Michael,
it's looking better and better at every new post !
I've just one remark though : why haven't you represented the driver's vision blocks glasses ? Do you intend to do it later on ?
Sorry if my question bothers you

Olivier

Thanks! No bothers here. I'm going to apply them soon. I have clear tinted (Future + Food Coloring dip) plastic cut to fit... I just wanted to get the washes done first so I didn't muck them up too bad. The spirits and oils have already stained the searchlight glass a bit here and there. After they're applied I'll dust around them with pigments.

I added more progress of some of the rain marks and pre-dusting effects.

http://fichtenfoo.com/02GiantRobots/02b-JGSDFType74-paint.htm

I've added in-progs of making dust/mud on both the tracks as well as the rest of the tank. I added the track weathering info in the tracks page to keep it in one place.

Hull Weathering:
http://fichtenfoo.com/02GiantRobots/02b-JGSDFType74-paint.htm

Track Weathering:
http://fichtenfoo.com/02GiantRobots/02b-JGSDFType74-tracks.htm

And finally for the weathering and painting page we have progress shots of the drying mud. This was basically achieved by dusting the darker mud with lighter pigments. Looks great! I also attached the tracks and added a shot of the base with the Silflor grass.

http://fichtenfoo.com/02GiantRobots/02b-JGSDFType74-paint.htm

The only JGSDF images I have are those below. If you have more, that'd be fantastic. You can never have enough good reference materials!

http://www66.tok2.com/home2/tankguy/jgsdf02/Type74MBT.html
http://www15.tok2.com/home/lttom/military-powers_jgsdf/74/74tankframe.html[/quote]


Hello Michael,

Thank you VERY MUCH for posting your building opus about the Type 74 MBT. I feel the same way you do about its shape & style so I'm making plans. I live in Kyoto, Japan and I'm just getting started again with modelling, so the inspiration is there but not the skills, yet. Your features with all the photos and explanations just blew me away! Including THE FIGURES. I needed to know all of this. I bookmarked everything and will print it so that it doesn't "go away" when I need it.

Recently I bought a new photo book you might REALLY want also; from HobbyLink Japan: "JGSDF Armored Force Vehicles, Insignias & Op."(http://www.hlj.com/product/MDG22914)

90+ A4 size glossy pages of good clear color photos of the real AFVs and men "in action" that Trumpeter, Tamiya, etc. have issued in kit form. It's $24.69 before shipping. I can't read the all-Japanese text but it's not really necessary. The photography is outstanding!

Thanks for your help and inspiration!

Lee

Michael, this is both a great job and a STERLING article. I very much like your "see Spot run" style and superb photos to accompany the text. This is exactly the kind of verbal description/photo selection to explain what/how you built your model & groundwork. Too often - for me at least - modelers assume a certain level of knowledge or skill we don't all have. THANK YOU!

Cordially,

Dennis