Zvezda 1/35 BTR-80

[minitnkr]

Finish coming on strong. Florists wire is also handy once the cover is stripped off, very soft. Music wire is very hard & stiff, but workable for grabs & steps. A set of guitar strings gives you several thicknesses once you strip off the winding that gives you another few. PaulE

[Guest]

Thanks all.

Florists wire, there' s a good shout. I think my mum still has a stash of that in her loft from her flower arranging days.

[Guest]

Andy,
Just caught up with your build, have the same trouble myself with tweezers, just cannot find a pair that will do what I want, but decide to fly things around the room at will - poor will ! (thought I would get that in before the usuals turn up). I find that sometimes just back of and then rest the hand with the tweezers in the other hand does the job.
As far as the paint goes, I cannot see a fault with it, but I must admit I tried the modulation style and it did not suit me, so I now do 'realism'. Copper wire, you can find rolls of it online at ebay etc. run off the length you want and before you start the origami on it, run it through a flame to soften it further, but watch the hot end - makes you dance and sing, so make sure you have some AC/DC etc on, then the boss will not think you're as mad as a hatter.
But keep the build coming - looks good from here.
Cheers, Mike.

[minitnkr]

I use 5 different ones & an apron attached to the bench regularly to keep things close. Motor winding wire from defunct hair dryers & vacuum cleaners are also a good source of fine copper wire. PaulE

[Guest]

Thanks Mike, a good few tips there.

Paul, I think I saw your bench in the "show your workspace" thread and spent a while wondering what it was on the front. Once I'd worked it out it seemed like a cracking idea, although knowing me I'd forget and try to get up and walk off while still attached!

[JR]

Thanks Mike, a good few tips there.

Paul, I think I saw your bench in the "show your workspace" thread and spent a while wondering what it was on the front. Once I'd worked it out it seemed like a cracking idea, although knowing me I'd forget and try to get up and walk off while still attached!

Andy, I took Paul advice and put one one the edge of the worktop in the cave, more that once I have ripped it off the Velcro when moving the chair to get something. Dave Ward I think said he had pulled his table over when answering the door bell.
My that light is a price, but no doubt worth that to get a perfect match. Not going to get one this week :smiling::smiling:

[Guest]

Haha, yep, I'm sure I'd do something similar John.

And yes, that's ridiculous money for a posh torch but even if it saves us repainting a couple of jobs it would pay for itself.

[Guest]

Haven't got much done to this as I was trying out some weathering. Some of it worked, some didn't.

Firstly I put a black wash over the panel lines to bring out some detail, which was fairly successful. I then tried adding splashes of clay coloured mud, that didn't look so great! Turned out looking a bit pink :flushed: so I waited until today when I could nip to a craft store and get an oil paint starter set. I used that to add a dark brown wash underneath and to me it doesn't look too bad now. It's toned down the pink a bit and made it look nice and dirty underneath.

My first real attempt at this kind of thing so feel free to let me know how you think I'm getting on. Plenty more to do but it's a start.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n[/ATTACH]

EDIT: Oh, and whilst hunting around the floor for something else I found the missing guard rail that should be fitted between the front wheels (note the two holes). I thought it was long gone but now I can fit that too.

[Jim R]

Hi Andy
Well the build may have had it's difficulties but you got there and that's a cracking paint job. Weathering is looking spot on.
As for wire. If you pass one of those green telephone boxes there is often bits of wire which the service men leave laying around. Strip of the plastic cover and the wire inside is good to use for handles etc.
Jim

[Guest]

Thanks Jim. I've still got the sides and top to do but wanted to practice on the less seen underside first. Good to hear it seems to have worked.

[Guest]

I usually test out washes etc. on the bottom of the hull of tanks and similar vehicles, for exactly the reason you gave: it won’t be visible much or at all Yours seems to have worked well, the underside looks good.

[Steve Jones]

The joys of weathering is a good road to go down. Nice to see you using oils. Best way to learn is by practicing. Looking good so far

[scottie3158]

Hi Andy
Well the build may have had it's difficulties but you got there and that's a cracking paint job. Weathering is looking spot on.
As for wire. If you pass one of those green telephone boxes there is often bits of wire which the service men leave laying around. Strip of the plastic cover and the wire inside is good to use for handles etc.
Jim

I do exactly the same it's a good free source.

[Guest]

Keep going Andy the build is progressing very well. Do not worry about posting updates and getting things done, grass now up to the bedroom windows, one child lost in the back garden, mail nailed to the front gate, all been there.
As for the wire, asked my local bt guy if he had any spare wire - the fact that he was belly down on the ground with his head and shoulders in a hole, the dog decided to give him a further push (left to your imagination), and can someone please explain what "what do you think all this is - spaghetti - grumph off" means.....
Mike.

[Guest]

Thanks Mike, I'm currently on a short camping trip so the build is on hold for a few days. Funny how my wife allowed first born to bring his warhammer figures and paint but wasn't too keen on me throwing the airbrush compressor and associated gubbins in the roof box :smiling5:

Speaking of my better half, she would be a great source of free wire since she works for an electrical testing & safety company, but since they mostly do large factories much of it would be as thick as my finger, if not arm!