I don't think it's acrylic, it doesn't smell like it. I haven't tried thinning it, I spray it straight from the bottle and then clean it out of the airbrush with either paint thinner or lacquer thinner.

I haven't used Mr. Surfacer matte yet. I've went though a couple of different brands of matte and none of them seemed to give a reliable matte finish to me. I had some Testor's Model Master acrylic that even went bad in the bottle on me and when sprayed left tiny white specks all over the model. 

Gamera

Funny, I use the Alclad matte finish on everything these days- its the only one I've found that's a good reliable matte finish.

Thank you for your comments. I should give the alclad matte a try. Is it arylic like the aqua gloss? The matte finish I used is Mr. Surfacer matte. It is lacquer based I believe. Certainly not water based.

As for pictures, maybe I'll try flickr or postimage instead but I'm still not sure how to embed the photos in the post.

Cheers,

J

AA: Nice work! Looking forward to seeing her complete. Are you going to put her on a base/small dio? 

Latest status on the BMP-2: build is completed, Ukrainian markings added for the conflict in the Donbass.  All I have left to do now is add some weathering:

TigerII: Looks awesome! I can't read Arabic so it looks right to me. And I like the flag and insignia, adds a spash of colour to the sand camo of the tank.

Nucks: She looks great in the photos. Can't enlarge them since I don't have a Pintest account but I really like what I see. The camo looks really good. She does look kinda shiny in the overhead shot but otherwise I don't see any issues. Funny, I use the Alclad matte finish on everything these days- its the only one I've found that's a good reliable matte finish.

KC: That's neat. Thanks for the walkthough demo of the no-slip coating. Think I'm just going to use what's already on my Abrams but cool that's there's another option out there.

Hello Everyone. I have been locked out of the forum for some time but I'm back. Not too many in progress photos of my Trumpeter 1/72 JGSDF Type 90 MBT build and it is now finished.

Pretty fun little kit. I had some trouble with the finish though. Initial paint job with vallejo model color was really good if I do say so myself but then I hit it with Alclad II Aqua Gloss. I haven't been happy with this stuff unfortunately. You may be able to see in two photos the rough finish it provided. Not the first time I've used it and I didn't get the results I wanted each time. The other finish problem may be the result of decal setting solution but something wrinkled the paint on the left front side of the turret. This is after a coat or two of aqua gloss over the decals. Anyway, here are the pictures.

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/583990276658137973/

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/583990276658508807/

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/583990276658508805/

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/583990276658508775/

It was fun being part of my first group build! Looking forward to the next one.

Well with the holidays over, I finally put together my T-72 and was able to weather it some more. I put my T-72 in Iraqi service. The turret and antenna flags are from Archer Fine Transfers. I had to use decals on the side skirts because somehow; and this never happened before; the transfers I wanted to use somehow pulled the paint off the skirts. I thought I used enough Gloss Coat but the Arabic phrase seems to have silvered a little. The number of this tank is 213. Please don't ask me what the Arabic phrase is saying.  Well I hope everyone likes it, I will be checking out everyone else's builds. There is some great work being done here.

On the Meng Bradley the anti-slip texture is already build on the model so I test painted a part to see how it would show up, you can't make it out enough for my tastes. I then tried the new VMS Hull Tex Air which they said was made for the Bradley. It was easy enough  but required a .05 needle in my airbrush and 60 psi pressure with an air tank and a breathing mask. But it still was not enough.

I cleaned it all off with the VMS Clean Slate then washed the part to be free of any left overs.

I then went to the Hull Tex that is made for the M1A2 Abrams and other tanks. This looks much better to me after painting. It's also simplier to use. No air brush is required. You simply put on the cement on the parts you want the anti-slip to be then you spray the texture straight from the bottle. it will only stick to where you put the cement on.  You want a large scrap piece of paper folded under the parts to catch the extra texture that comes off the model. After putting it on you turn it over and shake the extra off then use a large soft brush to brush off any extra left on. After your though with one part  set it aside and open up the texture bottle top then put the texture back in the bottle. I did the whole Bradley and have enough to do 15-20 more models with the cement and texture.

Here I'm putting on the cement before spraying it with the open texture bottle.

THe paper shown is nothing but a scrape paper to catch the extra texture.

Here is two simpler parts. One is the Meng as comes from the box WITHOUT any texture. The other has the VMS Hull Tex. You can see how much difference it makes.

Now I'm going to start painting and then I'll post some mopre pictures how everything turned out.

Hoorah!!! The missing machine gun has been found! It was in the basement with the airbrush beside some tracks off a completly different tank. How it got there I have no friggin' clue... 

I've done the same with a chrome marker pen. The ribbon is probably better since I don't use the pen that often and they tend to dry up on me. 

That is pretty cool AA 

quote user="Armor_Aficionado"]

Okay, so this is pretty cool: my BMP-2 kit did not include clear plastic parts for the vision ports.  So, what to do?  I go to the local craft store and buy a cheap roll of chrome silver ribbon, paint over it with some Revell clear blue enamel, cut to fit, and presto!

[/quote]

that has been keeping me from finishing a JGSDF vehicle. i will look for some on Monday.

Armor_Aficionado

It‘s going to be a Ukrainian vehicle.

 

Thanks, i am liking that.

Okay, so this is pretty cool: my BMP-2 kit did not include clear plastic parts for the vision ports.  So, what to do?  I go to the local craft store and buy a cheap roll of chrome silver ribbon, paint over it with some Revell clear blue enamel, cut to fit, and presto!

Svenne & AA: Those are coming along great guys!

Here ya go, Wayne; Ammo by MIG makes a six-pack of Ukrainian colors:

AA what colors are you using? i have a BTR-70 i may do in Ukrainian camo unless i get lazy and go with an East German one color just to finish it and move on.

all my PLA armor is 3 color camo. i have not had the patience to try a digital camo pattern yet.

Nice, sorry if you posted this before, but which nationallity of vehicle are you doing.

Thanks, Bish.  Here's the latest update: 

Looks nice AA, like the camo.

Hi AA,

That has worked out quite well for you!

I am not at all happy with the Tamiya XF-26 that I have choosen for the Terminator:

No local supply for the MIG line available.

Could someone  recomend a suitable Vallejo or Tamiya mix?

Svenne

Hi Armor_Aficionado,

That BMP-2 is looking interesting allready, is that a first coat of primer you have on?

Svenne

Hi Ben,

Great job on the STRV 103!

Excellent attention to details;
Love the road lights and that fat turbine exhaust!

Very nice, what is the next GB to move on to?

Svenne

I am in with this one. Either modern Italian (ARIETE or CENTAURO) or French (armored cars or AMX-30B2). given i have variants of some i would be building 2 or 3 simultaneously.

AA: Looks good!!!

Yeah, haven't see Clemens for sometime. Hope he's okay. I guess carry on as usual till he pops back in again.

Initial camo coat on the BMP-2: