T[h]ank You For Smoking... The Victorianized FT-17 Tank

[tigrazor]

Hi there...

This is a Steampunk-GB-entry for spamodeler.com and that one was really a tough decision: Originally the FT-17 tank - was to be built as "Ko-Gata", the main Japanese battle tank of the late 30s of the past century.

On the other hand, this gives a perfect victim for a steampunkish object. Make yourself an impression:



The chains cause loads of headache atm - theres three possibilities: Use the original ones. Okay, perfect. But Vinyl chains? Hmmmm. Option two:Resine cast. Friul possibly. Add the Ko-Gata kit price here. Three: Scratching. Possibly the most convincing method, but as time-consuming as it can get!

Oh and there will be a 75mm-figure of course:




Bought at scale75.com and HELLUVAFIGURE!!! *drool* Its ordered, but not here yet. and should fit the scale - im putting in a bit of artistic freedom here...

Please be ware that updates will come slow atm as I told you before. Loads to do - lets get it on [and yes, I wont forget about the "Czech Out!" dio ]


Regards

Lucas.


Now where was my

[deafpanzer]

NICE! Can I please have her telephone number? Please! Looking forward to this...

[tigrazor]

Nope, sorry. But you can have a picture of the base. Tried some new techniques here [stamping polydure with spare parts for example] and ist quite ready-to-paint! More verysoon!

Lucas.

[Teabone]

Aug 16, 2013 16:19:56 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

NICE! Can I please have her telephone number? Please! Looking forward to this...

I don't know Andy I think your wife may object to you collecting strange warriors phone numbers to see you don't catch something.

Bones

[tigrazor]

Harharhar... BLASPHEMY!

I made a mistake while I was cutting some styrodur for the base. Originally I wanted to cut off a suitable piece to place a Games Workshop rectangular base plate there for the technical look. Instead, my elbow pressed it into the foamed plastic and then I had the idea to use it as a stamp instead - quick and dirty, but convincing!

Another Games Workshop spare part [namely the head of a lance] was recycled and used as the top of a flag post.

The beautiful park bench Comes from MiniArt, as well as the lamp post

[wbill76]

Now that's what I call a happy accident! Makes for a nice pattern in the base.

[tigrazor]

Thomas, you wanted to see some sprue shots, yes? Okay then... loads of flashes here , but loads of details. The upper brackets consist of 14 parts each, the lower ones of 28!!! Every part has to be sanded, trimmed etc. etc. GRML. But I wanted it like that





The istructions are sometimes a bit confusing, additionally theres absolutely NO junctures. NOWHERE! GRML again....



A Detail I didnt even recognize as such were the seperate rivets! Now thats really clever.

[Mence]

Interesting idea, really looking forward to seeing this develop.

[deafpanzer]

That's funny I ran into many ladies dressing up just like the figure at GenCon today here in Indy. It was blast!

[tigrazor]

Dressed like this...




or like that?!

[Deleted]

That's normal on Fremont Street in Las Vegas.

Loving the tank Lucas, just loving it!

G

[deafpanzer]

YEP! Plenty of them... they looked great!!!

[tigrazor]

Hope the figure will arrive soon.

[Deleted]

Here it is!

[tigrazor]

What the.... UARGH!!! Got eye cancer Nope, thats not the one I meant. Definetely NOT

Meanwhile...








the door attachment seemed to be piece of cake - but wasnt at all. But that wasnt even the worst thing. The upper front conmsists of seven parts, that all have to be placed correctly - not too easy sometimes. The manufacturer says this kit is for Kids 8+. 8 years - honestly?! Hmmm. If even adult People get stoopid here sometimes - what do Kids do then?

Anyways, besides some tricky spots this kit has ist shiny sides. Once you struggled through the sometimes a bit confusing instructions and "learned it the hard way", you really get used to it and you dont care about the sisyphus effect Great plus is the big ampount of rivets. And dont forget about the rivets! Really nice...

[wbill76]

Kids just blow them up with firecrackers Lucas! Nice start to this one.

[tigrazor]

Today was my free day - yeah yeah yeah - and besides some things on the to-do-list I could shovel some hours of modeling aside

It happens sometimes that I rethink my basic idea - and the object changes. In this case that means that the beautiful park bench was cut off the base and was replaced by a Japanese resine bridge - a left over from the Samurai diorama i made some months ago. Okay, ist 28mm scale officially, but fits perfect here [and yes, theres small bridges in the world too ].

Why the replacement? Easy - After placing the tank on the "road" I regognized that ist more wide than I thought - and therefore no place where I can place the figure. Seems to be more conclusive now with a bridge - furthermore it really fits in the scene too, imho.

What do you think?

[deafpanzer]

Loving this especially the bridge... you are going in right direction!

[Leon]

This is looking awesome Lucas.Will be following it closely.

[tigrazor]

Thanks fellas...

YEAH!!! Mrs. Steam arrived. Can pick it up this weekend - pictures will follow of course!

[AndyArgent]

Composition is looking excellent in this.Can't wait to see how this turns out.

[Marcel du Long]

Very nice idea Lucas.
Especially the kitbashing of a FT-17, very inspiring.

[tigrazor]

Just checked your HP Marcel - AWESOME!!! And very inspiring.

[tigrazor]

Added some cogwheels and technical-looking stuf here and there:

[deafpanzer]

Me LIKE it!!!! Great modifications!

[tigrazor]

Thanks Andy. Last update for today...

The Bridge had been cut in half with a Dremel, some accessories were placed on the ground [boxes, small litter etc.] and the first paint is on. Pictures tomorrow!

[tigrazor]

Some People came up with some constructive criticism - that is always welcome btw-, and I did them a favour: The bridge was cut with a Dremel. Here a zig-zag border was created too. Resine box, small cartridges and a soldiers grave complete the Scene. Thats why I Need the cap for btw. Left side of the Picture Shows the "Dremel-version", right side the part as it Comes from the sprue. Wont work like that in a conclusive way, imho.

Whats to say about the color? Basically ist a dark olive drab and for the steel plates flat black. All acrylics btw, because of the styrodur, that will react immediately if youuse enamel Colors or even Testors here [thinner contents!]. After two layers of acrylics you can paint it with enamels, but you have to be careful. The Brown rust effect on the steel plates was created with Umbra Indian ink.

[Marcel du Long]

Great stuff and nice additions to the FT17.
Got one here myself and kitbashing this one is quite a good idea. (Alos due to the terrible engineering of this kit. 

I made a mistake while I was cutting some styrodur for the base. Originally I wanted to cut off a suitable piece to place a Games Workshop rectangular base plate there for the technical look. Instead, my elbow pressed it into the foamed plastic and then I had the idea to use it as a stamp instead - quick and dirty, but convincing!

As you said this looks convincing!
Loads of modellers stop after making mistakes. They use oven cleaner (after paint mistakes) or just start new projects. I never do that and always continue. In my experience these faults or mistakes are just perfect creative learning lessons and some new ideas are or have to be born. (How gonna fix or cover this screw up without entirely clean the model or starting again??)

Just checked your HP Marcel - AWESOME!!! And very inspiring.

Thnx!

[tigrazor]

Another "mistake" I made in the past was the use of powder sugar instead of Natron for snow effects. Haispray-sugar-hairspray gives good ice effects

[tigrazor]

Powder sugar plus hair spray gives good ice effects. Additionally, thin transparent plastic was cut into small stripes and White glue was added >> those are the icicles. The frozen river underneath the Bridge is simple White glue again.