Skarach's world

• Liquid stains and runs were simulated using AK Interactive “Wet Effects Liquid” (AK079), either neat or diluted with enamel thinner.
• Oil stains, particularly around the turret ring, were simulated using AMMO “Fresh Engine Oil” (A.MIG-1408).
• Various other fuel\liquid stains – especially on the upper hull and top of the turret – were simulated using AMMO “Fuel Stains”, either neat or diluted with enamel thinner.

• As it happens, the plastic tracks which I intended to use did not prove robust enough to the way I weather and assemble. They broke apart when attempting to feed them through the wheels. I reckon that if you glued them in place before painting that they would be fine but that is not my way, preferring to paint and weather hull, wheels and tracks separately and assembling them at a late stage. So, I had to get the Friulmodel (ATL-32) ones after all. After linking them with Albion Alloys’ 0.4 mm brass rod, I treated them with UMP “Ultimate Burnishing Liquid”. Then, a wash with AMMO “Tracks Wash” (A.MIG-1002), speckling with AMMO acrylics paints (“Light Rust” A.MIG-039, “Medium Rust” A.MIG-040, “Dark Rust” A.MIG-041, “Old Rust” A.MIG-042) and finally a wash with AMMO “Light Rust Wash” (A.MIG-1004).
• This blockage passed, a 1:1 mixture of Tamiya Acrylic XF-57 “Buff” and XF-52 “Flat Earth” in Tamiya X-20A thinner (10% paint mixture in thinner) was sprayed on the lower half of the hull, the suspension, wheels and selective parts of the upper hull – this to provide a starting point for dust and mud.
• A 3:2 mixture of Tamiya Acrylic XF-57 “Buff” and Tamiya Acrylic XF-52 “Flat Earth” in water (10% paint mixture in thinner) was prepared and drawn in thin vertical lines repeatedly down the vertical sides of turret multiple times, to attempt to simulate dust washed down the sides by rain.
• A mixture of medium colour pigments was brushed onto the top of the turret, wheels, tracks, lower hull and parts of the upper hull and fixed in place by application with brush of AMMO enamel thinner (AMMO pigment fixer and enamel thinner in a 1:1 ratio in the greater build up of dried mud on the lower sides of the tank).
• Finally, AMMO “Turned Dirt splashes” (A.MIG-1753) was flicked onto the lower part of the hull and wheels, to simulate fresher, less dry dirt.  I find these splash mixtures quite thick in the bottle, so usually dilute the mixture with enamel thinner.

• The wooden parts were stained with Winsor & Newton “Burnt Umber” or “Burnt Sienna”.
• Various high points were faded with AMMO Oilbrusher “Faded Green” (A.MIG-3506).
• AMMO “Dark Streaking Grime” (A.MIG-1206), AMMO “Streaking Grime” (A.MIG-1203) and AK Interactive “Rust Streaks” (AK013) were painted in thin lines on the vertical and sloping surfaces, later blended in with enamel thinner.
• Mig Productions 502 Abteilung “Olive Green” ABT050, “Faded Grey” ABT100, “Basic Earth” ABT093 and “Faded UN White” ABT165 and AMMO Oilbrusher “Starship Filth” (A.MIG-3513) were added in dots to various parts of the vehicle, later blended in with enamel thinner.
• A 1:2 mixture of Mr.Color “Flat Clear” (182) and Mr.Color Leveling Thinner was sprayed over the entire model.

• The exhaust was painted with the LifeColor rust set, then washed with AK Interactive “Light Rust Wash for Green Vehicles” (AK046) and drybrushed with Mig Productions 502 Abteilung “Light Rust Brown” ABT060 oil paint.
• Chipping was done with AMMO “Chipping” (A.MIG-044), applied with sponge and brush.
• The entire vehicle was washed with AMMO’s “Dark Brown Wash for Green Vehicles wash” (A.MIG-1005), with the excess being removed after 30 minutes by brush or cotton bud.

Primer: Tamiya “Fine Surface Primer” (light grey) spray can, applied to the hull and turret.

Black base: A 1:1 mixture of Mr.Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black and Mr.Color Leveling Thinner was sprayed all over. I wanted to get a dark colour in the recesses and to help with toning down the base coat colour.

Basecoat (tank): Adapting the Tamiya suggested colours, a 1:1:1 mixture of Mr.Color “Olive Green” (120), Mr.Color “Olive Drab (2)” (38) and Mr.Color “Sand Yellow” (119) and Mr.Color Leveling Thinner (1:2 ratio of paint mixture to thinner) was sprayed.

Basecoat (tracks): a 1:1 mixture of Tamiya “Flat Black” (XF-1) and Tamiya “Red Brown” (XF-64) (with the addition of 5% of Tamiya Acrylic Paint Retarder) and Tamiya lacquer thinner (1:2 ratio of paint mixture to thinner) was sprayed.

Details:

• Machine gun: AMMO “Matt Black” (A.MIG-046)
• Fire extinguisher: Xtracrylix “British Deep Bronze Green” (XA1814), Vallejo Model Color “Brass” (70801)
• Rear light: Vallejo Model Color “Red” (70947)
• Tools (metal): Vallejo Model Color “Black” (70950), Vallejo Model Color “Black Grey” (70862), Citadel “Boltgun Metal”
• Tools (handles): Vallejo Panzer Aces “Old Wood” (310)
• Jack block: Vallejo Panzer Aces “New Wood” (311)
• Periscopes: AMMO “Matt Black” (A.MIG-046)
• Mirror: Citadel “Mithril Silver”
• Mud flaps: Vallejo Model Color “Black” (70950), Vallejo Panzer Aces “Dark Rubber” (306)

Gloss coat: A 1:2 mixture of Mr.Color “Clear Gloss” (46) and Mr.Color Leveling Thinner was sprayed over the entire model. The decal was applied to the turret and this area resprayed.