The chain is rusted. Not sure what you mean by raw brass?

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The chain is rusted. Not sure what you mean by raw brass?

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I believe he's referring to the last picture. The rear chain looks like it has some brass showing. It may just be the angle or lighting.

Three things stand out to me. One is the stowage. It's hard to tell about the smaller stuff on the upper superstructure, but on those two big rolls on the sides, it's obvious that there's nothing actually attaching them to the vehicle. The second thing shows most in the 5th (next to last) picture. It's that nasty seam in the gun cradle behind the breech. And lastly, are the missing guide teeth on the right track (3rd pic), but you alluded to the diorama setting covering that up.

Beyond that, you did a great job on her. The paint and weathering look spot on.

Hi Kevin,

Very nice job. Not overly beat up but shows the effect of having gone through at least one winter in the East.

The split line could possibly be fixed by scraping and carefully filling with Mr. Surfacer, putty or? Painting and dry brushing with metallic gray, shadow gray or plain metallic mixed with black. THen adding some grease effects on the rails and in the valley of the cradle should mask the split line. Or just leave it with a dull shine and bright rails.

Orrrr...... Scratch a piece canvas and wrap it around the breech and tie it off. Problem solved. It's what I did when I buggered up a PaK 40 breech and cradle. Followed up with a canvas muzzle cover for consistancy.

Maybe some light grease effects on the return rollers and road wheels too.

I agree with you on the packs etc. Our guys in Nam, Ontos, cannon cockers, AmTrackers and tankers would hang gear,lawn chairs, other field expedient comforts, C Rats, cases of PBR or whatever on any flat surface, bracket, hook or rail they could find on the vehicle. The further forward from the BnHQ the outfit, the more some looked like rolling garage sales especially when they moved out to new positions further forward.

THe chain color is fine IMO. Looks like it may have been dragged and some heavier rust has beeen worn off and a thin brighter layer remains. Color shift in the photo contributes also.

Too bad about the guide horns though. Going to be hard to disguise that.

Very nice job. I'm convinced it will look spectacular in a late winter, early spring (or?) diorama.

Hope I haven't been excessively critical.

Tony

Nothing against the stowage, and I'm surely not saying it doesn't belong on the vehicle. All I'm saying is that it would give a better impression, and seem more realistic, if there was some point of attachment shown.

In the end, it's your model, do it how you like it. I only expressed my thoughts that you asked for.

I do appreciate the thoughts I really do. For one I just don't have anything to make it look as if it's hanging on hooks. And like I said sometimes crew will fabricate stowage hooks that you can't see.

Don't take my comments as being anti critical , right now I just don't have means to make it so.

Hi Kevin,

I know one thing. Your technique for making tarps doesn't need improving. Perfect folds, color, fading, and subtle damage. Same for the fabric texture. Very realistic.

Not putting edge seams and grommets on it makes it look even more realistic. Crew would probably have scrounged up a piece of tarp and tossed it on the machine. Field expedient addition.

I think you are stuck with the side mounted tarps. Can't overlay them with tissue and repaint them easily. Dislodging them to cover with tissue, paint and weather will create more problems than it solves. Same for using CA glue to add texture.

+1 on the plastic card or brass overlay in the cradle to disguise the seam.

Tony