ASAD-BABIL "LION OF BABYLON" IRAQI ARMY FEB 1991

[HERMAN BIX]

Speaking of tracks, a model looks much better with them fitted
A quick dry brush over them with a very diluted rainmark effects MIG 1208 over the paint was looking ok for dust ridden steel .
I'm confident they will come more gooderer after a bit of running
Loads of small things to cover still , but its much closer now.

IMG_3451.jpeg (2.1 MiB) Viewed 398 times

IMG_3452.jpeg (1.98 MiB) Viewed 398 times

IMG_3453.jpeg (2.35 MiB) Viewed 398 times

IMG_3454.jpeg (1.17 MiB) Viewed 398 times

IMG_3456.jpeg (2.16 MiB) Viewed 398 times

IMG_3457.jpeg (2.24 MiB) Viewed 398 times

[MrChef]

Lookin better every day!

[Raminator]

Looks great all in yellow, Herman; you get nice contrast with the shadows picking out all of the surface details. Having some of the base green coming through will look great, too (for the same reason)!

[HERMAN BIX]

Looks great all in yellow, Herman; you get nice contrast with the shadows picking out all of the surface details. Having some of the base green coming through will look great, too (for the same reason)!

Ehhh!!..........the Ram's back
Thanks for checking in mate, the Iraqi desert yellow is a nice shade but still too clean for my(and I hope the actual owners) liking !!

[Mithras]

Looks great all in yellow, Herman; you get nice contrast with the shadows picking out all of the surface details. Having some of the base green coming through will look great, too (for the same reason)!

Ehhh!!..........the Ram's back
Thanks for checking in mate, the Iraqi desert yellow is a nice shade but still too clean for my(and I hope the actual owners) liking !!

I think you and I are of like mind in yet another thing;) Owner agrees.

[HERMAN BIX]

Bit more distressing to the sand overcoat.
When I finish this stage if it looks a bit too much I can always dust over any bits I dont like with the sand beige to reduce any glaring mishaps.
Wetting the surface and wait- get into it with a bamboo skewer

Progress

IMG_3466.jpeg (2.9 MiB) Viewed 315 times

IMG_3467.jpeg (2.87 MiB) Viewed 315 times

IMG_3468.jpeg (2.31 MiB) Viewed 315 times

IMG_3469.jpeg (1.4 MiB) Viewed 315 times

IMG_3470.jpeg (1.78 MiB) Viewed 315 times

IMG_3470.jpeg (1.78 MiB) Viewed 315 times

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Eeewww: Grody to the Max! ...just they way you like 'em. Now the turret needs evidence of having been climbed all over.

[HERMAN BIX]

Turret & hull and wheels
Then Pencil over bits
Then a chip
Then seal
Then filter
Then pigment dust
Thennnnn perhaps it goes in the box for export

[Mithras]

She’s got a face any mother could love.

[HERMAN BIX]

Im going to call this one done.
Its sealed and lightly pigmented, passed the final test run with all functions including the barrel smoke working, sticky-outey parts left loose for refitting once Mr Mithras has his hands on it, and metal tow ropes all painted & ready to be permanently secured to the owners liking.
A Garry Farrow I am not, but Im fairly happy with the way this looks. For me its conservative but allows a degree of variation at the owners discretion.
Going thru many period pictures, these seem to vary from pristine to average, so this version is a middle stump amalgamation of them all.
Some has the smoke launcher caps black, some were sand, some were missing. I went with sand as I simply didnt like the look of the black caps on the turret cheeks.
Mr Mithras can change that really easily before it goes in the box, or seeing how it grows on him once he gets it & doing them .

Of course there could have been recoil mods and other things, but this is what the owner wanted & I really hope this is the look he saw in his minds eye when he ordered the tank new !
I admit it will be hard to box it up & make it disappear, but to be able to do it is very humbling & satisfying & I have learnt a few new tricks too.............

T-72 Asad-Babil LION OF BABYLON, Iraq, Feb 1991

IMG_3477.jpeg (2.77 MiB) Viewed 257 times

IMG_3478.jpeg (2.82 MiB) Viewed 257 times

IMG_3479.jpeg (2.66 MiB) Viewed 257 times

IMG_3481.jpeg (2.36 MiB) Viewed 257 times

IMG_3483.jpeg (2.26 MiB) Viewed 257 times

IMG_3484.jpeg (2.43 MiB) Viewed 257 times