Looking great doog. keep it up.

I understand...not a critique, just a question and it looks great to me so far!

                        We're all having a real

                               blast here Karl!

          Been watchin' this take shape and enjoying

      this imaginative trip on this very interesting ride.

   Here's something else you might wanna consider...

     Along with the twisted - burnt signs

       and ruined landscape, there would be

         a lot of the grayish white ash residue

          distributed everywhere. That could add

            greatly to the bleak doomsday effect.

    It could be tricky because it might be

      difficult to produce that effect without

        it looking like snow.

             It might be hard to play this theme out....

                         but if anyone can do it....

                              I know you could .

the doog

Thanks again, guys---I am thinking of the highway sign idea. It might work if I can figure out how to model one from the 1950s in a convincing way.

On my way to rock Spain for now.....see ya all when I get home on Sunday!

Oh this is a beautiful project! I love the doomsday scenario!

In the 1950's Europe had not changed too much from WWII, save for continuing repair work of the war damage. Highway signs, especially in Germany where the fighting would most likely have been, would be similar to that era.

something like the old Tamiya signs set may work for you. Check out these photos of the Berlin Crisis in 1961 for a good idea

enjoy Spain Karl! No running with the Bulls now, you have to finish this kit!

Thanks guys, I appreciate you stopping by for a look-see and to comment!

Thank you too, Josiah---I know that people will say "You should have distorted the front lights and bent the guards" etc, but I'm going to resist that. I really just want to portray the tank "as is", but with a unique finish. I've never seen a tank finished with this kind of idea behind it, and I don't really want to "destroy" the tank, just to put it in a hypothetical finish that's "artistic". It may not be as technically accurate as some people may think it should be, but hey--that's the joy of modeling. Have fun, make your own kind of music!

Yes, very cool Karl, she does look like she's been though a war!

Really nice job on the wear and tear so far,that's a lot of RoadwheelsI for sure

Looking good Karl, I know you said that you're taking artistic license with this build, and I don't disagree with doing that, but are you planning on doing anything to the front lights or the mantle/turret light?

Hi guys,

I'm back from Barcelona and at the bench again---yay!

Got into some weathering now....lets see, what have I done?./...OK, I did some metallic sponge-chipping all over the tank. Secondly, I added pin washes in black-brown, and in some dark rust tones in different places for variety's sake.

I added some "Bright Green filter" from Adam Wilder's Nitro Line to alter the inner parts of the green patches. I also added some Gray Brown filters over the sand and gray colors.

I also used the "Spatter method"--loading up a stiff brush with paint and then flicking it to transfer the paint in small drops against the model--to ad some rusty micro-chips to the hull and to tint the tracks.

The wheels got hair-spray treatment first, a wash of gray-brown and then rust, and then flicked with rust. Still quite a bit to do here....

It's starting to look grimier.The rear is going to be a BIT cleaner, obviously.

SStill much to do in terms of adding actual dust, dirt, etc.  I'm hoping to make good progress tomorrow and with a little luck get the track on. Stay tuned!!! 

Spain! I'm very jealous.

Thanks again, guys---I am thinking of the highway sign idea. It might work if I can figure out how to model one from the 1950s in a convincing way.

On my way to rock Spain for now.....see ya all when I get home on Sunday!

I like it!

I also like the idea of a toasted-up road sign and the tanker in the full-kitchen NBC suit.  Nice and creepy.

This is totally nuts in the best sort of way.

The paint burn is spectacular.  ya can almost feel the heat and hear the tinking of the cooling metal.

On your display base:  may be a highway sign: NewYork / Los Angeles/ Berlin/Moscow/ ???-  XX miles/ kilometers...   twisted and with singed paint 

After I asked you that, I relised it looked familiar and wondered if this was the scheme of the one at Kubinka. I guess I am so used to seeing Soviet armour in a one colour scheme and I think this one is rather reminiscent of German 3 colour camo. Looking at that pic, you have done a spot on job of this one.

Bish--thanks again for the comments and your memories! This paint scheme is actually what the actual tank is painted as at Kubinka. I was recently in Russia and Adam Wilder graciously took me out to see that famous museum; it was unbelievably cool----the "mecca" of armor modeling! It was also 17 degrees, and the buildings are all unheated! We froze our butts off, but had an incredible time. Here's the actual tank in the "new" camo scheme they've done it up in. I'm assuming that that would be "period correct" fro the time?

BILL----thanks too, buddy! I'm kinda "flying by the seat of my pants" on this one, so it's nice to get some positive feedback!

Thanks too, Gamera! I was actually scared to start painting this one because I couldn't find a reference shot to use for help. I'm relieved that it seems to look ok so far. Let's see how I can mes it up now with weathering! .....

SchattenSpartan--thanks for those kind sentiments too, man! I appreciate you taking the time to stop in and leave a nice comment!

Rob, thanks to you as well! I hope you'll stay tuned and stick around for the finish!

On to Barcelona for the weekend tomorrow, guys. I"ll probably have an update when I get home after Sunday. Maybe by Tuesday or so?

Stay tuned!

Great subject,and great looking build so far. Very interesting to watch this one come together. Thanks!

Simply breathtaking work, Karl! I love every bit of your paint job! I got one of those Takom kits on it's way to me and I thought about doing something similar with it, but there's no way of my efforts coming even close to the masterpiece you created here... My hat's off to you!

Yes, very cool- I love the way you've feathered the scorched paint back away from the bow impact area.

Some very impressive layered results on display here Karl, very nice, love where you're taking this one including the figures.

All that time sweating my 'bleep' off in an NBC sut, I never thought it would come in useful.

Loving the look of this, and I really like the scheme. I take it that's your own creation.

Well here's the painting update, completed.

I used the same technique to add a little more "scorching" around the various smaller protruding angles and projections; under the turret, along the side rails, etc. A little more "smoke" and soot along the hull as well... It looks a little more realistic now, I think? I gotta admit, I"m stoked at how the painting has turned out with basically zero weathering done at all yet! Time for washes and chips and pigments, etc. Here's the latest pics---stay tuned for the rest of the ride!

Thanks again for following along, guys! I appreciate all the suggestions and comments!

garzonh

Hi,

Oh wow!!, that recent damage looks great!.

Sorry I've not being around, but work has been crazy.

I like very much this technique and looks very real.

Good work.

waynec

the doog

waynec

.... we tankers had the hose attached to a filter in a bag. when you got in the tank you plugged the canister filter into the tank nbc system.

Wayne that brings up a good point--do you think that the tank crew would have on the full suits here--the "raincoat" type thing? Or would they just wear the facemask with their regular uniforms? It would be cool to put a tanker looking out of the hatch with a goon mask on!

hey DOOG - there were 4 levels of MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) in the us army. understand i am speaking from the late '70s.  MOPP 1 is having all your chem gear (booties, gloves, mask, suit available) and 4 is wearing EVERYTHING.  we always carried the masks in training no matter what.

our M60s didn't have the positive over pressure and, quite frankly, even if they did, i wouldn't trust the system that much. in any possible chem situation we would have the suit on but not the mask (our hood was attached to the mask). that way, when the alarm went off, it was just mask and gloves in maybe 11 seconds.

SO TO FINALLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION yes he could quite believably be hanging out the hatch completely suited up. you get the right camera angle and a bit of photoshopping and you could turn your 1950s picture into an alien invasion picture.insane ideas are already swirling through my head.

It should be really wicked-cool! Got an update coming right away....! Thanks again for your input and the great firsthand info!!!! If I write this up into an article, I"m going to mention you guys and thank you for the knowledge!

Bish

I can't speak for the Russians or US forces dog, but even though our vehicles were could be sealed with a forced air system and special air filters for an NBC environment, we still had to wear the full suit when inside the vehicle. Its just not worth the risk.

Goon Squad tanker on the way!!!

Thanks for the input, Bish! It's much apreciated!

the doog

waynec

.... we tankers had the hose attached to a filter in a bag. when you got in the tank you plugged the canister filter into the tank nbc system.

Wayne that brings up a good point--do you think that the tank crew would have on the full suits here--the "raincoat" type thing? Or would they just wear the facemask with their regular uniforms? It would be cool to put a tanker looking out of the hatch with a goon mask on!

hey DOOG - there were 4 levels of MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) in the us army. understand i am speaking from the late '70s.  MOPP 1 is having all your chem gear (booties, gloves, mask, suit available) and 4 is wearing EVERYTHING.  we always carried the masks in training no matter what.

our M60s didn't have the positive over pressure and, quite frankly, even if they did, i wouldn't trust the system that much. in any possible chem situation we would have the suit on but not the mask (our hood was attached to the mask). that way, when the alarm went off, it was just mask and gloves in maybe 11 seconds.

SO TO FINALLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION yes he could quite believably be hanging out the hatch completely suited up. you get the right camera angle and a bit of photoshopping and you could turn your 1950s picture into an alien invasion picture.insane ideas are already swirling through my head.

Hi,

Oh wow!!, that recent damage looks great!.

Sorry I've not being around, but work has been crazy.

I like very much this technique and looks very real.

Good work.

I can't speak for the Russians or US forces dog, but even though our vehicles were could be sealed with a forced air system and special air filters for an NBC environment, we still had to wear the full suit when inside the vehicle. Its just not worth the risk.

waynec

.... we tankers had the hose attached to a filter in a bag. when you got in the tank you plugged the canister filter into the tank nbc system.

the doog

Gamera

Maybe just an interstate section and a twisted and burned Route 66 (Route 666?) sign if you didn't want to do too much?

Wow, that's a really good idea---the iconic Route 66.....a good idea to pursue. Thanks for that idea, Gamera! I"ll have to look into the possibilities on this...

i like the route 66 sign idea  too.  wilted tree dead ravens brown grass twisted rusted barbed wire fence section.

or park it next to a smashed GOLDEN ARCHES with a "we sell a thousand a day" sign.

yeah BISH MOPP 4 was no fun. at NTC the war basically stops during the day when in MOPP 4 but the weather isn't suited for gas warfare not unlike the sandbox. the grunts could drink water with their mask, we tankers had the hose attached to a filter in a bag. when you got in the tank you plugged the canister filter into the tank nbc system.

No problem Karl, I'm a fount of ideas- just too lazy to put most of them into action...