Vickers light tank Mk VI as captured by Italians. Base kit is Vulcan’s 1/35 African version, plus some AM and scratch building.
I usually like to include some actual information to put the build in historical context, but other than two period photos, nothing found about these captured vehicles. This one in particular seems to have no severe battle damage. My best guess is the original owners abandoned it either due to mechanical problems or it got stuck in soft sand. Anyhow, the rest of the photos …
Truly stunning work as usual Jack. Really dig the careful Italian colors added for the captured look. If I’m correct, aren’t the tracks indy? [blndfld]
Beautiful build! I love the Italian colors for change of ownership. That is truly eye catching aside from your usual stellar craftsmanship! As a guess, British tanks were notoriously unreliable automotively, so I would venture that it was abandoned due to some form of breakdown and subsequently captured repaired and put back into service. How is that Vulcan kit?
garzonh, Eric,Stik , and M.Brindos - thanks very much guys.
The first photo was done by placing a close cropped picture of the vehicle over a suitable desert landscape found by google image searches. Before combining the two layers, a paint brush tool was used to add some dust clouds and shadows. The tool setting is quite large (think in terms of an airbrush with a wide spray area). Key is to have the tool setting at about 75% transparent and 100% feathered edge. This allows a gradual buildup in density, and avoids a hard edge.
The kit tracks are link and length. They aren’t that bad, but I found out, after already assembled, that the instructions have you mount them in reverse. Instead of trying to rip them apart, I tried some resin ones from IMA. I used about 5 1/2 lenths per side, and super glued them all together befor dipping them in boiling water. Eventually got them wrapped around the provided acrylic templates.
The Vulcan kit is actually quite nice. The main problem is the tracks, as mentioned above. Also they don’t provide enough links to create any sag, which isn’t a big deal on this desert version as you can hide any resulting gap behind the sand shields. There is also no interior detail other than the driver’s seat. Oh yes, the boggie assembly is a bit of chore with the tiny springs. Much easier to use some spare brass rod of much longer length than that provided in the kit. Once assembled, simply snip the ends to the correct length.
Wow Jack another fantastic build and again the figures are second to none. I was going to say how great the tracks look even before reading about them and the paint and dusting are awesome. Exhaust, bogies are great but overall I really like the paint work. Nice job Jack.
the doog - yes, not often you see six base colours on a tank, and a desert one at that. The British Caunter scheme contained three colours, usually portand stone, silver grey and slate grey. This particular vehicle is based on these two photos:
Agree completely about the base. Of the trio I’ve done over recent years, this was the least succesfull. I rolled out some green stuff just thick enough to get an imprint of the tracks. I did embed some ballast of various size on the surface, but overall it gives more an impression of clay than desert sand.
