I’m joining the #metoo movement - the APC got into FSM’s coverage of the 2018 IPMS Nationals, the first time I got “carded” by the staff!

The lights are not on in the photo - the aliens must have cut the power.  “How could they have cut the power, they’re animals!”  Actually, loose wires must have caused the outage.  Teaches me to solder the connections next time.

Hey guys thanks for your support and patience!  We are almost there.  Here are some not so great photos (taken in my bathroom!) with all of the lights in the APC switched on:

https://flic.kr/p/FnN2ra][/url]APC-125 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/G9Uu71][/url]APC-126 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/Gcdtza][/url]APC-127 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I need to do some light blocking for the forward side markers and tail lights.  (Can you see the light bleed at the tail lights in the middle photo?)

Looks awesome G, looking forward to seeing her done. 

  This thing has been a great wip. I think you have solved/overcome/worked around and just plain modeled yourself into a heck of a fine model. 

  Real "silk purse - sows ear" stuff here.

Lights in, lights on!

https://flic.kr/p/FaVndc][/url]APC-121 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/FaVmet][/url]APC-122 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/FZk6E6][/url]APC-123 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/FaJu4u][/url]APC-124 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The tail lights have to have more light blocking added.  The windshield went in last night.  A bit of touch up on the paint, a little more weathering, and she should be ready for action!

What an awsome colour match! I'm glad to see this, and wish that there was more like it. Thank you for sharing this with us.

~ Cobra Chris

Lookin' good G!!!

Hey ;

  Haven't looked in a while . I like what I see.  T.B.

Work has been slow (again!) on the APC, but I managed to finish applying the weathing washes.

https://flic.kr/p/FFMwws][/url]APC-120 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/FJ6AJB][/url]APC-116 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/FFMyRY][/url]APC-118 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The washes have since been tidied up, and so just a little detail painting and highlighting, then time for the lights to go in.  This thing has been sitting around too long and other projects are lining up, so I'll try to get it across the finish line real soon.

It rained last night on LV-426.  But it was Mr. Topcoat Gloss, not water.  Funny weather over there.

https://flic.kr/p/EbQX1W][/url]APC-114 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Here's where you can get the gel films that I was referring to.

http://www.rosco.com/filters/roscolux.cfm

I hold them in front of my camera lens to create visual effects. You can use them for whatever you wish.

~ Cobra Chris

Real G

 

The area under where the dorsal turret sits was spotted with oil and grime to give the area some interest.  I wonder if military hardware in the future still leak fluids...

 

I tried painting the backside of the replacement windshield black, but it was very obvious that the backside was painted.  I then tried using Tamiya rattle can smoke which worked much better.  The translucency of the paint gives the glass a sense of depth, yet hides the empty hull.  The spray went on very badly, so you don't get to see the backside!  Sorry. 

https://flic.kr/p/Ett9j4]

 

Welcome to my world! I had the same problem spraying the windows for my 1/48th scale X-wing when I tried to get the tinted look - it went on too thin, or it went on too thick! Now my X-wing looks like a black out shelter not being able to see in. I just gave up. WWW.ROSCO.COM you can get a book of coloured films to cover your camera lens for a tinted effect.  You can also cut them up and glue them to your model when you need a window with a tint to it. Unfortunately they aren't too big, so you have to make the best of what you have since it has every colour of the rainbow - but only one of each shade. It costs nothing, and you can get it with a hand bag. I think it also comes with a lanyard. It's all free! The only colour that isn't included it BLACK. Why is anyones' guess......

~ Cobra Chris

Thanks guys - I'm on the final stretch now.  It won't be long.  Maybe seventeen days. 

She looks really good in the photos. 

A little bit of progress.  I went back over the model to redo the shading and highlighting where the sponge muck looked bad.

https://flic.kr/p/EYCSU9][/url]APC-104 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/E4eRTd][/url]APC-105 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The area under where the dorsal turret sits was spotted with oil and grime to give the area some interest.  I wonder if military hardware in the future still leak fluids...

https://flic.kr/p/EYDCrj][/url]APC-106 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/EYDXwU][/url]APC-109 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/F1XVrT][/url]APC-110 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/EYEemj][/url]APC-111 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I tried painting the backside of the replacement windshield black, but it was very obvious that the backside was painted.  I then tried using Tamiya rattle can smoke which worked much better.  The translucency of the paint gives the glass a sense of depth, yet hides the empty hull.  The spray went on very badly, so you don't get to see the backside!  Sorry. 

https://flic.kr/p/Ett9j4][/url]APC-113 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Okay, time for a quick spray of Tamiya semi-gloss to prep for some pin washes and filtering...

She's looking really good there G! 

Not a problem SternO.

To be honest, the treads and chassis were the only real work on this kit.  The exterior is pretty much OOTB with only minor detailing.  The lights were just a spur of the moment idea.  If one were to build the kit stock, it would still look like the movie prop.  So despite the bad fit and brittle plastic, I am really liking this build.

Roger that G, thank you, im sure you explained it perfectly in the post..I just missed something..sorry you had to repeat. ..your extra work makes it that much more incredible!

SternO, the kit design allows the turret to slide up and down.  I replaced the pins that go in the tracks with metal wire to give it more strength, which was verified when the pins smashed through the tracks!  Fortunately I was able to piece and patch the rails back together, so the turret can still slide up and down.  I did add a polycap in the turret base to hold it when in the stowed position.  Out of the box, the turret will tend to rotate with guns pointing down due to the weight up front.

Bring the dirt G! I hope this was not addressed in your WIP, but does the top torrent have a working track it moves in to stow on rear or just a two position deal? I see where it was damaged, just wondered if it really worked. Thanks

All right, back on line at last!

The kit decals (all TWO of them) took a long time to loosen from their backing sheet, and whitish, flaky stuff started floating off the paper when the decals could move.  The flakes were rinsed off, then the decals were applied over some Future brushed on only where needed.

https://flic.kr/p/EofAJ7][/url]APC-100 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Some Mr. Mark Softer was brushed in around the edges of the decals after application to eliminate any silvering.

Weathering has now commenced,  I started paint chipping with a thinned black-grey-raw umber mix applied with a piece of sponge, followed by some burnt sepia mixed in with leftover paint from the previois mix.  I applied less of the second mix within the first to get a layered effect.

https://flic.kr/p/DK9EYK][/url]APC-101 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The underside also received sponged on paint to start grunging it up.  The sponge was dragged across the flat surfaces to impart streaking.

https://flic.kr/p/DJPs6Q][/url]APC-103 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

More dirtiness to follow.

Lmao! Hudson had some of the best lines ever! I agree, working with a phone is a PITA. she is looking great..keep it up.

SternO, I actually haven't been keeping current, as I cannot log in via computer due to the site revamp glitch.  I'm too stupid to post photos from my phone, and I can't use the transmitter on the APC because it's wasted!  Maybe I'd better put Newt in charge, because she survived longer than 17 days without weapons OR training!

Weathering has commenced though.  Hopefully more photos soon.

Maybe you havnt been keeping up on current events, but....you have some great work there! Bravo!

G: She looks very good, I can't even tell where the damage was. 

CC: G is right, my grandparents passed away years ago, wish I'd spent more time with them now... 

Cobra Chris, be with your grandmother. Family is the most important thing of all. Unlike model kits, they never get reissued.

We can talk shop about your X-Wing project later.

Take care.

Real G

Cobra Chris, thanks for the kind words! I have also attempted scratchbuilt projects in the past, but had few successes.  My remedy is time - like 20 years, to learn new tricks.  The problem with that method is that I can't afford to wait another 20 years to finish my current projects!

The weather tonight is gusty with hissy rain, so no painting out in the patio!  I think I'll go and check out your X-Wing build instead...

 

~ Cobra Chris