Thin with lacquer thinner to that "milk" consistency normal for using an AB. I went a tiny bit thinner and that's about 3 coats for good coverage.

Some things fell into place recently... the paint set, Desert War-Zenith Transformation Set, I ordered arrived... and I found time to actually use them.

The set has a bottle of primer, satin varnish and Glaze medium and 6 colors… 1st & 2nd shadow, Base, 1st & 2nd Light and Bright. Step by step instructions guide you through the procedure. The idea is to get a finish that looks like the vehicle is exposed to the desert sun… needless to say. To help in the visualization of the “zenith” idea, when applying the “1 & 2 light colors, they suggest putting a real light the model to give you an idea of where the lighter areas will fall.

EDIT. Older pics taken out and all in a row now.


I have all 6 steps in a row now for a better comparison. The last pic is the “Bright” step which pics out the highest point and applied with a brush. The effect can be seen around the edges of the armor, gun mount, angles part of the fuel tanks etc.

I wanted to keep the weathering on the lighter side. Not many Enigma models built but the ones that are seem to be very heavy on the rust. More like they depict one that has been captured and been sitting for a long time.

I know the humidity in the desert is not dead zero so thing will rust... but how fast and how much on an operational vehicle. Need opinions as to whether to add some small chipping along some edges with a bit of rusty(ish) streaking coming down. But again… not much rain to get those plumes of color running down the vehicle. Looking at pics online the Iraqi vehicles that weren’t blown to smithereens didn’t look all that beat up. Long story short (oops… too late) any opinions will be greatly appreciated.

Don't forget to take in account humidity. That alone combined with poorly painted surfaces will allow rust to accumulate quickly. Any presence of salt will increase this effect, so it depends on what body of water was nearest to theses when they were hobbled together and pushed into service in this form.

I don't have any reference photos for these, but if you were going to go with rust I would limit it to very fine applications on the areas that commonly pose the greatest prolbems for paint adhesion.

*edit: I forgot to mention that moisture is not uncommon when creating weld beads, especially in less than ideal environments.

You've been doing a great job so far. i really like how effective looks your pre-shading job.

Regarding the rusty effects, unfortunately we don't have any Enigma operational pics, but we have some Iraqi T-55 and T-62 ones, so we might make some educated guess.

According to my references, desert t-55s don't look too rusty

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/5817/14824558.1e/0_53b4a_22605c45_orig

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/5906/siba219.17/0_4e353_e50df1cf_orig

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/5815/14824558.1e/0_53b69_50f9a453_orig

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/5816/14824558.1e/0_53b68_2ecab707_orig

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4522/14824558.1e/0_53b7a_70b7b5b4_orig

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/5906/siba219.14/0_4de8a_4c922bbc_orig

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/5808/siba219.14/0_4dea4_513948a0_orig

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/5606/siba219.14/0_4dea5_f095a406_orig

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/5508/siba219.14/0_4dea6_6b6b9edb_orig

As you can notice rust spots tend to be more common on the sharper edges or on the mudguards because paint tends to be stripped away there. Anyway, as Jeremy has rightly said, we have also to consider the moisture stagnation. Moisture can be blown away by the wind, so moisture staignations (and so rust stains) would be more common on the "hidden" tank parts, such for exemple below the turret extra armour or near the turret base

https://www.dropbox.com/s/774usuqs7sq0bz5/t55enig-003.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wp6mempmbicm4z9/t55enig-004.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p9vzn1fd56z518v/t55enig-005.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rud8yrizh72psv0/T-55_Enigma_19.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r1zkxv6g8l0kx9c/T-55_Enigma_15.jpg

Just my guess anyway.

Carry on this way Marc, that's a beautiful job indeed!

Marc, She's looking fantastic man! Love what you have done so far.

Gary

Marc- really stellar progress- the tone of the paint and the finish thus far is spot-on.

great build,are those matel tracks?very nice work
on the kit,thanks for shareing.

Thanks so much for all the comments and compliments

Jeremy I would say the "less than ideal environment" is an understatement

Mauro, I knew I could count on you do post some great ref pics. I have some good ideas of which way to go now.

Roy, yes they are Friul tracks

I can't wait to see your job finished. I know it'll be GREAT!

thanks for the repy,i cant build those tracks,i only have one hand to work with,

The model is very impressive and I admire your attention to detail

Thanks again guys.

Roy.. did you see the jig I made in a post somewhere back on page 2? When I drill the holes I will sometimes double stick tape the whole thing to the edge of my bench and go down the line. Might work for you.

cool Marc,i will have to find that post.

Since I was getting into uncharted waters with a modern desert tank and out of practice I had to go to the point when my head said, "Don't over do it." Sometimes by the time you say that to yourself it's too late. So with that said... unless there is a tweak or 2 someone can trough out there... I'm done.

Yesssss mate!, you really nailed it!!

It looks incredbly real!

Really nice work! The tonal variation you managed to achieve looks awesome.

Nicely done Marc.

Mauro, Rob, Karl... thanks very much. I hope to be starting the base soon. I don't usually do bases but I think this should have one.

The Iraqi figure from the box has been modified. It will look more "appropriate" once he is surrounded by heavily amred US Infantryman

I am finally putting this on to bed. I was gonna do more US guys but that Iraqi... he's not going anywhere.

Good looking model, well done with the figures too. Mauro's photos are very good too, love the third one of the k.o. T55 with 'soviet made s#*t' painted on the glacis. I might just have to do that one.....

Thanks Steven. I missed that on the T-55. Would make an interesting dio for sure.

Marc,

I know this thread is a little bit old, but since i am planning to build my own Enigma, I will certainly use your build as guidance. Fantastic work! I wanted to know what brand/color of paint you used on your Enigma...you may have posted that somewhere on the thread, but if so, I missed it. Again, an absolutely fabulous build and great paint and weathering.

Oh yeah, one more thing if you don't mind. You'd mentioned that you were waiting on P/E for this tank. Which P/E set was it that you used? thanks again, in advance.