For a moment a decided to have some rest from painting warriors and their mounts. Instead I wished to do something I've always wanted but never realised - a tank model. As I like small scales, 1:35 was not an option, that left me with 1:72 as another popular choice. Which tank to choose? It could have not been any other type than iconic, in Poland, 7tp (7 ton polish).
This tank build as variant of Vickers E was the best that polish forces could deply in September 39' against German Panzerwaffe.
Was it actually good? The construction had its roots in late 20' so it was far from being modern. The main drawback was pretty weak armour (17mm in front at best). Using diesel engine was innovative, but this particular one was too heavy. On the other hand it had quite modern 37mm anti-tank Bofors gun and fantastic Gundlach periscope. Not the tank that Poland needed but the one it could have afforded.
In overall it was a decent piece of military equipment for standards of early IIWW and a fair match for German Pzkpfw I and Pzkpfw II. The problem was in quantity - only 136pcs ever made, including all variants.
And hey! I think is a very handsome tiny fellow, with a good proportions of all its parts.
The model by First to Fight is simplistic, but for my leisure approach to the topic it was good enough. The idea was to try something new, incuding some weathering. That resulted in purchases of different kinds of oil and enamel effects. Additionally I decided to try HATAKA acrylics for this model and other 'September 39' projects.
Unfortunately by now I do not own an airbrush and that makes the job harder and less effective. I am going to get one this year.
Painting Guide:
Priming:
White Vallejo primer in spray.
3 basic colours of camouflage:
(HATAKA: Polish AFV Green, Polish AFV Greyish Sand, Polish AFV Dark Brown)
Wash:
Dark Brown Wash - Mig (enamel) - I am particularly happy with its effect
Highlights:
mostly done with basic colour + pale sand Vallejo
Highlights 2:
+ blending: oil paints, zinc white, yellow, yellow ochre, sepia brown
Weathering:
Striking grime (Mig - ename;) here and there - pretty random way
Oil rust effect - very small touch
Dirt:
Earth (Mig enamel) - a lot on the tracks and behind them.
Pigments - 3 diffrent pigments --> earth brown, red ochre, sand like, mostly used on tracks, some on the other potentially easy to get dirty surfaces. Minor deposits of dirt on armour
Tracks:
Grey Black --> Black Wash --> Grey black --> oil paint: rust --> rusty pigment --> Grey black
Exhaustion pipe:
Grey Black --> Black Wash --> Grey black --> oil paint: rust --> acrylic bright orange --> acrylic gunmetal --> rusty pigment
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