ACADEMY HETZER - Complete & Whitewashed! (04/03/14)

[bullardino]

Ben, I used it (the True Earth version) on my YA-12, and I used it on a matt surface. But I always weather on a matt surface

[deafpanzer]

Man, I miss doing decals for WWII tank... bet you added just two or three decals unlike my Challenger with 35-40 decals! LOL Can't wait to resume my WWII builds...

Your baby is looking sharp!

[Deleted]

late for this one Ben been on me hols! I would experiment with the white wash first on a scrap model or something. Try it with a matt base coat and a gloss and see which one works best for you. Not used this particular product myself.

[Hinksy]

Feb 28, 2014 15:06:38 GMT -5 @snipersmudge said:

late for this one Ben been on me hols! I would experiment with the white wash first on a scrap model or something. Try it with a matt base coat and a gloss and see which one works best for you. Not used this particular product myself.

Cheers for the input Pete - will do

Just a very quick update guys. The roadwheels have been done, weathered and fitted along with the dreaded kit tracks (link and length).

Various light filters have been done and some panel line washes added. Just got to get the Schurzen fitted tomorrow and the extra details painted andI'll make a start on the whitewash.

Tracks were really easy and took an hour to do both runs. All they need is some black drybrushing followed by highlighting on raised areas and a brush over with Track Wash.

Got a good feeling on this one - really pleased with how the running gear looks Sorry for the crappy lighting on the photos!















If you were wondering what the weird stuff is on the Schurzen brackets it's Humbrol Maskol, yet to be peeled off exposing a nice clean surface onto which the Schurzen will fit - in theory!

Any tips and comments all muchly appreciated fellas,

Ben

[deafpanzer]

Looking good!!! If you are planning to do chipping, go easy this time.

[bullardino]

I like the result so far

[desertrat]

looking nice,like the effect on the running gear,

[reserve]

Nice work Ben, you going for a solid or worn whitewash?

Regards,
Mark

[Hinksy]

Mar 2, 2014 2:13:46 GMT -5 reserve said:

Nice work Ben, you going for a solid or worn whitewash?

Regards,
Mark

Cheers guys - comments appreciated!

Mark - if you look back a few posts you'll see where I posted a link to Mig's new range of products called 'AMMO'.

The stuff I'm using is called 'Washable White' and when drybrushed on very lightly allowing the basecoat to peep through. Water then needs to be brushed over the paint surface and left for a minute to soften the paint up - it then needs to be 'worked' and the white rubs away away leaving more of a 'faded', patchy whitewash. This Washable White remains workable until you give it a coat of varnish to seal.

If I'm not happy with that look I'll go with the chipping soloution which, as you can see from the you tube video, leaves a much more distressed and damaged look.

I'll be getting the schurzen on today and doing some more detailing (Periscopes, tools, Jack and Block) then onto the whitewash coat.

Update later!

Ben

[bbd468]

Lookin nice brother Ben! Man, im ready for the White Wash....pen and paper in hand, ready for taking notes.

[wbill76]

Looking forward to seeing it with the WW on Ben, making good progress.

[Hinksy]

Hi fellas,

Just another 'quickie' update. She's all done and the w/wash is ready to go

I've detailed a few bits that I want to show through after the washable white has been applied and then worn. The Schurzen were the last bits - I didn't bother with using the Brass sheet for this one in the end. I just chopped the one piece Schurzen into panels and they look ok. I've also put on a few more filters and streaking effectson the basecoat.

So, I'll wait for a few hours now then put on the dullcoat and either tomorrow or Wednesday. I'm pretty busy tomorrow so I'll have to see - I want plenty of time to be able to mess around with this white paint to get it spot-on. The garble says the washable white paint remains workable until it's sealed up with a coat of Varnish - I'm talking next day workable, you just need to get it wet again and seal with varnish when happy. More washable white can be used on top and so on.

Here's where I'm at - whitewash time









Once I'm happy with the w/wash I'll get the muck on top of that along with the winter streaking grime and track wash. Nearly there!

Cheers fellas,

Ben

[desertrat]

looks nice as is!! did you use the oil paint dot method? looking forward to seeing how the white works,
i ve only ever tried the hairspray technique,

[Hinksy]

Mar 3, 2014 12:39:59 GMT -5 desertrat said:

looks nice as is!! did you use the oil paint dot method? looking forward to seeing how the white works,
i ve only ever tried the hairspray technique,

Cheers D.R.!

Nothing fancy on this one - just a few light layers of brown AK filter followed by various colours of streaking grime just pulled down the sidewalls.

I could do a bit more detailing and call it done but I really want to try this whitewash paint - gotta push myself to learn new stuff I suppose!

My main 'quandry' is what to build next? I've looked at the stash and have ruled out a few of the bigger Dragon head Stonkers for now so will have to decide between:

i) keeping the 38(t) theme alive by building Tamiya's early Marder III?



ii) Have a change of direction and build Tamiya's 105mm M4A3 Sherman - something very different for me?



iii) Dragon's Panther G Late with the single steel wheel at the rear on each side?



IV) Dragon's Kharkov Pz.IV LAH?



What do you reckon guys?

Personally I'm quite fancying a Panther build - it's a nice looking kit and I've got the Friuls for her BUT I've also got Winterketten Friuls for the Pz.IV G and the correct Friuls for the Marder BUT think the Sherman build could be cool too? Aggghh!

All input appreciated!

Ben

[bbd468]

Hey brother Ben, lookin forward to that White Wash!

Man, id love to see ya do the Panther! I built that kit about 1-1/2 ago but never finished the weathering. Built up real nice bro and i went for the alternate camo and markings. here it is:










If the Pz IV is like the F/2G, its a great kit....one of the best Dragon offerings ive built.

[Hinksy]

Mar 3, 2014 13:25:47 GMT -5 bbd468 said:

Hey brother Ben, lookin forward to that White Wash!

Man, id love to see ya do the Panther! I built that kit about 1-1/2 ago but never finished the weathering. Built up real nice bro and i went for the alternate camo and markings. here it is:










If the Pz IV is like the F/2G, its a great kit....one of the best Dragon offerings ive built.

Brother Gary - you never fail to let me down!

The fact that you've built this Panther already means you'll be a very helpful 'guide' so that's it - I'm building the late Panther G

I'll more than likely be building the box art version but I'll worry about that later. I'll drop you a pm re the build.

Cheers buddy,

Ben

[wing_nut]

Looks great there pal. Gonna look cool with the WW.

Your next build is not in that list. You've got a Stukaa to work on mister! I like all those choices but a Panther build is alwaya sweet.

[desertrat]

having just done the marder 111 , if you want a quick and easy build, go panther!
the marder is very involed, lots of sub assemblies,due to being open topped,gun on full view
even the seats need to be built and painted separately!!! looks nice when done,
Did you get hold of the book by the way?

[Hinksy]

Hiya fellas,

Well, I'm glad to be able to report that the Hetzer quickie build is done

I wasn't really planning anything fancy - a simple OOB build with a worn whitewash and a 'cold' feel too it!

This is the first time I've tried the Washable White from the new AMMO range and it's brilliant. It won't give you that torn-up, ragged distressed w/wash that you get from using the HS or Chipping Fluid methods but more of a naturally faded look which works well.

First attempt was a VERY light coat allowing the basecoat to peep through. It dries almost instantly so I gave it 5 minutes then hit it with a wet brush. The idea is to let the water penetrate then brush the surfaces until you get the result you want. The first time it was too wet to I dried it off, gave it another coat and waited 10-15 minutes then hit it with a damp brush, not a soaking wet one. I found that brushing the surfaces to start with then dabbing at the surfaces with a paper towel allows for a much more controlled and effective looking finish - I'm sold!

After the white was dry it was sealed with Satin varnish and a light brown filter brushed over the whole model to take the edge off the stark bright white - good move! Some AK winter Streaking Grime and Track Wash was applied and it's looking good.

I want to go back and take some of the white of the wheel hub walls and outer track horns, touch a coouple of bits up and add some extra detailing but that can wait for now as I want to pull off this one now and get started on my Panther G build asap as it looks like a cracker.

All I can say is next time you want to do a simple w/wash - get some of this washable white!

















Thanks for following along guys,

Now, best get geared up for this Panther build!

Ben

[elco]

This is looking nice dude, i got to get my hand on this stuff. Can you buy this separatel?

[Hinksy]

Thanks Elco!

I got mine from here:

www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/ammo-17ml-washable-white-camo-a-mig-024.html

I think it was only available to start with as part of AMMO'S 'Soviet Cammo' set but obviously it's available on it's own now.

I'm sure most places will be selling it soon - the link I gave you was for a UK shop - not sure where you are based?

Either way, you fellas need to be asking for Ammo 17ml Washable White Camo (code # A.MIG-024)



Hope this helps!

Now, where's that Panther

Ben

[elco]

Ok, thnx mate. I saw it in the set but good to know you can by the bottle as a stand alone now

[deafpanzer]

This is killer work... love the weary faded WW! AWESOME!!!

[wbill76]

Looks like it did the trick for you Ben!

[Hinksy]

Mar 5, 2014 20:47:36 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

Looks like it did the trick for you Ben!

Thanks guys,

Glad to see you fellas liked the WW effect - I hope some more of you will give it a go as I'll be real interested on seeing the results others get.

Just remember, 10-12 mins drying time, go easy on the water and definately use a paper towel to 'work' the product - I found a brush to be very unforgiving but that said I did try with a stiffer bristled brush - a chunky softer haired brush may be better.

I've left the bottom of the vehicle covered in the product and haven't touched that area yet so I'll go back and use that as a test area the next time a w/wash is on the cards.

I've gone back to it just now to clear the white off the wheels and tracks which has helped the overall appearance - I'll get another couple of photos up when I start my next build and have the camera out.

So, I'm off to build a Panther - the blog has been set up and work will commence on Saturday

Thanks again for following along guys,

Ben

[bbd468]

Well Ben, i must say...ya sold me on the Washable White! Looks great my friend.

[wing_nut]

Like it? Love it! Looks a treat for sure.

And so glad there is another product to buy. I figured I had everything I needed. Yeah I know.. EVERYTHING! Like THAT will ever happen.

I really do like the look of the stuff though.

[Tojo72]

Washed up real nice Ben

[desertrat]

looks real nice, i'll definately try this out!! alot better than hairspray.....

[bullardino]

Nice ww Ben