Hi guys,

I just painted and weathered my current project w/c is a DML Firefly Vc.

I added the front stowage rack -- the kit did not provide one...I hope made it look realistic... I also stenciled the turret numbers because those darn decals are giving me a hard time....

This time I think I've overdid the weathering...











I need your ever important and useful criticisms, opinions and nitpicks. Without them I would never have improved my skill....

Cheers

I certainly wouldn't say that the weathering was overdone, as one of the overiding memories that many veterans brought home from Normandy was dust in the summer and mud the rest of the year!!
The only thing I'd do is to add some darker washes around tolls (when added), hatches and fuel fillers, as these would be openned regularly and disturb the dust. After adding the tracks some thicker dust and light dried mud around the lower half perhaps.
Otherwise it looks like a good build job.

Hi warthog

I don't have any problems with your weathering, I like it!

Nice build so far.....just a few more steps and you'll have a great looking shermie!

Greetings

Thanks Dave and Martin,

I take note of those dark washes, infact I 'm already doing them...

Cheers

Hi Arvin,
Your Firefly looks very nice. I really like the dust affect how did you acheive this?

Hi Andy,

To be honest about it, I did not intend for the firefly to look like that...it was a good mistake...if want to have the same mistake :-) then here goes....

1) After applying the decals, I sealed it with tamiya TS-13 (gloss).
2) Sprayed Krylon Matt Finish over the whole kit.
3) Washed the whole kit with pastel chalk (white) dilluted in alcohol...to my surprise the kit turned dusty white (but its too white for my taste that it looked like a winter camo). The flat finish might have absorbed the chalk and the alcohol may also have affected the Krylon finish (I think its not that dry yet)
4) In order to rectify the situation, I washed the kit with Tamiya Olive Drab (XF-62). After it dried, I applied the same wash again until some of the whiteness was neutralized -- producing the effect dusty effect.

BTW, the original coat (prior to wash) was a mixture of Tamiya Olive Green (40%) and Olive Drab (60%)...

Hope this helps...and good you liked it...

Nope nice build indeed!

Your wash look nice, nothing wrong with it.
What kind of brand is this kit?
Keep going!!

Not overweathered at all. Once you add some rolls, kit, and other junk tankers regularly accumulated, you'll find it's just about right. If you erred at all, you erred on the positive side. Great job.

Looks GREAT!!
Ron

Get some tracks on the beauty.

Its in the works sir :-) . Just had some minor difficulties with the duckbill extensions...I was not sure if they were attached only on the outside part of the tracks....but I got a reply from my post in the Armor section. Ooops, I left my tracks outside I hope my 3yr old daughter would not touch them...

Hi Hilbert,

This is a Dragon Firefly Vc (6182)...a very nice kit except for the tracks w/c is a pain in the A#@s to assemble -- 3 piece indy tracks....don't get me wrong but the tracks are really good...

Cheers

In the second picture it looks like the top is more weathered than the bottom. That's the only problem I have.

On a tank that is so heavily weathered like that I would make sure that the gas caps are extra weathered. I would run a lot of rust, drip and run marks around the fuel caps where fluids would be spilled.

As for the over weathering, I think you will find that once the tracks get put on the weathing will not look so severe with more detail for the eye to absorb. Plus if you cover up the tank with crew gear that is not as heavily weathered then you will have a weathering at a variety of stages. This will give the viewer another timeline on the weathering. When the brain averages out heavy weathing on the tank with lighter weathing on the gear it will not be as heavy. Did you get that?

Thanks Arvin,
Iwill give that technique a go on my next model

I agree with you on that one Mike. The turret weathered first and that is where I made a positive mistake :-) (as mentioned in my previous thread of this post). I plan to rectify that I could. Thanks for the comment..




Alan, where by the way are the fuel caps found -- I'm realy that not familiar with shemies for this is my fist build. Are they found on the left and right side of the hull at the turret rear ?



Thanks

You got it. There is a thrid one inside the turret ring too

thanks Alan