It took me awfully long to finish these two kits - there was always something else to do and models had to wait... But they are finally finished!

First is M1A1AIM - of course this is Dragon kit which I helped design. It is built almost out of the box. Only things I added were straps for ammo cans and for battle board, antennas and small handle on commander's hatch. I also scratch built the storage box attached to the bustle rack, which on original tank was taken from M939 truck (I used parts from Eduard PE set for M923A1 kit). One thing that is not original in the model are tracks - I used tracks from Tamiya M1A2 kit because my dog chewed Dragon tracks, already assembled and painted and ready for mounting on a model...
I applied markings for a tank from 1st Battalion 77th Armored Regiment "Steel Tigers" that came in the kit and as these decals were based on photos that showed the tank during some public show in Heidelberg, Germany, the tank on them was very clean. In fact it was freshly painted and the cavity for the fire extinguisher handle was still covered with masking tape. In my model I also showed the tank in pristine condition with fresh paint (although without masking tape!) and only minimal amount of dust on it.
The model was painted with Tamiys arylics (smaller details painted with Vallejo acrylics and Humbrol enamels) and weathered slighly with MIG pigments.



More photos:
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/M1A1AIM/aim_01.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/M1A1AIM/aim_02.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/M1A1AIM/aim_04.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/M1A1AIM/aim_05.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/M1A1AIM/aim_06.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/M1A1AIM/aim_07.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/M1A1AIM/aim_08.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/M1A1AIM/aim_09.jpg

Second model is Panzerkampfwagen 1 Ausf.B (DML kit again) in Deutsche Afrika Korps colors. I used Voyager PE set. I painted the model with WEM enamels. There are two colors applied in a camouflage pattern: RAL 8000 and RAL 7008, but it is difficult to notice it, as in natural lighting they look similar and weathering made them even less distinguishable. This probably is a good thing, as on original WW2 black&white photos it is also hard to see difference between these colors. Small details were again painted with Vallejo acrylics and Humbrol enamels. Weathering was done with mist cote of Tamiya Buff paint and with MIG pigments.



More photos:
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/Pz1AusfB/pz1b_01.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/Pz1AusfB/pz1b_03.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/Pz1AusfB/pz1b_04.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/Pz1AusfB/pz1b_05.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/Pz1AusfB/pz1b_06.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/Pz1AusfB/pz1b_07.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/Pz1AusfB/pz1b_08.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/Pz1AusfB/pz1b_09.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/Pz1AusfB/pz1b_10.jpg
http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/Pz1AusfB/pz1b_11.jpg

Any (constructive) comments are welcome.

Pawel

Top quality work Pawel. Love the finish you have on both vehicles .... very sedated, but still realistic. If you ever need proof for the "less is more" theory, its right here. Your photographs are excellent as well, but no matter how hard I stare, I cant see the camo
Love the pzr1 .. and especially the decals covering the open vision slot. The row of grey jerry cans add a lovely contrast to the desert finish as well. You might not post, finished work often ... but when you do .. its a joy to see.

Thanks!



Check this photo, the right side of the vehicle:



Areas of slightly greenish RAL 7008 are visible there.

Pawel

Great, clean work, are you going to mount them on bases, perhaps incorporate them into a diorama? especially like the M1A1 .

Probably not... All my models are displayed on their own, with no bases or dioramas. But who knows, maybe one day...

Pawel

wow I have just had a brief look through your gallery lots to look at,

On the back panel, above the jack and wire clippers?

How would the defination between colour, compare between this image and reality, in your opinion? Im not questioning what can be seen in a photograph, but its an interesting subject ... on how finishes turn out.
I believe, I exaggerate things a little too much, as Im so aware of what can be seen in photos, and what can sometimes be "bleached" out.
The Panther that I finished recently, was weathered to my liking, but when I photographed it, the pastel weathering didn´t come through, the same as the painted finish. It was like the humbrol paints radiated better under the strong lights I have for photographing, and pastels become less obvious.
This can be an even bigger problem for figures.

Very nice Pawel, I'm with Frank on this one, less is definitely more!

Awesome!

I automatically start weathering my models. I think it would be harder to make a model like this because you are not using pigments and paint chips to hide flaws.

Very very nice.

Great Work Pawel.
I agree with Frank!
I love the open vision slots on the pz1.
Good job mate.

Yup, and also on the turret and on the hull side panel underneath.




In reality the difference is slightly more visible, but it depends on the lighting. In artificial light - halogen and tungsten - WEM RAL 7008 paint gets much more green and it makes it clearly visible. In natural sun light this color is more khaki brown and much less distinguishable - not much more than on these photos. What makes the difference less visible on photos is also a cote of pigment. I noticed on most of my model photos that layer of pigment seems to reflect light in such a way that it creates more uniformly colored pale surface on photos and hides camouflage colors. In reality pigments do not have such strong influence on the color of model and camouflage is more visible.



I observed similar effect on a model of LVT(4) that was shown in one of the issues of Model Military Intl. In the magazine it looked too new with very little weathering visible, but when I saw the actual model on last years EuroMilitaire it turned out to be very nicely and subtly weathered and looked very natural.

Pawel

Top Notch work, well done!

James

Thanks Pawel. Im usually apprehensive about over weathering, for the sake of photographs. Thanks also for sharing the LVT example .... always good to keep such thoughts, in the back of one´s head!

Pawel,

Outstanding. Very well done!

Pawel, Nice work. Ever get around to rescuing my beloved Sheridan? :-) In regards to the masking tape you mentioned on the M1A1, when we used to display our vehicles in public, we would tape the fire extinguisher handles over to help prevent curious people from the "Hey, whats this do?" syndrome. Had that happen on more than one occasion. Nice to see you're still at it here on the site. "Q"

Just two words to say 'wow brilliant'
Richard

Absolutely beautiful builds. The camo on the M1 looks incredible. The detailing on the Pz1 is fantastic. For such a small model, you can keep staring and finding more and more little hidden touches and extremely well thought out weathering.