WIP IDF M50 "Short hull"

That hull is starting to look busy!! I am really digging this build. I guess everything will be painted in situ?

Thanks, Eric. I paint as a unit, pretty much. The tracks will come off, and I have a tarp that fits over the rt rr corner that is off now, but I've found that with rare exception it's easier for me to paint stowage and bits in place rather than separately, since attaching bits always means quite a bit of touch-up. The travel lock and a few oil cans are still separate, but I can probably get those attached w/o getting glue all over everything.....

I am DONE with the little bitty bits already! My eyes hurt......

I'm pretty sure I'm ready for some primer, but gonna take a break for a couple of days and ponder.

Pics so far, all that I know that's left is to finish up the straps on the tarp hanging off the bustle rail.

I smell paint.....

Drum roll, please!

Krylon green for primer, sand to go on later (after I go buy some more.....)

Nice!! Was the Kyrlon decanted?

Nope, right out of the can.

Holy crap, man---I just checked into this build again and just shook my head and laughed---wow, you've really raised a bar here! I got step up on my next build, but I don't know if I can top what you're doing here. That's a commendable and inspiring bit of dedicated detailing, Russ!

Hope that Krylon works well for you.Man, I could never get that paint to work for me in car modeling!

Thanks, doog, but I think you're safe.....  :)  I've probably burned myself out on detail on this one (for a while anyway).

Re. the Krylon: since I'm not in need of a gloss finish, I can use the big cans of camo paint and primer, probably both intended for automotive use. The finish is smooth enough to not be grainy but matt enough to be give a good tooth to whatever color coat I put on later. I first got onto the primer because of price, but when the camo colors hit the market (aimed at hunters and rednecks in general I believe) I gave them a shot and was pleased. The red oxide primer is a dead ringer for WWII german primer, too.

I love the texture of the turret, good stuff. thanks for the Krylon hint, will give it a try.

Glenn

'preciate it.

And Krylon's my friend, good value, goes on good, dries tight.

One reason I do WIPs: On another forum, an error I had made was caught by the guy who wrote the book I'm using as my main reference on this build, just in time for me to correct it.

Tom Gannon, if you're out there, thanks. Really.

So, my mistake was in adding a weld bead at the union ot the mantlet extension and turret front. In fact, the extension id bolted to the turret from the inside, and the join is protected by a thin splash shield, which is all that's welded to the turret front. This is actually represented pretty well on the original MP turret. So, out came the micro chisel and small files, to get this far:

To this:

To here, which is probably the final fix, after I get the two large screw heads back on top of the mantlet extension....

Wow, long time no updates. Well, tan is on, decals and wash in progress, along with some detail painting. I still have to erplace those big screw heads though.....

Anyway, pics, base tan, decals from Bison for an M50, M4A3 hull "command tank", Golan, 1967. All I had to do to match Bison's drawing was move an antenna mount, sweet.

Then the wash, made from Tamiya acrylic brown and alcohol:

And then I begin the scrubbing.

This leaves a very slight tint behind, and a dead flat finish. If I ahd applied a clear coat before the wash, my base color would have been unaffected, but I wanted a little brown to be present.

Thanks for looking, as always!

Holy long-time-no-update, Batman!

Well, I got involved with another Magach, and this one took a back seat for a while, but I'm getting close enough to push on and get those warm fuzzies I get when I finish something. Anyway, the pics:

Thanks for looking, as always.

To say FANTASTIC is an understatement! You have taken this kit far beyond in detail and attention! And by the by, I think the Israeli Shermans are the coolest!

Nice!! 

Outstanding, I love Israeli armour! I noticed you painted your model all one colour even with the storage and equipment on it, do you remove it later to detail paint it or do you paint it while still on the model?

ICIT

Awesome kit bashing! Fantastic work!

Gentlemen, thank you all very much.

I generally paint stowage on the tank, since I have yet to find a way to do all the straps and such after applying a base coat without making a real mess. I do have a couple of items that will go on later, but they're both small rolled tarps that are stowed by being shoved into a gap or space between other, secured items. Also, because I make so much of my stowage from 2-part putty and form it into or over its surrounding parts, it's difficult to make it removable for painting.

Russ, it's looking perfect! Nice job on all the detailing and paint, and a heck of a job on all that brass!

Thanks, doog. 'preciate it.

I spent the last few days on a guy trip, but should get a little more time this week to get into the weathering.

A little detail painting, chipping, and drybrushing has happened, but I'm going to have to get to the art supply store to make any more progress- no light enough pastels in the box, dang it.

Thanks for looking, and comments always appreciated.

It is looking better with every post, outstanding work! I could kick my self, could have picked up a couple of Dragon Israeli Shermans for $10 each at the last show I went to!

Fabulous work, Russ! It's really a work of art!

Be careful you don't over-pastel it and cover up that fine painting! It COULD stand alone as it is, in the state you have it now! It looks great!

Looks as "busy" as a

   Well Russ, a very extraordinary and good looking build if you ask me.

Gents, thanks so much.

I've done a little chipping, no pics yet, hope to get some taken and posted soon. Tracks are base coated, ready for detail painting and weathering.  If I can stay away from the Magach I've got  going on,   I should have this one finished soon.

Thanks again.

Quickie update. Chipping in progress, or almost done, actually. Chips and scrapes are light and dark green, with dark gray in the center of some of the larger ones to represent bare metal. No rust whatsoever on this one,  as it's an in-action vehicle with lots of abrasion.

Thanks for looking, as always.

Just gets better and better!! The chipping looks great!

Thanks, Eric.

And pastels.......

Some Dullcote and the T/C and it's on the the next one.

Wow, it's been a while.......

I've been deeply wrapped up in a job search, both here in Texas and in Missouri, getting the house ready to go on the market, and packing up the stash, so zero modeling time has been on my calendar for a while. But all that is accomplished now, and I actually got a couple of hours at my newly cleaned bench to finish this puppy up. Sorry for the delay (it probably bothered me more than you, nyuk, nyuk) but here it is, complete with TC. I did manage to lose the 50 cal I had ready for it, so I pulled one out of the stash and threw it together for the pics.

Thanks for looking, as always.