Hi Everyone;

I HATE PHOTOETCH
Guillem; Thats Superb, Im really Stoked by your work.

Ive Built 2 ZTZ-99s from H.B. and there Great kits.
Im guesseing its the Digital sceme, Its Mind Bogeling
how people can paint that camo,. They just Kill me.

CHEERS; MIKE.

Thank you all!

I really like adding the photoetched, I have never done a tank like this before, in fact, I only did some military modeling when I was a kid and then started to make civil vehicles (most bikes and some cars) and now also comercial airplanes.

However I think that using this set of photoetched parts is a good exercice to gain experience with them also is very challenging, I only used to use just a few photoetched parts in my models but this one is completely filled with parts to be replaced and modified.

Today I will post pictures of the rear section and one of the parts to be added on the turret.







I still have to add the rear lights, but since I lost some of the PE bolts I still have to look if I have some spare set that I bought in the past.

Not sure what to do next, the sideskirts or the turret but I think I'm going to start with the turret.

I think will be very hard to paint this tank (digital camo) so I will not glue the top deck and the turret yet.

Cheers!
Guillem

Wow! Great work. That photoetch would drive me crazy! Looking forward to seeing the way you paint this. Keep up the good work!

Nice clean work, thanks for the update!


cheers

Wow, that photo-etch set is very nice and detailed. I like what you are doing here. I have the Trumpeter Chinese Tank transporter and was wondering what I should place on the trailer. I think I will follow your work closely to see if this tank will win the spot

Mike

Thanks guys!

This weekend I was able to advance a little bit more with this project so I already started the turret.

Here are some pics:

Since I wanted to display this model like the Chinese parade, I had to reopen the door that I glued in order to put the figure there.



The small wiper


Since I lost some of the photoetched nuts and bolts I had to use a different photoetched set specially designed for 1/12 bikes from the brand CrazyModeler.




Here I saw that these three holes did not have to use nuts or bolts according to the instructions but I decided to place them there too.








The turret is not glued yet.






This is a bigger shot to see better the details.


Hopefully I can post more pictures soon!

Guillem

Sory to be redundant, but your PE work is superb! You must have the hands of surgeon. Care to share what your favorite 2 or 3 tools are?

Thanks for your comment Bill, without any doubt my favorite tool is the tweezers, I'm using the ones by Tamiya (ref TAM74048) they are like my right hand when I'm doing this kind of small work, I couldn't do anything without them.
Actually, the tip of these tweezers and the structure itself are very solid, with this kind of tweezers you could even catch a hair.

Also there are other tools like the knife, but specially when working with photoetched parts there is another necessary tool, the bending pliers, I'm using the ones by Tamiya (Ref TAM74067) diamond file, photoetched scissors are also needed.

As an anecdote, when I first started using photoetched parts for the battleship Yamato, they were so small that I had to make my own tool to add just the enough quantity of glue, it is form by a broken and fine drill glued to a white 5mm plastic rod, what I do is to dip the tip of the drill into the glue and then place it into the part, also since the plastic handle is thin, I can easily access to any area because of its flexibility.

Cheers!

Guillem

Guillem

Thanks for referencing the tools. I have various manufacturers tools, and agree that my tweezers are very important but I have always been looking for a better pair. I will try the Tamiya. And great idea with the drill-bit glue applicator. Happy modeling, and I look forward to watching you progress this project along. The colors seem like they will be fun to work with also.

Bill

Hello everyone,

I have started with the main gun and I tried to reprduce a similar angle that was shown in the Parade.
Also I finished what seem to be a gas/granade or rocket launcher at the sides of the turret.

Right now I have sanded the default plastic hose bands of the main gun to use the photoetched ones.











Cheers!
Guillem

looks like this could be a lot of help with painting the digital scheme...

http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=JW-PPA5072

By the way excellent work on the PE Guillem!!!

Thanks for that information Marko,
It seems that this set of masking tape will help a lot.

However and since the kit includes a 1/1 scale model camo layout, I will take the challenge to mask the entire tank by myself, I'm sure will be very fun, but at the same time delicate because most photoetched parts are very small with a small amount of glue.

Have a nice weekend.

Guillem

Hi all,

Some more photos today.











Guillem

your build is awsome,great pe work.

Stunning PE work and we can't wate to see some piant on it.

Absolutely great work on the details, Guillem.

I also like your excellent images you post in your build.

Keep on the good work.
cheers
Walter

Simply an outstanding job on the PE work. I really envy anyone who can work with those small parts. Looking forward to your next update. Keep 'em coming.
Joel

Thanks for your comments guys!

Today I have a big update! I finished all the main work with the PE and the tank is almost finished.

I'm going to start with the side skirts and also I'm starting to design the camo templates. Still not sure if I will be able to mount the side skirts separately so I can paint them apart or I will have to glue them (because of the latch) on the main tank.

Here are the pictures: (For bigger pictures click on the links below each photo)

Decided to open a hole in the machine gun and to add a little bit of wiring.




http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/plaztz99b88b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/plaztz99b89b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/plaztz99b90b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/plaztz99b91b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/ztz99b92b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/ztz99b93b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/plaztz99b94b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/ztz99b95b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/ztz99b96b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/ztz99b97b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/ztz99b98b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/ztz99b99b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/ztz99b100b.jpg


http://www.rocascalemotorcycles.com/fotosblog/fotosmilitar/plaztz99b/ztz99b101b.jpg


The photoetched by ET model is 10/10. To me, the most complicated part was the structure behind the turret. It is easier to make smaller parts because bigger ones are difficult to keep straight.
So, I had some problems on my first attempt in making the left structure of the turret but it was better on the right. I have to admit that there are parts remaining on the turret structure that weren't used, mainly because they almost can't be seen and also because it was a lot of work to do that wouldn't been seen.

I think that ET model could have explained a bit better the process for building the turret structure, specially I think that they could have arranged the order of mounting since I think is easier to use the photoetch parts with the plastic parts of the turret than creating the structure apart and adding it to the plastic parts.
Since I had this little problem with bending correctly the structure, the rear part didn't fit the turret so I had to cut in the middle, remove 5mm of metal and glue it back together again, a very complicated work but I learned the lesson and if I ever build an A version of this one, now I know what to do

I hope you like the pictures and the next ones will be about the side skirts that I hope to start soon.

Bye

Guillem

Hi;


((( JUST STUNNING !!! )))

CANT WAIT TOO SEE MORE !!!!


CHEERS; MIKE.

Hello friends,

It has been a long time, the painting process was a little bit complicated, specially because of the small photoetched parts.

If I'm being honest, I still removed a small piece of masking tape even after the matt varnish coat...

Well, I should have started this reply by saying that the tank is finished!!

I will take photos of it soon, meanwhile I wanted to share the latest pictures I took in the painting process, I also post a photo of the decaling process of PLA tank figures.













Please, note that these first five photos were taken in February, it took me a couple of months to paint it, and the project was stopped for a month.

Pictures of the finished tank coming soon!

Guillem

Edit* For some reason, even though I bought the figures of the parade version, they came with the training helmets... so I also had to modify them with putty.

hi , i been watching this build as i fancy building one one day . i love digital camouflage but yes its a nightmare to paint.
look forward to seeing your finished work well done ossie

GOOD GAWD!!!! This is bloody awesome! I have this kit but im nervous to do this camo, but seeing you sure inspires me to give it a go!

Gary

Thats An Awsome Build Cant wait to see the Finished Tank

Sascha(Iron0wl)

Thank you very much all, I'm glad to announce that the project has been finished.

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/206165&page=1

Guillem