Greetings all...

Currently trying to put the finishing touches on a trumpeter KV-1E, and would like some criticism on it. Ill gladly take anything, Im just trying to improve myself here. For one thing...im not sure what color to drybrush the mud i have on the running gear. Drybrushing always gives me problems. Hope to have this finished for the Kalamazoo contest this Saturday.

Thank you all

Jon:

Your KV1-E looks good. Can you perhaps take a few more shots up close? From what I can see I would give the tracks and mud a wash of Tamiya buff (cant remember the XF# but I think it is around XF57) See how that turns out and then if you want it darker give it another wash of a darker brown. Perhaps rust up the exhaust pipes abit. Other than that it looks great

Good luck and let us know how it does in the show

Looks fantastic to me!
Do you have any of the original mud color left over?
If so, just add a little white to it.

Ok..I have a few more shots of the thing.

I kinda had a near disaster with the model. I didnt have any dullcoat to finish the tank, so i was running around the house looking for something that would be just as good. i found a spray can of Krylon Matt finish. Not only wasnt it Matt...It sort of frosted my tank. Someone please remind me never to use that junk again. Hopefully my rushed repair job fixed or evened it out. Im kinda going for a look where the tank just waded through a mud pit, so i put some future over the lower hull of the tank. Just wanted to be different.

If they like it at Kalamazoo...so be it. If not...well so be that too. Im tired of messing with this thing.

Hey Jon. From what can be seen in the photos, this looks quite good.

Its hard to give good advise without seeing the details up close or clearly. You really need to stop using the flash, and use a better light source instead ... the reflection of the flash is obscuring most of what can be seen in the photos. Usually, photos taken outside on an overcast day work best, and give true colours!



This might not be the disaster you think it is. A frosted look on a russian tank could be a great effect. Its hard to see though because of the point above. From the last photos shown, it looks quite good.

The trick with heavy weathering IMO... to get the most of it ... is to use the effects to highlight details, rather than obscure them. Thats the general rule I work with (Im sure you´ve often read the phrase "less is more"). Im not a fan of lots of mud built up. I think you´ve got the techniques allright, maybe just needs a little finesse.

When drybrushing, I usually just lighten the previous colour a little. Do this a few times, lightening the brush strokes each time and only hitting the highest peaks with the last pass, and you´ll see a gradual depth on the detail. Use a reasonably wide brush as well .. quarter or half inch for tracks and mud. I even use a 1 inch brush for groundwork. I try not to use white though. Sands, yellows and even flesh are good colours for almost all base colours. Even a similar colour with a different hue.

A heavily weathered tank doesnt look right without a base showing why it got so dirty. Its all about perception. The mud just appears out of context, on your shiny table ... like a fish out of water maybe :-)
Good luck in Kalamazoo! I used to work for Upjohn ... used to hear that place mentioned quite a lot!

Thank you for the replys folks...

It seems our little group never made it to Kalamazoo, Thanks to the infinite wisdom of the Illinois tollway authority. Not only was there construction everywhere(almost), but we got caught in a 10 mile backup at the Illinois/Indiana border...so no dice for the contest.

Ah well, maybe i can prepare a diorama for this tank for the next contest in October. And Ill try to get better pics of the tank soon, im not much of a photograper, but ill give it a shot.

Cheers.

were do you buy the krylone mat finish i need that frosted finish for my tanks

Hi Jon,

Nice kit. I'm no expert on these things but it looks very two tone if you know what I mean.

I realise what you trying to portray but a little variation in colour on the plate behind the bogies would help it blend better I think. I don't know if you have any Mig Pigments in you stuff but they could be used in limited areas to give a more subtle effect.

It may just be the camera flash.

The tracks could be added to as well and leave the odd wheel a bit cleaner. Some of the mud on the top edges could be lighter as if drying, and tops of the fenders and front of the tank are almost mud free compared to the sides.

Hope this helps a bit, but a nice looking kit.

Cheers

Al

You can get Krylon at Wal Mart or menards or any of those Big box mart stores, maybe even try an art suppy store or a Hobby lobby.

Still though...nothing works as good,(for me) as plain old Testor dullcoat.

Hi,

I use Krylon Matt finish, but I very very seldom experience frosting. One of the reasons you probably got frosting is because 1) the coating is too thick, 2) You sprayed too near the kit - I normally spray it 5 - 6 inches away 3) the can was not shaken very well. Its a good product.

Your KV looks great. Do you have any plans of putting decals or any slogans on the turret sides?

Cheers

I may put some slogans on the tank, it may liven it up a little.

Just need to go to babblefish and jot down some slogans in cyrillic.

cheers folks.