I have seen that one, it does almost look too clean. But with all those rings it had to have seen some action. I wasn't around any AFVs when I was in Iraq so I don't have any personal experience to go on.  I'll get a gloss coat and decals put on and then start weathering with a pinwash.  What is the right color to paint the tires on the road wheels?

Ye, the pics do show it in rather good condition, but the inside, especially the floor, ammo racks, rear of the gun etc would defiantly be worn. The area were people climb up and down from the vehicle would be worn, especially along the edges and yes, around the hatch. I did mention this in another thread, so sorry if you read it before, but I drove the same warrior for 6 years, it was never painted, went to Iraq twice, both times having extra armour fitted then removed and probably spent a year of that 6 on exercises, and it wasn't as chipped on the outside as you see some models. And apart from being hit by enemy fire, there's nothing a vehicle in training would not go through that one in combat would.

They do throw up a lot of mud, so you might get the odd chip where a stone may have kit it, but the track guards are quite thin and flexible and absurd most of that. The main thing our use to get covered with from the wheels is mud, which get every where.

One thing to note on the Marder you are doing. Here's a pic which I am sure you have seen. It looks very clean, almost straight out of the factory. But look at the rings on the barrel.

I am doing the Kohlenklau scheme.  From the photos I've seen it doesn't look too heavily weathered, but I figured there'd be more chipping in the fighting compartment from where the crew would be working in battle and probably not being too careful about the paint while loading and firing.  I just wasn't sure if anything would get kicked up in the area behind the road wheels that would scratch the paint up.  I was thinking maybe just a little bit near the driver's hatch since it that area would see a lot of traffic.  But, I'll take any advice I can get, especially from guys like you with a lot of experience.

Some use a small piece of sponge. I use a fine brush and oil paints dry brush it on, then as its oil, I can remove any if its to much.

But just remember, most armour in WW2 was lucky to survive a few months. What we call chipping is mainly the paint being worn from well used areas. It doesn't chip because it drives through a bush. Are you doing the Marder with the face painted on the side.

Thanks Bish. What would be the best way to do the chipping? On nearly all of earlier attempts at it, the chips look like they were obviously painted on. Is there a way to make them look more natural?

Put the decals on before you go any further with the weathering. Not to sure about the springs, from what I can see they are appear to have been painted the base colour.

For chipping around the outside, at most, a little around the drivers hatch or other well worn areas. Maybe a little along the top edge of the fighting compartment.

I've misted dunkelgelb over the camouflage on the Marder, but I'm not sure where to go next.  What color would be best for the springs attached to the roadwheels?  Should I put the decals on before I do the pinwash?  I know there would be some paint chipping in the fighting compartment, but what about on the outside of the vehicle, or where the roadwheels are or underneath?  Sorry for so many questions, but this is my first serious attempt at armor and I don't want to mess it up too bad.

Thanks Bob. I am quite used to PE now and this is a small amount compare to some builds.

I have the fighting compartment painted and have now started weathering, and have also started adding the PE to the outside. I am hoping I can have the inside completed by the end of the weekend, but will get some pics up either way.

silentbob33

First time looking in here in a bit.  That's a lot of metal on there Bish!  That much would be a bit intimidating for me as I've only used it on the Stuka I built for your GB.  Great looking mud Eagle!  I'll have to get some weathering tips from as many people as I can when I get to that stage for my Marder.

Thank you sir!  I love the fact that I learn something different every time I get into a GB!

Eagle90

First time looking in here in a bit.  That's a lot of metal on there Bish!  That much would be a bit intimidating for me as I've only used it on the Stuka I built for your GB.  Great looking mud Eagle!  I'll have to get some weathering tips from as many people as I can when I get to that stage for my Marder.

SchattenSpartan

I really like that muddy look, Eagle! It's looking really stunning for your first attempt at mud!

Thank you sir!  It was a little weird slapping all that on there after doing a good paint job, but man does it make the model!  Thanks again for a great GB!

Eagle90

I added your Nashorn to the front page!

I really like that muddy look, Eagle! It's looking really stunning for your first attempt at mud!

Less mud!?  Just kidding, I see what you mean.  That is yet another technique that I am going to learn to do.  SO much to learn about armour!

Eagle90

Well, I wouldn't quite go that far. A dusty look is often far more common, especially for armour in the east and N Africa.

Bish

SchattenSpartan

Holy moly, Bish, that's a mind boggeling amount of details! You're doing one hell of a job on getting that Tamiya kit completely blinged-out!

Thanks, I just love my PE 

 

Nice work eagle, and defiantly better than my first mudded AFV.

Thank you sir!  It was fun doing it....now ALL my armour will be muddy! 

Eagle90

SchattenSpartan

Holy moly, Bish, that's a mind boggeling amount of details! You're doing one hell of a job on getting that Tamiya kit completely blinged-out!

Thanks, I just love my PE 

Nice work eagle, and defiantly better than my first mudded AFV.

Thank you sir!  I think all my tanks will be "dirty" now!  

Eagle90

Hey wow, very cool Eagle!

Hey everyone!  So, after getting a lot of great advice from everyone on mud, here is my first attempt at it!  I actually had fun doing it!  Messy, but fun.  Thanks for checking it out!

SS, I'm calling her finished.  I'll leave it up to you which pic you'd like to put up.  Thanks for a great GB!

Eagle90

Holy moly, Bish, that's a mind boggeling amount of details! You're doing one hell of a job on getting that Tamiya kit completely blinged-out!

tell me about it. But at least that's over half of the PE added before I even get to the outside.

Wow, that's some detail there Bish!

Sorry for the delay guys. Adding all this PE has taken longer than expected. I do like Aber sets, but they are not easy to follow and I am always worried I have missed something. The most tedious bt was the tops of the ammo bins, each one had to have a buckle attached and then be bent into shape.

I have left the left side off for ease of painting and weathering, but it can be glued from the outside so I shouldn't damage the paint.

Just after I coat this I gave these parts a primer coat, so I should be able to get the DY on tomorrow. While this is all drying I can be getting the gun together. 

I'm still waiting for the AK interactive products, but as soon as I get them, I'll start painting and assembling the interior of my little Hetzer. They should arrive this week, so with a wee bit of luck I can make some progress this weekend.

Thanks everyone! I wish I could take credit for the base. It's been hard to get to the bench this week as school has started and my student are already keeping me busy, but I'm hoping to get back at it soon

Bob, nice work there and I like the look of the base.

Good point. I also really like the look of that Green/Yellow camo. Its not as "special" as those fancy hard-edged schemes and that kinda fits the low silhouette of the Hetzer IMO. I'll go with that one then and try the Hinterhaltstarnung on something else.

SS

The hard edge paint was a PITA to do. The soft edged olivgrun over the dark yellow is much easier and simpler ref the small pe parts.

Bob, that base and radio look really nice. Great find! The MArder itself is coming along very well too!

plasticjunkie

The Fruils are gone look kick a$$ on that Hetzer! I would even keep the side skirt off or leaving one or two on so not to cover them up.

That's the plan! I'm still not sure how I'm going to paint that little TD once it's assembled though. I'm thinking either a soft-edged Dunkelgelb/Olivgrün 2-tone camo or Hinterhaltstarnung....

I got almost all the parts for the interior cleaned up, but I can't assemble anything without painting everything first. I'm still waiting for some paints and weathering products to arrive though...