ZTZ 99 Weathering Complete

I've now finished the weathering on the model, very peased with how this turned out. A very interesting vehicle and very impressive with it's massive gun barrel. Just the base to sort out now which shouldn't take me too long.

ZTZ 99 Pigments & Grime

Just finished off the hull after a few rounds of pigment weathering. I started off with a very light coat of tamiya flat earth to start the process then mixed up a suitable colour with pigments and used these wet and dry. I've applied the pigments in a gradual way, heavier applications at the bottom of the hull and lighter as I worked my way up. After adding exhaust staining the last stage was to flick wet pigment along the bottom of the hull via a stiff brush to replicate mud spatters.

 
Almost done now just the turret to finish off and a base to sort out. I've also been looking at the next project and have decided to do an aircraft. I'ts been quite a while since I last finished a wingy thing but this little beauty caught my eye on ebay,

Got it for a cheap price and I must say it looks a very nice kit. And it's in my favourite colour scheme too! Watch out for the start of the build soon.

ZTZ 99 Figure & Tarps

Not much done on the model over the last few days but I have now painted up the figure and a couple of tarps for the turret. The figure is my first attempt at painting a digital camo uniform, not too bad I think. The combination of this and the tank camo colours gives the model a little bit more interest.

So it's on to the final stages now, bring on the pigments & mess!

ZTZ 99 Matt Varnish & Shiny Bits

The model has now been matt varnished and I've picked out all the shiny bits using the new(ish) ammo crystal colours. I really like these as the have a very bright colour to them and go on much easier than say tamiya clear colours. For the periscopes I've used the new ammo colour periscope green, spooky that! Over a base of silver this colour works really well. A clear lens was also added to the front light. Next up will be a bout of pigments and tamiya earth & buff.

The figure is a spares box item with one of the dreamworks heads. I really wanted to use a head with the soviet style soft helmet but even using a hornet soviet head just did not look right as the faces look too western. I can get away with using the hard shell type helmet though as I have a few reference pictures showing crews with this helmet. The figure will be painted in some digital camo later on. A bit of magic sculpt was used to adapt the uniform to PLA style.

  

ZTZ 99 Filters, Washes & Oils

Over the weekend I've been experimenting with the new Wilder washes & filters on the model and have found them rather good. I began with the grey brown filter No NL19. Starting off with a very light application I then added a slightly heavier layer after the first one had dried. I found that the filter is much finer than say MIG or AK products and it's far more subtle. After two coats the main colours had faded slightly and darkened very slightly as well. On the side skirts in particular it left a very pleasing dusty look.

So far so good, I then used "deep shadow wash" as a pin wash adding it to recesses and bolts etc. Again it works really well straight out of the bottle. I also tried adding a little black oil paint to this and some more thinner on a palette to see how it mixed. The result was very good, with a dash of thinners it flows even better along details. I think with further thinning you could use this as a filter as well.

  
Lastly I've started the oil dot fading and streaking on the model. Here I'm keeping it subtle and not adding too much as these tanks seem to be kept pretty tidy. It's almost ready for a matt varnish now so be sure to check back soon.

ZTZ 99 Gloss & Decals

Here is the model with it's gloss on and decals. I've also gone over the model with heavily thinned tamiya smoke and sprayed this along details and shadow areas. This has helped tone down the brown and add some very subtle staining and shadows around the model. The Wilder washes and filters arrived today so I will be having a go with these on the model over the weekend.

"Fury"

This afternoon I decided to go and see the new film Fury starring Brad Pitt and thoroughly enjoyed it. Granted it's pure Hollywood in places and can be a little far fetched but the action scenes and tank scenes where very well done indeed. Although I'm by no means a Sherman expert-en  I thought the way they were stowed and the amount of mud on them very convincing. Likewise the attention given to all the vehicles and uniforms used was first class. The best part for me? well it has to be seeing the Bovington Tiger in action and not just driving around the show ground. It really brought home how fearsome an opponent the tiger was against shermans. It's not band of brothers but it's a very good tank based movie.