OK...It has been a while as work and travel has cut my bench time of late. I finished up some scratch details and the weathering.
First I did some dry brushing with Alclad Steel on the edges especially on the trails where the paint is quickly worn off. Next with the exception of the steel areas, the model received a filter using MIG dark filter for greens. After the filter I used the MIG Dark Wash to highlight some details. Lastly, to give the model that dusty look, I used a mix of MIG Dried Mud, City Dust and European Soil which I lightly dusted on and worked in. Prior to using the pigments the model was coated with MIG pigment set.
The spades which are steel I used a mix of different MIG rust pigments on the edges and around attachments.
Here is an overall view of the completed model
As for the details, the kit does not include the air lines for the brake system. The lines are Verlinden hoses and the connectors are made from .010 sheet punched .059 in diameter with a .030 styrene rod on top with the end cut on a 45 degree angle. The "Chicago" fitting are painted steel and mounted in the stored connection area.
The kit has very nice details but the sight systems are the pits. The kit does not include an elbow telescope (used for direct fire) which is normally mounted on the AG side. Using the end of a spare elbow telescope for a M102, I mounted a 0.120 diameter styrene tube. To create the sun shield I wrapped the end with a strip of PE. The front lens is a MV lens mounted in the tube. The handles and focus is painted Alclad Steel, the eye lens is Alclad Chrome with Future top coat and the eye piece is Tamiya Flat Black
The lanyard is made from wax coated ship riggers string, painted NATO Green. The ball on the end is .040 styrene rod with the ends shaped and the center drilled to allow the string to pass through. The lanyard attachment hook is .026 wire
The brake system has two gages on the right trail. The kit does not include any decals for these so I shrank a picture of the actual gages and printed the decals.
The panoramic telescope is in need of detail. The eye cup is painted flat black and the vision lens on top is Alclad Chrome. The knobs are Alclad Steel. The front surfaces where the readouts are were just a flat surface. I added a small white box where deflection would be read.
Besides the work on the model I finished the basic base.
Next up is position improvement!!! Adding
- Ammunition
- Powder Cans
- Ramming Staff
- Pail for RBC (Rifle Bore Cleaner)
- 5 gallon can of RBC
- Shovel and Pick
- Section Tool chest
- Bore Brush
- Collimator
- Water Cans
- Ammo Cans for fuses and primers
- MRE
Generally all the stuff everybody pack on a vehicle which has to be on the ground for a towed howitzer.
Happy 4th of July to all.
Total hours this update - 9.5 hours
Total hours this overall build - 44.0
Thanks for looking and as always, all comments are welcome.
Rounds Complete!!