Really got bored practicing with the airbrush so plucked up some courage and did one side of the model. It's not a Dali or a Van Gogh but will do considering it's my first time.
I found this airbrushing thing quite relaxing. Learning another skill for when I go back to scratch building model engines. Fortunately (fingers crossed) I did not have any problems with clogging or water in the air.
Backside finished also.
I wanted to add some ‘soot marks’ around the exhaust and heat shield but I did not want it to be very dark as the idea is that this is a freshly field painted new tank so lightly used. After a lot of experimenting I used a dark wash and sprayed from a distance.
Tried to use the paint masks to do the German crosses but found out that the mask will not adhere properly to the zim and as such there would be paint bleed under the mask. So I used the paint mask as a template to cut another mask from a wide piece of masking tape which adheres better to the zim. This worked a treat although it involved a lot of extra work. I also fitted the track rope to the side of the hull.
Finished the hull roof and engine deck and they are back in place. Not perfect but not too bad for a first timer with an airbrush.
Finished the turret roof and turret bin.
Collected all the barrel camo photos that I could find but wasn't in the mood of pencilling in the camo scheme and painting it. So instead, I did the turret wrap numbers. As the paint masks I have are not good to be used on zimmeritt, I used the paint mask as a template to cut another mask from paper based masking tape which adheres better to the zim.
And the finished numbers.
Painted the two unit markings pink and as I was on a roll fitted all the bits and pieces (tools). Finished (at least that's what I thought) in two years minus two days. Decided to take some photos of the tank but after the second shot - disappointment.
As Mutley used to say: “drat and double drat!” I totally forgot to do something on the road wheels!
I nearly ran out of the green paint and the importer dId not have it in stock but it was ordered. So even if I wanted, I couldn't do anything. So I decided to make another late turret ventilator just for fun.
Finished the turret ventilator. Etch primed and assembled. It took longer than expected but it was fun. Changed some dimensions and it looks better than the one I had installed.
Part 25 here Part 27 here
