Mike: Nice work there! I built several of the old Dragon 'Imperial Series' kits and thought they were were ok but this Tiger Smart Kit is a cat of a different colour- great fit and detail all around - great kit!

Andy & Tojo: Thanks! I saw the Worn Effect too but figured with the heavy wear you must have been using the 'heavy duty' version. I've got a few of the AK products but I'm going to have to give this a whirl.

Thanks Anthony. Doesn't seem so painful as it does time-consuming.

Streetfightingman, glad you're back in the game. Good looking start. I heard that that is a fine fitting kit.

Armor86,all that AM looks fantastic,the details really make the difference,looking forward to see it dressed up.

Eric,the AK fluid is clear and dries clear,you don't even know its there after it dries.heres the process

Basecoat

Acrylic clear

Chipping fluid

Whitewash

Acrylic clear

Weathering effects and pigments

After you spray the fluid,allow it air dry,then spray the whitewash,allow it to dry for 45 minutes,then apply warm water and then you chip off the whitewash using a q tip,stiff brush or tooth picks,whatever works for you

Mike- Great start.... hate 'em wheels too! 

Gamera

BTW: Is this Heavy Chipping Acrylic Fluid what you guys are referring to here?

Gamera- Yes, but I used 'Worn Effect'.  There's two kinds from AK... I was afraid that 'Heavy Chipping' may cause excessive peeling so I used WE instead.  Still a great product.  I poured just little into my AB, sprayed two coats and it did the trick. 

Over the last few weeks I've been really sick and have had a lot of non-modeling things to do, but I've been getting some bench time here and there, so I've started my Panther G. So far this is the best armor kit I've ever worked on, with crisp detail, near perfect fit, and intelligently planned out construction. I did a quick test fit and I think the hull may fit so fell that, for the first time in my experience, no filler will be needed! I've got the suspension pretty much done, along with a few other bits that are added before the hull gets started, and later this week I'll be getting going on the wheels, my ABSOLUTE favorite part of armor modeling (sarcasm ).

Here's some of my progress so far. It doesn't look like much, but getting the suspension perfectly aligned and cleaned up took a fair amount of time. Once I finish a major assembly I'll take better quality photos with my Canon, but these quick "in progress" pics are just smartphone quality.

I'm really excited to continue on this project, I think it's gonna be pretty great on the shelf. Thanks for looking!

Armor86: Great work there, like Andy's tank it's almost a shame to cover all that PE in paint.

BTW: Is this Heavy Chipping Acrylic Fluid what you guys are referring to here?

Again great work guys.

Question about the AK fluid? Is it kind of like a chalk and scrubs off easy?

Had a moment there after fitting the turret - very close fit ... move the bar / clasp over .... finished fasteners over the tow cable / cleaning rods. Armor 86

jgeratic1

Andy - rose pink sounds fine to me.  I usually just mix a shade on a palette using red, white and a skin tone, and maybe a little brown added if needed.   I'm not familiar what technique you use for painting the figure, but I layer it on gradually, maybe two or three steps, the final one being darkest in regards to the red areas.

Can't remember where I found these (maybe the PlanetFigure forums) but here is a guide for bringing back some warm colour to the face:

regards,

Jack

Jack- Thanks man!  That diagram will be very helpful!  Yes, similar... several layers starting with darkest then now base flesh. Next will be highlight and pink flesh.  Thanks again!

Anothiny-  No kidding about AK products.  I found it a lot easier to use than actual hairspray products.  Wheels look awesome... very realistic! 

RBaer- Your KT looks GREAT  It definitely has seen a lot of action... 

Tojo: That whitewash looks great!

RBaer: Wow, I think you just nailed the war-weary beat-up look.

This one isn't too bad.......

Andy , looking great.

Marc, ditto.

Armor86, whoa, detail city.

I tried to get some better shots today, all too dark, too "flashed" or poorly composed. Will try again tomorrow. Here's one that got the look and colors right, poor composition. Drat.

BTW, I lost one wheel hub, so I whipped out what (I hope) looks like a hub without the dust cover/grease cap and used some gloss black to simulate leaking grease. I've built three KTs now and lost one of these things twice.

I love this AK Chipping Fluid,it really works great.Here are the chipped roadwheels,they still need to be weathered and filtered

Marc: Nice, good to see her with her 'paws' on and ready to roll.

Armor86: Looking good, the tow cables look great.

Andy: Super job there, yeah if these guys are freezing their butts off on the Eastern Front I'd figure they'd be a little flushed. Jack's diagram should be all you need.

Jack that is a great graphic.  Perfectly delineates that areas and colors for a face.  Saved to a file for future ref.

Gamera

Eric: Looks good to me- I like the tiger stripes(hmmm, panther is all black and doesn't have stripes)! I gave mine a light misting with the mustard yellow to dull down the contrast a little.

I don't even try to be too close to perfect anymore. I forgot who it was on the armour forum but I thank them for pointing out that the camo work was done by some guy climbing around on the vehicle with a spray gun so it's not going to be too perfect.

Marc, dang you're almost done with number 3!  Looking splendid.

Armor86 - excellent work with the PE.

Andy - rose pink sounds fine to me.  I usually just mix a shade on a palette using red, white and a skin tone, and maybe a little brown added if needed.   I'm not familiar what technique you use for painting the figure, but I layer it on gradually, maybe two or three steps, the final one being darkest in regards to the red areas.

Can't remember where I found these (maybe the PlanetFigure forums) but here is a guide for bringing back some warm colour to the face:

regards,

Jack

Armor86- Thanks!!! Love all of PE work on your Tiggy too! 

Jack- Glad you like 'em so far.  You read my mind... last 1% is highlighting the flesh, paint lips and cheeks.  Which color would you recommend?  I have Vallejo rose pink which is dark pink.  Thanks for the tip about painting the eyes. 

Greg- Thanks... appreciate it! Meow! 

Andy - Great looking Tiger I!  And figures are awesome .... several outstanding projects ... glad xmas is over - 2nd job took up too much bench time - slowly moving along ... tow cables assembled ... tools next. Armor86 

Marc - Panther is looking the biz!

Andy - winter scheme looks terrific, as do the figures.

If  I may suggest, mix up a watered down red and with a pointed brush apply it over their eyes.  Basically want it to accumulate around the shape of the eyeballs, but particularly pool on inside corners.  Also add some redness to the nose and cheeks.  Mind you, this all might be part of the 1% you indicated still needs attending to.

regards,

Jack

Andy: Gorgeous looking Tiger I!  And those figgies.....are the Cat's meow!!

I apologize for not posting updates... holidays sure has kept me busy.  

Thought I posted an update earlier but I didn't.  Did the heavy chipping with help from AK Worn Effects... please keep in mind I am going for end of winter scheme where most of winter camo has been peeled off after seeing plenty of actions. 

I sprayed mist of same white paint to tone down so the colors blend better. 

And it has tracks on... Friuls. 

And the figures are 99% complete... the Tiger also got decals on too.  Only 3 decals this time... 

Thanks for looking!  

Love the new shoes!!!  Be sure to break them in first or you will get blisters... again beautiful work you are doing and it is your third.  Jeez, I am still working on my first. LOL

Eric, that's a smokin'  hot JP you got there.

Jack, great Spit.

It has its shoes on. Work on the tools should commence this evening.

Eric: Looks good to me- I like the tiger stripes(hmmm, panther is all black and doesn't have stripes)! I gave mine a light misting with the mustard yellow to dull down the contrast a little.

I don't even try to be too close to perfect anymore. I forgot who it was on the armour forum but I thank them for pointing out that the camo work was done by some guy climbing around on the vehicle with a spray gun so it's not going to be too perfect.

Thanks Cliff. I usually respray the camo about 3 times, but I said if I do that, I'll never get this model built!

Eric: I like it! Nice work!

Jack: Gee, I'd known there was some differences in the size of figures but not that much. And BTW great looking Spit!

Thanks Andy.  

I have about half the wheels done and will hopefully finish them up before the weekend. I only have sunday off, so I'll have to rock the late hours this week to meet my goal. Fortunately there aren't many decals to put on, so that should go fairly quickly.

Eric, great job with the camo on your JP!!!

Beautiful Spitfire Jack. I've long wanted to build one.

Quite a noticeable difference in the sizes of the figures. You're off to a great start on it.