After quite a long break I finally have some time to do a little modeling. I picked up this BTR-70 and built it out of the box.

Last night I got the first paint on it. Please excuse the photo as I simply shot it on my desk and didn't worry about lighting. It is indeed a green color in case in doesn't appear that way in the photo!

I'm going to do quite a bit of weathering on this one as my plan is to have an Afghan vehicle in a small vignette with three figures from Warriors, so I started with fairly heavy shading and panel lightening. There would have been a filter applied already but I had no thinner. Got to get some supplies today, so stay tuned.

Looking good Steve! The painting looks like its going well, nice and faded as most of these vehicles look. What figures are you using, are they the Northern Alliance figs?

I'm going to be using the driver and "guy sitting with one leg down the hatch and a Kalashnikov in hand" from the Afghan T-55/T-62 Tank Crew (set #35425) and next to the vehicle I'm using the "guy pointing" from the Afghan Warriors '79 to Present (set #35426). Very nice figure sets, by the way.

So two figures on the vehicle and one next to it. Will also have a small amount of stowage; not much more than a few jerry cans tied over the engine hatches.

Got my thinner so I can do some filters tonight.

After the application of several filters and some detail painting:







Have started dry brushing. Will follow that with a heavy turn of Mig pigments, some minor paint chipping then a final dry brush to any raised areas that got obscured.

i always thought the BTR was a boring model, but somehow u made it interesting again to me...even OOB it looks pretty detailed and i love the paint job youv done...make me wanna try to build one..

TC Dan

Due to overwhelming interest, here are more photos. This is after dry brushing and the application of pigments. Three pigments were used: light dust, brick dust, and Russian earth. These were used straight as well as mixed. The Russian earth was mainly used to accentuate lines. All were applied dry.

Next to come is a slight drybrush over any highlights. I should also try a light spray of turpentine substitute to seal the pigments a little, but I'll need to test this first.

A bit of color and interest will come with the minimal stowage and, of course, the figures, though it may take a while before I start those.

Looking good Steve. Your weathering looks spot on! It looks suitably worn but also restrained, I really like it. Look forward to seeing this progress, I always loved the BTR 70 and 80, they look so mean and typicaly Russian.

Very nice looking weathering--the pigments really make it come to life!

Looking good Steve! NIce shading and tones, pigments have a good look to them, coming along nicely. Thanks for sharing your work.

Cheers -
Tim

Thanks. I think I've arrived at the final state of weathering. Not much different other than a few paint chips and some revised dust. Only a few minor details like glass visors to paint and then finish the gun.

I still need to tackle the wheels, or I should say the tires. They're miserable vinyl and it's more of a challenge to get the weathering to look right and stay put.

Other than that I don't want to go any further and to keep it somewhat subtle. Too bad there's not really an approproate decal, but it doesn't go with what I'm trying to depict.

Hi Steve,

It seems really very good especially the usage of pigments. Two questions:

Can you give more details on your pigment usage and drybrushing?

Also I'd really like to know what you are doing to the tyres? I have got a BTR-80 at home waiting for its turn. It also has got vinyl tyres. Do you paint them before weathering?

Best regards.

Looks really good, Steve. The weathering is really bringing this beast alive. I have build this kit in the past and it is a monster.

Beware of the tires. You need to paint those with a "strong" paint or do the weathering directly on the tires. I build mine a couple of years ago and the tires shows no cracks, but the weathering pastels etc. somehow changes colour, but only on the tires
Maybe a coat of gloss varnish followed 48 hours later by a matt varnish on the tires can change this. (?)