Well here's my old Panzer IV.I now weathered it with Tamiya weathering sets.These things are amazing.In the beginning I'll post some photos of the Panzer before the weathering.The Panzer is handpainted and it's the Hasegawa one in 1/72.I'm pretty new to armour so I would like tips and suggestions.Also sorry about the pics.Only just learning about using our camera at home.

Here are some pics before the weathering:





Here some after weathering:












Thanks again,
Daniel

I edited my original post with new pics that have been modified with photoshop.Hope you like it.

Come on 59 views and nobody has posted something.Come on I'm here to learn from you guys.

Hello Daniel,

Patience my son, some people are a bt slow... me included.. :-)
I'm not familiar with the Hasegawa kit, but I would guess it's an older kit?
Most of my observations would be issues with the kit, not your effort. It looks from the pictures that you did a good job construction wise, and your initial paintjob looks good as well, which paint did you use?
I feel you have 'over-weathered' a bit, that's easily done, It took me many tanks covered in mud untill I finaly realised that 'less is more'. It looks like a heavy dry-brush on my screen, something which, especialy in a small scale, you should keep to a minimum.
Other things are a kit issue, such as the tracks, and the vision ports on the turret side walls. They should be further forward, basicaly where the turret no. is now.

My tips and suggestions? Keep at it. You improve with each model, and learn something new along the way. If you want to stick with 1:72 scale, try some of the Revell kits. They are cheap but good, basic kits that are great to learn with.
You say you're new to Armour, what did you build before?

Cheers
Henk

How do you like those weathering kits? I got both the A and B sets, as well as the mud stick. Looks like it turned out good

Hey Daniel,

First of all, RESPECT for building 1/72nd scale man! I for myself am a fan of bigger scales but that's how everyone likes their scales.

Anyhow, your Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausführung F looks pretty good in general. You are definitely on the right track with what you are showing! Sure there are a few things that could have been done better, but I think that statement is very individual. Different people have different opinions.

I say that your model looks very good in general. Very well assembled! This can be a misery especially in that small scale! The paint job looks also pretty good. You got the tone "german Panzergrau" very well. It looks like the drybrushing has been done a little bit too intense, for my taste. Justa little bit on the elevated areas and it would have been great. The lower hull looks alittle shiny, have you been using oils for that?

On the exhaust you can see your brush strokes, I assume you had very diluted paint when you did that. For your next model i'd suggest use very low diluted paint using a dry brush technique to weather the exhaust. It is also a good idea to use pastel chalk or pigment powder for that! It gives the whole thing a very realistic look!

I do like the way you got the decals on! No silvering what so ever! Great job! There is usually always a little bit of silvering but in your case I can't see any of that! Very well done!

Other than that, I think you are on the right track! Keep it up! You will see your skills will improve with every new project you start!

have you buildt anything ina bigger scale yet, or do you prefer smaller scales in general?

Keep us posted on your next projects!

Greets
Heli

can't comment on the build because I can't see photo bucket pix from the PC I'm at. Will check out at home. If it is a 1/72 scale kit, I believe the Hasegawa kit is the only one available in plastic. The main complaint about Hase kits are the tracks with no detail on the inner surface.

Edit: overall it looks OK, I do notice a seam along the top of the exhaust and it looks like a spot on the lower front edge of the right side turret has a gap. Tough kits to get looking right.

Hi guys thanks for your comments.I'm glad that you find it a decent one at least.I'll consider getting some Revell kits maybe.I do mainly WWII aircraft.But wanted a change and I always do 1/72(cheaper ).Well Sabot I will try and fix the exhaust.Someone on another forum said you should also try and paint the tools and stuff better.I'm gonna do that and I'll post some pictures later.Oh yeah Yung I have as of today all three weathering sets(got set B today)and I love them so easy to work with not at all hard.Thanks again guys I'll post some pictures soon.

Daniel

Hi Daniel,

One of the tricks with weathering is to try and visualise where the dirt's likely to be flung by the wheels or tracks. Photographs are a great way to start but, if you have a look around real vehicles working in similar conditions it can be a great help. Construction sites, quarries - any place where vehicles are operating in dust and mud are worthwhile places to look. If you have a camera use it.

NOTE: First things first is to get permission! There are lots of safety issues around operating machinary and you must always comply
with whatever you're told by people on such sites! NEVER SNEAK INTO THESE PLACES UNINVITED!

Another place to look is on your own street. Muddy, weathered and dusty cars, trucks etc are always around. Veteren car and militaria clubs can be useful as well.

Ditto other comments. Keep at it and enjoy the hobby!

Jeff W.

Hi there Daniel.

that looks great for 1/72 scale. I recently just finished a 1/72 truck my first in this scale and I know those peices are small..

Your model looks great, and I can't comment on much more than what everyone else has said.. such as the exhaust and stuff.

One thing I did note.. Your decals are applied very well... pretty much no silvering at all.. but you should keep in mind that the nubmers and stuff are painted on the tanks and should be weathered along with the rest of the tank.. you tank looks used and abused but the numbers and insigmia look brand new.



a couple of techniques I use depending on how I want the vehicle to look is the use of pastel chalks to dust them up and make them look faded.. and if really used I chip them with some of the basecoat color to make them looked scratched slightly or mildy worn...

Good luck on your next models and I hope you show them here to us..