Been in a modeling frenzy of late, so I decided to try doing a WIP of my next build. This one is for the current Winter Warriors 2 GB (no, it’s not too late to join!).
My goal for this one is to try to replicate the vehicle in these photos:
Going to need to come up with a decent method to produce the white tarps/sheets that are located about the tank - any suggestions very welcome here. The paint scheme won’t be nearly as difficult to duplicate as it looks initially…if you take a very close look, you can see that the pattern repeats, meaning that the fellows in the motor pool used a template to spray the pattern. So I will be doing the same! Just need to blow the pic up to 1/35 scale, then cut my own template to scale from either some thin sheet styrene, or heavy paper. Haven’t decided which yet. I think it will depend on how much stuff is “sticking out” after construction is done - if the vehicle is fairly devoid of obstructions, I’ll go with the styrene, but if I’m going to have to finagle the mask around quite a bit, I’ll go with something a bit more pliable.
For materials I’m using the Tamiya JGSDF Type 90 kit in 1/35, along with their own add-on PE, as well as their ammo loading crew set (which includes some of the interior in the form of the autoloader), plus the associated metal ammo set. I also have some Warriors Modern Japanese Tank Crew figs, hoping that I can produce some figs that might be worth putting into some of the hatches. [whstl]
Here’s where we are at the outset:
Plowed through the first few steps last night, dealing with attaching all of the suspension arms to the main hull tub, as well as some assembly on the rear panel. The remaining time was spent clipping/sanding all of the roadwheels in prep for a trip down to the basement to visit my collection of $.99 Wal-Mart flat black spray cans. First milestone:
Heading home VERY shortly to watch my Jets in the playoffs…will no doubt get a sizeable bit of construction done at the same time. [:P]
I am looking forward to seeing this one built! As a side suggestion, you may want to see about picking up the Tamiya Type 74 Winter version. It has the TC and driver figures in winter gear plus winter odds and ends like skis for stowage. You could always build the Type 74 in warm weather mode after you pirate the crew.
I’m looking forward to following this one. I want to see the camo scheme pulled off and you are the guy to do it. Are you going to do the barrel “cozy” as well?
A Jets fan? I knew there was a reason I liked you[:P]
That will be a fun camo scheme. don’t forget all the little paint drips. For the traps and the barrel Snuggy the tissue form a shirt with diluted white glue works much better than regular tissue. And there is this toot form Armorama…
Stik - that is reallllly weird…you know what I picked up from the post office this morning before work? A box that has both the Type 74 and Type 61 in it! Spoooky! Thanks for the heads up on the stowage, wouldn’t have thought to look for it. [Y]
Dave - the barrel will definitely be “cozy”! [:P] (especially after seeing the fit -yowza)
Wingy - cool toot from Armorama…I need to make myself poke around there more often. Lots of good info. As for the Jets, I knew you from Jersey, but didn’t know if you leaned more towards the Giants or not. Unfortunately it’s quite a drive, so I don’t get to games nearly as often as I’d like. Will let you know the next time I’m down! Tell me you have an extra season ticket!!!
Started in on the upper hull. Turns out that there are going to be a lot of sub-assemblies that will have to get attached after painting due to the way this tank is laid out. Some of it has to do with the tracks, and the large overhanging side skirts - it doesn’t appear that I’ll be able to slip the rubber bands between the skirts and the sprocket very easily…if at all. So I’ll have to do the priming and basecoating, then put the tracks on, followed by closing up the hulls, then any touchup paint before moving on to the second camo color.
After reading the Tamiya instructions that would have me cut out clear pieces of acetate to represent the ‘windows’ in the drivers hatch (and other places) I decided to try something new. The glass here never looks clear - it’s always colored, and even changes colors from different angles. Recently picked up some colored confetti at Wal-Mart just for this purpose. It’s quite thin, is easily cut, and it’s cheap. Took a pic here trying to show what it looks like when the light hits it in different ways:
You can see in the instructions where they provide a template to cut the clear sheets. I need to find someway to make that translate to the confetti, as it isn’t clear, and I can’t just lay it on top of that shape and score. Ideas? The Type 90’s windows appear to be a purplish color, so I tried both red and blue pieces…think I’m leaning towards the red. These will have to be added after all the painting is done, so the hatch will be left unattached for now.
Added the applicable photoetch up to this point, the most noticeable part of which will be the grills over the headlights. Holding them in place for now with some Blu-tack so that I can remove them easily to mount the MV Productions lenses that will be going underneath. I know I took a pic of this last night, but don’t appear to have it with me. [00ps]
Did a bit of turret work, then spent a bit of time reviewing the instructions for the open parts of the turret (the autoloader) that I’ll be working on tonight. Where we are right now:
Oh, great… two of you! Well all I have to say is: “Go PATssssss… what’s that? Lost?? AT HOME??? BLOWN OUT??? The RAVENS???..ummmmm, j-e-t-s, jets jets jets?” [:$]
Seriously though - great WIP brewing here, dupes. You know that I love that cammo scheme you are gonna attempt.
Hey, you got a pic of the package that confetti came in? I might need some for the Schutzenpanzer…
Sorry Marc, no season tickets. And really, I like both teams. When I worked in the city the guys used to call me Mr. October. I never really watched that much regular season of most sports. Some but certainly not all. But when the playoffs started, in just about any sport, I was all about the teams, coming into the office and spouting stats etc. Then when it was all over and someone asked me a question I would say, “Huh? What? You talkin’ to me?”
So you see Boyd, since I like 'em both, it still would have been 2 of us ganging up on you. Oh yeah the Jetsies are in the playoffs.
Marc you know I’m not a modern armor guy but I am looking foward to seeing the progress on this one.Especialy that cammo. Cant wait to see this guy at Downeast Con in March[t$t].
A Jets fan huh? Thats okay Dupes I wont hold that agianst ya. Besides after what happened to the Pats I really cant say anything bad about another team now can I?[:(((]
Was going to update the WIP today, but it turns out that my digital camera is SO old that the memory card reader is incompatible with Windows Vista…wow. Guess it’s time to upgrade. [:'(]
Will Photoshop the pics at home, then bring them to update tomorrow.
Between my personal tech woes and the endless forum errors (at least on my end), there hasn’t been much updating, but it’s time that changed!
Left off working on the headlight covers which were upgraded with Tamiya PE parts. They’re currently blu-tacked into place awaiting the MV Lenses which will go in after all the paint work is done.
After that I moved on to the interior upgrades in the form of the Tamiya autoloader set. This was obviously designed to be an easy drop-in for the kit, but I guess they decided to make it a separate purchase to rake in a few extra bucks. Can see where we start:
and where we finish after a couple of hours.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see much of the work done here as it’s only visible through one small hatch. Hoping that this at least gives the hint of more stuff packed inside the hull! Moved along through the steps putting the turret together. The radio antenna mounts received a bit of work, as Tamiya provides them with about a scale 1’ nub sticking out, which is nothing like what my reference pics show. The nubs were removed, and both mounts were drilled out to accept guitar string antennae in the future.
The turret was then wrapped up, including the PE mesh that fits into the turret basket. Here you can see a bit of the autoloader:
After double checking to be sure I hadn’t missed everything, I dragged a whole box of parts taped down to receive the black Wal-Mart rattlecan primer. 2-3 coats later, we’re up to date with where I am right now:
Tonight the base green will get sprayed, and the tracks will get painted (and mostly weathered). This will allow me to attach all of the rest of the suspension/roadwheels so I can button up the upper and lower hull halves which will allow me to start in on the camo.
Lookin’ good! Why not leave the reloading hatch open to make viewing the autoloader easier? Or, if you insist on it being closed, could you rig it to it is removable?
