Primer: Mr.Hobby “Mr.Primer Surfacer 1000“. Yes, this company’s products have strange names! But I was getting dissatisfied with using the Tamiya “Fine Surface Primer”, either direct from the can or decanted – I was getting a more uneven surface (dust? paint drying too soon?) than I would like. I have never had any joy using any other type of primer either. So, given that I use the Mr.Hobby “Mr.Color” range of paints a lot these days, I thought I would give their primer a go. I thinned it as I do their paints (1:2 mixture in Mr.Color leveling thinner), spraying in two separate light coats. Once dry, it looks a nice finish to me. I haven’t tested it on covering metal or resin, but, I expect it will work fine.

Base coat: Firstly, a 1:2 mixture of Mr.Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black and Mr.Color Leveling Thinner was sprayed all over. Then, a 1:2 mixture of Mr.Color “Russian Green (2) – USSR tank late WWII” (136) and Mr.Color Leveling Thinner was then sprayed over the black base. After this, 4:1 mixture of Mr.Color “Russian Green (2) – USSR tank late WWII” (136) and Mr.Color “Character White” (107) in Mr.Color Leveling Thinner (1:2 ratio of paint mixture to thinner) was sprayed onto the upper surfaces to lighten it somewhat.

Details: The details were painted with the various paints shown in the inset picture. I don’t doubt that the finish is somewhat simplified, especially the engine, as it was hard to get to it with a brush in the assembled model. A 1:2 mixture of Mr.Color “Clear Gloss” (46) and Mr.Color Leveling Thinner was sprayed over the entire model and the decals applied, which were then protected with gloss paint again.

Figures: The figures were painted with the various paints shown in the inset pictures. I have to doubt that the accordion is authentically painted, but it’s good enough for me. After that, they were sprayed with a 1:2 mixture of Mr.Color “Clear Gloss” (46) and Mr.Color Leveling Thinner.

Diorama base: As this is quite a small model, I thought I would use a suitable base for it to rest upon. A simple cobblestone roadway from Fields of Glory Models seemed ideal to me. I sprayed it with Mr.Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black and then Tamiya “RLM Grey” (XF-22) – a 1:2 mixture of paint and Mr.Color Leveling Thinner. Then, drybrushing with Vallejo Panzer Aces “Light Rubber” (305) and spraying with a 1:2 mixture of Mr.Color “Clear Gloss” (46) and Mr.Color Leveling Thinner.