Muddy M1A1 Abrams * FINISHED *

[wouter]

Leon, thanks bud. More gloss on the wheels? Yeah was thinking the same thing. Will done that later on during the continued weathering stage

Andy, thanks mate, like the picture you say? Don't think I'm there yet . A base...mmm...maybe something simple or so

Luigi, thanks bud, glad you like the dried mud so far ^^

Gary, thanks bro, yeah, it sure has!

Imatanker, thanks a lot chap

Cap'tan! Thanks Sir! And on the turret? Sure, rest assured it will happen

Hey Guy, thanks a lot mate!

Well, did a bit more. I gave the turret a filter to tie the camocolors together. I didn't have a suitable NATO vehicles filter, so I used the AK wash for NATO vehicles. Just gave the bottle a gentle shake, not to thorough so the mixture remains thin.



For the lower hull...I felt it needed a kind of pinwash...well it ain't a very neat pinwash, more like a muddy, grimey application to set of the details. I mixed AK Kursk Summer Earth with a bit of NATO rainmarks. I applied it with a fine brush, and then blended it into the surface using a very slightly damp flat brush (with White Spirit). One gets a bit of dirty stainy look. On some areas the effect is a bit too much, but I think I can tone it down later on using oils and/or some more muddy stuff. For me this stage was all a bit experimental, but that's one of the fun parts of the hobby I think




Cheers

[paulh.]

Wouter I like what you've done with that pinwash- great idea.
Also- I have the AK filter for NATO -and TBH its more like a wash to my eye(-but maybe its just my one)-the result with the wash works for me.I've used the was as a filter as well.
I also found that any tan or buff coloured filter soften things out reasonably well too.
Lookng forward, as always, to your next update!

P

[bullardino]

Nice update, Wouts. I agree, the pin wash makes the details pop on a finish that would be, otherwise, too even... Great job

[wbill76]

Very nice update there Wouts, was wondering how much detail you'd be able to bring back out after the mud bath, impressive!

[Leon]

Wouts,the pin wash is really doing the trick mate.The details really stand out.

[imatanker]

Looks great W. I wish all my experiments came out that well

[heico]

I've been following this one on FB, but better to take it right from the source isn't it?
Keep m comming!

[wouter]

Thanks for the great comments fellas!

imatanker: rest assured not all my experiments turn out that well
next update shows that: I got too carried away with adding mud deposits on the lower skirts and lower hull. I used a mixture of the previous used earth effects, mixed with some sand. I really didn't like how it looked AT ALL. Looks like sh*t to be honest:

this was one of the reasons why progress stalled here. That and the fun I had with the PzIII

Anywhoo, I thought I couldn't let this one sit in the corner so I'm trying to rescue the Lady.

I tried to cover up most of the mess with some pigments: AK Light Dust and MIG European Earth



it still doesn't look ok, but it is better already IMO. So next step would be adding a very light mist of Tamiya Enamel thinner to fix the pigments, and after that I'll be trying to rescue her a bit more using some OPR. Hope that turns out ok...fingers crossed!

Cheers

[deafpanzer]

That's an improvement we can say! Everytime I see your mud covered Abrams it makes me want to write 'WASH ME!' on it.

[sturmbird]

Jul 5, 2013 9:38:17 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

LOL! Actually I really want that Tamiya M1 kit... its expensive but maybe for Christmas from myself. (evil laughter) Great work on the tracks... they do have great details!

I have the Tamiya M1 kits laying around. The plan was to build an XM1 out of it, but just sorts lost interest! What I'd really like to see is for somebody like Dragon to come out with the XM1 and the Allison XM1 that was diesel powered. Littlefield has that tank in their possession.
gary

[sturmbird]

Jul 5, 2013 14:25:33 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

Looking good wouts! I'm not a modern armor expert but I think that the Abrams has a 'live' track system meaning there wouldn't be any sag at the sprocket or idler positions but I could be wrong...so encourage you to verify first before making any potential changes/adjustments in your tracks. I don't know that it will make much difference once the side skirts are fitted regardless but better safe than sorry!

we had a couple M1's at work, and they came in on two flat bed trailers. The shields, turret, and tracks were separate. Takes about an hour and a half to assemble the whole thing. Tracks have zero sag, and appear to be very tight. Any sag will often result in a thrown track. That first M1 (the other was an M1a1) was the one that created the big overhead door incident! The second one was the one that almost took out the Speedway police car that was blocking Grand Ave. from traffic while they were running it up and down the street in a light rain. He got within ten feet side ways with the cop's eyeballs as big as tennis balls! Needless to say that would have been one dead Crown Vic!!!

seems like it was just yesterday!
gary

[heico]

If you don't like the result, you could always go back to the beginning... Using Mr Muscle you can clear all paint without damaging the plastic. It's some extra work for your model, but i might be that afterwards you might be more satisfied.

[Deleted]

Nov 10, 2013 10:13:21 GMT -5 wouter said:

Thanks for the great comments fellas!

imatanker: rest assured not all my experiments turn out that well
next update shows that: I got too carried away with adding mud deposits on the lower skirts and lower hull. I used a mixture of the previous used earth effects, mixed with some sand. I really didn't like how it looked AT ALL. Looks like sh*t to be honest:

this was one of the reasons why progress stalled here. That and the fun I had with the PzIII

Anywhoo, I thought I couldn't let this one sit in the corner so I'm trying to rescue the Lady.

I tried to cover up most of the mess with some pigments: AK Light Dust and MIG European Earth



it still doesn't look ok, but it is better already IMO. So next step would be adding a very light mist of Tamiya Enamel thinner to fix the pigments, and after that I'll be trying to rescue her a bit more using some OPR. Hope that turns out ok...fingers crossed!

Cheers

The effect looks like it has stained the underlying paint and to me looks like wet or slightly damp mud when compared to the rest of the hull, It certainly has changed the colour of those lower portions. One way to save would be to continue this effect using streaks and runs of this darker tone along the sides of the tank.

[bbd468]

I tell ya Wouts, your a brave man to cover up so much of that sweet Camo, but compared it to your reference......you've nailed it so far me thinks! Great job brotha!

[Mence]

I know nothing about making things dirty but I think it looks pretty good!

[wing_nut]

YO Wouts' glad to see you back at this one . Ithink the save looks nice. I like that look. Just maybe a bit too even across the bottom. What about some streaking to get it to fade lighter as it goes up. That will look the s#!t.

[imatanker]

What Neems said. I like it.

[Leon]

Have to agree the the fellas Wouts .I really the the effect you have there.

[paulh.]

Wouts,
The earlier image with the fresh mud did seem a little off to my eye tbh- it was too even and consistent. However, the pigments do seem to have addressed that somewhat.I think getting some mud & dust on the shooty-box-thing will probably take the focus away from hull and even it all out.
HTH
P

[bullardino]

I like the save more than the "unsaved" hull. But I'd go with some streaking, achieving a more uneven look. My 2c.

[wouter]

Andy, thanks for calling it an improvement, though it's still sh$t I think

Heico: me and Mr. Muscle ain't best friends...tried that once on my full built Afrika Tiger with a lot of etch, and the Mr. Muscle totally destroyed it!

Smudge, thanks mate, sure will do!

Gary, thanks a lot bro...far too kind, you are (Yoda voice) ^^

Prof, thanks chap

Marc: thanks mate, indeed, way too uniform, streaking you say, aye aye Sir!

Dickylad! As with the lads above, you are way too kind mate, thanks for that. I stepped away from it, and still don't like it. But, I won't give up

Mr. Tanker, many thanks dude!

Leon, glad you like it...hope you like the update though

Paul, thanks a lot. Well, mud on the lower parts of the turret is the idea, hope it will distract as you mentioned ^^

Luigi, totally agree with you mate

Well...today I tried to go a little further. The lower hull got some more pigs applied, which I dragged up and down, to create some streaks, I did thesame with some thinned oil paints. Not too easy to do that over pigments. Still, a way off the endresult, but I think it's a (very little) bit better now.






I think the left side looks the worst btw

Anywhoo, thanks for popping in fellas!

Cheers

[bbd468]

Brother Wouts, i think it looks fantastic! Its not easy to pull the trigger and go that dirty for me, but if i knew i could get those results right there.....id do it in a heart beat! I for one LUV IT!

[bullardino]

I think you nailed it, Wouter. I really love the effect you achieved, it looks real mud. I wouldn't be surprised if it was moist to touch

[wouter]

whoa, you guys sure make a guy smile over here

Gary, thanks a lot bro. Likewise. I always like your restraint, yet powerfull way of weathering...trying to achieve that, but I always go dirty in the end...darn hard not to

Luigi, thanks mate. Rest assured, it ain't moist . Though, it might be a bit more, after I applied X-22 clear to the running gear and lower hull

jackwagon, many thanks for the positive comment mate. And don't you be too modest yerself Sir, you produce great stuff over here, both scratchwise as weatheringwise

I guys one of the reasons why I ain't happy is that I was trying the more or less exact looks as Fabrizio Pincelli achieved with his Leo2

I guess because the look of my Abrams deviates of that made me think it sucks. Well...you guys sure make me feel better about it. Though we ain't at the finish just yet

Cheers

[bbd468]

Wouts, I understand that we as modelers are our own worst critics and its so true for me, but i think your cuttin yourself short on your result fella. It is my opinion that if you were tryin to simulate what Fabrizio Pincelli did you did that and then some. It "simulates" his while still being totally YOUR weathering results which i find freakin AWESOME! Brother, ya done damn good.....no doubt about it!

[rbaer]

What Gary said....
Thumbs up!

[imatanker]

Mr. Tanker? You can call me Jeff  Gary is right with everything He said. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. You have put a lot of time and effort into this build and I think you have hit it right out of the park my friend  You should be proud. 

[Leon]

All of the above Wouts,you nailed the mudification buddy.

[wbill76]

I must concur with the esteemed Senor McBoggs Wouts! The results you've achieved are well-layered and have that 'real' look/feel to it. Even if it's not 100% what you thought you would get in your mind's eye, it's still a very nice result IMHO.

[bigjohn]

I agree with the rest of the fellas here wouts. Damn fine looking results!!!!! It looks just like a muddy M1 to me buddy!