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Ratch · Posted: Fri 30 Jan 2009 10:40 am Post subject:

Nice work

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stuzzar · Posted: Tue 10 Feb 2009 19:51 pm Post subject:

Thanks Ratch

Got some more painting done, more weathering will be added once the tracks are on.

Cheers

Stu

Cees Regeling · Black Star Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 27

Hello Stuzzar, looks very good!! Coming along nicely.
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stuzzar · Posted: Mon 16 Feb 2009 23:38 pm Post subject:

Many thaks Cees

On to the tracks, they truly are awful things

To get a bit of flexibility I carefully sliced between each tread, not all the way through, then rolled them up a few times.

The tracks seem to be about 2-3 treads to long so I trimmed off the guide teeth over the last few treads and then sanded this area, applied some gel type super glue, this gave just enough hold and allowed me to get a small staple through which I then flatened with pliers.

Once on the tanks they were then given a thin wash of Revell acrylic anthracite. When this was dry I painted the rubber blocks with undiluted anthracite.

Next up the three tanks were given a dusting with powdered pastels, this will hopefully tone down a little once the matt varnish is sprayed on.

Just need to give a coat of varnish, there will be a little more weathering and then I will call it a day with these.

Cheers

Stu

Ratch · Posted: Tue 17 Feb 2009 16:55 pm Post subject:

They look great Stu Clapping

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and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

TimJ · Posted: Tue 17 Feb 2009 16:59 pm Post subject:

Great looking Lees.

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Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Tue 17 Feb 2009 18:12 pm Post subject:

Very nice job.....Those pastel powders worked a treat!

All the best
Sgt.S
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stuzzar · Posted: Wed 18 Feb 2009 00:34 am Post subject:

Thanks chaps, most kind

Cheers

Stu

feanor · Posted: Wed 18 Feb 2009 07:13 am Post subject:

Ayup Bruv...

Have you varnished the Lees yet? i want to see how they look please... (insert 'Impatient' icon here)...
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stuzzar · Posted: Wed 18 Feb 2009 11:13 am Post subject:

Ayup Bruv.

Haven't had time yet, hopefully tonight if I can dodge out of the constant stream of chores that Mrs stuzzar keeps finding for me.

Cheers

Stu

feanor · Posted: Wed 18 Feb 2009 11:51 am Post subject:

Ayup Bruv...

No worries, sorry to be a pain!

I've just this minute finished sealing in my Churchills decals with Klear, what would you do next? i've got some MIG Pigs mud, so do i spread a bit on it, then matt down?

I know i could do an oil wash once its dry, but what do you think? it's the crocodile...
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Remember: 'The Dude Abides'...

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stuzzar · Posted: Wed 18 Feb 2009 12:16 pm Post subject:

Ayup Bruv...

Haven't used the MIG pigments before so am not to sure how they work

With the ground down pastels that I use a coat of matt varnish just helps to stop them wearing off to easily, I guess that the MIG pigments are similar and a coat of varnish would serve to protect them

Sorry I am not much help on this, but here is a guide to using MIG pigments from the man himself.

Cheers

Stu

feanor · Posted: Wed 18 Feb 2009 12:27 pm Post subject:

Ayup Bruv...

Ta.
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Remember: 'The Dude Abides'...

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stuzzar · Posted: Wed 08 Apr 2009 20:58 pm Post subject:

Here are some pictures of the Lees, just about finished, I tried out a new matt vanish on these as I am unable to get hold of any tins of Testors dulcote

The new varnish, 'anti shine varnish' from Warlord Games works pretty well although it has knocked the pastel dusting back a little more than I would have liked so I may give another light dusting just to finish them off.

I will not be putting any unit signs on these as I want to be able use them for various units. i am still undecided whether to leave them as they are or to add another pastel dusting

Cheers

Stu

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Thu 09 Apr 2009 03:10 am Post subject:

Maybe you could give the running gear and lower hulls a spot more dust and grime and leave the raised portions as they are? I really think you should give these lads some tac markings though.....They look a little plain without them. Perhaps just a generic square, triangle or circle and a 30ton bridging plate for a bit of added colour? Think

Just a thought, all the best
Sgt.S
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Ratch · Posted: Thu 09 Apr 2009 17:26 pm Post subject:

I concur with Andy

They look so nekkid with no markings at all

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The new No. 2
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IPMS 10983

stuzzar · Posted: Fri 10 Apr 2009 12:56 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the suggestions chaps, know what you mean about them looking a bit bare, may add some tactical signs, perhaps some red circles to add a bit of colour.

Cheers

Stu

Brews · Posted: Fri 10 Apr 2009 15:38 pm Post subject:

Great builds, Stu. Here's my 2c worth:

Mark them in the unit that you're most likely to use, because who is going to nitpick them when they're being used in a wargame as a different unit? Alternatively, when you do use them as different units, apply appropriate temporary markings. They're still going to be the best M3s on the table.
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stuzzar · Posted: Mon 20 Apr 2009 15:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks again for the comments chaps, having had my arm twisted a little I have decided to mark these up as tanks from C Squadron of the 3rd Caribiniers, from what I can make out they had a very large hand painted white allied star on either side of the hull and the usual tactical signage with tank numbers in white inside of them. Hopefully that should make them look a little brighter.

Cheers

Stu

stuzzar · Posted: Wed 29 Apr 2009 21:16 pm Post subject:

With arm duly twisted up back I have now added some form of markings to these and thereby finished the build. As mentioned earlier the plan was to paint very large white allied stars on either side of the tanks and also to add tactical signs possibly with tank numbers inside of them. Searching through my decal collection I was suprised to find that I had far fewer tac signs than I thought and had to cobble together some from various suppliers. Among the collection were some old Airfix Crusader decals from which I took a few red circular tactical signs the others were from Skytrex, the latter were terribly out of register as can be seen from the following picture

I had to touch the white areas of these in wth a little red paint, this went surprisingly well

As can be seen the large allied stars were hand painted, as on the 1:1 scale versions (although they probably made a better job of it

). I then had to dirty down the newly painted and added markings, sadly the old Crusader tac signs have silvered quite a bit.

I then gave them each a couple of coats of matt varnish and another dusting of ground down pastels.

Here are a couple of close up pictures of one of the Squadron

This was another of my childhood favourites from Airfix and was/is quite well detailed, the running gear in particular are nicely done. The main problem with this kit is the poorly shaped Grant turret, with Airfix policy of updating old kits it would be nice to see this one given a corrected Grant turret and some sand shields.

Having said all that I am quite pleased with the way that these have turned out and even more pleased that I listened to the suggestions and added markings, they certainly finish the tanks off. The only draw back now is I will have to dig out my Matchbox ANZAC infantry and start painting them.

Cheers

Stu