Question about M-7 Priest

Remember, the vehicle had a canvas cover that is not included in the kit. The sides of the hull show the oblong U-shaped canvas supports molded on. The interior is painted the same color as the exterior. The treadplate and other areas inside would show wear and perhaps some mud/dirt in the cracks.

If they have the non-skid walk plates, I'd suggest painting them OD green as you would the exterior and then dry-brush a little steel or other metallic color very lightly to give it that raised non-skid appearance. Through in a bit of dirt/rust etc. to round it out, you should be set with a nice interior weathered look. Haven't built this kit so can't comment for certain on anything else that would benefit it from a weathering perspective.

The floor would show some wear any place the crew walks or stands regularly. There'd also be bare metal where the shell casings hit the floor, specially on an older well used vehicle.

Hi Madda,
I'll go along with the rest. I just wanted to suggest that you use some earth tone pastels (chalk) to replicate the dust that settles in the cracks and crevices, then do the dry brushing on the high wear areas of the floor.
And by the way, Welcome to the Dark Side.
Regards,
Joe

Well, thanks guys! I have several shades of pastels ready to go, and I'll start working on the interior this weekend. Did they have any kind of primer under the green that would peek through as well?

That's a great tip about bare metal where the casings hit. Anyone have any good idea on where that might be exactly? I need to get online and check out reference pics to see if I can spot that area. I don't know all that much about this vehicle except that I really like it.

I think I'd like to do a Sherman Crocodile next, though I may have to start with a regular Sherman, just to get a handle on it. I do rather like building armor.

Madda,

Shells usually eject straight back from the breech block (not perfectly of course) so the general are around that would have scuff marks from shell casings, crew movements, etc.

Anyone know what kind and color of primer they used underneath the od? That'd be very helpful for the wear on the floor and interior, and some of the scratches and dings I plan to put on the outside.

Also, thanks for all your help guys!

Hey Madda,
Don't know about the undercoat, but as far as the floor I'd use a steel or silver to replicate wear of the paint down to bare metal.
I've been around some contuction equipment and if it's heavy wear it does go all the way down to bare metal and seems to have almost a polished look if it's a high wear area.
Regards,
Joe

Take a good look at where the crew members stations are in the vehicle, thats where the heaviest wear is going to be gradually lessening toward the bulkheads. The last M-109 I was in in Vietnam was a maintenance tech's worst nightmare on the flooring in the crew compartment. Lots of shiney worn floor plating with mud, dirt and some fluid stains. This gradually faded to a dirty off-white near the bulkheads, and it was considered to be clean. Bare in mind that this was a closed vehicle. Priest would be open and at the mercy of the elements plus dirt, rust, grim, some litter, etc. Make it dirty but don't go overboard, they still had to pull maintenance on them.

This might help, Maddafinga,




and some more

http://www.missing-lynx.com/library/usa/priest/priest.htm

Thanks guys!! I am developing a pretty good mental picture of what I want to do now. I'll resume work on it this week.