Congrats on your OOB, looks really cool. I like the camo pattern and the jerry cans hanging on the skirts. I have seen this kit but never really looked that close. Way cool.
Gamera - thank you very much! I agree, that was was a good thing to do. I have prepared that wash by mixing some water and future 1:1, and I added Vallejo dark grey model wash to that, to thin it down. That worked all right.
armornut - yeah, looks like I have almost made it OOB! Thanks a lot! Althou it has its problems, that kit is definitely worth a look!
in today’s update I’ll post some final details, because that baby will soon be done!
Let’s start with the shovels - the kit has three (one for every crewmember) most 1:1 photos show three, but most model photos and the instructions show two - because that many fit. I decided to do something about it. I only kept the lowermost showel stock (almost), the upper two shovels were modified with a new handle and a blade made of sheet copper:
After some tweaking I was able to fit all three of them:
Please not the mesh at the end of the pipe and the antenna base - the antennae are made of guitar string.
I have also tackled the lights - I have painted them silver first, then I have put on a thin, translucent layer of gloss white. I have also made a new set of reflectors - the kit only gives you red decals and they are not reflective at all, my reflectors really work and have correct three colours:
I have also made the duct pipe leading the exhaust gasses away from the tank, complete with the peeling paint:
The exhaust hose is a kit part. The problem with it is that it comes in two halves and that leaves you with the problem of removing two seams running straight across the corrugation.
Pawel, once again your skills have gotten that “little bit extra” out of the kit. the shovel “solving” was inspired, the reflectors and head lights are top drawer.
As is the rest of the project.
I shall now repair to the dingy corner to weep for my own lack of talent
P.S. I was going to use Google translate again but there seemed to be too many words for tank. I might have ended up saying something like “beautiful work on an interesting cystern”[:D].
I always found this “tank” weird because it didn’t have a turret yet it was classified as a tank. I always considered it a ‘self-propelled gun’. Yet my opinion takes nothing away from the magnificent job that you have done. The camo is pure European and it looks great and the weathering is subtle but effective. Congratulations on a fine job.