For the base I used a native wood base donated by one artisan last year.

For the final touch, a Rising Sun flag printed in high quality paper, cut and trimmed.

And here the final result!

                        
First rate, TOP quality build.........

Beautifully done.

Just stunning, love what you've done here. And love that you can take the top off to show all the extra work you did on the engine and interior.

Your weathering is top-notch. Just an all-around excellent build.

Well the kit is finally done, only the wooden base is pending. I present you my version of the Japanese FT-17 Trainer tank during the 1929-1940 period more or less, using the Takom 1/16 FT-17 Renault. Hope you have enjoy the ride like I did.

Wow!  The front wheels were wood?!?  I didn't know that. 

Awesome work!

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

That's just plain out cool. I love how those wooden front wheels came out. 

Now 2 pictures of the full kit, still in progress, but almost done. Need some micro-detailing here and there and the base.

thank you guys for all the great comments! I really appreciate it! I just finished the main weathering of the tracks & wheels, so I attached it to the hull. Some oils and wet mud also added, but I'm with mixed feelings, probably I make some minor changes to the actual mud effect. More to come!

Beautiful work.

 

  MARVELOUS!

Wow, that's some sharp work! 

here is the progress on the tracks too, still in half-stage of weathering process, more details to come.

Also the side with the Kanji

Detailing of the layers of dust, dry and wet mud in process using the whole line of Dust & Mud from Ammo.

Starting the initial dust using a mix of Tamiya Buff, Deck Tan and Flat earth. Still a long way to go.

Here some practice of the Kanji before applying it. Some retouches to the wheels, installed as well but not glued, only for fitting purposes. Also painted with a tamiya flat earth xf-52 the tracks to initiate a more weathered look.

For the base color I was looking for a inital color use in japanese war machines, Steven Zaloga have some articles about the theme, and also found some more inf here (http://matadormodels.co.uk/tank_museum/xcamo_ww2japan.htm)

So after a research I decided to go with a very light Olive Drab. So I use the Color Modulation set from AMMO for the task.

Here the results using the Basic Highlight Olive Drab.

I ordered the resin to cast the wheels, but while waiting I wanted to experiment a bit painting the wood grain and see the results.

Started imitating the lines using a fine brush and Tamiya Linoneum deck brown xf-79,

Then I sealed using satin varnish so I can start with the first wash using black very diluted.

Here I experiment using filters of yellow and brown applied by brush, then another thinned black wash, and painted the metal parts.

I'm really enjoying this wip.  Very nice work!                        gk

Following my previous work on a Sherman howitzer, I wanted to start the kit in Black & White too. This help me a lot to know were I'm going with the painting and weathering of the kit.

Here is the First Step of the Black & White process, started in white, then black for deep shadows, they will soften on the next steps, more to come.

I just received the last piece I needed for this work, the resin wheels simulating wood. Thanks Todd Michalak and Inside the Armour for a fantastic piece!

Starting the painting with a white primer, pieces are loose, just put it in position for the picture.

Really nice work 

And gee friggin' whiz those wheels do look like unpainted wood. 

Just a small update.

I remove the numbers from a sprue using a new blade and here is the result after applying it to the track.

More evidence that this fella at some stage of production was used with unpainted wooden wheels.

And another good reference for the Japanese version. Look at the Kanji at the side of the hull.

I'm still thinking in what colors & nation I would paint this fella.

I'm Between a Polish Version I found named "Janka" (take a good look at the wheels, they look like in bare wood)

or a postwar option in Japan under testing. (1919-1930)(type 79 Kogata)

For this one I was thinking to make the wheels in bare wood, and Kanji marking like the one done in militar weapons on that era.

With this Legend I can decifer the type of Equipment . For example here in the gun sight means " Type 44"