I let my wife pick the next project

Modeling Subjects Armor
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As I’m closing up on finishing the three kits I have going (an IRL car, a Dodge Viper, and a NASCAR racer), my wife asked what I was going to build next. I asked which of the three I have waiting in the wings she thought I should do. (I really thought she was going to say the USS Constitution! Honest!) To my surprise, she brought me the Tamiya Leopard 2 A6 MBT (no 35271).

It’s going to be painted with Tamiya paints, and I am hopeful that I can get this thing built so that it looks good. I’m concerned with the acryilc paint lifiting when I mask, but that is for another day, after the build is mostly done. I was amazed to find that there are two peices (A7 on the instructions) that are to be used to keep the road arms properly positioned while the glue cures.

I’ve already found that I’m going to have to force myself to take some time with this one, as I want to just keep putting it together! I guess that’s a good thing, but when I get impatient, BAD THINGS happen. I may even take photos for posterity and maybe even a WIP thread of my progress.

On a related note, this is the first military model kit I’ve done since high school, and while the kit is more detailed than what I did then, and my world experience is greater, I’m a bit apprehensive about whether I’m going to screw it up. My wife and daughter have told me to take the chance and do my best. I guess I will take their advice, and at the same time take it slow and easy.My biggest fear is the decals, but there aren’t many, and they are mostly small, so things should be okay. And, since it’s my first of this type in so long, it’s gonna be a straight out-of-the-box build. I don’t even know if I will do any weathering…I’ve only tried that once (on an airplane) and the result was, honestly, bad.

Well, this post is getting long, so I’ll close for now. After saying that I hope to get my stash built up soon…I only have a few kits right now, and only two are waitng in the back. The others are in various states of completion, with all but this one needing just paint and decals. Wish me luck!

Michael

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Grats on having a wife that participates, even if it’s restricted to picking kits!

As for keeping the acrylics from lifting, that’s pretty easy. First make sure your parts are clean and free from release agents, oils from your fingers and dust. Then use a quality primer. The Tamiya Fine Primer is an excellent product.

Most importantly allow the paint time to cure fully. Note the difference between dried and cured. Acrylics dry very quickly (at least to the touch), but cure fairly slowly. Allow 24-48 hours curing time before masking.

Take your time, as you’ve already stated impatience leads to bad things! Enjoy the build, don’t rush the painting and consider a light hand in weathering, and you’ll do fine!

Oh, and Good Luck!

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Wow, your wife is a keeper. Have fun on the Leopard.

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I don’t let her pick anymore… Last three times she came home with jets…

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Well, my son keeps wanting me to pt a few jets together to hang from his ceiling. I’m going to have to indulge him sometime sson, just to get him to quit asking! (Of course, he’ll probably just ask for more, more more!)

Thanks for the tips, advice, and encouragement. I’ll keep you posted on it’s progress!

Michael

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She does not pick out my kits…I don’t pick out her shoes

She loves the models I build…I love the way she looks [;)]

As you can see, I don’t want to ruin a good thing.

Rounds Complete!!

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Michael

If you’re worried about the paint lifting, then don’t mask it either use some white/blue tac or paint the camouflage free hand.

Most common weathering seen for Leo2 is a light dusting over wheels. lower hull, rear and flat surfaces, easy to replicate with an over spray of buff/flat earth and some ground up pastel wash.

Good luck with it mate

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Last time I did that, she brought me a rake and told me clear the yard of leaves.

Don

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Welcome back to the dark side of modeling, MUHUAHAHAHAA!

We just made a fresh batch of cookies [:D]

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Why tape i used silly putty on mine and it came out great.

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I painted the camo on mine by just brush-painting the borders of the camo colors, and then airbrushing the rest in…

By the way–you might want to know; I was talking to some German tankers in Germany who crewed Leopard A6’s, and they said that when it came to painting their camo shemes, they didn’t follow any proscribed “pattern” or anything–they just got on the sprayer and painted it freehand in whatever pattern they came up with.

So don’t go crazy trying to replicate the directions’ schemes.

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Well, Doog, I wasn’t going to follow the directions EXACTLY, it is refreshing to know that the real-life guys did it in a random pattern. I guess that’s the reason they call it a random pattern :slight_smile: I know it’s SUPPOSED to be random, but the paint booth in Fort Hood (in the late 80s) had some template pieces that they just moved around. It was near random, and you had to look carefully to find the “pattern” to it, but it looked good.

When it comes time to paint, I will take care to be random in my camo-ing. Thanks for the tips.

Michael