king derelict

Mixed fortunes with the paint brush. Some progress and some backward movement. I tidied up the drum, just need to add the white line at the base. I filed the seam and the reshaped the head in front of the right ear. Painted up I think it looks better. I’m not sure if he needs a satin coat, looks a bit dull to me but maybe he needs a brushing. i started building up the details on the drummer. The face needs a little more work around the eyes but generally seems to be going in the right direction. His black hat is actually dark grey to reflect a bit of field life. The blue coat had a lighter blue wash added and looks a bit better. But look what the camera picked up. A nasty seam down his coat and right leg. It’s only visible when you get the light right but there it is. So I will file it off and reprimer and paint again. There is another seam on the back of his coat too. I also need to work out a way to get the buttons on his gaiters consistent and neat. Otherwise not too much more to do. It’s amazing how fast you suddenly find the end coming. Thanks for looking in and the likes. alan

Great work on the seascape Mike. The sea is hard to model and this is a great example. alan

Thanks Jav, Vespid seems to make a nice AFV kit. I will confess, I hadn’t heard of the Comet until I saw the kit online. Although it saw some action at the end of the war, it wasn’t a classic WW2 tank and for some reason it wasnt used in Korea I think we had the last of the Churchills and the Centurion. Not sure why Comets didn’t go, as I understand it, they were a tank that solved most of the Churchills problems. Alan

With the Comet finished it is now time to get this one moving. I’ve been getting a bit vexed with the nail brushes. I’m probably too heavy handed with them but they are now beginning to lose their point and stray bristles escape from the rest and paint goes somewhere where it’s not wanted. I invested in these and they are a delight so far, this one can handle small details and it also holds a reasonable amount of paint. Ive been building up the basic glazes on the drummer. The blue seems to have a bit of a gloss to it and in spite of the primer shading it’s a bit too uniform. I am planning to try to simulate fading, considering he is supposed to be at Pensacola. That might take care of the problems. basics of the face have been painted in. I’m trying for a young look so no stubble or mustache. The paler skin might go against the whole Pensacola thing but he is wearing a hat. The mouth will be tidied up as part of the general cleanup. And the dog had some work done. This is new ground for me so I’m not really sure about the best way to simulate the fur. I can also see a seam that needs attention. There is something in front of his right ear that doesn’t look right too. May do a bit of filing.Paws will be next. There is something basic paints are on the drummer and now the white tensioning straps need touching up. The painting guide shows the Royal Arms painted on the drummer and now but that is completely beyond my skill. Thanks for looking in. it’s fun to be back painting these little fellows Alan

Thanks Ken. I think it possible to over weather tanks, especially in 1/72. alan

Thank you very much OC. It’s a nice kit to build. Alan

The turrets are great. She’s really looking superb now. I can’t believe it’s card. alan

Thank you very much Andrew. It’s great to see the Gannet moving forward. That’s a terrific subject. Alan

Thank you very much EG Your detailed advice on track painting was extremely helpful. I learnt a lot. Manganese Steel sounds horrible to machine but I’m assuming that the sprocket wheels must be made of something similar otherwise the tracks would quickly wear the teeth off them. alan

Thank you very much Phil. Vespid have an interesting range of subjects so another one is tempting. alan

Thank you Chris. generally it was very enjoyable alan

Thank you very much Patrick. The photos were lifesavers at some points in the build. They were super helpful. Instructions don’t seem to be Vespids strong point. alan

Coming on really nicely. The ladder is a very nice touch. alan

Far too many distractions but Ive been getting bits done here and there. last two bits of PE were a puzzle. The instructions show P4 as mounted on the turret but not where. The helpful photos provided by Patrick once again came in very handy and confirmed that there is nothing similar on the real machine. Again P9 is supposed to be situated in front of the driver’s hatch but the photos show nothing there so these pieces have been omitted. That done the tank was ready for paint touch up and a gloss coat ready for the decals. The decals came off the backing paper nicely and laid down smoothly. spade was added and the towing cable. The kit supplies a length of braided wire for this but no indication of placement or length. Once again those photos …… Many thanks again @Baker The wire looked under scale and too springy to use easily so I substituted a piece of rigging cord painted light grey (galvanized I assume) and added the kit supplied eyes to each end. This was added to the front deck and suddenly it was obvious what some of the PE bits were for. ive used some diluted buff acrylic paint to simulate a light coat of road dust. I can’t imagine that peacetime tanks were encouraged to be scruffy. I enjoyed building this kit and actually found it to be easier but still well detailed compared to the Flyhawk kits. I’m very tempted to try another Vespid kit but I’m trying to hold to a moratorium on buying anything else until the pile is reduced. Many thanks for looking in, for the likes and very helpful support. Over to the little drummer boy now I think. alan

Looks stunning. The color is beautiful. Congratulations alan

Super work. Congratulations alan

Really great work Andy. That’s a beautiful Mosquito. alan

I’m back. Guests have departed for the traditional wet holiday weekend in Wales. So I’m picking up the Comet and moving forwards. The single links of the tracks were a bit fiddly but much better than the Flyhawk ones. It looks a lot neater too although I seemed to need less links than the instructions suggested. I used the information from @Egilman and @Baker to paint the tracks. Further reading online shows this to be a thoroughly confusing subject so I’m extremely grateful for the guidance. I painted the tracks black, followed up with British Army dark green and then dark brown. I then painted the cleats in buff to represent the abraded surfaces. A dilute black oil wash finished them for now. I think they compare pretty well with the new tanks in Patrick’s photo. i then added the deck and turret and started building up some details. The instructions are a bit vague in places so the photos kindly provided by Patrick are extremely useful to place some of the parts. The hatches allow you to pose them open so I chose to do that although there is no detail inside and it’s too dark inside anyway The photo etch is very soft and easy to cut and bend but very small. A few bits left to do but the most intricate, the sight on the turret is complete. Not many parts left on the sprues and then some touching up and weathering. The weathering is going to be very light. This is a post war Comet, a garrison vehicle so I plan to add some road dust and call it done. Thanks for looking in and for the likes and comments. alan

Looks very nice Mike alan

Looking very good Dan. The main gear is very nicely done. alan

An interesting project Mike alan

Thank you very much Phil alan

Thank you Mike, the printing was a struggle at times alan

Very nice Mike, The aircraft are great. alan

Thank you OC, the dog was a nice touch to the kit. I hope I can make him look good. alan