Many characters have gone to the underworld, so I decided to burn myself a little leaving aircraft and visiting the obscure side of modellism assembling a tank (or burn definitely in the modelling world). I lost my head for a Revell Germany Merkava mk-III 1/72 . I assembled it, and painted it with Tamiya XF-51 Kakhi drab, attenuated with 20% Model Master Insignia White to scale it down.
Tracks are the same colour, with the centre line dry-brushed thoroughly in Clem Aluminio enamel (Clem is a Mexican Brand). Tracks seem polished that way in a webshots photograph.
I used Atl olive green (Atl 217) oil colour, mixed with Atl 229 burnt shadow oil colour at a 1:1 rate, dissolved with Atl odourless thinner (Atl is a Mexican brand). Then the mix was washed thoroughly along folds and sulci in the model.
To give it light, I mixed again Olive 217, burnt shadow 229 (Atl brand both) and Titanium white Createx (another Mexican brand). I compared it with the Tamiya XF-51 bottle, until a similar shade to it appeared. I lightened it with more Titanium white and regulated it a little with Reeves Ivory black oil colour. It was carefully drybrushed on the model and I wiped of excesses rubbing gently with a cotton tip.
This is the result: (please click on the thumbnails to display the photos)
There is still a little way to go. Even the skirts and machine guns are missing.
Many thanks to Mario Bonilla, Aarón Jefick, and especially to Ramón Pérez Becerra, Mexican tank modelling specialists.
Well, I first thought of posting it in Armour, but I believe it is not very interesting to see such a humble model in a specialized forum. I believe it is more interesting as a technique, and there is even a post asking if it is safe to wash without sealing. That’s the reason.
I am very sorry, doog, I apologize. I myself was surprised to see thumbnail sized phots, but I followed Phill’s advice. It seems there is a failure with imageshack, but clicking to the right, just outside the thumbnail (cursor is still an arrow, not a hand) opens a regular photo. Now, a Merkava has a rubber tire, but I have found some photos where it seems very thin or encased in metal.
Tracks need reworking; they need more metal and oxide, dirt comes after. Anyway, it’s a first try and the good thing is that the washes and drybrushing worked without sealing. By the way I usually seal with clear acrylic (usually GUnze or Tamiya).
Do you recommend posting images through photobucket instead?
Thank you very much for your interest folks, greetings from Mexico,
Polikarpov, I recommend Photobucket on ly becasue I’ve seen several posters on here having the same small picture issue with ImageShack. Photobucket seems to be a much more stable site. It’s very easy to use.
