Thank you all for the feedback!

@PeteDoc: Still haven't seen it in Norway. I did find one seller on ebay.co.uk. Going to buy one for testing.

@retiredyank: For me it doesn't matter if it takes 24 or 48 hrs to dry, as long as it works. I'm pretty happy with how the jack block turned out, but it kinda looks way better than most of the stuff on the tank.

@AFVFan: I've got 4 airbrushes in my lineup; 2 generic from a local store in Norway, 1 "HS35" In got off ebay and a Sparmax HB-040. I have no idea on needle size on the generics, but the HS35 has a 0,2mm and the Sparmax 0,3mm. All are gravity fed.
I've been contemplating on buying the Iwata HP-C for a while, though.

One technique I remembered for wood such as tool handles or rifle stocks is to base coat them with a light tan such as buff then give a top coat by brush of Tamiya clear orange. The brush will pull the orange along the stock creating a nice two tone wood effect that doesn't look out of scale. It took me a bit to really get consistent results but I've found it gives a good, worn appearance.
Looking forward to seeing your project progress.
Eric.

Thanks for the tip! Will try that on my next jack base

Went for another layer of varnish and things went pretty good.

I think I might have clogged my airbrush by not thinning the varnish on my first attempt. I went for 2 part varnish / 1 part thinner and it it flowed great through the same generic airbrush I used yesterday. I think I got a nice layer of varnish on it this time. It actually looked it a bit nicer this evening than yesterday, probably due to the varnish getting time to dry.

Small update on the progress; Discovered that I did not have any filters for the next stage of weathering. Did not have any oils for a dot filter layer either, so that has been ordered through Ebay and should arrive in a week or so.

In the meanwhile I've started the paintwork on the Friul tracks. Glad I'm done drilling the holes on these things. Almost lost an arm while drilling 400 holes with a tiny drill.
Anyways, I laid down a base coat of Vallejo Rotbraun primer and followed up with a layer of Vallejo Black, both using an airbrush:




My ultrasonic cleaner arrived from China on Friday, so all of my airbrushed received some proper cleaning yesterday.

EDIT 20.01.2013:

Added some wear to the guide horns today:

New update on my Ausf D:

Applied an AK Interactive Wash (for german gray vehicles) to the turret, hull and lower hull:



Not quite sure on the purpose of the wash, but it did dull the effect from the gloss coat. Applied the wash moderately to the surface and then removed most of it by damping the brush with the AK thinner. Also applied some wash around the clamps, hinges and other outcroppings on the hull, while removing a bit less compared to what I did with the main hull.

Could anyone explain the difference between a Filter and a Wash?

A filter changes the overall color of the model. A wash should pick out the details. That is why you want to apply a wash over a gloss coat. It helps the wash settle into the nooks and crannies.

using a wash allows one to create shadow, giving it a 3-d effect For it creeps into the creases and such. As for your airbrushes gravity fed ones require ample thinning more than what one would expect. Thin like skim milk if that helps. Do a test spray before should come out as a nice fine spray. If paint collects on tip, thin paint. If blobs of paint spray out thin paint. Each brush will act differently. Practice. One can over thin paint when sprayed it runs and is quite clear. The more layers of paint applied the better, gives a more realistic effect. As for future which is a water based floor wax, it is named differently in different regions. Can be named ajax, future,klear, klir, pronto, Johnson's "Sols Plus" and as "Vloer Plus. Can be thinned via alcohol cleaned by window cleaner due to ammonia. Has a milky appearance but dries clear. Can be used on clear parts. Hope this clears up the picture to some degree.

Looking great.... what paint did you use for the tools? Tey look very neat....

Thanks for the tips. I might have misunderstood and used the Wash to cover most of the surfaces. Probably should have used the Filter for that job.

@robw_uk: I use Vallejo ModelAir Wood, with a hint of brown drybrushed on top. For the metal tools/parts I use Vallejo ModelAir Black with some drybrushed Vallejo Light Grey to represent wear.

And it is done!







Mud was applied using a combination of AK Interactive "Dark Mud" and AK "European Earth" pigments.

Started this kit on November 20th and I'm satisfied with the result, especially since this is my first airbrushed and weathered model. Using after-marked parts is a first too (metal tracks).

Turned out really well, congrats!
I actually saw your post on Reddit and then checked here.
One thing I did notice was you might want to pick out the tool clamps and paint them the hull colour as they were part of the tank.
Looks really good.
Eric.

Great job man! Love the subtle camo you applied. Very nice.

Gary

Great work with the paint. Nothing is overdone, everything fits together perfectly.

- Johan

very very nice... really like the finish you got

Superb job! I think the gray wash turned out well. It made the brown look faded.

Very nice. What color and brand paint did you apply to the tool handles?

Thanks everyone!

@stoney: Noted. Will paint the clamps in the same color as the hull.

@210cav: Tool handles are Vallejo ModelAir Black with some dry brushed Vallejo Light Grey.

That turned out pretty nice. What's going to be your next victim?

That would be an Academy Wirbelwind I've also started on a old Italeri Panzerkampfwagen I kit.

I've been following the Wirbelwind build. That's coming along well. How's that Italeri MkI kit? I've got one by Maquette on the bench. It's turning out ok, but it's been a real fight.

I haven't had much time with the Pz. I kit yet, but from what I've seen so far, it's pretty old. Probably close to 30 years. It's the #222 kit that I got off eBay fairly cheap.

My original plan was to build, paint and weather the Pz IV Ausf D and the Wirby before starting on a series of German armor, starting with the Pz I.

Geez... that could be a lifetime project if you go into all the variations.

Haha, true. No plans on getting every variation though, but I do have a Brummbar and a Pz IV Ausf G in the to-do pile. Also interested in the Pz III Ausf M Flak 43 from Cyber-hobby that is being advertised from DragonUSA on this site. Unfortunately, the shipping costs are a tad high for my liking.