Zvezda 1/35 BTR-80

[Guest]

Strip it (The wire, that is …) Okay, the stuff your wife works with might need serious tools, but there’s a lot of good, thin wire to be found in common electrical cables. Just cut one off an old appliance that you’re throwing out and you’ll have plenty of very thin copper wire for free.

[Guest]

Gave this an all over brown/black oil wash.

Fairly pleased for my first attempt. I kept knocking bits off while cleaning it up so had the superglue on standby. Also found it hard to get into many places, I even wrapped paper towel around a toothpick for some bits. I definitely see a need for some really small cotton buds now. I use plenty of cheap regular ones but I think there are certain jobs that would be much easier if I had a few posh ones on hand.

The pictures have shown up a few areas that need a bit more fettling, but like I say, I'm pleased for my first real go at this. The wash has also darkened the rather pink looking mud splashes to a more realistic colour.

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Not far away from finished now. Some detail painting to do and the wheels to fit and it's about there.

[scottie3158]

Andy,
That is a cracking result, it's hard to believe that is your first attempt.

[Guest]

Thanks Paul. After millions of hours of research, watching videos and studying other peoples builds, at least I had an idea what it should look like. That gave me a fighting chance at a decent result :smiling5:

[scottie3158]

Thanks Paul. After millions of hours of research, watching videos and studying other peoples builds, at least I had an idea what it should look like. That gave me a fighting chance at a decent result :smiling5:

well the research worked that is a great result.

[Steve Jones]

A terrific result Andy. You have every right to be pleased. You might like to try some cone shaped foam buds. They are ideal for getting in those tight tucked away areas. Keep up the great work

[Guest]

Thanks Steve, I just can't seem to get enough of modelling at the minute, I'm already on the hunt for my next one (or two) but there's a bewildering choice! Trying not to rush through like I did with my first few though and I'm finding it more rewarding that way.

I've put some small triangular Tamiya buds on my wishlist, They look like they'll do the trick.

[Guest]

Gave this an all over brown/black oil wash.

Fairly pleased for my first attempt. I kept knocking bits off while cleaning it up so had the superglue on standby.

What did you use for a wash? Twenty years or so ago, I had a lot of trouble with small parts coming loose off models after I put a wash over them, and I eventually traced this to the type of thinner I had used to make the washes from enamel paint. It turned out this weakened the glued joints, not enough that large pieces came off, but hand rails, mirrors, grab handles, all that sort of thing with small contact areas did. The problem went away when I switched to a different type of thinner — let alone when I began to prefer washes made from acrylic paint plus water, of course

Also found it hard to get into many places

You didn’t just use a big brush to apply the wash and poke at the difficult spots until the wash got in there too? That’s what I do, anyway

[Guest]

You didn’t just use a big brush to apply the wash and poke at the difficult spots until the wash got in there too? That’s what I do, anyway

Haha, yes, pretty much.

The issues all came later, after it was touch dry and I started to clean up the excess. I'd either poke a bit hard with a cotton bud to get in a gap, or catch something with my paper towel, knocking stuff flying.

[Si Benson]

That look really good Andy!
It shows that a few washes/filters can really lift the overall finish and it takes away that ‘toy’ like appearance that we often see on a plain paint job.
Nicely executed, Well done mate :thumb2:

[Guest]

Very nice :smiling3:.

[minitnkr]

Here is an example of a very small swab available at YLHS or on-line , cheap for a bunch. Shown next to 1/35 fig. for scale. Once swab is unuseable, snip off the tip and it makes a slick CA applicator. PaulE

[Guest]

Thanks for the great comments guys, and that looks ideal Paul, will have a look round for those.

[Steve Jones]

Here is an example of a very small swab available at YLHS or on-line , cheap for a bunch. Shown next to 1/35 fig. for scale. Once swab is unuseable, snip off the tip and it makes a slick CA applicator. PaulE
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What's a 1:35 figure doing on your bench Paul!!:astonished::astonished: Are you feeling okay? Is there something you need to tell us?:smiling5:

[stillp]

I bought some thin cotton buds from an oriental shop in Birmingham called Muji.
These: https://www.muji.eu/pages/online.asp...=4547315570362

Pete