I did finish my first armor model, and I think its not terrible! I just thought I would let you guys know that your dark side has claimed yet another victim, because now I have to do another one to do the different paint scheme!!! I know, this thread is worthless without pics, but my digital camera is broke!!! I will try to get a few taken with my film camera and get them developed this afternoon.
Updates to come!
Here ya go fellas, and please, tell me what I did wrong so I can get better! Thanks for looking!
I hope you like them, and remember, this is my first tank, so I know I did some things wrong. The color looks to light to me, but I was told it is correct, so I went with it!
I did some preshading, but its hard enough to see it in person, but its dang near impossible in the pictures, first time I ever preshaded and I think I got the paint a little thich when I sprayed on the topcoat, that or I just sprayed it on to heavy? Oh well, enjoy guys!
Congrats on your first build! The fact that you enjoyed it is what matters most, everything else will come with time and experimentation, look forward to seeing more builds from you in the future! [tup]
Hehe, another victim falls prey to the Dark Side. [}:)] A heady effort for your first try. Which kit is it? I’m sure the color is fine, though in the light it looks a tad light. Well done.
Thanks Tigerman and Wbill! Its the Tamiya M1A2 kit, which fit great and went together without problems! I have a couple more in mind that I would like to try my hand at, this one again probalby, just to do the 3 color NATO camoflage. I will post a couple more in due time! Thanks for the kind words again guys!
Overall , looks pretty good. Can’t see any obvious construction flaws.
Couple suggestions. The wash on some of the gear looks very heavy and almost non-existant on other pieces of stowage. Looks like you used black, try a very dark brown instead, it might blend in a bit more. Also, try mixing up a few different shades of OD for the personal gear so it looks less monocromatic. Probably the flash, but the packs look glossy. Since the rest looks quite flat, I’m sticking with the flash theory.
Put a drop if black in the barrel of the main gun. I can see the sides got your attention, but straight down the bareel looks to be body color.
I’m not a fan of preshading. It can easily be overdone or or just as easily lost as with yours. Try mixing some burnt umber oil paint to a very thin conistency and use a fine brush to apply this where you have raised detail and at the junction of panel lines. Don’t brush it on or scrub it on, just place the tip of the brush there and let capillary actio pull it along. You’ll get a bit more definition to the details. I can see you applied a heavy wash to the wheels, again, next time try a more complimentary color than black.
Don’t forget to give the tail lights some color.
One last hint to give your builds a bit more pop. If the spare wheel doesn’t have the open lug holes, well, open, drill them out with an appropriately sized bit in your pin vice. Adds a nice snap when you can see light coming through them.
Thank you ajlafleche! I think I am going to print out your suggestions and keep them for a reference! I was afraid the black was a bit much, but I figured if its been well used, there is going to be some serious grit and grime on it, but I will do that, thank you again! Your right, I did forget the end of the barrel, and I was gonna do that to! [:D] I reckon I can still do it… The gear is flat, its the flash, but I like the idea of using different shades of OD, sweet! I am going to have to build another one and use these suggestions! Thanks again Ajlafleche!!! [tup]
Thanks GunTech, but like Ajalefch… the guy above you said, I missed some obvious things, but now I know, and thats why I posted! I bet your glad I liked it… you armor guys, the first one is free, but the next one… [:D] Thanks for all the kind words and the advice guys!
Thanks Dave, I know I shouldn’t be messing around over here cause I will get sucked in, but dang it, the M1 is so cool looking! I’m an aircraft guy to, so I guess now I am on the medium side??? [:D]
I did make a base for it, took some decoritive sand that is very fine and put in a box I made out of trim and stuck her in it, looks better [:D] its a first for doing that to!
Hey Colin, [#welcome] to the dark side. We like dirt and mud so dont be afraid to dirty up the tank.
BTW, I think your photo is over expose. Maybe you use flash when taking the pics ?
Next time try NOT to use flash, but instead take your tank ouside during day time and take a pic with your camera.
For the tank, you may want to give it a wash with burn umber. The paint should be tainted thinner, and not thinned paint. The tracks need to be dust of with some pigment or color chalk to simulate dust.
The dark side is dirty and muddy, so welcome and build some more.[:D]
EZL , its me [:)]! Well i made a special trip to come over here and look at your first tank model and see whats up with it [:-^]. You chose a Tamiya kit , thats a good decision [^]. Its actually hard to tell if the paint is to light or not ,due to the glare of the lighting ( where’s my sunglasses [:D]) but it looks close . The above suggestions pretty much cover everything already . Thanks for posting the pictures of your first tank for us dude ! [tup]
Now i have the long trip back , but its been worth it partner ,see ya
The centre of the roadwheel hubs are black, as they are actually clear reservoirs containing oil. Of course, these things get pretty dusty, so it’s up to you whether you want to try to represent them. Perhaps just a light drybrush and localised wash.
Here’s what it looks like “clean”…
When you do the tail-lights, the semicircular lens should be red, but the slit below should be black.
The mudflaps at the front should be black, not the same colour as the hull.
The engine exhaust grille (the centre one on the three grilles on the rear panel) should appear considerably more “burnt” than the outer two.
I’ve really nothing to add, but I will reinforce what others have said. All these little fixes are worth doing, and pictures without the flash might be a good idea since the tank became a little washed out.
As a sidenote, my old ALICE Ruck used to sparkle in bright sunlight. Those bags are high denier nylon, sometimes they do that. Though the effect is not the same as in your pictures and I’m sure you weren’t trying to do that, I just thought it was a little interesting info. I’d say for a first armor you done good.
eizzle, if im not mistaken the M1A1 uses a jet style turbine engine so there is you loophole your not on the dark side. you are just researching some force powers that are off the beaten path
