Burn-0ut Russian T-30

[mel.]

Hi Guys,

I bought this kit mostly assembled on ebay. It came without tracks. I think it was made by Start - a Russian manafucturer. It is your typical Eastern European kit - rough and some out of scale details, etc. It looks like available tracks sets are a bit pricey and IMO not worth the investment. I'm not sure where I want to take this build - I'm thinking a burned out tank, perhaps as part of an diorama depicting the early days of Barbarrosa. I've made a few modifications and/or improvements so far (added a scrath built gun, replaced the engine grill, removed the fenders - to be replaced later, etc). I would very much appreciate any suggestion/comment/critique. Thanks in advance.

[spud]

omg that is Vile!

[TRM]

OK spud...let us know how you really feel!!

May not be the best-est of kit Mel but I think you direction is spot on!!! Burt out wreck...oh yeah!!!! Also eliminate the track issue too!!! Count me in!!! The painting and weathering is what will make or break it.....Have at!!!

[bigjohn]

Just sitting here looking at it, I wonder if Panzer II track would fit that lil critter? Might be someting to look into.

[mel.]

Spud: I thought it was very appropriate for Saint Patricks Day!

[spud]

Lol mel

[armorguy]

Mar 19, 2012 21:23:24 GMT -5 mel. said:

Spud: I thought it was very appropriate for Saint Patricks Day!

It sure is that kinda green !

[danb.]

Go for it Mel this is the fun of modelling i will be following this.

Dan B

[mel.]

Here's a quick update. Fenders scratchbuilt and battle damaged. I think the "damage" is a bit too repetitious - oh well, lesson learned. I replaced the driver's hatch to make it more "to scale." Finalized the grill over the engine intake. No changes to the turret since last post. I wanted to replace the horrible hinges on the hatch with photoetch ones, however, I have then in storage elsewhere. I decided to show the hatch closed as I did not want to expend time superdetailing the inside. I still have a couple of things to do, but I'm really itching to get on with the painting and weathering which is really the objective of this exercise. I must say the green styrene color of this kit grows on you after a while - I could swear that it glows at night - or maybe I've been inhaling too much Crazy Glue...

[mel.]

I added additional details (power cable for the headlights, wire inside the actual headlights -visible since the lenses are gone, and the on-board tools). I think it is ready for priming!

[mel.]

Primer is on! The "Kermit the Frog" color is gone. I used Vallejo Grey Primer. This is my first time using it and I have no complaints, it went on smooth and even. No smell, and it quicker to use since it can be used straight from the bottle. Sorry, the photos came out a little dark.

[TRM]

LOL....Now that is a completely different animal!!! Nice and clean primer work!!! Damage looks good....keep it coming!!!

[wbill76]

What a difference that primer makes! Very nice work...always love seeing the early war vehicles get done, so many that you don't see done often and this one's turning into a treat.

[mel.]

One last update for the day. Following Scrathmod technique (I think). I sprayed on a mixture of Tamiya Flat Brown with a few drops of Tamiya Flat Black. This is intended to lay the foundation for the burned/rust color. I think the next step is the Lifecolor paints? If anyone has a suggestion on how to best do this please jump in! The intended purpose of this exercise is to hopefully recreate newly destroyed/burned out tank that will be placed on a Eastern Front diorama. I'm still not sure of the lay-out.

[406 Silverado]

wow is that styrene a bright green. Good to see the painting stage. Nice work on the added details by the way

[mel.]

Well here it goes......I was stuck for a while trying to decide where to place the rusted/damaged area/how much area to cover with the tank "original" color. I decided to stop over-analyzing things and just take the plunge.

The Turret: I started with the turret because I figured if I muffed things it would be easier to strip the paint. I decided to use the Salt technique. There turret was previously painted with Tamiya Flat Brown and Black. Using the aforementioned technique I applied a coat of LifeColor Rust Base (UA 702). After the paint dried I preceded to remove the salt - along with what appeared to be the undercoat! Luckily the damage was not very noticeable. In retrospect I should have provided a clear coat to protect the base coat and didn't. Lesson One learned.

Since I wanted to show a bit of the "original" green base color on the turret I decided this time to try the Hairspray method. Before going any further I sealed the previous coat with Dullcote from Testors. This step went a bit smoother - I'm just not sure of the results. I still have to apply a final coat of Dullcote to seal the paint coats previously applied.

Hull: I lightly sprayed the top and side of the hull with LifeColor Rust Base (UA 702) and misted LifeColor Rust Light Shadow (UA 702) on top of that. I painted the non-damaged area with my rendition of Russian Green and highlighted panel lines with a lighter version of the same color.

I'm a bit unclear what to do next. I'm thinking that washes and pigments would be appropriate for the rusted areas, and the typical weathering for the Green areas.

As always your advice, recommendations and comments are very much appreciated!

[TRM]

Hey Mel! Looking good there!! I like the colors!!!

Unclear? You can manipulate the layers as you go. look at this as you base right now. Clear coat and try a little hair spray and salt on the outside edges between the burnt out area and the paint. Spray the salted area. This will give you a demarcation line of the burn and preliminary chipping.

[wbill76]

Can't help you with the rusting techniques mel but I think you're heading in the right direction. One suggestion I can offer (if you haven't already thought of it) is to remove the rubber portions on some of the wheels where the burned out areas are, unless you're planning for the burned-out portion to only be on the upper hull?

[mel.]

Having reached a dead-end with acrylic paints (at this point not totally happy with the results) I decided to liven things up with pigments and AK Interactive Streaking Grime and Light Rust. I used MIG black exhaust pigment and artist pastels - white and light gray - to simulate the charred areas.

I pin washed and streaked the rusted hull parts with AK Interactive Light Rust and Streaking Grime.

I used earth and dust color pigment to dust the under side of the hull and added a wash to the wheels and undercarriage. I still have to paint the wheels and the on board tools. Plus whatever else I have overlooked.

The Green areas were chipped with brush and sponge and washed with diluted AK Interactive Streaking Grime and filtered with Artist Oils.

I have new found respect and admiration (not like I didn’t have it before) for the kind of work Scratchmod produces – he makes it toasting and rusting a tank look easy - it is not, at least for me. But it is a lot fun!

[406 Silverado]

Mel sorry I didn't keep up on this one. And thank you for the kind words buddy.

You have it down right now. I was going to suggest some grays and blacks but you have done that already. This is the right look for a fresh burn out. What you can do right now to get the plates to stand out is take the darker LC rust, and dry brush some of the plate corners and some of the raised areas. It will give a moor three dimensional look to it. The key to rusting is in the layers, just like doing dust and earth effects. I call this rust weathering. You should try to keep the pigs til after you have the layers on and when there will be no clear coating. Then keep it to a minimum, and removing excess. You can work with pigs and acrylics building up layers but this take getting used to.

no matter what you do and how much you think it doesn't look...do not give up. One can add layers of different effects with different products to add more dimension, effects and tonal variation. That's the key to making it look real and not monotone.

[mel.]

Great stuff! Thanks for the feedback. This rusting and burning is addictingly fun.

[406 Silverado]

Yep it can be addicting....just ask T...lol

[multicam]

It's lookin cool Mel! Fun to watch.

[gerald44]

hello MEL §
I agree with him that MULTICAM and others to tell you that it is original and fun to watch!
to tell you in brief "it simply superb"

gerald friendly

[eastrock]

Mel that looks great!!! the green monster was turn into rust now your also a student of Rob's Rust College

[mel.]

Yes, I have joined the dark side, er, er, I mean the rusted side...

[mel.]

Here's the almost completed (I think) model. I want to include it in a Diorama and have started to construct the base. The idea is to represent a recently destroyed tank with advancing Wehrmacht troops advacing - carefully - past it. As always please let provide comments, suggestions, etc.

[wbill76]

Coming along nicely Mel, the color variations back to front really add some life to it. The dio idea with the advancing troops also sounds promising.

[mel.]

Dicky, thanks for the suggestion. I'll be sure to include some of that stuff.

Here's a preliminary and tentative lay-out. As always, suggestions and ideas are most welcome. Since the photo (and because of the photo!) I decided to repaint the figures. IMO something was just not right with them - too monotonous, etc. I repainted them with Vallejo Model Color Extra Dark Green and German Field Grey as the base. If there are any figure painters out there - or anyone else with a suggestion please chime in.

[mel.]

Thanks, it was a fun build. I've been a bit busy so not a lot of updates. Maybe I can post one later today or tomorrow.