Tamiya T-55 Enigma - Done & on the base 8/6

Looking good with the paint on Marc!!  I'm very interested to see how this multi-stage paint set works for you!

Marc:  I think the pictures aren't telling the story.  I hope the effect shows more than the pictures depict.

 I;m afraid it'll all be for nothing once you add washes.  Any chance you can get this to the photo booth and post some more pic's?  I think the workbench and the tools are throwing off the camera.

That first photo is cool, BTW...is there a third color/darker shade to spray deep down in the shadow areas and crevices?

Zerk, Ernest... thanks guys.  Glad you are liking it so far.

Steve, no doubt about it the pictures are not showing all that is going on at each stage.  These were taken with a flash and it washes out some of the variation.  A photo booth may have shown it better but I was concentrating on the paint, not the pics at that point.  Being a bit out of practice it was a bit of a challenge.  

No there isn't a darker color to go into the deep recesses.  That is done in the 1st pic and each subsequent layer covers less and less leaving the deep areas dark.  I can’t go back and retake the photos but did adjust the contrast a bit to make them look a bit brighter.   

I have all 6 steps in a row now for a better comparison.  The last pic is the “Bright” step which pics out the highest point and applied with a brush.  The effect can be seen around the edges of the armor, gun mount, angles part of the fuel tanks etc.

Marc:  Definately better, but I'm sure it's not showing-off the quality of your work!

It looks good!  Sometimes things don't show up too well in pictures.  Can't wait to try color modulation only my panzer soon.  

Thanks Andy.

Keeping the weathering light on this one. Have not has time to take any pics but just finishing the tracks and the mg, and it will be off to the photo booth for the final shot.

I'm ready and waiting for the pictures !

Marc....I love it.....pictures can be deceptive....I get the drift of what you are doing and it is looking good....keep it coming.

Rounds Complete!!

Carl, I'l try not to make you wait too long.  You're gonna get a belly ache eatin' like that.  

Thanks for stopping by Mike and glad you like it so far.

As I said earlier, I wanted to keep the weathering on the lighter side.  Not many Enigma models built but the ones that are seem to be very heavy on the rust.  More like they depict one that has been captured and been sitting for a long time.  

I know the humidity in the desert is not dead zero so thing will rust... but how fast and how much on an operational vehicle.  Need opinions as to whether to add some small chipping along some edges with a bit of rusty(ish) streaking coming down.  But again… not much rain to get those plumes of color running down the vehicle.  Looking at pics online the Iraqi vehicles that weren’t blown to smithereens didn’t look all that beat up.  Long story short (oops… too late) any opinions will be greatly appreciated.

Looks just right Marc,great blog to follow along,thanks for posting

Geez O Geez Marc ;-)    Now the finish is REALLY coming alive ! your welds and all the small detail popping right out ! ... I was kinda worried with all the multiple coats (of top coats) that perhaps something may get lost, but it looks outstanding ! and all the detail is there and it doesn't look muddied up, if ya know what I mean.   You can be proud of this one buddy !  all the extras are paying off dividends now !

great job buddy

tread

Love the way it looks Marc, beautiful work all around!

As to humidity and rusting...humidity is not a prerequisite for rust...exposed steel needs only oxygen to rust...humidity just causes the corrosion (falling apart) to happen quicker. Exposed metal will develop an oxidized (orange to dark brown) surface quickly but won't corrode very fast at all without moisture to carry off the oxidized metal, hence old car wrecks being well preserved in a desert environment structurarlly but still having that deep brown rusted look. Long story short, I think you would see only minimal corrosion depending on how long it's been sitting but any exposed (non-painted) steel would have a rusty appearance quickly if that makes any sense? So if you chip, it would produce rusted accents but minimal rain streaking/corrosion buildup to go with it if you decided to go that route.  

Been following your 'comeback tour' kit - fantastic detialing on this one. Haven't lost your touch after months of abstinence!

wow Marc,great work.Hopefully you'll come friday and bring it so I can see it in person. I'm bringing a Hasegawa 109 I got from you I built,and a Tamyia Tiger also from you...

John

Anthony, thanks.  if you ever build one I hope it's useful.

Tread, thanks buddy.  I was worried too.  I didn't realize that this set are airbrush colors so I thinned them a bit and it went down really really thin.  But all the subsequent apps were out of the bottle and even if they looked heavy... they dried very thin and didn't mock up the details.

Bill, thanks for the compliment.  Beautifully explained.  One of this where ya say. "I knew that" but does no good if ya don't remember it when you need it.

Waikong.  Thanks. i didn't realize this until you said comeback tour but  I usually think of what I am going to start next 4 or 5 time in the middle of what i am working on.  Didn't do that once and now that this is just about done I still haven't.       HELP!

Thanks John.  Likely won't be there Friday.  Speaking of stuff you got from me... I found to kits that I thought were supposed to have been in that pile.  I'll check and let you know.

I like it ...............i like it all !!!! Beautiful model Marc .

Liking part of it would have been good... but all of it... can't ask for more than that.  Thank you.

Hmmm? A glass of red on the deck sounds good just about now.  I accept 

Awesome looking model to add to the collection Marc, congratulations

You bet Marc ..........have a good one

Marc,let me know,also if you ever come across the top of the wings for the Tamyia(grey) 1/48th Zero,hold onto them for me as they weren't in the kit

thanks,

John

WOW!  All of your hard work adding welds really paid off... they look just GREAT!!!

Finished? I think so for what it's worth...can't see anything wrong with it. Moreover, I see alot that is right with it. Awful nice job here, man.

Regards,

Mark

Yeah, make room in the garage!!  You deserve that glass of red on the deck Marc!  The detail work is just outstanding and the faded desert paint job fantastic!  Does Vallejo make any other "Transformation" paint sets?

Very nice Job ! !

Marc...what a convincing job! So glad you came back!!!!!

Thanks so much to everyone for the nice comments

Ernest... not sure if there are other but I would imagine so.  When this product was announced on Armorama  there were a few comments about this being... to keep it nice... not an original idea and looked like a copy of something available from AK Interactive.  have not looked into it though

Hercmech... thanks, good to be back.

wing_nut

...Need opinions as to whether to add some small chipping along some edges with a bit of rusty(ish) streaking coming down...

YES!!!   In addition to  the chipping, consider the boot-rub and hand-grab areas too.  I'd be VERY selective on the rust streaks...one choice spot may set the tone and be enough.

The detailing is spectacular and the paint job came out great!!!   If you do decide to add some rust (dark brownish) in a few choice spots this baby will really pop!  You may also want to dust her up a bit.  A little bit overall and then powder build-up in the nooks and crannies and the back deck, etc.  The dark rust will look even better with the dust contrast.  This is a real gem Marc, nice comeback!!!

Since I was getting into uncharted waters with a modern desert tank and out of practice I had to go to the point when my head said, "Don't over do it."  Sometimes by the time you say that to yourself it's too late.  So with that said... unless there is a tweak or 2 someone can trough out there... I'm done.

I'd say you stopped at just the right place Marc, very nice all around.