Here is my finished Tamiya Matilda MkII

I did intend building it purely OOB as a quick weekend project but as the kit was lacking a few details it ended up taking a little longer :-)
The kit does not feature the track tension adjusters , so I scratchbuilt these and the smoke dischargers where over simplified so I added some detail to those.
A few brackets and wires etc were also added

My Matilda was painted with Humbrol enamels and weathered with Mig pigments and chalk pastels.

Comments and constructive critisims welcome as allways

















Ian

Hi Ian,

Brilliant, love the tracks and the finish. "The Queen of the Desert" and this is a very fine example.

I think you have captured the feeling of the vehicle really well. Just goes to show what can be done OOB.

Only comment would be that I would have liked to have seen a figure or two, unless she's going into batttle the hatches would rarely have been closed, but that's just my preference.

Can't see the top of the antenna but a little flag is appropriate there.

Smoke dischargers are very good.

Love it, just makes me want to build one!!!

Edit: after a further viewing I have to say I think this is one of the best Matildas I've seen in a long time.

Cheers

Al

Thanks for the kind comments Alan

I didnt use the figure that came with the kit as it was pretty badly moulded plus I needed to legs and torso for another project :-)

There is a small triangular pennant above the square flag but I didnt realise I hadnt got it in shot

Ian

Hi Ian,

Re the figure, it's just persnal preference and I know the old Tamiya ones weren't up to much. Glad you've got a pennant flying :-) :-)

I think you've got a real gem here, thanks for posting the pictures.

I'll look forward to the next one

Cheers

Al

Very well done kit, I like the subtle weathering not over stated. I would offer one suggestion which should be easy to fix, drill out the coax MG barrel. That will give it some depth and look more realistic.

I just looked at the pictures again the exhaust pipes look great you better get a new muffler soon.

Tom

Thanks Tom

I did drill out the co-ax, I just think it didnt show up very well in the pics :-)

Ian

Nice one Ian................
aye
BARV
(GOSMG)

Hey Ian! Grat build, you did a lot of justice to this old kit, I love it! Weathering and details are spot on!
I did one of those a few years back, in the incorrect sand/light blue/dark red splinter scheme, and your build brings some good memories, making me want to build the Matilda again As to the figure, I liked it back then, even added some wires to his headphones and microphone. After some years I still think the figure is not that bad

Cheers
Grzegorz

WOW...simply amazing...but...(and there's always a butt )...the only thing that seems to be missing from the very very cool weathering job is a touch more of the blackening around various places ...either from fireing of the gun or some black muffler smoke from bad fuel...or spent oil blowing from God knows where during this poor poor vehicles life of being commanded by more than it's share of crewmen that don't always keep her running in the best of shape. Then theres always the underside around the edges that never ever get any attention when being given a quick washing off by troops in the field. Remeber the areas that are routinley given grease and that as usually happens it misses it's place and has to be wiped away so as not to transfer onto uniforms when going into and out of the vehicle. The tracks are well chipped and rusted away but some dried mud/dirt/oil/grease with dirt or sand would help maked it abit better looking.

What you have is a wonderful kitt that looks as if it has been steam cleaned. Paint is wonderfully chipped away but no dirt, muffler smoke stains or loose dirt of any kind are in site.

once again Ian,

a truly wonderful looking weathering of the paint though...

and as always this is just me 2 pence worth, monkeyboy


kglack

as Paul McCartney said about his "Uncle" in A Hard Day's Night..."He's clean, very clean"

very nice job ian, love the paint and chipping i have this kit in the stash and seeing yours makes me want to get started on it, and the tracks look awesome, great all round job.

Thanks for the kind comments guys , much appreciated


Ian

Thats a beautiful build and superb painting and weathering Ian. What humbrol paints did you use? the colours look great!
Cheers
Gene

Thanks Gene

I used Humbrol matt desert yellow ( spray can) then used mig pigments ( a mixture of european earth and iraqi sand ) brushed into the nooks and crannies

Ian

That is a seriously good looking Matilda. The steel looks so genuine that I could be looking at photos of the real tank. I particularly like the bleached and sand-blasted look of the paintwork. She really looks like a desert based vehicle.
(I'm half Australian, but I'll refrain from a chorus of 'Waltzing Matilda' )

Jeff W.