Chieftain Barrel Netting

I've now added some camo netting to the barrel after spraying it green and brown. As yet I'm not 100% sure it will stay as I do like the look of the model without it. However it was a very common feature in Germany especially on exercise, it really helped to break up the shape of that massive barrel.

A little more tweaking is needed before I make my mind up I think. Perhaps once weathered and with some dusty pigments added it will look better. 

Chieftain Mk11 Detail Painting

Most of the detail painting is now done on the model so I can now get a bit of gloss down. The tracks have also been removed and primed with track colour. I'll add the camo netting to the barrel before I gloss so that it can be weathered at the same time as the rest of the model.

Chieftain & ASLAV Progress

I've now added another round of fading to the Chieftain followed by the disruptive black applied with a brush. I used a mix of vallejo black and dark rubber for this. I will probably go over the black once more to check for any missed areas before starting on the detail painting.

I've also been working on the figures for the ASLAV using magic sculpt. I just need to finish off the arms for the commander figure now after giving him some nice hornet hands.

St George's Day & ASLAV Decals

A happy St George's day to you all where ever you may be. As ever I'm enjoying a nice beer or two to celebrate and get some bench time in this evening.

Talking of which I've just added the decals on the ASLAV. all went down with no issues at all. They add a nice bit of interest and a splash of colour too. 

ASLAV & Chieftain Progress

Both models have had some attention this weekend and the ASLAV has now been glossed ready for decals after finishing off the camo painting and most of the detail painting. 

The chieftain has also had it's main colour sprayed on and as usual tamiya XF 65 is an excellent start for British armour. Drops of tamiya XF 15 were then added to add highlights and fading effects. A few more passes with progressively lighter shades will finish this off nicely.

ASLAV Camo Painting

The model has now had the camo painting started and instead of spraying I opted in the end for brush painting. It saves hours of tedious masking and even though a couple of coats are needed for the colour intensity it's far easier on my sanity. Also as it's a hard edged pattern I can't see the need to mask when a brush will do just as well. 

I used vallejo black grey with a drop or two of flat black and panzer aces Italian tank crew. Both are slightly lighter in colour but as ever they will darken with weathering later. 

Chieftain In Primer

That's the model all primed so with any luck I'll get the main colours on over the weekend.

ASLAV-PC Paint On

With the chieftain drying after a wash I have started spraying the ASLAV today. The colours used are quite distinct so I started by mixing tamiya flat flesh, flat earth and white for the tan colour. I think I will add a bit more white to compensate for weathering later on. The green is again a mix of tamiya colours and I used olive green & flat yellow. 

More tweaking will be done during the week as well as finishing off the camo. I'll also make a start on the figures whilst waiting for stuff to dry.

Poole Vikings Show 14/04/18

Yesterday saw myself and the old codger Brian pop down to the Poole Vikings show for a bit of modelling bollocks and a very pleasant spot of lunch. Lucky the weather was grim first thing so I did not have to endure the inevitable top down motoring which is the usual fare when Brian drives his mid life crisis car!  

As usual the show was small but with plenty of traders in attendance. Display wise it seemed to be slightly less crowded than previous years so there was a bit of wriggle room available to view the club displays. I did have a very nice chat to a guy called James who was displaying and also promoting the scale Scotland show to be held on the 25th August this year at Murrayfield. 

We had a good talk about all things 432 and he also had a nice accurate armour version on the table. Trader wise there was plenty of choice and also plenty of difference between prices for the same kit from different traders! The moral here is to browse first and select the better deal. 

I came away with a couple of interesting books and another bit of PLA armour which for £20 was a good price. Plus some tape and dissolved putty. So after an hour or so of, (in my case) limping around we headed off for a very nice pub lunch at the Royal oak somewhere on the edge of the new forest. By now the weather was smashing so obviously Brian had to have the top down on his car!