Hi Everyone

I hope it isn't a bad thing to post two things on a single day. I made this one over the summer as my second model ever. It's the Dragon E 100 "Nachtjager" and talk about a BIG kit. Although spare some mercy on this one, it was painted with Q-tips! (as I can't afford an airbrush) But if there is anything that can help improve it please feel free!








Appriciate the comments
Richard

"Building is easy. Painting is hard. Weathering is harder. Not going crazy doing the above is hardest."

put italicized text here put bold text here

Hm......have you considered painting with a paintbrush?
Practice makes perfect...

Hi Lisec

Painting with enamels and no turentine can render a paintbrush useless. That's what happened and the reason why I couldn't use paintbrushes. I used them the week before on a project (woodworking anyone?) and having no stores that had brushes in the local area, I had to make do with what I had. The Panzerjager I on the otherhand (a few posts down) I had brushes for that. I try and thanks for the comments.

Richard

"Building is easy. Painting is hard. Weathering is harder. Not going crazy during the above is hardest."

One thing do alittle research. the IR lights should be more blue/black

Hi Geraint,

I went with what the instructions and paint guide told me. So it is not excactly my falt. Its also on the boxart so I went with that too.

Richard
"Building is easy. Painting is hard. Weathering is harder. Not going crazy doing the above is hardest."

Hi Richard.

Great effort on the E-100!
Concidering that it was your second - ever- model i must say that it turned out well.

I know what you meen by modeling is easy, painting is hard etc. I Myself don't own an airbrush nor can i afford one in the near future but one can still achieve great results whit a good old brush, whitout having to shell out a truckload of money on a compressor / airbrush which some people think it will automaticly make their models look better .

The same goes whit the weathering. It IS hard at first but practise makes perfect.

But as long as you enjoyed the build and had fun "from start to finish" that is what matters most!


And concidering it's a what if kit.... the IR light could very well be the same color as the tank.

/

Warsawpact

Hi Christian

This project was a lot of fun! I really liked the way the kit went together. No gaps to fill, Only had the photoetched needed for the the grills and headlamp support, the whole nine yards. The only part I didn't like were the approx 175 tracks that had to be cut and put together individually. Talk about about a nuiscanse! Thanks for the comments.

Richard
"Building is easy. Painting is hard. Weathering is harder. Not going crazy doing the above is hardest."

This point is direced to everybody though. What can I do to improve the model, there has got to be something! I can't be perfect on the second go. I don't really seek praises, I seek improvement!

It is a 'What If' kit and the total fun of these is painting it in what your imagination shows you. I once completed an E100 that was the original Dragon kit from years ago and added a barrel from the Sturer Emil and a coaxial 20mm gun, twin cupolas on top of the turret ad painted it in an Afrika Korps scheme with Afrika Korps AFV markings.
Regardless, for this being your second build it is pretty good. What did you use for the mud/ snow on the tracks and underside of the tank? I've never attempted this because I was afraid of the result I may get.
You don't have to get a top of the line airbrush to paint a realistic scheme. I started out with paintbrushes and qtips; the result being about 30 1/72nd scale german vehicles used for wargames. You can actually find some on Internet-Hobbies for around $40.00. These require the cans of testors air for $10.00. The airbrush comes with 3 different tips for the kind of airbrushing you will do. I recently found an airbrush and compressor at Harbor Freight for under $50.00 and they are really easy to use. Good luck in the hobby and I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Semper Fi!

Hi Daniel

Thanks for the info on the airbrushes but after my upcoming project and heavy involvement with school, I won't be able to get models and an airbrush for a really long time. As for the mud.

It was pretty easy to make. I had kept some ashes left over from a campfire and ground it into a really fine powder. Get rid of any large chunks. Then I mixed some white glue and water until it looks like milk but make sure there is plenty of glue. Then you add the glue and water mixture to the ashes and mix them together, but not too much or the ash mixture will be really thin, you kind of want it really thick as it makes the ashes stick to the model better. Before I put the mud on the model, I added the rest of the U.S. Armor paint I had left over into it, then you apply it to whatever areas get dirty. I figured this the best way for a newbie to weather with aid of a Tamiya weathering pen. Theres a link how to make the mixture here, it is supposed to be for groundwork but...

http://missing-lynx.com/articles/dio/dioramabases_robplas/dioramabases_robplas.html

I plan to use this same method on my next project.

Thanks Everybody
Richard

BTW: Thanks to all those from the U.S. here and abroad, past and present, that have served our country.

"Building is easy. Painting is hard. Weathering is harder. Not going crazy doing the above is hardest."
"I don't seek praises, I seek Improvement."

Richard,
Airbrushes aren't expensive! Check this out: http://www.bearair.com/prodinfo.asp?number=100332 . This is a carbon copy of the Iwata HP-BCS double action airbrush. Instead of being chrome plated, it's black enamel. The parts even interchange. No compressor? No problem! Get an air tank from Wal-Mart (used filling footballs and stuff) and rig it up using fittings from Home Depot or Sears. Take it to a gas station that has a tire-filling station and you're good to go! For under $100 you have an airbrush set-up that's pretty good. Best of luck!
Regards,
Georg

Hi Georg,

Unfortunately, thats a hundred dollars I don't have! And with a drivers liscense looming, insurance costs would cut the spare change I have to nothing. But I will keep that website in mind. Thanks alot for the info!

Richard
"Building is easy. Painting is hard. Weathering is harder. Not going crazy doing the above is hardest."
"I don't seek praises, I seek Improvement."