SPA Modeler

My mid-year employee review discussion is scheduled for 11AM CST, today, and subsequently I couldn’t concentrate on anything at work if I tried.

SO, I decided to go ahead and start the dry brushing, aiming to keep it subtle. I mixed one drop of Tamiya XF-59 with four drops of Tamiya Flat White, and two drops of Tamiya Thinner, and off I went.

Subtle is right! I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if I can tell I did anything HAHA! But my eyes suck, these days.

Have a look:










Okay so while I’ll be damned if I can focus in on any one thing that actually got highlighted or changed or whatever, I can detect a subtle change, a barely perceptible (to me) nudge forward in the right direction toward the gestalt I’m going for here. My sincerest apologies if I got a little too artsy-fartsy there for you.

Yes, I do feel this is going in the right direction.

I still need to dry brush the wheels a tad. After that, oil paint dot filters. On deck: the tools and other small bits and bobs like the machine guns, antenna, and so forth.

I will also paint the tracks this weekend.

BlackSheep214 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2024 8:55 am

Thanks buddy!!!

That is looking mighty fine, Kenny! Cool tank project!

I’ll admit… I’ve never done a Panzer or Tiger kit before in all my years of building model kits. Watching yours come together inspires me to one day do a Panzer and/or Tiger kit.

Gary Brantley wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2024 12:25 pm That is looking mighty fine, Kenny! Cool tank project!

Thank you, Gary!

BlackSheep214 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2024 1:29 pm I’ll admit… I’ve never done a Panzer or Tiger kit before in all my years of building model kits. Watching yours come together inspires me to one day do a Panzer and/or Tiger kit.

I always liked the look of the Panzer III and the IV. Tigers are something that I'm only now beginning to understand. I'm planning a DAK Early Production Tiger I project now as it happens. It'll be a while but I will be seriously undertaking it. And I plan on fixing as many of the inaccuracies with the kit as I can while I do the build. I need to get this Pazer, my Firefly, and my forthcoming Panzer IV Derelict project off my plate first though before I tackle it.

Anyway back to YOU. I'd encourage you to do it. They're great subjects, there's a lot to choose from out there, and you're a great modeler. I'd love to see what you could do with one.

Here I am, bud. Long and strange trip. Lotta dust. I have not thought tank thoughts in lo many years but I feel how right you are to approach this subject with your usual verve and sense of scale effect. Looks strong and visually correct to me. I always like looking at the Raiders truck chase just to see the layers of sand grains attached to each surface. There is almost a prismatic effect from all of the crystals clumped and ground into the paint, rubber and metal.

Pretty sure this is colorized but I’ll post it:



This one may or may not be but it has the proper flavor:



Crusty is the word. From what I can see each move brings you closer to achieving the proper effect and that is to be commended. You’re building the layers your way, but it’s a method that works. This is quite a perfect kit to try out effects and changes upon. You’re doing this one justice — and it’s always a pleasure to see your work here.

Bruce,

I wish this forum had “like”’reacts to comments. Because I’d totally slam the “like” button on your comment.

Amazing how it’s crusty as you said, while also being proper sand blasted! I could re-create the weathering on that car- sandblasted right down to primer. And the white coating from the sand, it’s almost alkaline….

You “get” it.

The desert is what’s getting to me right now. The desert, Rommel, old horror movies, and war machines.

I like what you said most especially about layers of sand. That prismatic effect from all those layers of silica and salt. The first image in your comment is particularly striking.

I’m going to surf these sand dunes as long as the inspiration is with me. Which’ll likely be a very long time. I recently bought Kyuss’ “Welcome to Sky Valley” on vinyl at Dead Wax records.

Well... look what the cat dragged in. It's nice to see you again, Bruce!