hi guys
well with a delay but here is the last update for this build
so where was i last time
this was the last step from the previous update
the entire tank is painted with Vallejo german grey
this was then mixed with a drop of white to get a highlight color ,i think it is about 5 parts grey and 1 part white
but the best way is to just mix the color and see if you like it
i then started on the detailing
in this case i started with the tools
the handles where the first thing on the list
they are painted with a mix of English uniform and white from Vallejo modelcolor in a 4 to 1 ratio
this will serve as the basecolor for the wood
i then use Vallejo smoke
this was drybrushed onto the basecolor to get a laquered effect that looks like laquered toolhandles
i have used mr metal stainless steel to paint the cables and toolheads
the pigments in this paint is much finer then the pigment from Vallejo gunmetal grey so it gives a more even finish
although you can buff this paint i had decided not to do so
the mg cover was painted in a green grey color as a basecolor
and then i drybrushed on some field grey
this was done all over but i didn't fully cover the basecolor
i made the layer on the highlight a bit thicker so it would highlight those places
i then used ammo german grey base light
wich serves as a primary chipping color
i did this with a brush wich in hindsight wasn't the best method as a sponge would have given a more fine or smaller chipping
the larger grey chipping was filled in with ammo's chipping color
this was done as a test as i normally use Vallejo german camo black brown wich is just a bit darker then this paint
the fact is that the Vallejo paint is made for brush painting and is a bit thicker
the ammo paint should be thinned to airbrush but is almost thin enough from the bottle so it makes it harder to brush paint as it is already very thin
then i mixed tamiya hull red and red brown in a 1:1 ratio
this mix was used to paint the ring that gets covered by the cupola hatch
but i think that this was kept close during the painting so they couldn't spray paint inside so that ring was still in the primer color
although i am not sure that this was done but it gives a extra color in the otherwise grey and white wich helps the color variation
the handles on the hatch where drybrushed with the same grey that was used for the chipping while the center part was painted with Vallejo leatherbrown
that was later drybrushed with the same paint but with a drop of white added to it
the jack block was painted with the same wood color as the tools but this time i used mig productions wood ageing solution
this is basicly a brownish grey wash
although hard to see i then used AK filter for grey vehicles wich is a blue grey filter
the turret was done in this photo and i just started the hull
while doing this i watched a video on youtube where they mentionned i need to use a coat of varnish first
but as a true filter noob i didn't but i didn't know that in time
although it only matters if you are not all to sure about the color you will use
in this case i tested that filter and was happy with the blue sheen it gives
once the filter had enough time to dry the entire tank was coated with a layer of satin varnish
i then used pieces of white tac or poster buddies as they are known here to mask the grey parts and brushed ak worn effects on it
i prefer the somewhat milder worn effects over the chipping effects as i didn't want large chips in the white
and i had trouble with the chipping effects before so i didn't want to take that risk
this chipping effects fluid was used on the tols as this enables you to completly remove the new layer of paint
although it didn't work on the cables because of the gaps inbetween the strands
the white i used is my all time favorite white namely tamiya flat white
as far as i know this is about the best covering white paint on the market and although i am switching to aqueous paints this will stay in my paint collection
the masking was then removed
the grey looks very dark at this point
i then started all the chipping
the nice thing about worn effects is that you can remove the paint partially so there will be a thin layer left in some places
and there are some full scratches ofcourse where branches from trees and other things scratched through the white
the wheels where also chipped
i think i forgot about this but the bare metal is painted with mr metal stainless steel and the rubber tyres are painted with a mix of black and german grey in a 3 to 1 ratio
then the tools where cleaned and the tow cables where repainted
and in the back you can see the fire extiguisher is red , this was done with mr hobby aqueous flat red
this looks a bit bright at first but dries darker and actually comes pretty close to the actual color
top view of the chipping and scratching
i tried to concentrate this around places where i think the crew would be most and where there are hatches that they could slam shut
after a new coat of satin varnish i applied the 3 decals
there are the 2 number 3 decals for the sides and a elephant for the front plate
i then applied yet another coat of varnish
once that was dry i applied the wash
only a pinwash this time as dirt and such will be done with pigments
the wash i used was mig productions neutral wash wich is a grey colored but the thinner is more sand colored and i can't get it mixed that well as the paint particals are clumpped in the corners but the 2 tone thinghy works for me and it allows me to play with the wash a bit more
you can see the greyish wash in the weldseams here
the nice thing is that this color works for both the grey and white
some mig productions rust effects was used to make crude streaking
with a flat brush and a little bit of thinner the streaking was refined a bit
i then used ak fuel stains to make small fuel spills around the fuelcaps
i then added some oil stains with ak engine oil stains
i then varnished the tiger again but this time with matt/flat varnish
once that was dry i use mig productions europe dust for the dust effects and concentrated that around the large raised parts like the cupola and where the glasic and drivers plates meet
still the same step
the tracks where painted in gunmetal from tamiya first
then the outside was covered with a mix of ak fresh mud effects (thick wash that dries to look like pigments) and some plaster
this was applied with a brush and then as a final step i added a cleaning salt
i need to look for the name but it is used to calm the stomach when that feels to be burning
this was done when the mud mix was almost dry because moisture desolves the stuff
the bottom and sides (behind the wheels) where covered with the same mud mix
then the wheels and tracks where installed
then the exhaust where added
they are painted with several colors of the ammo rust set and these where sprayed on
and covered with a thin layer of old rust pigments from mig productions
i added a german flag wich was folded a bit to get the right lenght
the same rust paints where used on a small lenght of spare track and then i used the rust pigments again
i found a few 88mm or 8,8cm shells in my stash of ammo and painted them with mr metal brass
the ends where dusted with black smoke pigments to get the look of spend powder
this stowage was then added to the rear of the tank
then the turret was put in place and the entire tank was finished
so that is all for this build
i hope you like it and thanks for stopping by
untill next time
cheers Mark
