SPA Modeler

portman wrote:Superb Kenny - I wish I could weather like that. I really need to invest in some oils.

It's worth it Stuart! I use basically only these 3, but need some lighter tone as well.... on my shopping list though...




- Kari

KSaarni wrote:

portman wrote:Superb Kenny - I wish I could weather like that. I really need to invest in some oils.

It's worth it Stuart! I use basically only these 3, but need some lighter tone as well.... on my shopping list though...




- Kari

Yep - I'm certainly going to have to get some, what do you thin them with?

I got back after it this morning and did some cleaning up. It looked a little too, I dunno, “oily” to me. I was kind of going for dried dirt and grit. Anyway, I went back with the mineral spirits and cleaned up some sports and reapplied, more conservatively this time. Here’s the result:







I’m calling the washes on the upper hull complete. Some dry brushing next, and I guess I ough to move into the wheels and tracks. I’ll get started on those either today or tomorrow.

Once I get the wheels and tracks on, I’ll be putting some
Mud on there. And after that I guess I’ll get all the tools and stuff painted up and attached.

This has gone by quickly.

That's looking great Kenny!

They are pretty quick build's aren't they. I have all of the wheels etc. painted up on mine. I'm just doing all of the tools etc. and that's pretty much it - just decals and weathering.

Kenny, you are really nailing the weathering on this one!

And I add that your decision to “button up” (have all the hatches closed) this build was the right choice for the version that you chose. The kit crew figures are nice enough, but they are only good for the 1939 and 1940 versions. By 1941 the Panzer beret was no longer in use, especially for the Balkans/Russia or North Africa campaign options parts & markings of the kit.

Stuart, they are indeed! And that’s refreshing. And I really like the weathering part of the procedure. I don’t know why, but with tanks I feel like I can just get in there and go crazy, whereas with aircraft I’m much more cautious and measured in my approach. Tanks, I feel like I can experiment more.

Carlos, thank you! And yeah man, I like my tanks buttoned-up. That was the plan from Day 1. Plus, I’m no good at painting figures of people ... But yeah, it was really just that I like the look of a buttoned-up cockpit.

Wow, a lot has happened here. You've done some amazing stuff on this tank man! I especially love the exhaust. I do love streaks too, they really make this pop. I use Mona Lisa thinner to thin my oils. It is the most inert thinner there is; it won't react to any other type of paint underneath.

Keep it coming Kenny, and I'm glad you got over the illness. It really does suck being sick!

Duke,

Yeah buddy, that Mona Lisa odorless mineral spirit is some magic stuff! It reduces the oils beautifully and it wipes off so easily... it’s really just a pleasure to work with, ain’t it?

And thank you! Man oh man is it good to feel better! Tonight was beer and tacos night and I actually had an appetite! Boy was that a relief. I get worried when I don’t want to eat. But yeah, I’m all better. 100% for sure.

As to the Panzer, I reckon this is the beginning of something that’ll always run concurrently with my aircraft modeling. It scratches a different itch and satisfies a different part of my brain. So it’s cool, now I’ve got both worlds.

I will say that I feel like I have more opportunity to relax and cut loose with tanks, and can carry over what I learn to aircraft. Like with these particular washes, I’m going to weather and fade the finish on my forthcoming Mustang with the burnt umber and Mona Lisa thinners, by way of oil dot fading, followed by lightening it all with white, and I feel confident using it on an aircraft build because I had the freedom to go bananas with it on a tank.

This is fun stuff.

speedgraflex wrote:Incredible! The oils definitely tone down the decals beautifully!

Yes they do! And the effect can be as subtle or as dramatic as you want, and it’s relatively easy to control. I’m going to be using these oils on Ole II, as well. Except instead of a wash I’ll be dot fading with it.