SPA Modeler

I built this kit probably 25 years ago at least. Then a couple of summers ago when I completed my command vehicle conversion of the Tamiya M14/40 I built the Mini Art Italian tank crew figure set to go with that build. The set also came with two figures who work perfect for a M13/40 or M14/41. Recently I acquired some Asuka Italian water cans, Pegasus resin sandbags, and some value gear stowage items.... anyways I glued the items in place after painting them up, and started working with oils on the old paint job to weather it. I made my first attempt at dot filtering. Note to self, only work with one color at a time when dot filtering...

How it looked originally



With added sandbags, stowage, and Miniart figures





And after dot filters and pin wash





More to come soon...

Amazing Carlos, it looks like a brand new build, the weathering and addition of stowage really brings it all together.

Great move Carlos!

The build has really transformed to a higher level after weathering and the add-ons.

Those figures are also wonderful, especially the guy in the tower, where you can sense the speed of the tank, with those "ear-things" on the cap are turning backwards..

- Kari

Thanks for all the kind words guys. The basic Italeri M13/40 is a really solid nice kit. Very well detailed. But it lacks all the good stuff usually seen on them in North Africa, like I added here. Jerry cans, extra sandbag armor, stowage items, etc. all enhance the look. And playing with the oils over the original paint really helps a lot. I still have a few more steps that I want to go thru with this, dry brushing some highlights on the rivets and such, then a nice heavy dust coat airbrushed on to tie it all together. It’s funny how once I added the new build figures on the old build tank I knew that I had to dress up the kit to match them. Now it’s almost there.

What a transformation of a great looking build - into a fantastic looking build! The weathering and stowage/sandbags really make it pop. . . not to mention the addition of crew. Very nice work.

Wow! What a fantastic new lease of life - Nice work Carlos.

Lyle & Stuart, thank you. Today I airbrushed in a flat coat- Humbrol, my favorite.





I’ll let it dry overnite, drybrush some highlights, then airbrush on a coat of dust overall. Heavier on the running gear & adjacent areas, and horizontal surfaces. I also have some artist pigments that I picked up at Hobby Lobby this past summer, so I mixed up a custom color to try out on the running gear last...

I want to have this all wrapped up by Saturday.

Very nice Carlos, it looks great with that Matt coat.

I’m glad to hear that you like this project Stuart.

Today was a bit of detail painting and dry brushing.





Just another day of work to get it complete...