Cheers mate … I will sleep on it 
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One of the builds of 2026 already – talk about attention to detail, you’re nailing it & also your colour sense all the way through looks impeccable. Any overall thoughts on weathering? I honestly don’t know if it was me, on one hand it would look great factory fresh, on the other hand I couldn’t cope with that & would want to chuck dirt at it.
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Thanks kindly Tim… High praise indeed, from another detailing genius ..!! I will go middle ground with the weathering., a newish vehicle but seen some use , so gentle dusting and dirt build up around wheels suspension and lower hull and mudguards etc … and a few washes to highlight details
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As I have a few spares, I thought I’d add some track link sections …
Oh … and cam net painted flat brown…
Will dry brush some dark green over it later.
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Things are progressing nicely with the UC. I have started the display base, and that’s set to one side awaiting the next stage.
I have started making the 2 tarps which will go on the rear, partially over the rear bin and cam net basket.
Very simple to do, thin smooth white tissue paper, rolled / folded to shape them unrolled and a nice saturated coat of PVA glue mixed with water 50/50.
Then rerolled and pressed into shape in the area it’s going to be placed, and set on top of cling film so it moulds to the shape or as close as. Once set, it will be still subtle and can be painted and put into it’s final position.
Edit …
Forgot, I have the MG now in place and secured.
Glued with a slight down angle, but has movement left and right.
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And the display setting as it is currently.
10x8 picture frame which I’ve reinforced underneath, then built up on 2 diagonal opposite corners and a track area running between them using balsa wood and pre mixed building filler… in the middle of the track is a raised area running it’s length which will be roughly grassed at the end as will the 2 raised corners. Some real stones were added onto where the grass will be.
When that dried, the whole area was base coated with hobby shop genetic sepia acrylic paint.
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Got some paint on the tarps and now dry fitted them.
Like how they turned out, and they both need another coat of the greens … Then securing with rope which I’m in the process of making and painting
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The display base … with dried garden soil sieved so it’s nice and fine and then over sprayed with a 50/50 mix of Tamiya wooden deck tan (78) and flat earth.
And some fine stone scatter mixed in
I also did a very fine must of the same paint mix over the running gear and rear and lower hull sides. Will probably leave it like that now and finish it up with the final touch up paint and precise pin wash
Tracks will now need a rewash with some dark rust and ground work will have grassed areas done and a few other bits to complete it.
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Dust baby dust! Looking superb John, although on my screen the last shot looks like it’s just driven past Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the “Red centre”. If Italy has similar soils then forget I mentioned it – just looks too orange to my eyes (?)
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Hi Tim…thanks for checking in and keeping tabs … Not to worry … The colour a more natural look… It has just come out that way I think due it being a phone picture and lighting conditions on the day … Once it’s all complete ( hopefully by Sunday UK time) I can do some outside shots of it for a better show of the colour tone
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Well, … we now have a completed Universal Carrier … … Last bits added were 2 antennas and the rope to secure the 2 tarps I made.
Really happy how this turned out and it’s a great little kit. No issues with it apart from the areas I mentioned concerning things Gecko could have included , like drivers panel detailing etc.
Now have a few little bits to finish off on the display base and then I can hand it over to Andy and he can then finish his end by having his granddad’s medals added and then having a acrylic case made for it.
Will add a few images of the display base later.
The phone camera is over exposing the colours I think. The grass types are a lot more muted and all blend in nicely. I also picked out a lot of the very small stones in 2 or 3 different grey tones. .
Will do some outside door shots tomorrow to give it a natural light affect.
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Mate that has come up a treat! Well researched, great build, nice additions, some excellent scratch building, accurate weathering and just an all round beautiful job! Also a superb ‘step by step’ which is always greatly appreciated! You should be very proud of all this effort!
If possible it would be fantastic to see the fully finished product on its base, in the case and set against the medals!
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Really good, even inspirational work, only thing I can point out, is, given the Stens’ known ability to go off ‘half-cocked’ if dropped or jolted, no way should it be stowed with the magazine attached, loaded or not!
I will be keeping this page bookmarked for when I get round to mine.
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What a fabulous looking model, sure makes one think about moving towards 1/16, all those much nicer details… and even then you added more 
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Thanks Sam , Jon @jon_a_its & Bert @bwilt … I will definitely be doing some outdoor natural lights shots in a mo, and I will get some images from it’s new owner, Andy, when he has it all set up with medals etc. It was a really great build and it made it a bit more interesting knowing it had a historic connection with a family member of his who was crewed on them in WW2.
Jon, yeah I totally agree about the Sten, sadly there was no real work around for it as it looked to tricky to hollow out the mag housing , so it was that way or not fitting it …
Thanks Bert … I enjoyed it so much I was thinking about the detailing I could add to a King Tiger or Jagdpanther… 
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John,
This is a Masterpiece. Without a doubt your best work ever. Every detail is done to perfection; the result is stunning. It seems you haven’t missed a thing. Everywhere one looks there are details to examine, shades and tones to admire, nuances to marvel at. Everything is so perfect one could admire this piece for an hour. You have put your all into this model and it shows. Just outstanding in every way.
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Thanks Matt, very nice of you to say so and glad you enjoyed the build … It took the extra detailing really well and I think it needed it to give it that special look.. I was looking at it again earlier just double checking things and making sure it’s ready for handover later tonight
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And the last few from my part of it …
Andy was very happy with it. I couldn’t post these earlier because I didn’t want him to see the brass plaque I had made up for it. He has said once he gets it all caused up along with his granddad’s medals, he will do some shots and pass them to me so I can put them in here
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At the end of the day that is all that matters. Look forward to seeing the metals added to your smashing build. 
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