Just finished this little Hasegawa kit of a Crusader Mk III, 6th Armoured Division in Tunisia during 1943.
Built up quickly and well with all the usual and minor issues with an older Hasegawa kit. Some sink marks and seams needing to be filled and location holes needed to be opened up
Painted with Vallejo acrylics and weathered with oil washes and MIG pigments. This was the second time I have used MIG pigments and have tried some of the techniques as demonstrated on the MIG Pigments DVD. The results, in my opinion turned out quite well.
Tracks were a nightmare but look good now the wrestling with installation is done!
Mile, this is truly a superior build! The paint and weathering look perfect–spot on! Pretty decent details too–I like the hose goinginto the fuel tank on th eback–I’m going to guess you added that? (Hasegawa kits usually weren’t that detailed if I remember?)
The base is really cool–what is that; a mouse pad?!
Thanks Doog. I am liking braille scale armour so much, I am not sure if I will go back to aircraft in a hurry!
The external fuel tank feed pipe was included in the kit, though I used some brass rod suitably anealed and bent to replace it.
The base is essentially a MDF drink coaster from the craft section of a large chain hardware store. Costs around 90c and is great for this sort of thing. I used various grade Woodland Scenic materials. I then painted the materials with earthtones washed with the same MIG pigments used to weather the Crusader so as to tie the base to the tank. Woodland scenics foliage was then added.
OMG…the base is a drink coaster?! Great looking vehicle + great looking base. Admirable work Mike…I’m always amazed at the level of realism you achieve with such small subjects…[tup]
Well done Mike, I just wish there is something that could have been done with the out-of-scale shovel. Oh well, it’s still a worthy build. Clever idea for a base too.
I know it’s not braille, but Italeri has a couple of nice Crusaders in 1/35, a early Mk1, II, & III.
I thought long and hard about removing it or conceal it with a rolled tarp, but decided to leave be. A number of blokes told me to replace the turret with the Airfix one. But seeing as I do not have that worthy kit or cannot get that kit, I had no option but to go with the flow. Instead I used this build to get a Crusasader onto the shelf & to practice some new techniques on. [:)]
I actually do have a 1:35 Italeri Crusader in the stash, plus a resin conversion but not sure what version it is.
WOW Mike. I looked at the post and didn’t realize it said 1/72. Wouldn’t have known if ya hadn’t said so. real nice work. The ground work is real nice too.
very impressive. dito to what wing nut said. this was my first glimpse at your work, and i’m blown away at how much detail you pack into such a tiny tank.
