WINTER 23-24 KV-1 to KV-85 to KV-2 COMPLETED!

[HERMAN BIX]

Love the first go at airbrush white wash. Its really NOT an easy paint job to get right despite the theory.
Let it develop with washable white wash and dark washes over time & its going to be magnificent.
The KV-2 is a massive canvas to cover, and that canvas reflects a lot of light.
Love'n the look so far

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Methinks you are doing better than I have with winter whitewash. My first whitewashed tank in 1/16 represented a photo I had seen of a Sherman freshly whitewashed. That was easy.
I wonder about JNewboy's "Winter Instant Weathering." Although I have some, and I have been really pleased with the other JNewboy instant weathering, I have not yet tried the winter one. I would guess that it is intended to go over a whitewashed AFV. Does anyone have experience with it?

[MrChef]

I wonder about JNewboy's "Winter Instant Weathering." Although I have some, and I have been really pleased with the other JNewboy instant weathering, I have not yet tried the winter one. I would guess that it is intended to go over a whitewashed AFV. Does anyone have experience with it?

That's what I used. It's greyish, much more suitable for whitewash and winter camo. I messaged you Herr Dr.

[Ecam]

You said you like some parts of it and not so much some others. I LIKE it all! Nice work, and welcome to the airbrush. I've been using one for a few years, but you are way ahead of me on the skill of using the tool. Guess it's time for me to do some more practicing!

[ColemanCollector]

Still can’t believe that is an actual tank. It’s so pig ugly and awkward looking. Great painting.

Thanks, and hah! A glacis only a mother could love.

You have done Excellent work here with your new tool. What white paint did you use?

I very much look forward to your weathering

The paint is Ceramcoat craft acrylic "Magnolia White". Beside something like titanium white, it has a nice grey-beige tinge. Bit of a letdown for a colour name (I prefer "Frostbite White", or maybe "Death to Fascists White"), but it goes with the "Dove Gloss & Control Hairspray".

The airbrush loves the acrylics thinned about 40:60 with windshield washer fluid--so basically methyl hydrate and water. No clogs, no spattering, and drying quickly but not flashing.

Thanks everybody for the compliments and encouragement. I was going to get going on the mud and mud splatter, but my 0.2mm brass strip arrived so it's tarp strap and teeny-tiny buckle making practice tonight!

Mike.

[ColemanCollector]

Things are heading towards completion but still a ways to go. Weathering goes on, and on...and on some more.
In the meantime, my headlight lenses finally arrived! Step one, drill out the hollowed out headlight pot to take a nice flat-top LED in sweet warm white. No cool-blue BMW highbeam eye blinder for the hulk!

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Over that goes the lens. A far cry from HLs weirdly shaped and mildly pornographic bugeye version.

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And a little copper work to solder up some buckles for the brass strip I'll use to recreate some tarp straps.

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Baby steps for the dreadnought, but end is in sight!

Mike.

[HERMAN BIX]

Slick work on the straps .
The package has arrived in Canada so hopefully you see it this time
That’ll teach me for being too cheap to send it untracked the first time

[Raminator]

I'll second Herman's compliments on the buckles and straps, they look fantastic! The weathering and new headlight are great additions too.

The only advice I'd have would be to rotate the headlight lens 90° if it's not too late. The fresnel lenses in the headlight glass should be oriented vertically, not horizontally; take a look at any old-timey sealed headlight unit for inspo.

[ColemanCollector]

I'll second Herman's compliments on the buckles and straps, they look fantastic! The weathering and new headlight are great additions too.

The only advice I'd have would be to rotate the headlight lens 90° if it's not too late. The fresnel lenses in the headlight glass should be oriented vertically, not horizontally; take a look at any old-timey sealed headlight unit for inspo.

As Liz Lemon would say, "Well, ah duh..."
I guess I should turn around in my shop more often and look at my old-timey car's sealed beams occasionally! Fortunately just press fitted on the KV-2 until it's all done so they will be verticalized. If I get brave might scribe in a few horizontal lines like the Tamiya lens has.

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Thanks for the encouragement guys, and the old-timey tip Raminator!

Mike.

[Panzermechaniker]

Those buckles are amazing. I wish I had any sort of soldering skills and the eyes and finger dexterity to produce pieces like that