Hi guys,
I take it that I'm not the only one who hasn't been able to get onto the site due to maintenance for the last 36 odd hours?
Anyway, an update on my second entry into this GB - my Tamiya 'Leningrad Winter Scheme' Panzer III N:
Yesterday I took the Friuls off and started laying very fine streaks of AK Streaking Grime with a 10/0 brush all the way down the vertical hull walls behind the running gear, the turret walls (a bit lighter around the turret) and up front on the sloping armour. I laid the streaks so they nearly entirely covered the hull walls and front armour then took a bigger, reasonably 'firm' bristled brush just dampened with AK to the streaks and used a motion that MIG calls 'feathering' in his AK DVD to blend the streaks into one whereupon they dry giving a superb effect. I suppose this 'feathering' is what you do when laying an oil-paint dot filter down over a vertical surface and want to bring it all together. I also used some AK 'Winter Streaking Grime' which is a touch greener in colour and adds some tonal variation to the treated surfaces.
After that was done I took my Graphite pencil to the sharp edges and places of wear and gave some hint of bare metal sheen and highlighted the cogs on the drive wheels added a pin wash of MIG 'Dark Wash' using a 5/0 brush the made up a really nicely coloured main wash of W&N Raw Umber Oil Paint Wash. I bottled this up as it was a really nice shade and it can be a messy job making washes up so it will be handy having some, ready-to-go!
Onto the Friuls: I gave these a full covering of my just made Umber Wash, let that dry off then gave the two runs a very light dusting of MIG Track Brown pigment. Finally I took a small flat file to them and filed the raised areas then gently brushed just a gtouch more light Mud Pigment over them.
Finally, I fitted and painted one of my RB 2m Brass German Antennae and added an all over Vallejo Acrylic Matt varnish.
I've got a few little things to do next Saturday like some extra pigment work on the wheels and a general tidy up. The one thing I have to decide on is do I fit the front bar and assemble a length of leftover Winterketten Friuls or do I leave it as it is and just do the tidy up next weekend and post some final completed photos?
Here we go - the weekends work:
Below: Here's where the spare Winterketten links will go if I use them - DO I USE THEM as I love this weathered front end?
Well, that's how she stands guys and I must say that I'm pretty darn pleased with the results of this very enjoyable little build.
The stowage rack was great fun and I'm definately going to be doing more of that again and I really want to start doing some figure work too.
I'd REALLY appreciate it if you guys could let me know what you think re the stowed Winterketten spare links mounted up front? Yes or no?
I had a call from my LHS to say that my Leningrad Winter Scheme Dragon Tiger (kit # 6600) is now in stock and will be my next build and I'll be building it as the big 'Sister' to this build! Luckily it's my Birthday on November 4th and my folks have offered to buy me it for my present! Bonus
Have a great week everyone and take care,
Ben 