My First Model!

Tiger AusfE

I am avidly reading books now […]

Anywho, I got myself a Model, it is the Tamiya T34/76ChTz version and I am wanting to do a good Winter version.

If you can lay paw on elements …in combat! 2 FROZEN HELL, it’s a treasure trove of winter war modelling techniques. My favorite: Jonas Dahlberg’s Breaking the ice, a T-26 coming to grief in a frozen river crossing.

As for your first build: Congratulations on hitting the jackpot there buddy Tamyia's T34s are real easy and troublefree kits that look really good as well.

And the painting... Don't sweat it. As stated there is alot of talk going on about what the correct shade is for russian armor green. Simple answer: there is no "correct" shade as every factory seems to have used a different shade. If it looks right to your eye, it probably is

I must say i admire your enthousiasm and ofcourse you are planning stuff in your head on how you want your armor to look really rusty and dirty.

For starters and to have max results with minimal effort and cost you can look into two things:

1. The tamyia weathering sets are cheap but invaluable to get great results with minimal fuss. They are little make up like boxes with an applicator stick you would think your wife would use. Just remind her it is not for her eyes

2. Starting out the weathering business myself i bought a set of watercolors in squeeze tubes. They make for really easy to make and apply/ remove washes. One little blob in a cup together with a good splash of water and a drop of detergent and you are ready to go. Really cheap, really easy and a great way to mess around with weathering techniques. Remember that a wash is more about colored water rather than dilluted paint. Plenty of water!

For a one color russian armor build you can use the aircans, i did so myself before investing in a compressor but it has it's drawbacks as pointed out. Putting the aircan in a bucket of hand warm water does help prevent the aircan from going too cold. 

Hope this helps you start out..... But most of all i'd like to emphasize the importance of having fun at first without concerning yourself too much with techniques and methods. Ambition is great but you dont want to be dissapointed after a first attempt fails because you wanted too much too fast.

Richard

That little air can is going to be nightmarish for starting out, you'll get a lot of splatter with it. I'm going to echo Doog on rattle spray cans, it's perfect to start out (I still do a lot of stuff with a rattle can). Russian green seems to be up to the modeler, there seems to be a lot of differing opinions. Tamiya makes a dark olive drab in a rattle can (make sure it's Dark OD, the also make a normal OD), I used it on an SU-85 a couple of months back and I thought it was a good match for something Soviet. I suggest that, it's worth the 6 bucks, you don't want to get frustrated with your first kit because those air cans were designed by the devil. Just go light with that paint, you can always spray more, but getting it off is not fun.

As for a solution to those little cans, I use a normal compressor with a regulator and a reservoir. Same thing I hook a nailgun up to, I just swapped connections. Granted, not everyone has one of those on hand... but if you do, it works fine. Other than that I know next to nothing about hobbyist compressors, so let's see what everyone else has to say.

Thanks Doogs!

I have bought myself a simple airbrush today, it is one that connects to a can of air. Should be good for a beginner?

I have put on the wheels, but will be able to take them off as they are kept on with poly caps. I have decided to follow the xamples of the pictures above, do all the basic stuff, then spray black and then green and then build up from there. Still tempted to do the whitewash thing I watched an example of it on Youtube and it does seem fairly straight forward to do! (He says through fear induced shivers) 

You guys were all right, it is fun! I really enjoyed watching it come into shape and take form. I saw in a picture that most T34 do not have the front mudguards so I have taken these off! I will start up a thread and call it "The first T34 and put pics of it up!

I am also thinking of hand painting the Russian Slogan on it myself! I found a website with Russian propaganda slogans on it, and thought rather than use the transfers that come with the model I could hand paint my own! I will practice with card first off!

I will echo Doogs when it comes to painting with Tamiya, it can be a pain. An airbrush can be pricey, and being so new to the hobby, i would advise against one until you a certain this hobby is for you, and it ain't going to drive you mad. The spray can's might be a good option for now.

Welcome aboard! 

I've got a ton of thoughts for you, as someone relatively new to armor (built a handful as a kid...currently on armor #4 since coming back to the hobby). But the coffee is still kicking in, so please excuse any terseness! 

First - good choice of kit. Most Tamiya armor is about as slam-together as  you can get. I started back into armor with Tamiya's M4 Early Production and built the thing in a single night.

Second - I'd rethink the winter scheme - for now. Whitewash can be tricky, and there are all kinds of different methods. But for a first build, good old Russian armor green is pretty hard to beat for simplicity.

Third - Tamiya paints (assuming you've got the acrylics) suck for brush painting. It CAN be done, but I can barely do it and I'd hate to inflict it on somebody just starting out. I'm going to assume you don't have an airbrush, so that leaves two choices - brush painting or spraypainting. Both will work. Not sure who makes a Russian armor green-ish color in spray form. For brush paint, Vallejo is my definite favorite. 

Fourth - Everyone does the build/paint thing differently. I like to build as much of the vehicle as I can and paint that. Leaving things like the tracks, wheels, wood pioneer tools, etc, off until later. For a beginner, I'd suggest prime it, then put color on it, but as you progress you can do darker base coats, shading, and other fun things.

Here's about how far I go before priming, if you want some visual examples!

For weathering, oh man. Where to even begin? There's drybrushing. Pastels and pigments. Oils. Dot filtering. Streaks and stains. Filter washes. Pin washes. The hairspray technique. Mud. Snow. Rain. T-34s saw EVERYTHING, so I think your best bet is figuring out what you'd like to do, how weathered you want to make it, then draw suggestions on how to do that.

Best of luck - it's a very rewarding hobby to have, and a new face in the forums is always welcome! 

P.S. - As one who just returned to modeling last year, I can say that nothing, NOTHING, has done more to elevate my game than hanging out here and seeing/reading what others are doing.

A book I recommend to starting Armor builders is "how to Build Realistic Tanks and Artillery" by Kalmbach Publishing.  Good basic tutorial on basic techniques and tools.  Ample pictures guide you along the way.  Easily available at most hobby shops, too.

Welcome!

I've only been into modelling for just over 2 years but have been a WWI / WWI & Vietnam hobby historian since Middle School so have come into the hobby with at least a little bit of knowledge on the subject of armour, weapons and uniforms etc. This has helped but the guys on here have been great - they made me feel right at home (being a Brit you never know how you'll fit in ) but these guys have taught me so much in the last two years you wouldn't believe it.

First off I'd say decide what scale you want to start in. Personally I'd say 1/35 as it's a little bigger and definately (in most cases) easier to model and paint/detail than a 1/48 or a 1/72 smaller piece.

The Tamiya 1/35 range is a good place to start. Straightforward builds and simple, easy to follow instructions.

Have you decided what you want to model? Modern armour, WWII armour, 'Nam Armour etc or are we mixing it up? Personally I only model WWII German and Allied leaning more toward the German stuff.

I certainly wouldn't worry about painting just yet. I'd be looking at getting my assembly skills honed and move onto painting when you've learned a bit about 'cleanup' and making the tank paintable. Personally I like to build the main tank which is painted as one whole assembly or sub assemblies (turret and hull) and leave off wheels & tracks (if possible )and tools etc to be painted separately.

I think you should make a choice and let us know what takes your interest and believe me - guidance WILL follow! There's some of the best modellers on the planet on here!

Hope this helps and good luck!

Ben  

You were wise to come here, I took up the hobby about a year ago (jumped to armor over the winter) and I've learned a great deal on this forum. Everyone is nice and helpful, so ask questions. I also suggest looking up some basic, if lengthy, tutorials on YouTube. It can be daunting at first, but if the bug bites you you're doomed. I agree with reading some group build topics, it's a great way to pick up a lot of tips.

The best tip I've picked up here is in regards to masking, Silly putty and artist tack, they do wonders.

As for painting, I think this is something you learn by trial and error. I think it comes down to personal preference, you'll probably devise your own paint order (and it can depend on the kit). Just always remember that modeling cement needs bare plastic to melt, it turns into a goopy nightmare on paint. A good, non-fogging, super glue is a life saver when it comes to gluing on paint.

Turns out Bish and I paint armor pretty much exactly the same way, but I know others do it differently.

Welcome aboard from a fellow new guy. While technically I've built models before, it was well before the half-way point of my 37 years on earth.

Take it easy, don't sweat the small stuff, and practice techniques on old plastic pop bottles first.

And post . These guys seem to like pics. (In case you didn't realize)

A good starting point would also be to check out some of the threads in the group build section. These are multiple works in progress from start to finish.

Hello Tiger,,,    first,, welcome to the hobby and the forums!!!

I echo my fellow modelers statements......

You can look into so many of the postings on this site and get some great tips....   or ask some specific questions and you will receive loads of  very knowledgeable replies. Invest in some model "how-to" magazines...   Kalmbach (FSM publisher) has many,,  and there are plenty of them on the market... as well as videos, etc.

Just starting out,,,      be patient,,,    usually it takes time to learn the techniques and to hone your skills.

The main thing is to have FUN.....    don't get discouraged if a few builds don't turn out quite the way you expected. We have ALL had those moments.

Did I mention,, have FUN!?

Enjoy, and don't hesitate to ask questions

Oh,, yes,,  post pics too,,,,  we can all try to help by viewing,,   plus we all like pics!

All the best.........

Bill

Bravo, new Tiger-guy!  Welcome to the plastic habit oops! Hobby.  Yeah. I meant to say HOBBY.

As others have said, there are several approaches one might take.  I'll endorse and recommend any which are FUN for you!

(My first - a very long time ago and a Tamiya kit - was mostly painted as separate bits... some - wheels and the like - on sprues, others sorta scattered around on my work table.  Today, I assemble suspension units and wheels and paint them separately (mostly because of my approach to how to do a wheel... and I use link-tracks almost exclusively...) , and assemble the whole hull and a turret before painting. I sometimes do tools and spare wheels separate so that I get paint onto the hull behind them. It's technique-evolution!)

If I may suggest - you may get the most fun out of building it as a whole - this way you see a model! And after you admire your handy-work for a while (hey, play with it!  There's nothing wrong with pushing the plastic kitty across the table while making "Vrroom, vrrr-room" noises. Really! Even old boys like me do this (but only when my other half and the kids ain't looking!)), go to the paint!

Like has been said before; ask questions, DON'T strive for a masterpiece right of the start-line, don't be afraid to make a mistake, and above all, ENJOY YOURSELF!

Oh, and I'll second or third or whatever - post pictures.  We LIKE pictures!

Bob

welcome first off, dont be afraid to ask questions. secondly the only way to get better is to jump in and start building. Lastly go to modeling websites and look for links that say something like "tips or techniques". i have found alot of really usefull stuff this way.

when i first started, i didnt paint, then i started painting on the sprue and living with the result (i was young) then i started building then painting. Its all personal preference, but you save of paint if you paint after you build, but keep an eye on areas that will be covered when your building and make sure you paint them first.

Unfortunatly, theres no simple answer. Different people build and paint in different ways. Some put everything together and then paint it. I am one of thsoe who build as much as possable that is the tanks colours, exluding things that will get in the way, like road wheel etc. I paint tools, tacks and anything thats a difefrent colour off the kit, often on the sprue. The only way to to start building and to find out whats good for you. This is one of those areas where there is no right and wrong.

How do you get it to look as good as some of the guys on here. Many of the great builders here have been building for years. Now and again someone will come along with a first time build that is a real stunner. But don't try and match what you see on here. At the end of the day this is meant to be fun. The only thing you should compare you build to is your last build, which of course you don't have yet.

be patient, do what feels right for you, and enjoy it.

And o ye, post some pics.

Just get to building,dude!You'll love it.And post pics!We like pics!