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Tamiya BT-7 Review and Build

Onto the Weathering

My first order of business after some drying of the paint is to lay down a nice wash over the model. I went with AK’s Brown Blue Wash. This was designed for the Panzer Grey coloring. I used this effect more like a filter, whereas I thinned down the wash prior to application and then applied very thin, light coats.

Throughout the weathering process I go back to the washes and filters, building up the layers and adding contrast. I needed to mask off the exhaust pipes now so I could paint and add some rusting effects. The base color was airbrushed on using Dark and Light Track Rust from AK’s Track and Wheel set. I felt these paints were the best choice for my base. I then stippled dark, medium and light rust pigments using white spirits as my medium.

All throughout any build, I will dry fit things like the wheels and tracks. This helps me better see where things are heading as the build ensues. I decided to go after weathering the lower hull next. Normally I would continue with washes and streaking effects, all the while darkening and lightening different areas of the model. Sometimes, I just get ahead of myself I guess! Basically I was too excited not to start adding dirt and mud remnants!! This is all fun stuff for me!! So, armed with a couple of bottles of paint and some pigments I began layering the effects. I spray down some dusting effects, light and dark, to blend the areas on the lower hull.

Starting with the lightest pigment, as this will represent drier dirt, and then going over this with darker pigments to show damper, fresher earth. Again, as in any weathering effect it is best to add multiple layers, building up slowly as you go. I then mixed a slurry of pigment with a dash of plaster. This was then splattered on using my airbrush set to a low psi so as not to blast the mix everywhere, but to get the directional splatters where I want them. This can also be obtained using a stiff bristled brush, and taking your finger, or small piece of cardstock, and effectively letting the bristles snapback in the direction you wish the splatters to go. Both methods work well.

Over and over again, wash after wash, I build up layers until I am happy with what I am seeing. I periodically will change colors of the washes to add variation to the surface and small points of interest as you look over the model. After some splattering and more washing I installed the wheels for the final time. Along with the wheels, come the tracks. Then some more washes and all followed by more rounds of pigment layering for the dirt and mud on the wheels and tracks.

Not getting too far ahead of myself and taking a break to allow sufficient drying time of the effects, I went after a little painting of the tools. A quick shot of a light basecoat of Deck Tan with the airbrush and then I used some Burnt Umber and Burnt Sienna to replicate the wooden handles on the shovels. The blade of the shovel was painted with flat black and I then touched up the finish with my graphite pencil. These were then set aside to dry.

So far this build has been a ton of fun! The kit was easy to assemble and layers of paint and weathering begin to transform the piece of plastic into a display model. There are a few more layers to add as things progress. I now go back to adding more washes to add depth to the bolts and panel lines, and using washes and pigments to work the dirty/muddy lower hull, giving a more realistic look to how the tank might have been. Using some of AK’s streaking effects, light streaking is added to the flat panels throughout. Once the first streak is on, simply wait a few minutes for it to set up, and then with a clean brush humid with white sprits, I feathered the streaks in one direction all the while trying to balance the colors through blending.

The tracks were fun! Adding pigment layer after pigment layer, slowly building up to a damp muddy appearance, then a quick swipe with the graphite pencil is enough to give a steely shine to the high point of the tracks.