Humbrol Clear

Posted by skarach on 19/05/2013

“a water soluble, self-levelling gloss medium that can be used to prepare painted surfaces for decals, as a gloss varnish and to improve the appearance of clear parts.”

I am always on the lookout for new modelling products and this one sounded like an alternative to the much used (but unavailable) Future (or Klear) floor polish. More recently I have been using another floor finish – Quick Shine - to good effect. Even so, I was keen to try this one. I tested it on all the acrylic paints which I use – Vallejo, Tamiya and Xtracrylix – with the aid of a size 6 brush. For larger, flatter surfaces (like a plane wing) I would spray it on but there were no brush strokes or pooling of fluid visible. Two or three applications were needed for a very glossy finish. Following this, I tested placing decals on the surfaces with the aid of Micro Set and Micro Sol solutions. They all proceeded well - with no obvious silvering effect. Spraying with satin varnish worked fine too. So, thus far I am very pleased with it and plan to use it again.

Saracen Mk 2 build – Part 3:Painting

Posted by skarach on 19/05/2013

Primer: Humbrol grey primer spray can

Base coat: Xtracrylix “British Deep Bronze Green” XA1814

Details: tyres, lights, guns, tools painted with paints shown in pictures.

TANKART

Posted by skarach on 14/05/2013

The title of this series of books by Michael Rinaldi – TANKART – is apt. There is indeed some phenomenal modelling and artistry on show here. Now, I might not personally like every single effect in some of the examples herein (in particular the German vehicles), but I wouldn’t mind having skills good enough to achieve them! Naturally, given my modelling choices, I am more drawn to the second volume (“WWII Allied Armour”). This contains some great warhorses – Churchill, Sherman Firefly, KV-1. These books have many things to teach me, especially in the area of weathering (much emphasis on the hairspray technique and pigments). The photographs are amongst the best I have seen in a modelling book. Recommended and I am looking forward to volume 3 “Modern Armour“.

Saracen Mk 2 build – Part 2:Assembly

Posted by skarach on 14/05/2013

Saracen Mk 2 build – Part 1:Introduction

Posted by skarach on 14/05/2013

The vehicle

saracen_duxford_small

[1] [2] [3]

The kit

airfix_saracen_box

Airfix 1/76 kit. [4]

This was the second kit which I tried upon returning to this hobby three years ago. I got substantially through the building and painting but at some point I must have got dissatisfied and it never made it into my collection. So, here is my chance to make amends. Of course, it is a little model – not my preferred scale – but I know of no kit in 1/35 scale.

References

AFV handbooks

Posted by skarach on 09/05/2013

conqueror_handbook_cd

Someday soon I would like to have a go at the Conqueror tank (Accurate Armour model), which is as impressive a vehicle as has ever been made. However, apart from this one model, it seems to be a neglected subject. Similarly for reference material, which I will surely need for this project. For example, there is no Osprey book available. I did find this website, though, offering authentic documentation on mainly British Army vehicles in PDF format. One of those was the Conqueror tank – “User handbook for Tank, hy gun, Conqueror, Mk 1&2, 1958“. Having looked through it briefly – it is 352 pages long – I can say without doubt that it contains immense amounts of detail. In this respect it would be most useful to me if I had a real Conqueror! But there are plenty of diagrams and photos to explain any mysterious items during the upcoming build.