Meng A39 Tortoise, Dripping Wet, and Finished.

[johnt]

Hi folks

Here is my latest build. The Meng kit is based on the first prototype P1 at Bovington. Mine will be P4 during trials 1948. Therefore a few alterations have been made as per the real vehicle, as far as I can tell from photos.

The aftermarket stuff has arrived so now the assembly of this wee beast is finished. The Besa machine guns are from Passion Models; the round hatch on the side is from the AFV Magazine shop. The cast texture was made more random using Mr Surfacer 500. Extra welds were made from stretched sprue softened with liquid glue, plus various details were made from brass, aluminium sheet and copper wire.






See you again when there's some paint!

Cheers
JT

[deafpanzer]

Looking great already! Can't wait to see it painted next...

[wbill76]

Count me in! Can't wait to see what you do with this beast there JT!

[johnt]

Many thanks guys, The challenge here will be to restrain myself with the weathering. Just a bit of dust and dirt from a day or two of trials rather than a battle weary appearance. Don't like my chances

Cheers
JT

[rbaer]

What a beast! It's kind of fun to imaging this thing in actual service, had it become necessary.
Extra detail work looks very good.

[bigjohn]

Looking good JT. Looking forward to your restrained weathering, LOL

[Deleted]

nice work looks great

[wbill76]

Jan 31, 2014 10:07:42 GMT -5 johnt said:

Many thanks guys, The challenge here will be to restrain myself with the weathering. Just a bit of dust and dirt from a day or two of trials rather than a battle weary appearance. Don't like my chances

Cheers
JT

You'll do just fine...and it will be a nice change of pace for sure!

[johnt]

Hi, many thanks guys! You crack me up Dicky, sorry to surprise you with my hurtling tortoise!!

And if the restraining of the weathering thing don't work out and it gets way too dirty for a prototype, well it'll be a what if. As in what if JT Calls it a fictional subject to avoid criticism, at other less friendly forums.

Or what if I say ferk it and let them get in a frenzy over it....

Cheers
JT

[losboz]

Superb build John

Looking forward to some paint

Los

[johnt]

Hi Los, thanks!

Here's an update folks.

Before paint I washed everything with soap and warm water. Then the products as shown in the photos:


I'm trying to mix a color like SCC15 here.


If you try the following technique then a good coat of Dullcote is essential.


The first light layer of dust.


Then an even coat of hairspray, not too thick. Then airbrushed buff in a thin coat.


Next is a trick I just learnt by accident. I mixed equal parts of water and windex. After the last coat of paint had dried for 2 hours I took a large soft brush and doused the whole surface with the windex/water. Don't scrub. Wait 5 or 10 seconds then rinse it off with water, I used the shower. Let it dry, don't brush the surface or touch it while it's wet, unless you want streaks like the ones you can see here.


You end up with this cool random pattern like dust. And it's set when dry and does not come off.

That's it so far, see you again soon!
JT

[johnt]

I should also add that windex is a glass cleaner, it's main ingredients are:
Isopropanal, 2-Butoxethanol, Ethylene, Water, and Ammonia.

I think it's not available in Europe, but there's probably similar products you could try.

Cheers
JT

[Gordon Ferguson]

Think I may be trying that technique this week , John. ...........Looking great

[deafpanzer]

Once again thank you for sharing another great tip... I will try that one day. Dust streaks look pretty good and natural...

[johnt]

Thanks guys! Yes Dickey, I'm not sure how it happened!! I'm so clumsy.

Okay confession time, the truth is I started out using the hairspray tech for adding a broken layer of dust. I didn't like the result so I tried to remove the HS layer and dust paint by windex. I went to rinse, but the model wouldn't fit in the sink (it's attached to a temporary base) so I used the shower. When it was dry, not all the 'dust' was gone, but what was left looked really cool!

Here's a few more shots of the result so far. Still a bit to do yet.




The exhaust was first painted using washes of Vallejo dark rust, light rust and yellow rust, mixed together on the model while the washes were still wet. Then the hairspray technique was used to add the green.

Cheers
JT

[ceresvesta]

Woweee! John, this is eye candy mate! Thanks for sharing the shower technique...Taking your model with you in the shower, THAT, my friend is dedication!

Following with great interrest.

[Deano]

Yes very nice technique John , great results there!

[bullardino]

Fantastic job, I was really hoping you'd blog it here. The full explaination is really useful, nice technique

BTW, here in Italy Windex should go under the commercial name of Glassex. Dunno if it's the same in other parts of Europe.

[wbill76]

Very nice progress on the Tortoise there JT! As for showering with your builds, perhaps that raises more questions than should be asked...

[Leon]

The tortoise is looking mighty fine John :)Thanks for sharing the great tip.

[Deleted]

Now that's a Mutant Ninja Turtle!

Accident or not that looks superb.

If I wasn't afraid of MrsG I'd be showering with my kits too.........................

G

[bigjohn]

Looking really good John, You always have a good eye for mixing paint.

Write this one up for an article and the next fad will be showering with your models

[Deleted]

Looks very good indeed

[rbaer]

If I start bringing models to the shower my wife won't let me play with you guys anymore.
Superb Tortoise, by the way....

[danb]

Another great build log JT what a monster :0 nice SBS on the dusting technique does this mean we gotta all start installing showers in our caves to recreate JT's special weathering dusting effect lol thanks for sharing buddy

Dan B

[johnt]

Aha...yeah, probably shouldn't have mentioned the shower...come to think of it

Thanks for that info Luigi. Cheers

Hi Dan, I have always thought a good man cave should have a shower and toilet, bar fridge, pool table, bar, Jacuzzi, secret door into adjoining club, for starters....

[johnt]

Hi guys.

I've been adding pin washes and some stains with Oils thinned with White Spirit. Colours were mainly Mig Productions black mixed with basic earth.




I can see from these photos the engine deck needs more contrast. See you again soon, cheers.
JT

[ceresvesta]

Getting better and better JT!

[dupes]

Sweet so far!

I'd be a bit worried about incorporating windex and the shower into my builds...

[wbill76]

Coming along nicely JT!