The LAV hit a point where I need to airbrush. So I bought this for a project I’ve wanted to do for the past couple years. It’ll be a small diorama/vignette taking place during the battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939. I’m building it for the 1939/40 GB but will keep this thread updated for those who don’t view the GB forums.
Spent a couple hours on it today, it’s coming together pretty easily.
Got some more done this weekend. The only part of the build that has been less than stellar were the radiator intakes. The PE was both too wide and too long for the plastic slots they were supposed to fit in. This means gaps when put onto the model. I mitigated that as best I could and because of the angle the gaps are at, it’ll be hardly noticeable if at all in person once it’s done (hopefully).
You’ll notice my bungled attempt to snip the PE after I realized the lack of proper fit. I’ve never dealt with PE before so I’m not sure it was my technique or tools that messed it up. Oh well
In August I moved to an apartment and in doing so misplace notes I took when I was researching this project. All that is left (that I can find so far) was what I originally posted in the GB this is for. Since I keep forgetting what page it is on I’m posting here:
I’m going to try to depict an incident, that happened during the larger battle at Nomonhan (known as Khalkhin Gol to the Russians), on the night of 3/4 July 1939.
Main source of my research is from:
Coox, Alvin D. Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939. Standford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1985.
The incident I’m going to depict is described below in Coox’s work.
“From a distance of 50 meters, a Japanese superior private saw a tiny black dot jump aboard a tank, illumined by an enemy flar. It was Major Adachi, opening a hatch and trying to grapple with the tank crewman. Tracer fire from another tank shot him off the tank; he fell backward and was run over. The time was about 1 A.M. on 4 July (p. 333).”
More progress, I’m moving on to the turret. I really wish I had my airbrush here. I need to think more carefully about when I paint now. Also going to have to work on the tracks, they aren’t the rubberband tracks so this will be a first.
Thanks! I’m not going to brush paint, my airbrush is down at my parents’. They’re only an hour south (near Fredericksburg), but I’m used to being able to just crank it up and go. Now I have to be prepared because if I can’t just re-paint it the next day.
Anyways…I’ve started the figure. Never modified figures before (and I’ve painted only a few) so this will be interesting. But I figure (haha figure!) the TC won’t be seen as much so it’ll be a good learning experience. Ordered a Japanese figure too. Resin…another first.
Got started on the wheels/tracks today. All wheels are done, port side tracks done…not easy, but easier than I thought it’d be. I’ve never done any other than vinyl/rubber band tracks.
Cool, always great to see the wheels on and the model sitting on her own feet as it were.
And nice work on modding the figure. It takes guts to take a razor saw to a perfectly good figure but at least you’re starting with one of the cheaper plastic ones. Were you going to modify the resin Japanese guy too or is he closer to what you have in mind?
I know what you mean, finally starts to come together when wheels and tracks come on
I will probably have to modify it in some way but not sure yet. I’m not familiar with resin figures as I’ve never done one. The pose its supposed to be in may work perfectly but it really depends on how it fits on the tank as that’s where the Japanes Office will be. I have a lot of artistic license to work withas the only account I’ve found specifically of this incident is from the one quote by the “Japanese Superior Private”. And that it was a silhouette of Major Adachi on top of the tank…I have my own idea of what that looks like but I’ll see how it looks once I open that package and know what I’m working with.
Hey Josiah, been watching this build, so thought it was time I commented. You are doing a great job on this kit, especially considering so many first time aspects to it. I am a fan of Russian armor, and believe I will own this kit at some point, so thanks for the WIP.
The tracks look fantastic! Again, great job on something you haven’t tried before.
Thanks guys, got the other side’s tracks done. Just a couple more bits and pieces and looking over it to sand glue spots and what not and then it’ll be ready for paint.
Got the paint on. It was done in three layers. An almost black green, the base color, and a few (maybe a little too many) drops of white added to replicate the fading. Painted it by mixing craft acrylics that I bought this weekend. Trying to practice mixing colors for the figures when I graduate to oils. Green isn’t quite the hue/tone I wanted it to be but for first time mixing my own colors I’m happy with it. The fading is a little too light, almost looks like a winter vehicle, BUT I’m sure when I weather with the dot filters it’ll darken it down. Outside and indoors.
Untitled by Josiah McDonald, on Flickr
Untitled by Josiah McDonald, on Flickr
Untitled by Josiah McDonald, on Flickr
