Trumpeter BMP-3 Paint On

After a wash and a blast of primer I've now got on the main colour and here I used tamiya XF-55 buff with a bit of white added. This has given me a nice light tan colour. 

 

Trumpeter BMP-3 In Cyprus Service

On the bench since last week is Trumpeter's BMP-3 Cypriot version. A nice simple build apart from the fiddly tracks which I've just finished this evening. Most of the work went into cleaning up and assembling the tracks which consisted of individual links and track horn guides. Very tedious and fiddly but with some patience and care I managed to get two runs sorted out. 

The only extras are an RB barrel set and antenna set as well as a few bits of lead wire. Overall the detail on the kit is good so I'm looking forward to painting. Next thought will be some assorted stowage and perhaps a standing figure to go with the finished piece.  

 

Tamiya Martlet Mk V Complete

I've just finished the model off today after a few days adding decals, pin washes and final weathering before matt varnish. I'm very pleased with the final result and like the fact that the invasion stripes are not perfect but rather have the look of being roughly applied.  

The kit was a delight to build and very simple as well. Just the thing for a fun build. I got so carried away with it that taking pictures for the blog went right out of my mind. So apologies for the lack of progress posts during the build. 

  

Tamiya Martlet Progress

On this eve of one of the most important days in history, D-day 6th June I've finally found the time to update the build progress. I've been having so much fun that I totally forgot to update the blog as I went along. 

It all started with a nice black primer using Mr surfacer 1500 followed by the grey using tamiya XF 22 RLM grey with fading adding white to the grey. Next the green was from tamiya XF 81 dark green 2 RAF with fading using XF 15 flat flesh. Undersides next with XF 21 sky then onto detail painting using various vallejo colours and green stuff world metallics. 

The kit does come with decals for the invasion stripes or I could spray them but in the end I brush painted them on as I wanted a rough look to them very much like the real thing at the time. So far it's gone very well so next I will be adding a gloss coat before applying decals. 

Tamiya Grumman FM-1 Wildcat / Martlet mk V

It's another bank holiday weekend here in the UK so that means dodgy weather and lots of time to do some modelling. So with the rain lashing down on Friday evening I decided to crack open this little beauty for a bit of a change. 

Progress was very fast with a very small parts count so yesterday I got the cockpit and other assorted parts painted, detail painted and weathered before assembling the main fuselage. The kit even comes with a decent pilot so I will be adding him to the cockpit later. 

 

Kanonenjagdpanzer Base Complete

Here is the base all finished with a resin German road marker courtesy of Brian who obviously has plenty of this stuff in his stash. Now it's time to mull over the stash and decide on the next build. 

Making Bases

I've now found a suitable picture frame to use as a base for the Kanonenjagdpanzer. Not an easy task now with the demise of my usual supplier Wilko, I've had to resort to Amazon for this one. More expensive but the frame is actually real wood not the usual mdf covered in a vinyl wrap.   

The process is very simple on this one, black foam board cut to fit the recess and then AK terrains concrete added as a levelling base followed by AK terrains asphalt and some muddy ground for the verge. I've just added some static grass and sprayed a road marking so will be spraying the grass sometime tomorrow. 

Das Werk Kanonenjagdpanzer Complete

I've finally finished the model with the application of a layer or two of heavily thinned tamiya buff to add a small amount of dust build up to the lower portions of the model. Antennas and figures finish off the model. I've now got to find a suitable picture frame for the base to set it off nicely. 

I've really enjoyed this kit, it went together really well and the detail in the kit was excellent. The addition of the Valkyrie really enhances this excellent kit even more I think.  

Hobbyboss PLA ZBL-09 Snow Leopard IFV

Here's a little side project I started last weekend whilst mulling over the final weathering stages for the Kanonenjagdpanzer. I picked the kit up recently at the Yeovil show for a good price and because I have not built a PLA model for quite a while. The kit went together very quickly with the bare minimum of improvements made to the base kit. A bit of plastic card and some etched chain for the smoke dischargers.  

As you can see it's a big bugger and fortunately I also have some crew figures to populate it. Colour scheme is going to be the usual two tones of green and sand, definitely NOT the digital camo!  

Kanonenjagdpanzer Progress

The model has progressed very nicely with some earth and dust effects added to the lower hull then a dusty wash followed once dry by the matt varnish. Today I've added a little bit more dust and also fitted all the lights and final parts to the model. Final weathering will be a combination of heavily thinned tamiya buff and acrylic weathering washes to finish it off.