Hi All,

It's been a while since I posted anything so here's a little Ferret that I built for our IPMS Vancouver Fall Show a couple of weeks back.

This is the Cromwell Ferret Mk 1, representing the United Nations Emergency Force ( UNEF) peacekeeping in the Sinai in the late 50's.

The vehicle I've modeled is a compilation of sorts, based on several pictures I had. Most UNEF Ferrets did not use the smoke grenade launchers, but I liked the look of them.

Basically the kit is OOB with the exception of the jerry can rack on the back. I added some Resicast headlights, a Dragon Bren gun with scratchbuilt mount (thanks Colin) and some epoxy putty tarps.

Tamiya & Vallejo provided the paint, and MIG the pigments.

I researched and then drew the decals in Adobe Illustrator and then sent off to my favorite custom decal manufacturer Daly Design ( they are wonderful...and patient!)

...and there you go...as always thanks to all who helped out, and comments and critiques always welcome.

Cheers

Pete

BTW, I just noticed one of the side mirrors has been lost into the netherworld...so I'll scratch one soon..argh..

Hah found the mirror...

Great job Pete! I love Ferrets. I drove one occasionally many years ago in the Army.

Very nice paint job!

As I said before Pete....fantastic work on your Ferret.....great to see this little beast in Canadian markings.

Great job. I've never been able to replicate folds well with putty so have stuck with tissue paper tarps. Yours looks good!

Very nice work Pete! Can you fill me in a bit on the custom decal process - the ones on your ferret are outstanding.

Beautiful job Pete, really nice. Thanks for posting the pics.

Bob

Graeme,

Basically I research, design and reproduce the decal in a drawing program ( Adobe Illustrator) to scale. I then have to break down the decal into colour separations

For example the UNEF graphic on the front fender of the Ferret is made up of 3 separations light blue (UN blue) white ( UNEF lettering and UN globe) and another layer of white that goes down before the blue rectangle(the blue ink is transparent and the white acts as an opaque mask)

If I need multiples they just flip the decal paper over (end to end) to mirror the original print pass.

The decals are ALPS but they are delivered with a clear coat already.

There is a dot pattern on the decal it's most noticeable on straight white lettering.

Daly Design makes railroad decals, corporate decals for presentation models for NASCAR and CART, and specialty decals like mine, they are very busy.

The key to working with them is to provide the final art so they don't have to design them, that what takes the time (and money) If you send them an electronic file with the art ready to go the turn around is about a week. I send mine ready to go. Usually I have to tweek in a bit but it's easier to do it at my end.

If you have to have them designed, that takes time, then send them back to you for proofing, more time, some guys give up and have bad things to say. I've never had a problem. As I'm a graphic designer its pretty straightforward for me to do.

Theres a guy on Modern Canadian DG - Massimo who uses them, they asked me if I knew him the last time I was over.

My next series will be interior graphics for the C2, any stenciling for a Sherman interior, invasion stenciling for a Sherman, Interior/exterior stenciling & markings for the M109.

Next year I will be doing the Faun and Taurus..I hope.

HTH

Pete

Great job on the Ferret Joker.

beautiful job!

Darryl

Hey, Pete, that looks damned sharp!