I tried something I saw in the magazine--adding artificial shadows using the paint. Darker paint on the shadowy areas, lighter paint on the very top surfaces.

That's fine if your lighting is constant and the same on your display area as your paint-bench.. But IMHO, it looks ridiculous when the lighting changes but the "shadows" don't...  One can see the color-bands and it looks like what it is..  Figures need that kind of shading, vehicles don't...

Save that kind of work for shadow-box dioramas...

Bench time is always at a premium these days...glad to see you got some time in and made progress with this one. Nice job on the wheels.

Looking sweet Ms Owl.. ! good job !

I building the same tank.. errr.. sorta.. lol. I'm using the turret for a scratch building project..  did alot of the same things on my turret.. wire handles.. etc..

CallSignOWL

I tried something I saw in the magazine--adding artificial shadows using the paint. Darker paint on the shadowy areas, lighter paint on the very top surfaces. It looks pretty interesting, but I dont know if it was stark enough or if it will show up under the next layers of weathering.

CallSignOwl: If you plan to use washes the contrast has to be dramatic...almost to the point where you say, "wow, I just screwed up my model!"

Progress is better then none.

sheesh! Working two jobs is tough....But I had a day off in between and did some modeling to de-stress

I tried something I saw in the magazine--adding artificial shadows using the paint. Darker paint on the shadowy areas, lighter paint on the very top surfaces. It looks pretty interesting, but I dont know if it was stark enough or if it will show up under the next layers of weathering, etc.

I also used a black marker to color the rubber on the road wheels.

its not much, but its progress!

iraqiwildman

 One thing I noticed that the figure has his helmet on backwards.

does he really? Haha, whoops! I guess he was in too much of a hurry to put it on properly.

Looking good. I built this same kit when getting back into the hobby a few years ago. It went together easy, but the barrell was a pain with the seam and it as bent.

 One thing I noticed that the figure has his helmet on backwards.

Glad ta help, Owl.. 

Just my opinion, but I think that if a modeler had Shep's books in his/her library, it'd be 90% complete in the "How Do I?" section, anyway..

Hans von Hammer

 

 

 

If you're interested, Owl.. Pick up a copy of Shep Paine's, Modeling Tanks and Military Vehicles...  Just as his Diorama book is the bible for dio-builders, that one is great for beginning AND intermediate tread-heads...

http://www.amazon.com/Modeling-Tanks-Military-Vehicles-Shepard/dp/0890240450

(Buy used)

oh, thanks or that link HvH. Ill definitely look into that.

CallSignOWL

Hercmech:

Looking good owl.

Are you finding the build a bit more interesting/less stressful than aircraft?

 

 

its different, thats for sure. I know how aircraft models go together  and at what time to attach which objects. I have to learn all of that for tanks

If you're interested, Owl.. Pick up a copy of Shep Paine's, Modeling Tanks and Military Vehicles...  Just as his Diorama book is the bible for dio-builders, that one is great for beginning AND intermediate tread-heads...

http://www.amazon.com/Modeling-Tanks-Military-Vehicles-Shepard/dp/0890240450

(Buy used)

I guess for me it breaks the rut I get in building aircraft. I hate masking canopies, but road wheels run a close second

Hercmech

Looking good owl.

Are you finding the build a bit more interesting/less stressful than aircraft?

its different, thats for sure. I know how aircraft models go together  and at what time to attach which objects. I have to learn all of that for tanks

Looking good owl.

Are you finding the build a bit more interesting/less stressful than aircraft?

CallSignOWL

Thanks guys. Im having fun with it so far. Its an interesting change for me. I've looked online for other Bulldog builds and am attempting to copy some of their added detail. I plan on adding some missing details with plastic strip and wire. I've started replacing the grab handles with copper wire, and im really liking the effect.

Atta girl...

That's some really nice work there OWl. I like all the scratching your doing.

I am really having hard times believing that it is REALLY your first armor build.  You are doing it like a pro!  Great work replacing everything.  Am afraid you are hooked now...

I got some more work done in my spare time, relaxing form work.

Grab handles, lifting rings were replaced with wire because the supplied plastic either didnt look too right, was missing, or was flat on one side when it should've been round. The antennas were crafted from scrap guitar strings, and I made myself a tow-cable out of another scrap guitar string. A bit of tape was added on the jugs to give a bit more dimension, instead of the flat plastic detail. (pretty much everything you see that is not od green plastic, was added by me!)

some detail was added using thin plastic cards. The missing X thing on the sides of the tank was added using fine wire

I also crafted a bit of stowage to put on the tank using paper towels and floss (I mentioned I was going low-tech on this, right?). I also made a crate/box out of plastic card. While getting an idea of where/how to put the stowage on the tank, I experimented by looping a bunch of floss around the box and a bundle, then realized I could never get that to work again, so I glued it on, as is. And yes, the floss did hold the stowage on, amazingly enough! (I even flipped the tank this way and that to test it!)

The figure looks really nice, much more lively this way then before.

and I'll be waiting patiently on the bulldog

Good! I think you'll continue to enjoy this build Owl. Nice thing about armour is you can just build the whole darn thing except the wheels and threads and spray it all olive drab. No masking the undersides, no clear parts, just spray the whole dang thing.

Then spray the wheels dark grey and take a plastic circle template from the art store (a plastic sheet with circles of different sizes cut out of it) and spray the middles of the road wheels and you're done with that.

The big thing with armour and the fun part is weathering all that OD green.

Welcome ......you are about to learn the power of the dark side

Looks like a good start, enjoy

Rounds Complete!!

captfue

Great work on the figure. Hard to believe you where able to get a fantastic pose from such an old figure. good job

thanks, captfue. I must admit, the little army man is my favorite part so far. I still have a lot to go, but I was tickled at how well the pose turned out. Once I stared slicing him apart, I thought  was going to have a casualty on my hands! lol

Thanks guys. Im having fun with it so far. Its an interesting change for me. I've looked online for other Bulldog builds and am attempting to copy some of their added detail. I plan on adding some missing details with plastic strip and wire. I've started replacing the grab handles with copper wire, and im really liking the effect.

CallSignOWL

ROAD WHEELS.....ARRRRGH!!!  love tanks, HATE road wheels! 

Nice choice for your first tank build.  Tamiya kits are well-known over here for first-timers or "refresher courses" 

Great work on the figure. Hard to believe you where able to get a fantastic pose from such an old figure. good job

Looking good so far.  For an easy way to bring up the details a bit, you can add the strengthening "X"s and vertical ribs on the tool boxes with some 0.020 half-round rod stock.  The ribs can be seen on the Tamiya boxtop drawings, but are absent from the kit. 

You've chosen wisely for a "get your feet wet" build, re-work on the figure is a nice touch as well. Look forward to seeing this one come together.

Very nice action pose modification on that figure, Owl.

Looks good so far !

Welcome to the wonderful world of welded steel targets !

The Bulldog has frequently been mentioned as a "Beginners" kit, so it appears that you chose a worthy subject for your first armor build. 

Good start so far. Most Tamiya kits go together with out some fuss. 

Owl,

Hope you enjoy the build. Tanks can be addictive! It should be a refreshing change of pace from the aircraft you usually build.