So it is time to start this project I have had in mind for a long, long time, ever since seeing this scheme for the first time. I have made a start already and the kit to be quite good quality to me so far, being my first Takom. The only issue is the size of the parts gates, which are quite large. Positives are crisp detail and a pleasing matt finish to the plastic.

Anyway, here’s a couple of pics to get things started. I’m hoping for a quick build and then the real fun begins with that paint job!

Thanks for looking in.

I was after this one as a wish list, but I just can't justify spending between the £50 to £70 I've seen it for.
I wanted it for my Golden memories campaign from when I was on one in BAOR in Detmold,...


Will look forward to watching you put this together Jim, and good luck with the Berlin paint job... At least the spring packs look easier to put together than the real ones lol...

Thanks John, it’s great to have someone who served on these very tanks on board! I didn’t realise the kits had got quite so expensive, I managed to pick this up for £40 at the Scottish Nationals a couple of years ago. At modelsforsale.com according to the price sticker on the box.

And I can only but imagine what working on the real suspension system would have been like! The models is certainly going together fairly well though.

Cheers, Jim.

I have this kit as well. Will be watching your pain with the paint job. I know there is an Australian company that made/makes a mask set, but I don’t know how gettable it is right now or how much.

Cheers
Bret

Have always liked that scheme. Will watch with interest how to tackle that paint job.

Bret,
Clayton Ockerby is the guy that offered the masks to do the Berlin Chieftain Mk 10. He can be contacted via his website: www.theworkbench.com.au or via his FB page: https://www.facebook.com/workbenchhobbies.

His three part review, construction and painting blogs can be found on The Modeling News: https://www.themodellingnews.com/2015/12/ptiii-paint-and-weathering-takoms-135.html#more. This link is for the third blog, the one that covers the painting of the model but there are links to the review and construction blogs.
HTH

John

Yeah, thanks for the links, I’ve been using those posts on the modelling news for inspiration. Going to try and mask up just using tape and perspiration! Would love a mask set but with the way things are I’m trying to use what I have to hand.

The build is coming along. Running gear done and half way through the hull. Lots of big connection tabs to clean up, but getting there...

Cheers, Jim.

I like the Takom Chieftains. I built a Mk 11 and after I saw Clayton's work, I decided that I need to do a Mk 10 in Berlin Brigade colors. I have the model, the paint, the masks and now, just to find the time.

Sorry for delay since last post. Isn’t it amazing how little time for modelling you end up with when you have so much time on your hands! Coming along slowly but hull built apart from parts left off for painting, lights, photo etch, etc. And turret coming together too. Not looking forward to tracks, individual links are not workable...

Should be at painting stage soon,

Ok, so finally at the stage for paint. Have kept the bins, Baskets, etc off for masking the camo’. Next update will have the first coats of paint on, I promise!

Jezzzz.... that camo is a beast! I cant wait to see how you pull it off! Im doing a Chally 2 in that camo for the trumpeter campaign.

Is Takom a good brand?

Yeah the camo has been occupying a lot of my thoughts lately! I have the outline of a plan.

This is my first Takom kit. I’m certainly not disappointed with it, Only fitment issues are down to my own ham fistedness, and the details are pretty good. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

No camo yet but I have primed with alclad white primer, note the ancient tamiya abrams primed over multiple layers of paint to be used as my sacrificial practice piece. Also added the loose strap ends on the gun barrel with wine bottle cap foil.

Looking good! I can tell you pretty sincerely you will use up at least a full roll of masking tape for that camo!

Looks good.

I love the Berlin Brigade camo but I need to improve my airbrushing before I attempt it!

Hi Jim
I also bought the same kit at the Scottish Nationals the same time it seems. The camo is what interested me in buying it, and it is also what has stopped me from building it so far lol. Good luck with the camo and look forward to seeing the end result.

Pete

Hi Dan,

I think it is masking practice I am going to need rather than airbrushing!

Hey Pete,

Ha! All the other sellers were around the £50 mark I seem to remember. I couldn’t resist the price and I have been hankering after trying this scheme out for a long time. Just going to take my time with the masking and try not to build up colours too thickly to prevent bleeding. I’m preshading just now...

Thanks, Jim.

Just a point to note about the paint colours on the Berlin Chieftains, their back decks were painted brown and I remember reading somewhere that the running gear was black.



I have seen them in the flesh on Hohne ranges back in the 80's but cannot remember what the running gear colour was.

Max

Hi Max,

Thanks for the info and excellent pics. The instructions have the engine deck and running gear down as nato green. Like you I have heard brown for the engine deck but not heard of black for the running gear yet. And after studying many pics I realise there are quite a few different variations of the camo colour placements. I kinda like the contrast of the nato green with the camo, but am intriguied with black for the running gear. Makes sense that they would have left the engine deck and running gear original green colour, and maybe changed to black and brown at a later date? Going to go with the green for now but can always change it later. Also wonder if the brown look of engine deck in photos is actually the original green, only looks brown in photos...hmmnnn

Thanks again, Jim.

HI Jim,

You're right, never say never because as soon as you do other pics pop up and say otherwise. They were there for that long I'm sure there were quite a few variations over the years.

From memory of one's I saw up at Hohne (which were mk10s) while we were there firing had the brown engine decks and I'm 90% sure black running gear.

I think it was the earlier mk5s and a few Mks after that, that had the normal green running gear and engine decks.

Thanks John,

These insights from yourself and Max are great and gladly received. The evidence is becoming more and more compelling for the black and brown. I like black wheels on my personal road vehicles anyway, and will be interesting to try and make that look interesting. Rubber black against Matt black on the metal parts and highlight with nato black maybe. As for what brown to use, it certainly doesn’t look like the brown in the camo, so some experimentation coming up I think, plenty of space on the abrams practice piece for that!

Thanks again for the first hand recollections!


Cheers, Jim.

I'm not sure how I missed this before, but it looks really great. I admire the way you have your parts organized. I'm always rummaging around looking for the right small parts.

I'm starting to get interested in building something from the Cold Wars and the British tanks are pretty interesting.

Hey Phil,

Thanks for looking in, and for noticing my attempts at parts management! Working like this means easier airbrushing with minimal handling of parts, and I hate wearing vinyl gloves. The Jenga will never be the same again though!

Cheers, Jim.

So, The pre-shading is done, with rubber black so I could do the road wheels rubber at the same time, although it will probably disappear under all the other layers of paint and weathering. I was a bit rusty with the old airbrush as haven’t used it for quite a while so this was a good workout, two hours and cramping fingers! Sorry no colours yet but getting there.