Hi all,

I am almost exclusively an aircraft modeller, but thought I would try my hand at something very different for me over the holidays - some armour! I picked up the Tamiya 1/35 scale Sd.Kfz 222, and as I have virtually no knowledge on WW2 german vehicles, built it completely out of box. I wanted to go for a bit of a beaten desert finish - the instructions said that early vehicles were painted grey and overpainted tan in theatre - this is what I wanted to try and show. I also tried my hand a figure painting, seeing as the kit comes with some figures - I am very much not a figure painter (indeed I have only painted one figure before, and it was a 1/48 scale pilot quite some time ago). So here is my first armour effort - quite amateur-ish, but it was fun to do something different and out of the box without having to worry about references!










Feedback, tips and comments / criticisms more than welcome!

BC

Nice work you have done there!

Are you tempted to build another AFV?

Amateur-ish?!? I think it looks great! Amateur-ish is something completely different! And the figures look great as well. I think you should do more armor!

Hope to see more (how 'bout something allied? )

Cheerio!

Wow nice start in 1/35 .
A friend of our IPMS said that "airplane" modellers have more "touch" to build AFV. Maybe he's right .

Congratulations,

Regards, Alvaro

Nice job for your first armor piece. The techniques came over well.
One thing I would say you could explore that you don't do as much in AC modeling is pastels (chalk). Add some weathering overall in pastels to give dusty dirty look to it.

Nothing amateur-ish here; new to the subject, sure; amateur-ish nope. Nice job.

First armor piece my butt. That looks great as do the figures. Please do some more and then post them. Very nicely done. Thanks for sharing Brad. "Q"

Heck Brad if that's your first armour post us an airplane. They must be outstanding then. Real good work and try a few more armour kits. Tom

Your chipping looks great,and the figures are outstanding.

Brad great work,lovely paint job and figures are great too

looks like you got a big lead in "beginners class"
your 222 looks really good, if this is your first, I can't image what your 10th will look like


great going, hope you get addicted to armour, lot's of junks around here on armorama


are you makin' a underground ?

greetz

Thanks for the kind words and tips guys, much appreciated! Will definately have to look into some better pastels (the ones I have disappeared under the flat overcoat, even through they went down over a flat coat themselves) - any recommendations? Are the Tamiya weathering pastels any good?

I think I like this armour thing Might try another one some time soon - I have my eye on a 1/35 scale Dingo Mk.I in German markings - quite a neat little armoured car. Will definately have to practice on the figures - the Tamiya figures did seem to have some soft detail on them (i.e. no ears for example!) so I might have to look at some aftermarket resin heads for my next figures - might help them look a little better )

Thanks again!

BC

Brad, when I first started using pastels, I had to apply them heavier than I wanted to adjust for the flat coat. It got to be frustrating to say the least as sometimes they would work out, other times, I would end up with too much and have to start all over again. Then my buddy suggested putting them on small bases soas to avoid having to handle them, then apply the pastels and leave them be with no flat coat. The colors won't blow off once worked into the finish. Sometimes I don't use pastels so it doesn't matter, but if I forsee them in the build, I will mount the vehicle to a small base and then hit it with the pastels as the last step. Hope this helps. "Q"

Brad Hello. Doesn't look amateurish to me. And i'd know, because i'm an amateur.

Brad, you are much too modest with this piece of armor. This is seriously one of the better armored cars I've seen lately. The most interesting aspect of the model is the satin finish. I also love how your colors are more saturated than what I'm used to seeing. Bravo!

Seriously, try some more armor after your next aircraft.

Your kit looks great!!! Very good job on your first armor kit.

If this is your first piece of armor, I would say you hit the nail on the head! Keep up with the tips and techniques on the forums and you will be right in line in no time. Real nice first out.
I was an aircraft modeller for years before making the transition to armor. I think you will enjoy the genre as it offers itself up to many skills that usually do not apply to aircraft.

There is a modeler in my local club who also makes aircraft and they look amazing he too was able to transfer his skills to the Armour scene extremely well.

Excellent build! Very nice job - and in no way amateurish as you say yourself.

Great job - build another one

This piece looks excellent! I have been building mainly armor for the past 20 years and lack the mastery you depict. Now, for the critisism. German armor had an oxide red primer, not grey. No big deal, unless you become an armor history buff like so many of us have. All in all, great job. Hope to see some more armor produced by you.

G'day Brad,

Nice work, mate!

Really like the subtle chipping of the tan overspray. Any plans to do some more armour?

Rudi

Thanks for the encouraging words and tips guys, very much appreciated! I did buy the Tamiya 1/48 Marder III a couple of months ago so I will definitely be having a crack at some more armour some time soon - am building another aircraft at the moment though

Matt - thanks for the tip on the oxide primer - didn't know that one! Just read on the instructions that these vehicles were painted sand in theatre, so I figured it may have just chipped to show the grey finish from the factory - a good point that I will remember for my next build!

Thanks again!

BC

Very well done! Keep 'em coming!

On the pastels, many of us armor modelers prefer the inexpensive pastel sticks found with drawing and painting supplies in arts & crafts stores.

Brad,

You did a wonderful job on the armored car. The chipping looks great and I really like the paint job. Not too bright or overly dull. I think you hit it right on the head. The figures are also impressive. Can't wait to see your next AFV.

Mike

Brad. Yes the model looks good. Not good but "Great". Well done.
Matt. Yes the primer was red oxide but what we have here is a repainted vehicle in country which has the original colour European top coat showing through as many a picture in North Afrika illustrates.

Just spotted this. I love the 222 and DAK oens in particular. You have nailed it spot on.

Keep away from those nasty flying things and stick to some good old fashioned dirty armor. You are very good at it!