Tamiya 1/35 PBR (pibber)

[The Smythe Meister]

Stunning paintwork Andy,
.... I struggle with getting decent pictures too,good tip from Jakko re the backgrounds there:thumb2:.

[Andy T]

Looking good, doing a nice job on it. Nice to see Tamiya still have good detailing on their models.

Thanks. The kit is actually over 30 years old, the more recent designs I've built were even better.

Stunning paintwork Andy,
.... I struggle with getting decent pictures too,good tip from Jakko re the backgrounds there:thumb2:.

Thanks Andy.

Andy , that 3rd photo is absolutely top class. The shading is perfect . What paints are you using ?

Thanks John, I think the more neutral colour of the background helps.

I'm using Mr Color for the spray work, AK acrylic for brushing.

The Mr Color is one of their modulation sets that come with 4 shades. Shadow, normal, highlight, extreme highlight. I know I could mix those myself but it can help having them pre mixed if I need to go back and do touch ups later, although I often mix them together as well to get intermediate shades.

[Guest]

Thanks. The kit is actually over 30 years old, the more recent designs I've built were even better.


Thanks Andy.


Thanks John, I think the more neutral colour of the background helps.

I'm using Mr Color for the spray work, AK acrylic for brushing.

The Mr Color is one of their modulation sets that come with 4 shades. Shadow, normal, highlight, extreme highlight. I know I could mix those myself but it can help having them pre mixed if I need to go back and do touch ups later, although I often mix them together as well to get intermediate shades.

Thanks Andy , certainly has a nice surface finish.

[Nicko]

Loving that cockpit Andy....

Nick

[scottie3158]

Andy,
Beautifully painted mate that is an amazing surface finish.

[Andy T]

Thanks Nick & Paul, although I've had a bit of a set back to deal with.

I don't like decals at the best of times and I guess I should have used a stencil, but after applying them yesterday they were sealed in this morning with a coat of VMS gloss varnish, and this happened!



I'd already tried sanding at this point to see if I could improve it. The star on the roof wasn't quite so bad but still starting to curdle slightly at the edges:



I spent a lot of time faffing & fiddling, sanding and touching up the edges and after an eventual coat of VMS matt varnish it's looking a whole lot better I think:



Not perfect but a damned sight better than it was, and an improvement over the one on Tamiya's official website:



I'm still feeling as rough as a badgers behind and have slept for much of the day in between coats of this & that, but might get some more done this evening.

[Guest]

Wow, that’s an odd effect around the edges of the number — I don’t think I’ve seen that before. But you fixed it well enough, this is about as good as those thick Tamiya decals will ever end up, IMHO.

[Andy T]

Cheers. It was certainly a heart stopping moment!

I've done a little bit more, picking out the lamps with GSW chrome. I'm quite impressed. Looks chrome-like and brushes pretty well for an alcohol based paint.



With the cabin area now finished (apart from the transparencies) I've cemented it in place so I can do some weathering in the nooks & crannies.

I've also finished the canvas top. After fixing the decal and a coat of varnish it was dry brushed with dark yellow then buff for a faded effect.



Time for some food and an early night I think.

[Andy T]

Due to the size of this thing I thought I'd try a rattle can for the matt coat. It could be pilot error but I ended up with the dreaded frosting



So had to get the airbrush out anyway. It's fixed most of it and a bit more work should sort the rest.



I've also had a quick go at the figures. I wasn't really feeling it but they'll suffice.

[BattleshipBob]

Very nice Andy and a interesting kit. Just starting to view what's going on after my disappeared for a while!

[Guest]

You’re not having much luck with the varnish on this one But again you seem to have fixed it well enough.

[Andy T]

Thanks Bob, great to to have you pop in.

Yes Jakko, 2 new (to me) products and issues with both. That means I either need more practice with them or, more likely, go back to what's worked for me before.

[Guest]

That would explain it, yes … I’m always wary of varnish doing things like this, so I use it as little as possible, really.

My worst experience in this respect was my own fault, though. I had finished a SF wargaming model, and those I do varnish because they will be handled. Got out the aerosol can with gloss varnish (to be followed after by matt, as gloss is much stronger, as I’m sure you know) and started spraying. It turned white right away so I stopped immediately. Only then did I notice I had an aerosol with white primer in my hand …

[Andy T]

Well, I've made a right royal hash of this trying to add some muddy effects around the deck.

Not quite bad enough to strip & start again I hope but there might be a few more tarps, barrels & crates scattered about than I'd planned lol

Pictures once it starts to look presentable again... :smiling5:

[scottie3158]

Looking good Andy, and a great recovery with the varnish. The crew look good.