Damraska’s AFV Projects

[Damraska]

Tamiya M41

It cooled down and I was finally able to spray a base coat of Russian Air Force Dark Green on my M41.

Tangent. My Italeri M24 is going to turn out too light. My Takom T30 had the same problem. In both cases, I thought this resulted from overly enthusiastic post shading.

Yesterday, after spraying the base coat on the M41, I was unable to proceed directly to post shading. This allowed me an opportunity to see Russian Air Force Dark Green, in a picture, without any post shading funny business. Surprise, surprise, while the paint looks quite good to the naked eye, to the camera, it is way too light.

This morning I set out to fix the “too light” problem by post shading with a darker shade instead of a lighter shade. After some experimentation, this is the result.

In my opinion, this is a way better starting point for effects painting.

[Damraska]

Finished: Tamiya M24

This was my project for Unfinished Business 2026.

This was another unhappy project.

At the very end, even using every trick I know to prevent it, the decals cracked and silvered. My failing eyesight is a severe problem with this step. I need to take a picture and magnify to see the discolorations. My attempt to fix the decals with acrylic paints did not work and looks flat out bad.

The roll on the luggage rack looks really bad. A modern molding it is not! I also have no idea how to paint canvas. It is not glued in place because maybe, some day, I can make a better one using Milliput.

The tools look bad. This is an ongoing problem I cannot figure out. Part of it is my eyesight. Part is not knowing what paints to use. Part is lack of motor control to deliver the paint where I want it to go.

The wood parts look bad. Painting wood is still hit and miss for me. Sometimes I get it right. Other times, not so much.

The straps look meh. As with wood, I have not figured out how to paint straps.

The olive drab is way, way, way too light. Unlike the other problems, I may finally have a solution for this one.

The project took way, way, way too long. Every model becomes a grueling endurance race for me. Even though I know completing projects is the best path to success, as errors accumulate they sap my will to continue.

As usual, even though the project is “done”, I will go back and try to fix a few things.

Edit: I forgot to mention, this is my first completed Italeri model as an adult. As a kid, I really wanted one. It will return to the workshop for repairs sometime in the next few weeks.

[Damraska]

Tamiya M41

On the Italeri M24, in order to ensure the decals remain very bright, I intentionally experimented with adding them as the very last step. This was a major mistake. If there are any decal errors, it adds an unnecessary round of effects painting and clear coating to the project.

Going back to my original procedure, I added decals to the M41 right after applying the base coat. Silvering is minimal. Vallejo Decal Set has some interesting quirks I have not yet mastered.

As a new experiment, periscope lenses were added as decals. Preliminary results are promising!

[BootsDMS]

Doug, if you’ll forgive me, but I have the following comments. I think you’re trying too hard! Probably generally; personally, on such a small vehicle, I wouldn’t bother with any shading whatsoever. It often looks overdone and artificial - not just yours I hasten to add. Why not go back to basics? A wash - after a coat of gloss varnish; I make one from oil paints - burnt umber and black, and this takes care of the crevices and gives some depth to features. I then simply dry-brush, which may have gone out of fashion but I use it. Obviously, while the gloss varnish is on, I apply the decals, sometimes using settling solutions.

I then re-matt.

Canvas might need a bit of attention. Don’t bother trying to shade it; normally in fairly light colours, just matt down well. The wash should take care of the shading, up to a point as long as you don’t slather it on the canvas too much. Research the straps; they’re often canvas themselves with dull metal buckles, not the gloss brown leather versions one sees on other’s models.

For tools, I try and keep it simple. The wooden hafts I take care of by using a simple cream paint, sometimes with a touch of light brown/tan thrown in. I always think of how they look when for sale in a hardware store, as (certainly in the Brit Army) most of their life is spent in the stores, awaiting signature before they’re ever strapped to a tank for the duration of an exercise or similar limited period.

I have some sympathy with the eyesight problem; my optivisor is under severe strain as my eyes diminish; ditto motor skills; sometimes my hands shake and it’s not down to the gin.

Lastly, don’t be too hard on yourself (I need to take that on board as well); When I plan a project and it comes out at roughly 70% as to how I thought it might be, I’m happy enough. Perhaps that is admitting defeat and setting the bar too low, but that also factors in my personal limitations.

I hope this doesn’t come as patronising; I’m only suggesting the “high art” approach needs adjusting - eg bin the shading and all that - and perhaps a more forgiving approach - to your self. Sadly, it’s what I’ve had to do.

[BootsDMS]

As an example, my M24 - same kit I think - shown as finished utilising my approach; not that I’m suggesting you must do so, but the simplified approach lends itself I feel to the small model. Wooden parts fitted and looking OK (in my opinion), and the stowage all tied in nicely:

[Damraska]

Hey, hey, Brian. Thank you for the advice and observations. I do not find your comments even slightly offensive. You always do excellent work and that is a very nice M24! The display base and figure really add to the model.

In my opinion, models tend to fall into a relatively small number of painting styles such as Verlinden, Greenland, Zaloga, and so forth. My M24 is mostly in the Verlinden style. Your M24 is mostly in the Zaloga style. My ultimate goal is to master enough painting techniques to reliably produce a model in any style.

There is a lot of trial and error in the learning process for any complex skill. I am not a painting prodigy and accept that practicing any given technique will often end in failure. Perhaps fortunately, I have about 4 dozen old, mostly built models like the M24 to practice on.

Eventually, I will explore the Zaloga (much more realistic) style as you suggest.

[BootsDMS]

Well Doug, thank you for your very gracious comments; I had no idea I had adopted a style as such - I just paint(!) However, I do take your point - there are indeed, noticeable styles, not that I always discern them. My own is paint, including the details, oil wash, dry brush, add Tamiya Buff (sometimes copiously!), and use same to blend to base. Oh, add figures to exemplify scale, and that men lived, fought, and sometimes died in these vehicles. But that makes me sound a bit preachy, which is not my aim.

I don’t think I am as adventurous as you; whatever style I now have, I sort of stick to it as it works (for me). I hasten to add, that in suggesting you tackle things the way I do, was certainly only a suggestion, and not a diktat, but you know that.

Anyway, thanks again, and good luck with your continuing search for excellence.

[Damraska]

Tamiya M41

This is my first attempt to paint tracks with rubber pads so it was time for another experiment. In my opinion, they turned our pretty okay. Total paint time on the tracks was about 10 hours.

Edit: I added a close up of the tracks so you can better see my latest experiment. Close up pictures are fantastic for figuring out what is going right and wrong.

Dirt on the bottom of the tank looks okay. The dark base color resists light colored earth tones added in blotches and streaks.

For now, this practice model is still hopeful.

…

@BootsDMS Thank you! The painting style categorization system I use is a personal invention dating from the early 2000s. I noticed a lot of similarity between the historical trajectory of picture painting techniques and current model painting techniques and organized them accordingly. If that trajectory holds, at some point in the future, there will be a massive rejection of extremely complicated model painting systems (like the ones I am pursuing) in favor of simple systems. Well, either that or computer painted models will put most of us out of business.

I agree with your assertion about figures. At some point I want to add that skill tree to my quiver. My stockpile includes a fair number of figures for future practice.

Have a good one!