A wargaming friend asked me to paint up a set of Armourfast/Hat 1/72 M10 Wolverines for him. This brand was new to me – economical, simplified, limited-part-count models designed mainly for gaming (and quick assembly), with single-piece track assemblies and a minimum of detail. These basic kits come two to a box without any decals – apparently the company also makes separate marking decal sheets, which probably makes sense if you’re doing a whole unit for gaming purposes.
The only guidelines I was given were:
a) one in plain O.D., one in some kind of camouflage;
b) ‘generic’ markings; and
c) Beat 'em up.
(Simple kits…simple instructions…I’m your man!)
I was also given a tiny p-e set made by ‘Haul,’ specifically for the kit – with two of each item; these were just light guard frames and handle brackets for the spade-grip MG handles.
Never quite being able to leave well-enough alone…I scratchbuilt breech blocks & a minimal interior (seats, stowage boxes, and shell-racks) for the open turrets. Added lamps made from tubing sections under the HAUL photoetched guards. Stretched-sprue aerials & strip ‘racks’ for fuel cans.
Paint was simple, Tamiya acrylics. The camouflage version was inspired by the EXTRATECH 1/72 ‘Superkit’ box art seen online. Multiple layers of good old-fashioned dry-brushing for weathering and wear. I sourced the markings from an old MicroScale HO decal sheet.
Quick, dirty fun! Hope you enjoy.
