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Sdkfz 10/5 Flak 38

Weathering and Finishing

In order to protect the underlying finish and detail work during the weathering process, the entire vehicle was sealed with Johnson’s Klear Floor Polish with Future Shine to provide an acrylic barrier. I opted not to apply any decals or markings as these vehicles often went without them on a routine basis and proceeded directly to the weathering stages.

First step was an overall application of an MM enamel raw umber wash. This was followed by the application of dot filters consisting of MM enamel flat white, panzer olivegrun, raw sienna, and the original 50-50 basecoat mix. I worked in small sections at a time while wearing a paint breather mask due to the high thinner exposure that results. Using a square tip brush dampened with thinner, the dots of enamel paint were blended together using a series of repeated strokes until the dots virtually disappear. The end result is a nicely faded and blended overall scheme complete with dust/dirt streaking.

This was followed up by an application of a pin wash of thinned MM enamel burnt umber to pick out the details and add depth to the finish. Excess wash was cleaned up where needed using clean thinner and a fine pointed 10/0 detail brush. I let this set overnight and then checked for any further adjustments before sealing everything in with an overall coat of Testors lusterless flat in the spray can to dull the finish.

The next step was to apply pigment weathering to the lower hull, suspension, and tracks. I mixed up a dry powder combination using Mig Productions dark mud, Europe dust, light dust, and rubble dust pigment powders. Using tap water with a drop of dishwashing soap added to break its surface tension, I converted the powder into a wet mix and applied this with a round 0 sable brush and let it air dry. Once dry, I donned a sanding/dust mask and removed the excess powder using stiff bristled brushes and wet and dry q-tips until I had the look I wanted.

That took me to the final remaining details including the long-delayed installation of the clear wind shields for the driver’s cab. These were cleaned up and installed using liquid glue and careful pressure with tweezers. I also added the driver’s mirror using Echelon peel-and-stick silver decals. Last but not least the passenger’s side spot light was detailed using another of the peel-and-stick decals for its reflector insert and the lens created using Testors Window Maker/Clear Glue applied with a toothpick. The Sdkfz 10/5 Flak 38 was now ready to take on all comers.