International Scale Modeller

Hello!
This is my first serious attempt at scale modelling. Everything is new, tools are new and I am scared.
This forum is the source of great inspiration and information and I will try my best. Tips, advice and critique are welcome

The model is Tamiya 1:35 Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Sd.kfz.171 Ausf.A
Old kit, bottom of the tanks hull shows 1969



A little bit of Milliput putty.




Most parts are washed and ready for priming.


My first airbrushing ever!



Was terrifying, but I'm pretty pleased

Used AK Interactive grey primer.

That's the first kit I built too. I did WAY worse. Good job so far man.

Looks great so far mate! Look forward to seeing it progress

That's an incredible start bud. Well done.
That kit is a real stinker too, you made it look quite passable... Well done dude!!!!
That's awesome.

A great start, excellent priming and you're from Worthing too!

Can't wait to see how you get on.

Looks good so far well done

This was also my first kit in armour and I have built several of these

You and me also... Lets do this!!

Good Start mate. Good luck and happy modelling

Thank you guys. You are very kind

PaulAyrey wrote:A great start, excellent priming and you're from Worthing too!
Can't wait to see how you get on.

Hello neighbor!

Nev wrote:You and me also... Lets do this!!

Lets do it!

Looks like an absolutely great start! Way better than my first.

Impressive start my friend that priming is better than mine

Thank you guys.
I think the primer is rather forgiving, plus the benefit of the blurry phone camera

Nice clean build Good job with the putty and priming.

Thank you Hillbilly : )

Had a go at pre-shading, also known as "my hands shacking" airbrushing, haha : D
Too much perhaps?

Used Tamiya Black flat XF-1.

Good airbrush exercise. I will get there eventually

Guys I wanted to clearup small area after priming and before I knew I sanded down a primer off.

Now, would you spray it with primer again, or just leave it for base coat?

Thanks!

Impressive first kit! Outstanding neat and methodic approach

Great pre-shading, and you should be ok to apply your base coat without touching up.

Looking really good mate. I picked up a tip that sanding before adding the primer is the best way with the acrylic primers. I have yet to try out this theory mind

Your so much faster than me I'm still building

You can brush paint almost all primers and they level out just fine.mthat little spot shouldn't be a problem to touch up with a brush.

Thank you very much guys.

Coen wrote:You can brush paint almost all primers and they level out just fine.mthat little spot shouldn't be a problem to touch up with a brush.

Thank you Coen, I will do that, for peace of mind.

Managed to pretty much remove all evidence of pre-shading

One of the lights in the kitchen, I meant spray booth, went off as I was doing the damage. So I blame the lights.

All together I'm having fun

keep going mate - good work!

Man, your first model kit? You perform like an expert already!
Can't wait see your finished Tank! I bet you will make some badass models in the future!

Thank you for kind words guys:)

Hi there,

That looks great ill be starting my first kit sometime this week as soon as this cold ive picked up leaves me. Any advice you've learned from your first build that you think another newbie could use?

Thanks
countzero

Thank you countzero.

I'm just starting so don't have much to offer yet.
Try to order stuff in bulk. Don't repeat my mistake of placing many orders. Make a list of tools, paints etc you need and try to buy in a as few orders as possible to save on shipping. The initial cost will mount up fast, at least that is the case in my experience.
Get cheap model to start with so you don't worry too much about making mistakes.
Watch International Scale Modeller on YouTube. They have ton of helpful advise and tutorials.
Ask questions if not sure. This forum is great for that.

hope it helps a little

great stuff you doing a cracking job on your first build

doing great keep it up

Cheers guys

Started to paint camouflage, with mixed results...

Masked with white Blutac, wrapped in cling-film, cut out needed areas, sprayed.




Wanted defined edges, and it worked well, however Blutac despite being white left stains As you can see in photo bellow.


I sort of hope it will evaporate by tomorrow, if not I can't recommend using it for masking...
It doesn't look as bad in the flesh, but a bit annoyed. Still intended to finish spraying camouflage masking it like this for the sake of uniformity and even if stains stay I hope with varnish and weathering it will not be noticeable.
I guess my first test model serving it purpose, I'm learning

Also cleaned my airbrush and realised that I was using Thinner to clean it instead of Cleaner... Scrubbed it pretty clean
Still cleaned propper after.

Oh dear....I haven't used white tack for masking before, but have watched it done many times. After seeing your results with it, I think I'll stick to my paper masks! Hope it disappears and can be hidden by the clear coats and weathering if it doesn't Other than that, you're doing a grand job!

Good progress. Keep it up !

Thank you guys, much appreciated

UKguyInUSA wrote:Oh dear....I haven't used white tack for masking before, but have watched it done many times. After seeing your results with it, I think I'll stick to my paper masks! Hope it disappears and can be hidden by the clear coats and weathering if it doesn't

It's still there, so I hope varnish and weathering will tidy it up.will see. I'll use paper masks or maskol next time.
Hope to finish camouflage today

For a first its looking really good. You pretty much nailed the hard edge camo. keep up the good work.

Thank you

Here is a much better choice instead of blue tack, panzer putty. It's a joy to work with and funny to play with
http://www.mxpression.com/miscellaneous.html

Keep up the good work

Thank you gustavlekstal

And I present you the oddest Panther camouflage (turret not finished)...


I now officially hate BluTac. Never again To mask with it was a Pain and camouflage pattern turned out to be not exactly as desired... And I still have to finish the turret! I wish I just bought Maskol for this... Or didn't do camouflage all together...

During the last two weeks I was trying to remind myself that my first effort is likely to be pants. Reckon I now one step closer to make it true. Sort of sucks...
Also being total noob, I used to much primer and paint I'm sure, going through airbrush cleaner like drinking water and too slow (everything takes ages)

I have bad experience with maskol over large areas. It gets down in small areas and gets harder to get off than blue tack and it's hard to get good lines.

Good luck!

Beautiful paint job

Mate for first go it's bloody great better than I can do!

That's why we do it on the cheap stuff so we learn lessons I got this kit to try out some paint jobs in the future. I'm not fussed if I stuff it up, as only got it for 12 Quid

I take it white tac still leaves marks? I saw a vid on using paper masks and white tack blobs holding down but may change my mind if I do a camo scheme



Nev

Thank you for your kind comments guys.
Looking at it this morning it doesn't look too bad, though I'm not entirely satisfied with the pattern. But hey it is first time
Masking it however was very time consuming and didn't work well. I masked it first and after wrapping it in cling film was cutting areas for painting out. Sound easy but cling film just didn't want to come off nicely and being pushed in blutac instead of being cut through in places. New blade would help too.
It's all learning though.

Most impressive , Your airbrush work is great for Your first time You're a natural mate.
I highly recommend Panzer putty ,great stuff .

Thank you kind Sir

So






Quick looksee with the wheels

Despite little problems I had with it the camouflage is done, yay!
All in all I'm quite pleased with the result.

beautiful camo.

Nice paintjob dude! I'm impressed your wife let you into the kitchen!! Mine kicked me out to the garage

Thank you guys.
We dont have a garage Nev, and she's been very patient with me

Nice camo pattern, well done! Look forward to seeing it weathered.

Nice painting mate. That looks damn fine.

Wow! Cool-cool-cool camo pattern!

Camo looks extra - good work mate. I look forward to more