Skarach's world

• AMMO pigments “Europe Earth” (A.MIG-3004), “Dark Earth” (A.MIG-3007) and “Russian Earth” (A.MIG-3014) were added separately – from light to dark shade – to the lower hull of the vehicle and fixed by the addition of pigment fixer by brush. This process was repeated several times, especially on those parts closest to the ground, where the darker pigments were concentrated.
• The tracks and wheels were treated in a similar fashion. The upper hull was treated with a lesser concentration of pigments, fixed in place by the addition of a 1:1 mixture of pigment fixer and enamel thinners (with some added “Basic Earth” oil paint).
• At this stage I also added small amounts of AMMO “Light Rust” (A.MIG-3006) to the exhausts.
• I added patches of damp stains to the tracks by using a mixture of Winsor & Newton “Raw Umber” oil paint in enamel thinners. This same mixture was used to create stains, patches and runs on the lower hull, especially at the bottom, to simulate wet dirt. After this I repeated the process, this time using the oil paint mixed with Humbrol “Gloss Cote”, to give a wetter appearance.
• Those parts of the track in contact with the wheels were treated with a 2B pencil. The outer side of the wheels and tracks were treated with AK Interactive “Dark Steel” (AK086) pigment.

• Friulmodel tracks (ATL-51) were linked with Albion Alloys’ 0.5 mm brass rod – 90 links per side.
• Treated with UMP “Ultimate Burnishing Liquid”.
• A dilute mixture of Winsor & Newton “Burnt Umber” and “Burnt Sienna” oil paints in enamel thinners was used to collect in the recesses of the tracks.
• A dilute mixture of Abteilung 502 “Light Rust Brown” (ABT060) in white spirit was flicked from a brush onto the tracks to give the impression of rust spots.

• AMMO “Oilbrusher” oil paints (“Dark Mud” A.MIG-3508, “Dusty Earth” A.MIG-3523, “Starship Filth” A.MIG-3513) were dotted on the much of the horizontal surface, underside and running gear of the vehicle, which had previously been dampened with enamel thinner. A round brush was used to dilute and blend the oils.
• The same oils were dotted on the sloping and vertical surfaces. A flat brush was used to draw them down the sides, hopefully to create dust and rain streaks.

• The pickaxe handle were stained with Winsor & Newton “Raw Umber” oil paint.
• The horizontal surfaces of the hull were dampened with enamel thinner and dots of oil paint (Winsor & Newton “Permanent Magenta”, AMMO Oilbrusher “Olive Green”, “White”, “Dark Brown”, “Medium  Grey”, “Yellow”) added. These were then blended in with a round brush in a circular motion.
• To simulate streaking, the same procedure was repeated on the sloping sides of the upper hull and fenders, this time the dots being drawn down vertically with a flat brush.
• Further streaking was done with AMMO Oilbrusher “Starship Filth”, “Starship Bay Sludge” and “Rust”.

I thought I needed some figures in the model cabinet, to provide a sense of scale for the tanks. For the Soviet vehicles, I used the “Soviet Tank Crew (1939-1942)” by ICM. I have not used the officer figure yet, as I am not so keen on how he is posed. The two tank men were painted using the paints shown, a combination of airbrushing, brush painting, dry brushing and oil wash. I don’t pretend to be any kind of figure painter, so haven’t attempted to overly detail the faces, for example – more a distinction between the high points and the shadow areas. They are in the cabinet now, although there are plenty of empty spaces for as yet unmade vehicles.