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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Tamiya 1/35 Matilda - Caunter
cabasner
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Joined: February 12, 2012
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Posted: Sunday, April 12, 2020 - 08:57 AM UTC
So, Robert, great to see you back at the Matilda!

Sometimes, it just takes a little 'oomph' to get moving on a build that has stalled. It took me just that to get my Matilda finished, which I finally did in July of 2019. I have to tell you that seeing that tank finally finished is really, truly worth the anxiety. I had to really press myself, worried that the masking, over all those 'peaks and valleys' that are presented by the Matilda, wouldn't be effective. But trust me, it was, and didn't require that you be perfect in getting the tape down all the way. Even close is good enough, as long as you keep you airbrush as close to 90 degrees above the tape, so the spray will go 'straight down', so to speak, and I'm sure you'll find that this is fine. It was really worth the effort, though, seeing that tank in all 3 colors, really wonderful! I'm looking forward to seeing your tank all done, Caunter scheme and weathering in place. Realize, too, that weathering helps a lot with respect to any imperfections in the masking. I never posted any pictures of my completed tank, but suffice to say that I think it came out reasonably okay. I was happy with it, especially after the heavy duty desert weathering I did on it.

Keep on moving, Robert, and let's see your finished tank!!
robw_uk
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Posted: Sunday, April 12, 2020 - 09:03 AM UTC

Quoted Text

So, Robert, great to see you back at the Matilda!

Sometimes, it just takes a little 'oomph' to get moving on a build that has stalled. It took me just that to get my Matilda finished, which I finally did in July of 2019. I have to tell you that seeing that tank finally finished is really, truly worth the anxiety. I had to really press myself, worried that the masking, over all those 'peaks and valleys' that are presented by the Matilda, wouldn't be effective. But trust me, it was, and didn't require that you be perfect in getting the tape down all the way. Even close is good enough, as long as you keep you airbrush as close to 90 degrees above the tape, so the spray will go 'straight down', so to speak, and I'm sure you'll find that this is fine. It was really worth the effort, though, seeing that tank in all 3 colors, really wonderful! I'm looking forward to seeing your tank all done, Caunter scheme and weathering in place. Realize, too, that weathering helps a lot with respect to any imperfections in the masking. I never posted any pictures of my completed tank, but suffice to say that I think it came out reasonably okay. I was happy with it, especially after the heavy duty desert weathering I did on it.

Keep on moving, Robert, and let's see your finished tank!!



thanks for the kick Curt.... yeah masking is my nemesis after mixing paint for airbrush - but the AK set sprays nicely straight from the bottle which is a start.
robw_uk
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Posted: Sunday, April 12, 2020 - 11:39 PM UTC
final paint of the week (modelling room going back to my office later). Fully primed ready for base coat on Friday



IMG_20200413_123401 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200413_123416 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200413_123408 by Robert Worth, on Flickr
robw_uk
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Posted: Wednesday, April 15, 2020 - 03:26 AM UTC
snook an early mark from work, travelled the 0ft from work desk to paint desk (did need to remove work kit from desk so I could paint). Portland stone on Matilda. Will have ~36hrs to go off before masking for the first colour.



Still need to get used to my airbrush, started off really nicely then same paint would splatter or run wet - might be the nozzle and needle need replacing but not sure....



IMG_20200415_161207 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200415_161201 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200415_161215 by Robert Worth, on Flickr
robw_uk
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Posted: Friday, April 17, 2020 - 03:41 AM UTC
Well first mask on an the Silver Grey applied. Have to admit a slight mistake in the masking so 1 part that should be portland will be silver grey but overall should still "look" caunter



IMG_20200417_150038 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



next mask and slate on tomorrow then unmask. Am sure there will be some overspray that needs attending too but masking wasn't quite as hard as I thought
robw_uk
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Posted: Saturday, April 18, 2020 - 01:17 AM UTC
Overspray needs to be cleaned up and I really really really need to learn how to airbrush thin coats... I know thinning etc but then it goes all watery





IMG_20200418_134629 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200418_134613 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200418_134616 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200418_134622 by Robert Worth, on Flickr
cabasner
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Posted: Sunday, April 19, 2020 - 02:46 PM UTC
Looks GREAT so far, Robert. Looks as good or better than my Matilda did at the same stage!

Here's some thoughts about your 'watery' spray problem. I would suggest that if you have highly diluted your paint, increase your air pressure a bit, but REDUCE YOUR PAINT FLOW! If you are using a dual action airbrush, try just barely pulling back your needle so that you get a VERY fine mist of paint. My experience is that when spraying really thinned paint, I have to reduce the amount of paint flow through the airbrush to preclude puddling on the model. This may mean that you might have to give the model 3-5 coats of paint, where one or 2 coats would suffice with far thicker paint, but the benefit of thin coats is VERY rapid drying (depending, of course, on the paint type you're using). You might be able to go back over such a thin coat by the time you finish one end of your tank and go back to where you started. Just my 2 cents.
robw_uk
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Posted: Sunday, April 19, 2020 - 06:39 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Looks GREAT so far, Robert. Looks as good or better than my Matilda did at the same stage!

Here's some thoughts about your 'watery' spray problem. I would suggest that if you have highly diluted your paint, increase your air pressure a bit, but REDUCE YOUR PAINT FLOW! If you are using a dual action airbrush, try just barely pulling back your needle so that you get a VERY fine mist of paint. My experience is that when spraying really thinned paint, I have to reduce the amount of paint flow through the airbrush to preclude puddling on the model. This may mean that you might have to give the model 3-5 coats of paint, where one or 2 coats would suffice with far thicker paint, but the benefit of thin coats is VERY rapid drying (depending, of course, on the paint type you're using). You might be able to go back over such a thin coat by the time you finish one end of your tank and go back to where you started. Just my 2 cents.



cheers Curt, you are probably right. I have taken the plunge and ordered a new needle set for my H&S evolution (my needle is been and am sure the tip (bit needle goes in) is cracked which is also affecting the spray pattern). Will also do more testing & practice as it is only 1% the tool and 99% the operator
cabasner
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Posted: Monday, April 20, 2020 - 12:38 AM UTC
Robert,

If you are sure that the nozzle is cracked, that would absolutely be a source of a problem.

For your info, I just received from Spraygunner.com, a new tool designed to un-bend and resharpen airbrush needles. It wasn't cheap ($45, US), but supposedly (based on reviews and a particular post by an Armorama user), it works great and will save a lot of money down the road, allowing needles to be remediated rather than tossed and replaced. Just something to consider.

Also, I think you are being overly hard on yourself. Yes, it's true that working up the ideal mixture of paint (dilution), and then the proper air pressure and paint volume at that pressure, are key points to making a good spray experience, but there is a much higher percentage responsibility on the hardware than you are giving the airbrush responsibility for. I would suggest, when you get your replacement parts, go with an overly thinned paint, and then try a very small amount of paint flow. I'm convinced you'll see significant differences, in a positive direction!
robw_uk
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Posted: Friday, April 24, 2020 - 04:40 AM UTC
Overspray cleaned up, sadly quite pleased with it now, and glossed up (now have a nice new needle, guide thing and front bits for the HS and a clean old airbrush which seems to still spray). Also started to do the exhaust. Had done a rough spray of portland stone then dry brushed dark grey then a burnt rust wash & splatter. Will do mid & light rust tomorrow I hoipe



IMG_20200424_170700 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200424_170654 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200424_170651 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200424_170640 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200424_170737 by Robert Worth, on Flickr
robw_uk
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Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2020 - 01:07 AM UTC
Decal disaster (the "4" on the other side disintegrated a touch... will need touching up and then weathering (or finding a tarp to cover it....



IMG_20200425_135656 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200425_125103 by Robert Worth, on Flickr
robw_uk
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Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2020 - 08:14 PM UTC
Bits and pieces on. Need to match the colours to the caunter scheme before a final gloss coat and then on to weathering



IMG_20200501_073204 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200501_073156 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200501_073100 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20200501_073110 by Robert Worth, on Flickr
nheather
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Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2020 - 09:25 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I used Tamiya tape, blue painter's tape and Silly Putty.









G



If you just left that yellow and blue tape on it would look just like the one in Bovington tank museum

Cheers,

Nigel
Namabiiru
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MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
#399
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Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2020 - 11:09 PM UTC
Shaping up very nicely, Robert.

A trick I learned to prevent paint from bleeding under masking is to respray your base color after you've applied your mask. If there are any places where paint is going to seep under the mask, the base color gets there first and seals it off before you spray the next color.

robw_uk
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Posted: Saturday, May 09, 2020 - 08:49 PM UTC
Hmmmmm seems to be going towards ruined... grey oil dots added to fade it... next up will be chipping.















AgentG
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Posted: Sunday, May 10, 2020 - 08:32 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I used Tamiya tape, blue painter's tape and Silly Putty.









G



If you just left that yellow and blue tape on it would look just like the one in Bovington tank museum

Cheers,

Nigel



robw_uk
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2020 - 07:29 AM UTC
Battered, dusty old Queen of the Desert. Need to paint the tools/spare track, repair the storage rack & light on the turret but she is knackered and beat up (too much perhaps) - did try to think of how a crew might move about (so wear & tear on a "path" to the turret, where crew would sit at the turret hatches or grab things)








D1GG3R321
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Posted: Sunday, May 24, 2020 - 01:23 AM UTC
I finished the Matilda as my second armour build recently. It’s a really enjoyable build. I followed the Tamiya paint guide, not realising the discussion regarding the inaccuracies of the colours suggested.

I’m lucky to live not far from Bovington and so have seen their example, but think I’m right in saying this is the source of the Tamiya guide and the resultant inaccuracies?

Your completed build looks amazing.
robw_uk
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Posted: Monday, May 25, 2020 - 03:25 AM UTC
Some more photos. Have painted the tools & spare track. Need to fix a few painting casualties then she is done















cabasner
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Posted: Monday, May 25, 2020 - 02:11 PM UTC
Robert,

Fantastic! Great final result. So glad that you picked back up and finished this tank...I knew you could do it!

FYI for you, I didn't put on any of the side armor decals. I realized that I needed to do the numbers on the right side before I mounted some of the tools, and since they were already glued in place, I just left them off both sides. The White/Red/White insignias on the hull and turret were painted on rather then using decals.

Love your weathering! I believe these tanks really took a beating in North Africa.
 _GOTOTOP