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Armor/AFV: Braille Scale
1/72 and 1/76 Scale Armor and AFVs.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Dragon 1:72 T-34/85
sabredog
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: July 22, 2007
KitMaker: 607 posts
Armorama: 599 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 01:47 AM UTC
A fantastic kit all round, except for the wire towing cables which proved most difficult to work with. Either I need to look at an alternative (what though?) or be more creative to how to place them, thus not following the instructions so blindly.

I built this before the Trumpeter JS-3M and am currently hip deep in a engrossing 1:72 Sturer Emil build.

The DS tracks are pretty good really, first time I have used them and learned a good deal from the experience. How to get rid or minimise the join? New methods learned about painting tracks are reflected on the T-80BV and JS-3M for instance. So learning curves all the way!

Acrylics used throughout as per usual. I used a combination of acrylic paint and pastel washes.

On to the pics...







Feedback, as per usual, most welcome.

cheers

Mike
petros
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Thessaloniki, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: January 06, 2006
KitMaker: 172 posts
Armorama: 168 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 02:31 AM UTC
Very nice kit.
A little more weathering, cheeping, rust, maybe???
petros

P.S. What did you use for the groundwork?
thedoog
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New York, United States
Joined: May 14, 2007
KitMaker: 263 posts
Armorama: 260 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 04:01 AM UTC
Hey isn't this "Madmike"?! Funny seeing you over here!
Mike, hit that track joint with some gap-filling CA glue, or putty now that it's on the base, and just paint it to match! Even if it doesn't exactly level, its better than a nasty gap!
The whole kit looks great, by the way!
sabredog
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: July 22, 2007
KitMaker: 607 posts
Armorama: 599 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 10:10 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hey isn't this "Madmike"?! Funny seeing you over here!
Mike, hit that track joint with some gap-filling CA glue, or putty now that it's on the base, and just paint it to match! Even if it doesn't exactly level, its better than a nasty gap!
The whole kit looks great, by the way!


Hi Karl!

Yes it is

My thoughts were to blend groundwork into the gap, detritus from the dirt area it just came from...

cheers

Mikie
mgdsign
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Skåne, Sweden
Joined: July 21, 2006
KitMaker: 686 posts
Armorama: 685 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 10:34 AM UTC
It seems that you are turning out to be quite an expert on
these russian vehicles...

Putting the tracks aside I think the rest is very well done!

Try to hide the joint in the tracks next time under a wheel
or even better put it on so it faces up so it can be hidden
under the fenders...

Keep up the good work!!!

Best regards

Sven-Åke
BornToDig
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Maryland, United States
Joined: December 25, 2002
KitMaker: 345 posts
Armorama: 311 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 03:06 AM UTC
Mike you're getting better and better at this.

Did you extend the width of the rear fenders, or did Dragon actually get it right on the /85? I can't really tell from your photos.


sabredog
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: July 22, 2007
KitMaker: 607 posts
Armorama: 599 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 03:30 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Mike you're getting better and better at this.

Did you extend the width of the rear fenders, or did Dragon actually get it right on the /85? I can't really tell from your photos.


Ralph

No extensions to be made. There has been talk about the rear chassis and accuracy issues but I certainly do not see it!

cheers

Mike
Braille
#135
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California, United States
Joined: August 05, 2007
KitMaker: 1,501 posts
Armorama: 1,485 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 23, 2007 - 04:02 PM UTC
Michael,

Super job! Like your weathering job and how you managed to keep the tank on the dio from looking like it's hovering over the ground. Hope that my model will turn out as nice as yours.

-Eddy
sabredog
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: July 22, 2007
KitMaker: 607 posts
Armorama: 599 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 - 04:18 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Michael,

Super job! Like your weathering job and how you managed to keep the tank on the dio from looking like it's hovering over the ground. Hope that my model will turn out as nice as yours.

-Eddy


Thanks!

Once the T-34/85 was placed onto the base, I then added some more ground filler carefully to give that impression of weight. The issue has been that I have used wall plaster (spakfiller, as it is known here in Australia) for basing and you cannot get good tank track impressions.

The plaster is either too cured or too wet. I just got some Celluclay via e-order, so hopefully I can get the ruts and depressions into the base without building the base up around the tank.

cheers

Mike
sabredog
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: July 22, 2007
KitMaker: 607 posts
Armorama: 599 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 - 04:21 PM UTC

Quoted Text

It seems that you are turning out to be quite an expert on
these russian vehicles...

Putting the tracks aside I think the rest is very well done!

Try to hide the joint in the tracks next time under a wheel
or even better put it on so it faces up so it can be hidden
under the fenders...

Keep up the good work!!!

Best regards

Sven-Åke


Sven-Åke

Thanks very much!

I have just started work on the Trumpeter 1:72 Sturer Emil tracks which are the older type of rubber band track. So far CA has held them together, but I flattened the location nib with a hot scalpel tip just to be sure they stay attached. It will be interesting to try and hide the join on these tracks!
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