This is some of the progress I’ve made on my 223 project. Tamiya’s old but goldy (ca. 1975 molds). I detailed the interior. Figured all that open space had to be filled with something. I made the bulkhead supports from styrene card stock and the rest is built or taken from my spares stash. The stowage straps are copper foil. The seat is scratch built and the upper deck has the corresponding dash board and steering wheel. The doors were detailed and the biggest part was making the control column , mg mount and seat for the machine gun.
The suspension bothered me so I made shock abosrbers and suspension springs and removed the blob of plastic that was supposed to represent that and installed the new springs. The control cables that run down along the sides of the undercarriage were replaced and some detail added to the underside. The mud is a mix of glue, fine clay, some sand, a little plaster and mixed in with a appropriate color. I then used a stippling effect with a toothbrush to spatter it as if it were kicked up.
I kind of like this grey finish. Don’t see alot of them done up this way. I originaly wanted to paint it grey then do the dunkelgelb overspray and play with some paint chipping and paint wear but when I had finished painting the grey just sort of stuck with me. The markings are painted on. I do a three part weathering. A wash with oil paints to bring out detail lines and then I dry brush with a lighter version of the base color to get a sun faded look and to add some depth. Then I drybrush the road dust over that in areas. Lower carriage areas I air brush the road dust on. For alot of my dry brushing I’ve beenusing the Americana acrylic paints. They have a consistency to them that makes for easy dry brushing and a longer working time. They make way too many colors but they are inexpensive for some quality paint. Usually 99 cents for a 2 oz plastic squeeze bottle. ( I probobly have well over 100 of these paints, and use them for lots of faux painting effects, murals etc. other than modeling).The colors available are pretty much anything you would need.
It has a little tweeking to go yet and there is the display base to finish, but I kind of wanted to see what you guys thought so far.
As always, any and all commentary/criticism welcome. Thanks.
MIke, great work on a classic Tamiya kit. I have that one in the wings waiting to be built. I like the grey scheme as well. Thanks for posting the build.
Mike Awesome job. Its going to make my 222 look like beginner work. Wanted to do the interior of mine but i wasn’t sure I was ready to scratch build anything yet. Although I did scratch build the water can mount on mine. Just didn’t like the ones with the kit.
Very swish, Mike… Looks nice and fiddely! Must get one!
One thing, and thats bothered me with my own wheeled vehicles too… When a vehicle hoons around through crud 'n stuff, shouldn’t the said crud be up in the treads a bit more?
Matt, saw pics of the work on your 223, I should feel timid. Your work surpasses mine. I’m anxious to see your finished product.
Michael, I thought so too, but there is alot of raod work going on down here (mainly new roads so lots of dirt and sand) and this is the mud bog capital of the world and I’ve been looking at things like the way dirt and mud get thrown up on truck tires and wheel wells as well as tracks (albeit on road equipment like bulldozers and backhoes) but still, I’ve noticed that if the wheel is run on a relatively dry road, even a dirt road, the crud that would get caught in the treads is thrown clear of the tire. Other than maybe some stuff caked around the hub or rim the wheel itself is pretty clean, discolored, but clear of alot of detrius. The wheel wells and sides of even pick up trucks down here though…
Wildwilliam, alot of the interior infor I pulled from afv interiors website. Most of the info is on the 222 but they do have a page specifically on the 223. Other info was pulled from what ever I could find in the library or off the web. There is a completely rebuilt 222 out in Las Vegas that is very impressive and there are a couple of re-enactor groups that have a chinese version of the 222 that seem to be available still. Very close, won’t hold up to close scrutiny but close enough for some reference.
Joe, give the scratchbuilding a chance. The armor stuff is alot of square angles and flat surfaces, unlike the airplane stuff that is all very rounded and made for going fast. Best way to pick it up is top jump right in.
Base is almost done and this one will be put to bed. When its all complete I’ll shoot a couple of more pics and then move on to the next project.
Again my thanks. Is this not a cool club or what…?
Mike : I wouldn’t change the grey color . It looks great as is , I do agree that camo is way overdone in german armor , but it is fun to try to pull off . It just looks like it is right offa the russian front . Nice interior work too .[8D]
