I have to concur on those Tamiya decals Rob. I really like the Cartografs.

BONDO - Thanks for the tips.  Had tried that and did not resolve the problem.  My new brush should be here tomorrow.

Still small details on the hull are being done.  Also have started on the armament.  Building the Vickers was a real tedious thing.  Have also scratch built an ammunition tray.

Almost have the second gun ready for paint.

Markings are now on the hull.

Front has the same.  JACK if your still following, I hope these markings are correct.  This is what your information and my research came up with. 

Figures are complete and will be getting there final wash tonight.

bondoman

My two bits.

I have a Badger 105 which is a great brush, although not set up for fine detail.

I had two Azteks. The flaw is that the spring is in the paint path, and gets gummed up. Unscrew the tip, pull out the spring/ needle/ cap and drop it all into a paper cup. Swill lacquer thinner in there, pull it all apart and wipe down the needle, toothbrush the spring, put it all back together and it works fine.

 

 

More bits

Good tip on the tip cleaning  Once i found out how to do that cleaning process its interesting to see how much gunk builds up in there .

Rob - the markings look good, and I too hope they are correct.  I have no definitive answers and the info is really what the British lads overseas have posted.  More than likely they did follow British protocol, but when looking at period photos of the carriers there are various combinations of markings - some are even devoid of markings on the fenders.   The number 13 is the senior regiment of the brigade.

You should add a gas detection patch.  In Zaloga's book on the 1940 blitzkrieg, they appear in two forms: either as a painted kidney shaped patch, or as a square.  The square is actually the white recognition symbol originating from about October 1939.  The troops in the field usually threw mud over this or applied the yellow green gas paint to conceal this square - just too easy a mark for enemy AT guns.  I have seen photos of carriers having that square on all four sides.

One thing I would like to address are your figures (something I'm more confident and knowledgeable about), in particular their eyes.  Will touch on that later as I"m off to work.

regards,

Jack

JACK - Good to hear the markings look good.  Have seen the gas detection patch on other vehicles but have not on the Carrier.  Where would it be placed on the Carrier?

Look forward to see what you have to say about the figures.  I have much to learn on painting them.  The ones you do are fabulous.  Any advice will be welcomed.

Vickers MG mounted.

Rob , wow! All of the detail you have packed into this little beauty

I like the look and feel of how you have palced and painted everything .. Top Notch modeling

I like that wood slat below the equally cool Vickers MG. Nice.

CARL - Thanks buddy.  Not much left to do now.  Have to put the rest of the gear in, water cans, chain, ammo cans, blanket rolls, and spare wheel.  Good thing is that all of these items are already done and just waiting to be put in.  Just have to finish the last Vickers MG and I am now searching for the appropriate jack to add on the back.  Hope I can find one otherwise might have to scratch one.  It might not go onto its base until next week though.  Had used celluclay and it is still drying   Really do appreciate your comments

ERIC - I think you too.  The wood railing was added on a long time ago but trying to paint it now with everything else on was a bit tedious.  Glad to hear you like it.  Found this wood handrail on all the MK 1A but found it funny that it only went around half of the crew area?  The other half of the vehicle not shown in the picture does not have it, strange.

Good stuff Rob

Regarding anti-gas paint used by the BEF, this is another topic where there isn't much literature devoted to.  Naturally for best advantage it should be applied in an area that is easily seen. In photos of other vehicle types the front top area seems most popular.  One entry states it should be in an area clearly visible to the driver. Colour is usually described as yellow-green, but on the WW2talk forum someone said it was more of a canary yellow.

Taking this into consideration, it is possible these two photos are illustrating just that, but regulations (perhaps from later in the war?) stated the paint should be applied as a blotch to make it less conspicuous, so there goes that supposition.   While writing this I just thought of another possible location, inside the cab.  This could explain why it is difficult to find definite photos of this marking on the carriers.

Or you can skip the vehicle altogether and have the soldiers wearing the anti-gas paint on their left upper arms.

For your figures, you do have a sound base to work from.  Many modelers though have trouble with eyes.  I think we all know what they look like as everyday we see faces, but somewhere along the way they tend to get out of scale.  Tools and technique are the likely culprits.

For the whites mix a hint of blue and just a tad of brown to dull it down. For the iris, yes it is a circular shape, but the eyelids cover the top, and the bottom lid should just be touching the iris.  For this scale even the smallest brush size can make this difficult, so what one has to do is paint in sort of a masking process.  The following diagram from a Shep Paine book better illustrates what I'm trying to say.

Basically you lay down your paint in vertical lines to help keep the eyes centered on the face.  Then you use a skin tone to cut across to give the eye it's size and shape.

Now if you find this too tedious you can try using a very sharp coloured pencil and apply a stab of colour where the iris is.  One thing I hate about very small brushes is they hold so little paint, that by the time you apply it to the surface it has already dried in the bristles.

Only other thing I noticed is avoid dry brushing skin, because it looks, well dry brushed! lol.  If you are using acrylics, an application of straight Tamiya thinner might help tone down the stark contrast.  For both skin shadows and highlights, build up with appropriate coloured washes. 

I hope this helps you as well as anyone else with their figure painting.

regards,

Jack

Hi guys,,   have been "post-non-emous" for a few days,, but have been peekin in as much as possible. I'll get some pics up of the pz command this week (have the whole week off,,,  ahhhhh,,,,).   It is actually coming along ok for the time being.

Eric,,  you did a smashing job on the Hotchkiss. Speaking of smashing,,  to think you had that in mind for a while with it!!         You did an excellent job on it     A+

Terry,,  will be watching for the B1

Greg,, the pz II is coming right along....  great kit / great choice

Wbill,,  your updates are always great reads,,,  a veritable "how-to" of the build. The pz IV is looking sweet. Oh and thanks for the 222 info,,   will keep that in the library.

Kveld,,    super job on the details. Will be watching for more.

Boyd,,  the 222 is looking good. One of my favorite kits,,,  Your details are vunderbar,,   can't imagine being jammed in there in a combat situation,, yikes!      As far as details go,  ,   I would have never guessed left side or right side.  

Rob,,,  that carrier is awesome. You certainly have applied a generous "detail-dousing" on it. I am really looking forward to a photo walkaround on it. I want to see all the bits on the inside too.   ....    Seriously, an excellent job!

Jack,, thanks for the info on that one too,,  more info for the library.

Rob, adding all the details is making this little carrier really come alive. You've outdone yourself on this one!

BaBill, thanks for the kind words, much appreciated! Just a minor correction, it's a Pz IV and not a III...I have the III-E in the stash and contemplated doing it but the IV-C won out instead. My pleasure on the 222 info.

{{{ Boing! }}}      absolutely right Bill,, not sure what I was thinking....   pz IV (had to correct the post too),,

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas,,  and kit filled New Year too!

BaBill212

{{{ Boing! }}}      absolutely right Bill,, not sure what I was thinking....   pz IV (had to correct the post too),,

 

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas,,  and kit filled New Year too!

Thanks Bill and Merry Christmas to you and the rest of our model building friends .

JACK - Again great information and will try my best to put those eye techniques to use specially on my next upcoming build My next build plan on having 10 - 15 figures and your info will be very valuable. Believe to master these eyes it will just be a "practice makes perfect" approach. Now the problem with the skin tone. Am using enamels for the whole process of painting and blending the colors is the problem. Trying to wash / blend the colors with any type of thinner is only resulting in removing all the paint in spots. Is there a good way of blending the colors using enamels? Would like to get a set of the Vallejo paints to do figures with.  These paints seem to be the way to go with figures from looking at everyone's work here on the forums.  That may be awhile to get the paints, recovering after the holidays but they are on my next to get list.

I think you may be on to something with the gas detection paint being on the inside of the Carriers, never thought of that.  Had a nice link showing the Canadian markings / locations on vehicles.  It also went over the gas detection paint, color, and location.  For the detection paint on the Carriers though, it did not show.  Was trying to find what I did with the link but cannot find it now  Believe I will leave this detail off.  If I would have thought about putting it on the inside when the Carrier was still in pieces, would have put it on.  OH well.  Great idea though for the next time I build one of these Carriers (will be building a MK II in future).

BILL212 - Thanks my friend.  The walk around is not much further off.  Have finally found a jack for it so that may be the last piece before final weathering...maybe.

WBILL - Thanks for that nice complement.  Tell you, with this one much of the time was sitting scratching the head trying to figure "what next"?

Wanted to show what the last MG looked like before tucking it down in place inside the Carrier.  As y'all can see, gave it a different mount and a T&E.

Could of had the MG installed in the Carrier by now but there was a very nice interruption.  There was a knock at the door and there was the mailman handing me this

Looks better than I could imagine but have not tried it out yet.  Just been sitting here holding it

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone

Thanks Rob you havea good one also my friend

Looks like your off to a good start for some your Christmas with the new air brush getting there today .

Just think, when all of you wake there will be new fresh sprue under the tree just waiting for you

Did little work on the rear stowage.  Thought would show a close up of these parts before they were buried.

Jack

Wood planks, 2 x 4

Now some of the gear put in place

Also got that other Vickers mounted in the front.  Pics soon to come.

Keep pressing on Rob. She's gorgeous.

Man, I need to get back to building. I never finish a GB so quickly. Perhaps after the New Year. Yeah, need to break open a kit, just don't know whcih one.

Merry Christmas Rob and to all in the GB.

Would really like too see you build another   You must have something in the stash?  Still have two months to finish one, plenty of time.

You to have a very Merry Christmas Eric

Actually, I don't have much. Nothing Allied and maybe just a Pz II. I need big tracks after that little H-39.

Rob - stunning work on that little carrier.

Enamels you say for figures - it's no wonder you are having problems.   Acrylics are very  popular for figure painting because they are more forgiving, less smell, particularly as they can be thinned and brushes cleaned with plain water when changing colours.  They do dry quick (as do enamels) so some still prefer oils for skin tones.

If you have some kind of desert colour in acrylic, this can be laid down as a base coat for the enamels.  Although not the go to technique, both enamels and acrylics can be blended, but it has to be done quick and with the fewest of brush strokes as you do risk lifting the previous layer.  Washes work well with acrylics, but often disasterous with enamels. 

The method of obtaining a tonel change, for a given colour, is to apply successive layers of paint that gradually get lighter or darker.  Best visual I can think of something like a contour map.  The edges are not blended into one another.  Instead the human eye compensates for this and sees it as a gradual change in tone.   Hope this helps.

-Merry Christmas everyone-

regards,
Jack

Rob,,   those tools and stowage look great. You certainly have a knack.      I'll be looking forward to the walk-around photos....                 Nice airbrush too,,,   you have to be on the "nice" list my friend..... 

Speaking of nice,, I hope everyone has a nice day.

Not to belabor a point,   but, Merry Christmas to you All

Hey guys, Merry Christmas to you one and all!

Rob, I know I keep saying the same thing - but really sharp work there!

Eric: Maybe pull out a 'comfort zone' kit - something mainstream and simple like a Sherman or Tiger? You said you don't have any Allied tanks but something in that area - just something simple and straight forward.

Gamera

Hey guys, Merry Christmas to you one and all!

Rob, I know I keep saying the same thing - but really sharp work there!

Eric: Maybe pull out a 'comfort zone' kit - something mainstream and simple like a Sherman or Tiger? You said you don't have any Allied tanks but something in that area - just something simple and straight forward.

I have a Pershing, but it wouldn't work for this GB.

I do have a Tiger I and I was thinking of doing it next. I also looked at the Semovente and thought it might be cool, but I'm having trouble finding a AM barrel.

JACK - Thanks, will try the layers for now.  Understand what you are explaining but will have to see if can put it in a good working practice.  Will pick up or order some acrylic paints as soon as I can.

BILL212, CLIFF - Thanks guys, much appreciated

ERIC - If you feel like doing something big that Pershing or Tiger sounds good to me.  I think Pershing.  Don't start something just for this GB and have to struggle through it.  Your very well done H39 can easily hold your place for this GB.  Thats my opinion anyway.

Rob , i'm in agreement ,reat loooking stowage and tools .

That hydraulic jack looks familiar ...............................like one in the Italeri field work shop kit maybe ?

Had time to try out the new A.B. yet ?

Ha!  Was wondering if you would recognize that jack.  Thats where it's from.  I did cut off and then cut down the length of the cylinder then glued it back on.  Thought it was way to high up for being in stowage.

No, still have not tried the AB.  Was going to but figured would use some patience and finish this Carrier up first.  Afraid if I take the AB out and set up, could led to wanting to spray something like a new hull or something like that   Been wanting that AB since have seen all the reviews some time back but will try to wait....it's hard too...must try....

Well maybe you can break it in on the Semper Fi G.B.  Rob ..........................

Eric: Oh, what I meant was just build something simple and classic like a Sherman or Tiger as Rob said it wouldn't have to be part of this GB or any GB for that matter. Just something to recharge your batteries.

Anyway here are a few photos of the Char B1. Please excuse the clutter. She still needs another coat of matt finish and a few other things. I'll see about posting a photo of the crew when I get their eyes painted a little better! And those darn tracks, they're too loose, but if I take a link out they don't fit, I think I may have slathered a little too much mud on the running gear...