Eric, real nice work on the Hotchkiss so far.

Stik, the UE looks great.  I had that kit in my hand but saw the Bi bis underneath and had to go for it.  I agree with both the graphite and most definitely a good wash too.

tread @ Stickpusher : )

your UE is looking really great... everyone is talking about a light touch of graphite, and I agree, but I also think a nice light wash of black or dark brown ( Van D y k e  brown) would make the track links look more individualized and make them stand out a bit... not a criticism, just a matter of personal taste

great job man ... looks like you will be the first to finish and we still have no badge to award !

tread

So two votes for as is with some graphite highlights added. That is something I have never tried before. If it works like that, this finishing manner is ridiculously simple and speedy for doing indy and link and length tracks. But it may not be suitable for desert vehicles....

Bob,,    sorry to hear about your defunct compressor...   good luck with the replacement.          Have fun at the college visit,,,  don't do any keg-stands!

Looking real good Stik,,,,  I agree with Andy,,  they have a nice dusty look.

Here is another method to use with a #2 or artists graphite pencil.    Rub the pencil (graphite end of course) onto a piece of paper,,,   almost like an artist applies pastel or chalk,   like a 3" square area. Take a tiny, clean makeup sponge (I use these sponges for lots of applications...  they are versatile and very inexpensive).    Rub the sponge onto the graphite and then apply to the tracks.    It is a, sort of, dry brush / sponge method. 

And thanks for the clarification on the Humbrol........

Stik-  Great work on that little machine!   I would only do the light drybrushing of steel on the tracks.  No need to do another coat of dust... it looks good to me unless you want it real dirty.  Instead of drybrushing, I use #2 pencil... worked great for me. 

Awwww shucks guys... thanks...

This morning I applied the second stage, a thinner coat of Raw Sienna airbrushed over the Raw Umber. I really like the final color it gace. Reminds me of the way my HMMV would look in the Balkans.

Ok now, since this is the first time of trying this method of weathering I am considering two different final steps: 1) a light drybrushing of steel on the tracks, then a light overall dusting with pigments, or 2) one more lighter airbrushed dust coat. Or I will just leave it as is... What say all of you?

Nice work so far Stik on the weathering. Looking good!

Then that means I like my steaks "tanked" on the grill.  Hmmm?  Steak?  Gotta run tot he market

correct tread char is for tank

Jc

tigerman

 

Vit13:

 

hello ,

Stick :

        Your UE is fantastic. Very nice.

Tigerman (eric) :

        Well done on your char. What is the paint you used?

 

              

                 Jc

 

 

 

Actually it's the Hotchkiss 39 and she's painted in Model Master Field Drab Acrylic.

Hi Eric  :  ) ..... actually your Hotchkiss 39 is a char as are all French tanks.... as I understand it, Char is the French word for ' tank'  making yours a  ' char Hotchkiss 39'  or Robs a 'char Somua'....

tread

Vit13

hello ,

Stick :

        Your UE is fantastic. Very nice.

Tigerman (eric) :

        Well done on your char. What is the paint you used?

 

              

                 Jc

 

Actually it's the Hotchkiss 39 and she's painted in Model Master Field Drab Acrylic.

Eric: She's looking good, great to see you making so much progress as pressed as you are for time.

SP: Fantastic job, looks like you're almost done! Looking forward to seeing the figures in place.

Hopefully will have photos up by this weekend, been somewhat distracted by trying to finish a P-47 (sorry armour guys)

Hey all-still following this GB (in a state of awe-fantastic work being displayed here....by everyone!)

Still waiting for Squadron to ship my 109E....and to add insult to injury, my air compressor died.  Another one on order but still an annoyance.  Even if the 109 shows up today, due to the lack of a compressor and a college visit scheduled next weekend...our son, not me...best case is a start weekend of 10/30.

Cheers

hello ,

Stick :

        Your UE is fantastic. Very nice.

Tigerman (eric) :

        Well done on your char. What is the paint you used?

                 Jc

That's a cool little thing you have going Stik. Nice job on the lower hull.

tread @ Rob

What can I say dude? .... the Somua is looking so top shelf.. i love it.... it is so strange that the top half of the hull is bolted to the bottom... what do they do ? take it apart to service it.... ( an ignorant but legit question )

I never even heard of a somua before this GB..... what an education I am getting

looking fantastic Rob

tread

tread@ stickpusher :  )

hey man the weathering is looking fantastic...dirty & dusty!

tread

Bill, the Humbrol Matt coat is enamel and comes in a small tin, just like the rest of their enamel line. I stir it thoroughly and mix it with Testors Enamel universal airbrush thinner. That stuff is the best for mixing with any enamels I have found. If you mix at a higher ratio of thinner to Matt coat, there will be no hazing or fogging. But the higher the amount of  Matt coat to Thinner and then fogging can show up. It is a learn as you go item, but once you find what works right, you will swear by it and not use anything else.

Before dinner I began the final painting. I airbrushed on a coat of Testors MM Raw Umber onto the suspension, tracks, lower surfaces and portions of the fenders and other areas likely to have dust/dirt/mud thrown on them by the tracks in use on the UE Carrier and trailer.

As you can see it gives a nice wet dirt color there. Tomorrow I think a layer of Raw Sienna misted on lighter over the Raw Umber....

tread @ Bill212 : )

greatly appreciated man !

tread

tread @ wbill : )

thanks so much man.. greatly appreciated !

tread

Gentlemen,,   Thanks for the kind words on the idler / Friul fix and jerry can assembly...

  I will also echo,,   so much good work going on in this build !

Tread,,,   I am really liking the details....  superb

Stik,,    I also enjoy figure painting,, you have done them great justice. The modern camo scheme looks great!    Also,, the Humbrol Matt....  is it enamel or acrylic?    You stated it dries very flat....  no haze or anything?          My last application of model master flat, seemed to be a bit hazed / fogged.

Rob,,,    the PE stowage box / straps are a great touch. The Somua is coming along nicely

Andy,,    I will put in an order for some more asprins

Marc,,    nice adjustment with sanding down the tracks,,,   saving a load of dough for sure,,  very well done

Gamera,,,    much obliged

wBill,,,    I had an idea those j-cans were meant for the trop version,,,  I couldn't resist putting them together.  And you are right,,  they will come in handy most anyplace

bbrown,,,    appreciate it, thanks

Eric,,    I'll be watching your inclusive paint progress,,,,  all the best with it

Bill

Thanks Stik and Tread. I resprayed the field drab and it seemed to cover a little better today. I poured out some of the thinner that floated to the surface.

I do like the little skid at the back, kind of gives it some character. And yes, those hooks really do pop out don't they?

I hope to start painting the tools tonight. Then, nothing until the weekend.

tread @ Eric : )

Man you son of a gun.... I can't believe you have finished building !!  It looks fantastic !

Ya wanna know the first detail that pops out at my eyes ?..... the tiny lifting hooks

great job man, I love the anti ditch thing on the back... it is so WW I.....dates the technology

congrats again on the new gig... hope it works out well for you : )

tread

tread @ Marc

hey buddy... yeah I had that ref. pic that showed the solid strip on the left side, but I er ugh .. lost it ? ...I guess I will have to put rivets there also.... dam... hurts my eyes

the rivets I am using are cut offs from the spare part box  ...and about the casting numbers... of course they all match perfectly and every individual piece was researched from French archives.... well any way, from my reference, I try to count the number of 'numbers' used in the casting and try my best to duplicate that.. that is to say if a part has 5 numbers,  I use 5 numbers...thats the best I could do

anyhoo... great job sanding down the tracks !....they look excellent.... mine are titanium... to hard to sand down, but I really wish I could ... honest :  )

tread

tread @ Andy :  )

Hi Andy, yes I am using links from Jc, Char francais and every Char link that has something to offer from Google....I also check other modelers offerings on other sites such as Missing Lynx...trackstory o3 is very helpful, but if you really dig, Char francais really has so much more than it appears. 

When you start building, I would be happy to help point you in the right direction if I can

I am anxious to see you start building!  :  )

tread

There is just too much good stuff going on in here... Kudos all the way around!

Tigerman, I am there with you about painting tracks after they are on the vehicle. I have reached that point now...

Here are my increments from today...

A wash of Burnt Umber applied

then cleaned up with a brush dampened with thinner...

And finally a coat of Humbrol Matt Clear airbrushed on... the stuff is absolutely DEAD Flat... I LOVE it!

While it dries I am contemplating how to attack the final painting... the suspension and final weathering...

A couple of updates. I still need to respray the field drab and paint the tracks. First time I ever painted them attached. Gulp. Luckily I have one of them optic visors. The fenders aren't glued in yet. I need to reglue one of the braces to the skid which popped.

It keeps getting better here guys. 

Stik, the figgies are cool. Really like those Gulf ones.

Hope to put up a pic or two, but I have a lot of painting to do.

Hey guys,

As always, some pretty impressive work happening in this GB.

Tread, your build is coming together excellently. I love all the added detail.

Bill, great save on the idler!

Rob, your Somua is superb! Love the paint job thus far. Stik's right - those fruils you added look great.

Stik, add me to the list of people who will shamelessly steal your goggle idea.

OK, as for me, the bench time turned into mostly research time. I am trying to figure out how minimalist I can get away with on the interior. I don't want to go 'whole hog' but I want enough to give an accurate representation. I know that there won't be great visibility through the turret (and I don't intend to leave a door open), but I also don't want to leave out anything that should obviously be there. Ahhh, decisions, decisions....