Abrams Base & Starting Weathering

The base is progressing well and is almost done. I carved some weeds & plants from stretched sprue then added some static grass. Once all painted I masked and sprayed the white line using an off white tone before spraying thinned tamiya flat earth and deck tan mix over the road concentrating on the edge of the tarmac.

Next I've started adding the final weathering to the abrams. Here I'm looking for a very light effect so no pigments are being used this time. Instead I'm using wilder aqualine effects which I thin further with water and build up a dusty effect in multiple layers. The effects I'm using are dark earth, dry earth & light mud. 

They are easy to use and can be reactivated once dry with water so it's easy to blend and even removed if the effect is not to your liking. 

 

Abrams Base Building

Over the last few days I've concentrated on the base for the model. Here I've used a large tamiya base and then added AK terrains asphalt before adding a small bank using plaster. The asphalt is very easy to use, just smear some on the base and level with a palette knife or similar and let dry. The stuff actually self levels which means you get a perfectly flat surface. It's also coloured very nicely and has a very convincing texture too.

I'll add some grass next and a road marker pole before painting the verge. then it's onto final weathering for the model.

Abrams Figure Painting

A quick bit of figure painting yesterday for the abrams. The valkyrie figure paints up very well and has great detail too. The only thing that was a pain was the supplied boom mic which was so delicate it was impossible to remove from it's resin pour base. So I have to make a new one from thin wire & plastic card, not 100% accurate but good enough for me.

Abrams Turret Work

Just a quick test fit of the machine guns & fitting the cable for the gunfire simulator in this installment. I used thin lead wire for the cable which is just the job. 

Stalled Projects Part 2, M1 Abrams

Time now to get the panda models abrams finished after languishing on the shelf of doom for some time. So tarps and packs primed & painted then fitted followed by some work on the figure.  I've used a valkyrie figure for the commander and it needed some putty around the arm joints to fill some large gaps. However he does fit well in the cupola. 

Some cabling needs to be added to the hoffman device next then I can begin weathering, figure painting & base building.

Tiger Models AMX-10 RCR Complete

Amidst a flurry of activity on the bench yesterday I've finally finished the AMX. Just shows what you can achieve if you pull your finger out and get into the zone. The base was first finished off with some plants carved from sprue before painting the green & earth tones. This was then followed by plant & stone painting before finally giving the grass a light dry brushing with yellow oil paint. 

The model was weathered with a variety of VMS pigments. The plan was to concentrate on the lower portion where most of the mud & dust would naturally accumulate with just a small amount added to the upper sections. Once happy with that I used various vallejo colours to add tiny splatters of paint to the lower sections. Finally the commander, antenna and gunners machine gun where added before mounting the model on the base.

It's been a rather protracted build but great fun nonetheless. The kit builds up really well and was great fun to paint too. 

AMX-10 Base Work & More Goodies

Slow progress since the last update but I have now got a base ready for painting before I start on the final weathering of the model. Again this is an old base recycled for this build.

Also more goodies have arrived for possibly my next project. A whole feast of parts to update and improve the AFV club Scimitar kit. I went for a new more accurate turret, LEP hull conversion, BGTI sights and Bowman radio box and associated antennas & mounts. It all looks very nice so will be a big help in making a bang up to date Scimitar.

 

AMX-10 Figure Done

Finished off the figure last night and matt coated this morning so it's on to the model and pigments next I think.

Stalled Projects, AMX-10 RCR

 With an empty bench I feel it's high time I re-visited my stalled builds from the beginning of the year in an effort to get them finished before tackling a few interesting projects I have in the pipeline. So I've decided to crack on with the tiger models AMX-10 RCR and have begun painting the figure.

It's actually almost done with just the head and helmet to paint which means I can quickly move onto the final weathering of the model using pigments and make up a suitable base for it. 

Meng Rolls Royce Armoured Car Finished

 Today I have finished off the project with the application of some pigments to the model and base. I used a mix of wilder & VMS sand tones which worked very well. The result is a nice dusty finish that doesn't cover the paintwork too much.

Again I thoroughly enjoyed this build due to the ease of construction of the model and the chance to paint the Caunter scheme again which is one of my favourites. Set as it is on a simple base I think it conveys the barren desert environment quite well.