Hi Guys! Well, I am 99% done with this one. I still need to add the antenna, and plan to add some wet mud, but she is pretty much complete otherwise. The individual track links were a real PITA. I set up a jig, complete with an extra sprocket, to build them "off" the tank, but as soon as I tried to move one it fell apart like a jenga game gone wrong. So I proceeded to build them ON the tank, but attachiong them togeht requires so much force I had to more or less break them where the ends attached and just glue the bejesus out of them. Therefore, the tops of the trachs are not "weathered" properly, or painted to appear as bare metal. I'd like to see what is worn and what is not bare metal on the inside of the tracks form the sprockets and road wheels to improve that on future projects. I plan to throw some wet and dry mud on the tracks to cover these things up. I did some chipping weahtering with a sponge and enamels, some wear with a pencil, and some pastels. I also did an oil paint wash, but there seem to be few lines for the washes to get into, and the zimmerit makes things difficult. I might still try to do my first dot filter, but again i think the zimerit complicates things. I used the tamiya aftermarket zimmerit, but I wouldnt do it again. I'll spend the extra $30-40 for a dragon kit that already has it. My complaint about the zimmerit is that it was not "die-cut" and ready to apply, you have to cut around every piece. But all in all, it was a fun project. I made some mistakes, like painting where the barrel comes out of the tank for the coaxial machine gun black, and the lifting points are missing on the turret, I think I over-did the chipping, and I think the extra tracks need more fresh rust, needs more soot by the exhausts, etc. but I had fun!
All comments and criticisms welcome, I aim to improve my skills a little and try new techniques with every build. I just love to build!
Rudy
Before any weathering, tools mounted:
After Mild Weathering, still learning!
