SPA Modeler

Stik, take your time here. In deed your progress is much faster than mine on other projects... But that´s not hard to achieve...

Is this kit moulded in white plastic?

Yes, it is molded in white Thomas. In some sense, that makes the painting easier, but in some areas with the gray interior parts it did not. Ah well...

BB, mean spirited? Me? I'm a jolly old soul... just ask teh fair citizens of where I work...

Ok my latest progress photos after a very busy morning and midday, I got a couple of hours of work in at the bench afterwards. Mostly detail painting. But first up this update of where I was when I started today:
Road wheels painted and installed:




front glacis plate seams cleaned up and the lower one painted. You may notice a rough area on the trim vane- I accidently touched that area when the paint was still wet and left a fingerprint. I had to sand that off after the paint dried


rear mud flaps painted


hatches all tacked down "buttoned up" for painting


outer faces of sprocket and idler wheels painted white, and sprocket cushion in black (the back sides of these parts are forest green)


I swapped out the kit indy link tracks for some single length Tamiya ones from another 113 based kit in my stash as a time saving measure. After the hot screwdriver method of joining the end, I applied this new Testors enamel tint wash that I picked up at Hobby Lobby last week. Great stuff, and it gave the tracks just the right shade.


I also pre drilled out some holes for some thin rod to keep the tracks down in place once installed. So that is where things stood when I started today's work session.

first up I added eight 2mm long pieces of strip styrene for the spare track brackets


once those had time to dry I sliced up some thin pieces off styrene rod to replicate the washers used to secure the spare track shoes in place on the brackets with 3/4" bolts on the real deal, and glued those in place.


now Academy thoughtfully included some bolts on the sprues that I will add after shaving them off of the sprues. I love how they include these things on some of their kits. A huge but of little detail items that make all the difference in the world for spicing things up in miniature


I mixed up a shade of bare steel using 2 parts Testors Chrome Silver to 1 part Testors Flat Steel that I am using on the tracks, sprocket, and idler wheel surfaces that have metal to metal contact in real life and get polished up from that in use.





So that is where it stands now. After some family business this evening I will dry brush steel on the grouser portion of the track shoes that contact the ground on hardball roads and after that paint the track pads black. Then let it all dry overnight before the next phase of installation tomorrow.

The next time I plunder a ship all proceeds shall go to you. By the devil's twisted tail I swear it!

Don't listen to him! Give in to the dark side and hurry! Speed is of the essence!

He tasks me. He tasks me and I shall have him! I'll chase him 'round the moons of Nibia and 'round the Antares Maelstrom and 'round perdition's flames before I give him up!

Bitbite and Stik - you two are priceless. I needed that laugh this morning. I would suggest that you quit following the city busses so closely with your windows rolled down, though. That might help.

LyleW wrote:Bitbite and Stik - you two are priceless. I needed that laugh this morning. I would suggest that you quit following the city busses so closely with your windows rolled down, though. That might help.

But why?

Much like this lady, I prefer my gasoline straight from the can.

oh man you guys crack me up... good thing I do not have a computer at my workbench...