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M38A1

This is what I was able to do with the AFV M38A1. The kit is well designed and goes together well without any real problems. The only problem I found with the kit is the same as with other AFV kits. Some of the parts are so delicate that you have to very careful when removing them from its sprue.

I wanted to model a vehicle used in the Six Day War or the Yom Kippur War. To make the AFV M38A1 look like an IDF M38A1 some changes had to be added to the basic kit. To the basic model I added the items that would make it an IDF M38A1. I added a PE jerry can holder, mesh in front of the grill, and around the grill solder wire was added to simulate the frame. The tool clamp on the side was scratch build from styrene, a white piece of styrene on the bumper (do not know what it is for but is on most of the IDF m-38) was added as well as the shovel and its clamps.

The model was painted with Lifecolor's UA 020 and Israeli Sandgrey 61-73. I found it to be a nice paint, but it does have the tendency to clog up the airbrush. The black and white markings on the hood where made by masking the black area and painting them with Tamiya black. Mask the black lines off and fill in the middle with Tamiya white. The markings where taken from a Verlinden dry transfer sheet. After sealing with Tamiya clear I added a wash made from burnt umber oil paints and a pin wash using the same colour. After which was sprayed Humbroll matt which was left to dry for 2 days. The dust was done by making a slurry with Mig pigments and turpentine which was spread on the underside. After this dried most was removed with a stiff brush and the rest of the model was covered with pigments and fixed with turpentine.

The gear was a mix of different brands that where found in the spare box. The AK-47 is from DML, the UZI from Italeri and the jerry cans are from Academy.