now the winter nights are heading in it is time to start on more serious projects

this one is going to be semi serious but practice as well ( not quite winter yet is it !! )

got the kit free due to a missing main barrel if anyone has a spare please contact !!

the hull is built and is now in primer it is surprising how big this is , especialy after the 1/72 scale scout car i built last week

moving quickly i see, how does the kit go together?

very nicely , read some reviews and they recconed the italieri and tamiya were about the two best ones ..

Note that the nasty seam around the insert around the access panel in the sponson side will need some attention with putty before you go on. This was one of the disappointing features of the Italeri kit's engineering (this kit was a huge disappointment after their Leopard 1A4 kit, which was--and is--one of the best armor kits ever).

Note that the nasty seam around the insert around the access panel in the sponson side will need some attention with putty before you go on. This was one of the disappointing features of the Italeri kit's engineering (this kit was a huge disappointment after their Leopard 1A4 kit, which was--and is--one of the best armor kits ever).[/quote]

oh bugger !! never mind too late

broke out the airbrush and compressor for a change

pre shaded the panel lines ( a winged things technique ) unsure if used on armour models !! not brilliant as the humbrol 33 is on its last legs didn't help matters using white spirit instead of the correct thinners to thin in the tin !!

then sprayed the colour ( the barrel will be done at a later stage !! )

next stage ( after some detail painting ) was to spray the complete vehicle in klear , future to those across the pond ..

another wingy thingy technique that helps decaling and protects the thin layer of paint already applied but also makes weathering techniques easier such as using a black oil paint wash for recessed shadows and dry brushing with titanium white oil paint to enhance raised details

just the gun barrel and weathering / details to complete

and still working out how the hell to portray it in a minimalist diorama as no leopard photos are realy inspiring on the net

still an idea will come !!