Italeri 1/35 Crusader Mk.III

[Stuart]

Nice work Stuart!

Thanks Mike - it's been a fun little build.

[Gary Brantley]

What a cobby lil' tank, Stuart! I like the looks of that! Great start, my friend!

[Stuart]

Thanks Gary - it's getting some more paint on it.

[Stuart]

Still getting some paint on - I was brushing it but I might switch to an AB to make it more even. I've just got to get my head around spraying water-based acrylics. I've got the hull sides done so now I can paint up and fit the wheels, tracks and side plates.

[Stikpusher]

Looking good Stuart! Which colors and what brand of acrylics are you using here on your Crusader?

[Stuart]

Looking good Stuart! Which colors and what brand of acrylics are you using here on your Crusader?

Thanks Carlos - I need to check, but off the top of my head it's AK acrylics, Portland Stone.

[Stuart]

OK so I know this is essentially that same photo as the last post, but I bit the bullet today and airbrushed a coat of AK's Portland Stone over what I'd already brush-painted. I was a bit reluctant to try it as I know what a PITA it can be to spray with water based acrylics, but actually roughly mixed with Hataka thinners 50:50 it behaved pretty well. I only got some tip dry towards the end of the session, which I could have probably sorted with a cotton bud dipped in Vallejo cleaner, but as it was I ran of time anyway. I'm very glad I did it though, it looks so much better for it. I was reading the painting and weathering section of Shep Paine's 'How to build Dioramas' last night and he talked about the 'texture' in the paint that the airbrush produces that you just can't get with a brush, and now I can see what he means. This is still a mess, it needs a good clean up and a few more light coats, just it looks so much better for having some paint badly splodged onto it.

[Stikpusher]

Yes that looks quite sharp now Stuart! Bravo!

[Impisi]

welcome to the world of spraygunners not much time and you will end up in masking, spraying, cleaning, masking, spraying, cleaning, masking, spraying, cleaning, masking, spraying, oh shit I forgot to clean ... cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, masking, spraying, cleaning ...

[Gary Brantley]

welcome to the world of spraygunners not much time and you will end up in masking, spraying, cleaning, masking, spraying, cleaning, masking, spraying, cleaning, masking, spraying, oh shit I forgot to clean ... cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, masking, spraying, cleaning ...

So true, Martin!