Dirty Winter KV-1

[Herr Dr. Professor]

With snow falling around here of late, I jumped from the middle of one project (the little "quarter ton 4X4") to a simple winter project. I had a HengLong KV-1 in too pure white (one of only a few HengLong tanks among a number of Taigen). I wanted to make a winter mess of it as if it were in Russia (or maybe a tank captured by the Finns, hmm...). I started with the innards, thinking I would change out the HengLong generic gas engine sound for Taigen V2 12 cylinder. But I stopped, putting everything back, because I have so few HengLong tanks that I thought it might be good to have something different. Can any of you tell me what version of the HengLong board I have here? (It's from 2018 stock and probably pre-6.0.)

For the next step I went nutso with JNewboy's "Magic Grime." Now that was fun. I used a few cheap tin flux brushes, one long and one trimmed sort, to brush and scrub on the Grime, and then used baby wipes (just a Jon recommends) and even dry or moistened cotton swabs to get the dirty look I wanted.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

After having a ball--the other modelers were wondering why I was hooting and laughing--with the Magic Grime, I started in on the tracks with a 2 parts Vallejo black and 1 part Vallejo gun metal, always letting paints dry overnight before going to the next step. Using Vallejo Track Wash thickened with a little Vallejo Medium Rust pigment, I rusted up the tracks and then put some evidence of a road march on them with one of my venerable Birkenstocks and the concrete floor.

[HERMAN BIX]

If the board has only one sound it’s likely an early 2.4G version 4
If it has switchable sounds it’s likely a 5.3
Leo 2 and Tiger from memory.
Ultimately it really doesn’t matter what the board is, if your ok with it, that’s all that matters.
If it’s not an INU, Elmod or Beier or Open Panzer etc etc, it’s just a basic get it done HL board

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I secured all the weathering so far with a spray bomb of Rustoleum flat clear enamel (a bit of an experiment, to see if there is a less expensive alternative to Testor's Dullcote [now owned by Rustoleum]). Then I waited patiently for four whole days ( ). I received two bottles of AK Snow Microballoons. I imagined a fresh, light snowfall, pure white in contrast to the dirty KV-1. I brushed on areas of thinned flat lacquer in an attempt to affix the the snow, attending to areas where I know snow will stick in a wind, creating the look I know all too well as a born-and-back-again Wisconsinite (USA).

Trying to get even more effect of wind on the snow, I blew on the snow patches from the front of the tank to the back. Unfortunately, I blew all the snow off the tank. Quick, where are my nearly 70 birthday candles! ("Gasbag" you say?)

So I gobbed on the thinned flat lacquer even more and reapplied the snow. This time, I let the "wind" (a.k.a. a strong, but indirect fan on low speed) do the job. Still some snow flew---on the sleeping Schnauzer who was under another modeling table a few feet behind the tank.

Now reasonably satisfied, I took one of my airbrushes, set the pressure to 15 lbs., backed the pressure down almost all the way with an adjustment at the brush, and cautiously created some more windblown snow effect. I got not so much fresh snow as the look of snow a few hours later, perhaps after another road march. This is not exactly the look I had in mind when I started "snowing" on the tank, but I will about this look for a while because it does suit the grubbiness.

So to end it all, I affixed the snow with a rain of Rustoleum clear flat lacquer, spraying over top of the tank and letting the lacquer settle down without blowing off more snow.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"If it has switchable sounds it’s likely a 5.3
Leo 2 and Tiger from memory."

Yep, Bix, that's it. Thank you.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Now it's time on this tank. (A thinktank) I could go back for more snow, but I would want to affix it better. Has any of you had experience with these AK (or similar) Microballoons affixed with white (e.g. Elmer's) glue? That stuff is indestructible on wood, paper, or cardboard, but what about fully dried enamel and/or acrylics? I would guess that thinning the white glue would be smart (as on train layout scenery).

[Exhibitedbrute]

A tip herr if I may. What I use for snow is talcum powder, it stick with no form of adhesive can be thinned where required with a make up brush and when you sick of it you can just brush it away with a large blusher brush

[EAO]

To our good Herr Dr.,

Now that I like! Reminds me of all the white cars that I owned while living in Wisconsin, and never washed all Winter long! No wonder they were rolling rust buckets! Of course, with tanks it would take much, much longer to rot out! As you were.

Cheers,
Eric.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Thank you, Brute: I wondered about talcum powder “snow.” I have seen it used on model railroads.

Eric, my first econobox car rusted in one year. After three years, I could easily jab a Bic pen through the fender—unh—quarter panels. You may recall, “Bic, writes first time, every time.“

Last night I added more “snow” and today I tried a bit of snow packed down into ice.

[jee]

Herr Dr,

an awesome paintjob for the KV-1!
still have to look to this magic grime but sending ti doubles the price.....