T-28 medium tank by Zvezda 1/35

[Guest]

Calling time on this one. I really enjoyed building it, even though there were a couple of sticky patches. I'd love to have taken the weathering further with mud and stuff but since I don't have any suitable products as yet that will have to wait for future builds. It still needs a final matt coat but I've learnt that trying to rush along with oils is a recipe for disaster.

I made a huge mistake and ended up stripping all my hard work from one area by going too far too soon. In the end I've had to fudge that part heavily and try and make it look like one of the return rollers has a bad oil/grease leak. Not great but better than it was! :smiling5:

My seventh completed model, and my first real tank. I certainly feel like I'm improving and the more new skills I learn the more I enjoy it. Looking forward to what the future brings and I hope that trend continues :smiling3:

And I'm still very much learning so any constructive criticism of what I could have done better (given my limited experience & equipment/products) is more than welcome.

Cheers,
Andy.

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Build log here

[Si Benson]

Hi Andy,
I think you’ve made a cracking job despite having a few issues. I’d be very happy with that:thumb2:

[stillp]

Very good Andy. Only one criticism - it's too clean!
Pete

[Dave Ward]

Andy,
that's good! As your first real tank, you should be pretty happy! Now you have the assembly, and basecoating sorted, then weathering will be your next task. and I don't mean local weathering/dirt. Tanks pick up all sorts of dirt/dust - the Summer Russian Steppes will throw up all sorts of dust - that will be all over the tank ( and over leaks/streaks ). As a part of your matt varnish, I would add a slight tint of dust colour ( anything from yellow to red through brown ). You will have to do many coats, gradually building up the overall effect. Allow each coat to dry to gauge the effect - a gradual fall off from bottom, most dirt, to top - least, but an overall softening of the colours. It can take ages, but loads of thin coats, rather than overdoing it with one heavy coat. I would mist the coats on with the airbrush a bit further from the surface tn usual. Thin the matt vanish, and add a few drops of the dust colour and gently does it!
Dave

[Guest]

Thanks guys.

I agree with you Pete, definitely needs more crud.

Dave, I'll give that a go, thanks. I might not have any powders and potions but a tinted varnish can soon be rustled together.

[stillp]

I might not have any powders and potions but a tinted varnish can soon be rustled together.

I bet you've got some mud in your garden though!
Pete

[Fernando N]

Nice and clean finish Andy, I'd be happy too if that was my first tank:thumb2::thumb2:.

[Steve Jones]

Hi Andy

This has been a fantastic build and I have enjoyed sharing your journey of learning new processes and techniques. You have hit the nail on the head about building up your tool collection and products. I wish I had the equipment that I have now for builds that I did two or three years ago as they would be so much better. I am eternally grateful to those people who gave me hints and tips along the way to help me improve my next build. So I would like to give you some ideas for future AFV's. If you are going for a worn out look then I nice addition is to run some graphite down edges that would be worn more than others to show the base metal on the vehicle.



As for the tracks I am not a fan of rusty tracks. This is not a criticism but rather a preference. The centre teeth on some tracks run through the drive wheels which would cause the teeth and the inside of the metal rims of the wheels to be worn down to bare metal so you may want to consider painting these areas Steel. The same applies to the teeth on the sprockets.

Looking forward to seeing your next project. Great stuff

[scottie3158]

Andy,
If this is your first real tank you should take a bow mate. The points Steve and the other guys are all good ones and will help your builds go to a whole new level.
You don't need to go mad on expensive after market pigments a good set of pastels can be ground on fine emery and mixed as you need them.

[Guest]

Thanks Fernando, glad you like it.

Steve, thanks for that. I know there's more to come and I'm hoping if I can learn and add one new effect or process on each model I'll soon build up to the kind of multi-layered finishes I see on here. Great tips like yours can only help me get there, thanks again.

I bet you've got some mud in your garden though!
Pete

Ah yes, of course! I need to speak to my son really as he's always ferreting around the garden for stones, sand, earth etc. for his Warhammer stuff. He mixes them with PVA and a bit of colour for some pretty nice effects, I'm sure something like that would work.

Cheers Paul. I've seen a couple of videos of people mixing their own pigments from pastels but haven't tried it out myself yet. So many things to try I'm like a kid in a sweet shop! Am I right in thinking soft ones are the best choice?

[Dave Ward]

Andy,
soft pastels - I got a box from Amazon for less than £3 - They will last a long time, as you don't need a lot
Some of the colours I'll never use, but you can really mix up anything from these sticks.

I use water & washing up liquid mixed with shaved pastel for panel washes. or fixed with thinned varnish for staining effects. Browns, mixed with talcum powder & varnish can give you lumps of mud - it's just a matter of experimenting..........
Dave

[Guest]

Thanks again Dave. I was hovering over a set last weekend. The Range near me has a huge craft section (and is much cheaper than the Hobbycraft store next door!), but as I'd just treated myself to a couple of decent W&N brushes and a pot of their Galleria matt varnish, I thought I'd better leave them on the shelf.

[JR]

Andy.
What a stunning model ,take all that advice on board about the weathering and you'll be producing winners.
Your painting skills certainly take you far, as I've said before what will you be like in a couple of years :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2::thumb2:

[Guest]

Thanks John.

Still so much to learn and so many things to experiment with, but I know I'm in safe hands here :smiling3:

[JR]

Thanks John.

Still so much to learn and so many things to experiment with, but I know I'm in safe hands here :smiling3:

Ha , just don't take any advice from me on model building ! Dioramas maybe .