Hi - thanks for meandering over to check out my “in between projects” build. This is a quick, bare bones, OOB build of the AFV Club M18 Hellcat. Yea, I know…it’s missing a mantle cover. I’ll put a cover on the next M18 I’m planning to build early next year…which will be much more detailed and will include AM engine compartment, AM 50 cal machine gun and AM turret interior.
The first four photos were taken in my garage. The last one was taken outside in the driveway. It’s amazing to me how much the impression of color is affected by the lighting.
Here is the shot of the M18 sunning itself outside in the driveway.
Larry I think this is a nice build overall! Nice paint, subtle weathering–a nice harmonious composition! It could use some silver wear on the drive sprockets and track faces though. I’d like to see just a trace of dust or dirt on the wheels and bottom hull too…
The only other thing I would recommend on OD or darker vehicles is a slight drybrushing of a tan dust-like color to bring out the lines a bit and add some depth if you haven’t already done that! [:D]
I agree it’s a little too clean looking. Your suggestions are good ones, which shouldn’t take me a lot of time to do. I’m definitely going to try the tan dry-brush to try to bring out the highlights a bit more.
You always have very practical and constructive comments. Thanks a lot Doog.
The different tones in the paint job are very nicely done. Subtle variations but very effective. A nice build. I agree about maybe seeing a little bit more signs of wear, especially on the lower hull , tracks and wheels tough. The paint would chip off of the teeth of the sprockets as soon as it would leave the manufacture.
Looks good from here Larry, nice work. The difference in color resolution in your pics is likely because of the white balance setting on your camera. If it’s on auto white balance, the camera isn’t compensating accurately. If it’s on manual, you aren’t setting it properly.
Wait a minute Larry…this isn’t Russian! [:D] It seemed you were building a lot of them lately. Hehe Ouchies on the broken track. Darn one-piecers! Didn’t the kit come with link-and-lengths? Yah, a bit more weathering will really benefit it.
Yea - definitely not Russian. Thought I would try a couple of others before I get back into it. I’m also about 3/4 way through a DML jagdpanzer IV build and just started a Tiger II. After these I will probably head back East to support the Motherland. I still haven’t built a T-34 yet…or a KV-1.
OK, I’ll rough her up a bit and repost. This is where I need to be very careful. I sometimes find that my “finishing touches” can prove fatal. But I should be able to add some dust, bare metal and a bit of highlighting without causing too much damage [B)]
Once again Ze Tigerman’s keen eye identifies a mishap. You’ll laugh about how I botched the tracks (pretty hard to mess up rubber band tracks, but I usually find a way to do it). I discovered that my cordless soldering iron is perfect for melding the ends of the track together. I must have been getting sleepy or something because it appears that I laid the soldering gun right on top of one of the tracks inadvertantly [oops] . Melted about 2 links of the track…I salvaged part of one of the links, then had to sew the track together with some copper wire. I was hoping it would not be too noticeable.
The kit came with only the rubber band tracks. No link-m-length or indie tracks. I think I need to attend a “track” clinic or something because that is currently one of my problem/frustration areas.
Well, onwards and upwards…
Thanks for the feedback everyone…I really do appreciate it.
Always love seeing one of these built up, with it being one of my favs WWII vehicles. You did quite a nice job on this one. A little clean, but there is a lot of very subtle weathering that I like. The rubber on the road wheels is a little too clean and looks a bit too stark, IMO.
Thanks Zokissima ! Per the comments below + yours I plan to muss it up a bit, but not a lot. I’ve seen some restored M18 photos and love the overall looks of this AFV when it’s clean. In my most humble opinion, the M18 looks best when it’s been spit shined and made parade ready. It just seems like more of a sporty vehicle than most WWII AFVs. Plus I heard the ride is unusually smooth for a TANK destroyer - that good ol Buick suspension I guess.
I hardly ever paint the rubber parts of the road wheels. I typically shave black pastel chalk and apply it onto the rubber section with my fingers. I like the look vs flat black paint.
I have 2 more M18 kits to build…and my next will be highly detailed and war ravaged. At least that is what I will be aiming for.
Eric - If I really like a vehicle, I always get 2 or three kits of it. In this case I really like this little duck. I’m currently building the DML Jpz IV L/48 Early Production. The others I have are the Italeri L/70 and DML L/70 A-O. The A-O is a really superb kit that comes with metal barrel and PE sideskirts and clear plastic periscope lense.
The only problem area I’ve encountered is fitting the upper and lower hulls. If the rear fenders are not installed perfectly…I mean perfectly, the back end halves won’t line up. But that’s why I have a Dremel [:D] .
I’m anxious to complete this and post some pictures, because there are two Firsts for me on this build - (1) first attempt at zimmerit and (2) first serious attempt at a cool camo scheme.
I used Eduard PE zimmerit, which looks OK, but it didn’t come with a mantle piece, so I was on my own with that part.
