Dan, tell your Tiger commander not to shoot that '88, I surrender! Great work and figure
After a surprise trip to the Middle East for work, almost threw me of schedule, I managed to finally complete the little devi just as the deadline expires!
Did not have time to post pics while working, so I make a brief summary.
Decals (number, crosses and that's all) were applied, depicting a tank of 3rd company/8th Panzer Regiment/15th Panzer Division fighting in Tunisia in 1943.
Tracks and wheels were assembled, tracks painted Gunze's steel as a base (that consumed most of the time, those track lengths were tricky as hell to put together) and installed on the vehicle. A heavy wash with black and sienna+umber oils was applied and then oils were carefully brushed off selected areas, so as to provide the surfaces with some depth.
After the wash was dried up (a great thanx to the hot weather) dry-brushing was applied with shades of lightened sand, gun metal and steel.
The various spare tracks, wheels, boxes, etc were attached, painted and dry-brushed.
Exhaust was painted black and then dry brushed with shades of steel and rust.
As a final step I wanted to subtly add some dust. Having in mind the way vehicles and equipment were dusted, from the days I was working in Algeria 's desert, I chose a mix of Tamiyas Desert Yellow + light brown. The mix was thinned heavily and sprayed freely on the tank, with the emphasis on the lower section, wheels and tracks.
I did not add any mud accumulated on the tank's hull, since I remember due to the extreme dryness, vehicles got rather little mud blobs and in 1.72 scale it was betrer not to try it at all. Just a yellow-brownish, irritating layer of eternal dust that never leaves!
Finally several thin layers of Gunze's flat clear sealed everything off.
And my firts tank attempt is finished...
All your comments, criticism and recommedations are highly welcomed