemical reaction and neutralize the acid I mixed a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water in advance so it would be ready and soaked the tracks in it for a few minutes. Did the tooth brush routine and then rinsed the tracks in running water. Hair drier time again till dry.

And here are the results after maybe thirty to forty five minutes total woking time. There are a few silver spot in the deep and very small detail but nothing that a normal oil wash won't cover with one coat.

Tank Rat you've made a believer out of me your "Black4Tracks" at least for me,is a much better product for the job it does on FriulModel tracks.

This review or test was not solicited by Tank Rat or his company and i've not received any compensation  nor do I expect any.

Now I can finish in a day what used to take three or four.                                                           Tony the Mutt 

Thanks Greg that would be interesting to see.

Going in there and test out that Black4Tracks by Tank Rat,i'll keep you posted.                                Tony the Mutt

WOW and Good Morning to all you wonderful people.

What an unexpected surprise to find all the "At a Boy" post. I was expecting to have someone say the poles shine like a diamond in a goats butt since they are so garish. So you guys don't think they are to bright and need to be toned down any?

Thanks Bill for the explanation because I was not just real sure how they were used. Good ole Redlegs gave me a lesson on their use over on his post and I Thank him for that.

Thanks for those great compliments                                                                                          Tony the Mutt

wbill76 wrote:

Nice work on the poles Tony, you've got the pattern down perfect for them!

I agree; perfect.

Most impressive, Tony.  You've really stepped up your game.

Rick