Here's my build of the Tiger Model's VBL.
Nothing special, straight from the box build.
Don't know what paint scheme will be used yet, but probably it will be a vehicle from 1/1/1REC.
Here's progress so far.

Looking good so far.....

Love it, I'll keep on eye on your progress! How is the fit so far, any issues?

Cheers,

Christian

You've done a very nice job so far.. looking forward to seeing the camouflage.. what colors do you plan to use?

Hisham

Hi to all
Thanks for looking
Fit is generally good.
Any issues? Well. The central consol with the radio scream for a photoetch replacement and resin radio in my opinion, few gaps needed to be filled between upper and lower parts, but I'll post pictures tomorrow.
camo? Well...probably standard NATO. maybe slightly weathered.

Do you have a specific brand of paints you use.. Tamiya, AK, MIG Ammo? I'm wondering what would be the best for a NATO paint scheme.

Hisham

really good job fot interior !

So far I was using Vallejo Model Air set for Bundeswehr Camo since it has a NATO colour paints, but I think I'll get a AK Modern French Army Colours for this kit.
There is a new polish brand HATAKA and they have a set for french vehicles as well so We'll see
What would you recommend?
I'm not very good with airbtushing yet, so I 'm trying to use a ready mixed paints.

hi

Few photos of the places where gaps needed to be filled up.
Not a major problem but it looks better this way.

I went to the Telford Show and I bought a set of paints.



I wanted to try it, and I think I made a mistake...




quality wise the paints aren't to bad. Unfortunately you can't use the X-20A or Vallejo thinner to thin it or even clean the airbrush, because simply it doesn't work.
I had to use White Spirit to clean the gun.

as you can see on the picture, green colour which is described as Vert Foncé IR – Standard camouflage colour of French Army vehicles from early 1990s (incl. on AMX Leclerc, AMX 30, VBCI, VAB and AMX 30 Au F1) is a joke!!
I served in france in early 2000's and I don't remember any of the vehicles painted in this colour...
But the damaged was done and now I'll try to darken it with filters.
Brown and black looks OK.

My advise - don't buy it. Go for Vallejo, AK sets if you like ready made paints, or use Gunze/Tamiya.

I was going to order that paint set.. Glad you made this post.

Will Tamiya's Nato Black, Green and Brown do the job?

Hisham

Thank you for this thread, I am interested in this kit and I'll be getting one when I can, and I will avoid that paint set.

Yes!
I'm sure Tamiya paints will be perfect.

I have poured over the correct colours for French vehicles for months as I get a bit anal about colours and I ended up using Tamiya’s XF 5 Green XF 64 Red Brown and XF 85 Rubber on my VBCI. While I found a picture that looks close to these colours but I wasn’t really happy with the them I then followed the advice of Olivier Carneau (http://olivier.carneau.free.fr/index.htm click on Accueil for the home page) from his site that suggested Humbrol enamels 80 Grass Green and 62 Leather I then continued with the rubber and I found that these are fantastic matches for the French colours and have even gone as far as to re-spray my Leclerc and AMX 10P these will be my colours of choice for all French tri colour vehicles.

I stick to the Nato colours because as far as I remember all the vehicles were painted in Nato colours. Maybe now they have changed the green to the lighter tone, as some of the pictures from 14th of july parade shows, but I'm still not 100% sure.

Avoid NATO colours at all costs, these were the colours I originally painted the Leclerc and AMX10 and they are way wrong.

"NATO colours" don't mean anything when you see the number of NATO countries, 28 if I'm not mistaken. Do you really believe a German Leopard 2A6 a US M1A2 Abrams and a French Leclerc are painted in the same shades?

Cheers,

Christophe

I read the exact opposite advice on a French forum. Maybe you have experienced a bad set or the thinner had altered the paint itself.

You work is not spoilt in anyway. You just have to spray another shade of green over the first areas. I happened to do this and it's feasible.

Keep on the good work!
Olivier

Hi

Just checked that topic and run fast to check that Hataka paint set. I get one of my trials model and...


My colours are bit different. That French green is like forest green, on your photo is "crazy lime", or something, I thing, even I'm sure that green one is ok in this case. I changed all my paint to Hataka because they are "stronger" that other like Vallejo. Other are like tint water not paint - here I have real colourful paints. And of you are beginner in painting - one most important rule - use dedicated/same producer thinners, cleaners. Do not combine. I'm using Hataka thinner now for all my other paints too. You can wash your airbrush (after use Hataka paints) by warm water, without any problems.

Here are some basic tricks for Hataka paints:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XVPTTncmrc

Regards
Przemo

Przemo prosze reklamuj swoje produkty gdzie indziej...

Hi guys, I'm late in the conversation but please allow me to add my grain of salt... Firstly, beautiful start, Blazey ! WRT colours, the best match I found is Humbrol 80 (green) with Tamiya NATO black and NATO Brown.

the kit is finished now. All I have to do is finish the base for it, and assemble a n paint the figures. Another few weeks and the work will be completed.

So
I've finally found some time to take the photos of the finished kit.
I made ONE big Error.
I didn't fill the holes on the inside of the hatches. Well-s..t happens. Next time I'll remember to do it.







more photos soon on armorama

It came out really nice... and I like how the base is not just flat.. the slope gives it more dimension

Hisham

Well done thanks for the pictures