SU '85 AN-BRI-RAMINATOR PROJECT

[HERMAN BIX]

http://wio.ru/tank/oz/oz-en.htm

Info on unit and vehicle markings.
Mr Rad could have a field day making masks for this lot !!

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"light coat of Tamiya TS-42 light gun metal": that is an interesting idea, Bix. I immediately wondered if another brand would adhere well to the Tamiya gun metal, which seems to me to have a slight sheen, but I see that you are using AK's 4BO.

[Raminator]

Love it! Great work Herman, I really like the transformation into a war-weary battler. It looks so good in clean steel, it's almost a shame to paint it green!

[HERMAN BIX]

"light coat of Tamiya TS-42 light gun metal": that is an interesting idea, Bix. I immediately wondered if another brand would adhere well to the Tamiya gun metal, which seems to me to have a slight sheen, but I see that you are using AK's 4BO.

NoooooT exactly !!
I made my own 4BO topcoat mix but used the shadow from the AK set. The mix has a little bit of leftover AK light base shade in it, but the rest is a mix of RAF2 green, Yellow-Green and J.A. Green.
Tamiya acrylics just work well on most bases & it stays put.
So far this tank has :

- Grey Primer over Mr Surfacer.(prone to finger marks)
- Red oxide (genuine self etching)
- Tamiya TS-42 gun metal
Green 4BO to be applied.
AK highlight shade to be spot-applied in certain areas.

[HERMAN BIX]

Love it! Great work Herman, I really like the transformation into a war-weary battler. It looks so good in clean steel, it's almost a shame to paint it green!

Cheers Mr Ram, but there's no way it could stay moonshot silver!!
These SU-85's had a relatively short manufacturing run, and compared to the Tank version, were almost rare in the Soviet Steamroller mechanism, by numbers.
The design & arrival of the T34/85 meant that the SU version was not required to provide the only upgraded firepower.
But the bigger German tanks needed some sort of counter.
So, the Russians shoved the 100mm gun into the SU-85 frame, made a few mods, & the rest they say is history.!!
There are a few really good pictures of the '85 Gunned SU which I cant make my mind up on which to run with, so I've decided to use aspects of all my favorite ones into one vehicle
That said, getting a unit I.D. and vehicle number is way harder
The Panther wheels alone isolate the year to a much narrower slot, and the place even smaller.
Its such a cool T.D. & I'm stoked to have it................

[Ludwig von wigbearer]

Cracking job Herman, looks great.

[HERMAN BIX]

Cracking job Herman, looks great.

Thanks Mr Wigbearer, the real hard work was done but it’s nice to be able to put my spin on it

Home made 4BO is on.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Thank you for the response on your 4BO, Herman. I hope I remember your multiple layers of primer when I start on the bare metal Famo one of these years. Well, I hope I can remember anything one of these years.

It seems that you have used a light touch on the fading. I approve!

[HERMAN BIX]

Thanks Herr Professor, it’s come together pretty well.
Taking yet more goodwill out of the Wife meant I could get some outside pictures of it.
No metal tracks on it yet, too close to Xmas for the foreign import currency to be disbursed from the “Finance Minister” , so they will have to wait
My next mission is to get some half respectable numbers on the Casemate, final weathering
Then tools & stowage .

[Raminator]

Cheers Mr Ram, but there's no way it could stay moonshot silver!!

You were right, the 4BO looks even better than the gunmetal! Wouldn't recognise it from the starting product, that's a hell of a result.

What else did you have planned for weathering?