1:35 Tamiya Panther G (Early) Part Five

1:35 Tamiya Panther G (Early) 

Part 5

As you probably know this kit was purchased cheap at Southern Expo as a base kit for demonstrating various weathering techniques at the Extreme Weathering Show. I thought it was a shame not to finish her so spent this weekend doing just that. I make no claim as to where or when this tank tank appeared in Europe it was mainly an exercise in weathering.

Painted with Meng/AK Interactive paints and weather with everything from Flory Washes and Piments to Mig Jeminez's latest Oil Brushers. 

Even though she a right hotch potch I rather like her and am quite pleased with the results.

This is how she looked after the demonstration at The Extreme Weathering Show

A right mix of weathering mediums and techniques and missing all its stowage.

So after a weekend of washes, pigments and finishing off the build, I got her looking like this.

Guess all she needs now is a suitably crafted base.

Revell 1:32 Colonial Viper Mk, II Part Two

Top Secret

Colonial Viper Mk. II

First impressions of the kit are that the moulds must be showing their age as there is plenty of flash supplied with the kit 😀 It is very obvious that the kit was originally boxed by Mobius as their name is on quite a few of the major parts. Revell not wishing to be left out have added their name to the underside of the fuselage. This needed to be sanded off, it only took a few swipes of the sanding stick as the plastic is quite soft.

Cockpit Assembly:

I decided to start with the cockpit, assembly is straight forward with just minor assembly of the main instrument panel and the side walls.

Once sprayed the instrument decals were applied. I then did a little light weathering with a neutral grey was and some dry brushed silver.

I then moved onto the pilot, after test fitting his arms there was two obvious areas that needed my attention; The joint of the top of the arms to the torso and the position of the the pilots right arm. Revell would have you build the kit with pilot  holding the control column in mid air. To overcome this I applied a little heat to the arm and bend it so that it adopted a move conventional position. I also extended the length of the column with some scrap sprue.

Test fitting of the pilot in the cockpit.

Next job will be to paint the pilot.

Thanks for looking.

Revell 1:32 Colonial Viper Mk, II Part One

Top Secret

The Viper (Mark I) was first introduced into Colonial service shortly before the outbreak of the first Cylon War. However, it was the Mark II Viper series, designed for use with the then new Colonial Battlestars, that is best remembered and celebrated. The Mark II was used throughout the first Cylon War and proved a capable fighter. Believed b many to be the reason that the Twelve Colonies didn't lose the war with the Cylons. The Mark II remained in service after the end of the war.

The Mark II was superseded by newer models, ending with the Mark VII serving in front-line duties and by the end of the war the Colonial Viper had served forty years. The Viper design was progressively updated and redesigned. It retaining the basic structural configuration which was essential for use with Colonial Battlestars. No information has survived about the intervening designs, but by the time the Mark VII was introduced the design had incorporated software-based controls and fully networked systems. This providing superior agility, battle management, and flight information for the pilot.

By the time of the second Cylon war the Mark VII had been upgraded to include navigational software designed and written by Dr. Gaius Baltar. This was the downfall of the mark as the software allowed the Cylons to remotely disable the Vipers during the opening engagements of the second war. The few Mark VIIs that survived the early battles were quickly stripped of the modern systems and software. The older Mark II fighters, not equipped with the more advanced systems, were unaffected by the Cylon modifications to Dr. Baltar's software. The last known two squadrons of Mark IIs were present in the Galactica's starboard flight pod in preparation for the Galactica's new role as a museum ship, and after most of the Mark VII squadron was destroyed by the Cylons, The mark II's were moved and prepared for combat by Galactica's deck crew.

The rag-tag Mark II Viper squadrons went on to defend the fleet for the entirety of the second Cylon war.

My tribute to this brave little SciFi fighter will be constructed from Revell's reboxing of Mobius' 1:35 kit. I will portray it as 2225NF the mount of Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama. I will attempt to portray it looking the same as the boxart example, a well worn and battle weary example.

And so in to battle and my the Gods look out for us. 

So say we all

1:35 Tamiya Panther G (Early) Part Four

1:35 Tamiya Panther G (Early)

Part 4

Finally got the tracks and decals on, just about ready for the demo at the Extreme Weathering Show next weekend.

Just got a couple of little bits to do on it then its ready to give it a bit of character. Not sure how she will finish up yet as I will need to demonstrate all the 'finishes' that I can.

This how she looks at the moment. I'll try and take a few photos while I work on her at the show.

Watch out for the next update in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for looking.

1:35 Tamiya Panther G (Early) Part Three

1:35 Tamiya Panther G (Early)

Part 3

Right here we go with this weekends progress. My time has mostly been taken up with trying to create Zimmeritt!

Starting with the upper hull, I used Vallejo Mr White Putty and a straight edge to create the Zimmeritt.

Next I moved on to the turret, once again using Vallejo Putty and a straight edge to create the Zimmeritt.

I then put all the component parts together to get an idea of what it is going to look like.

Next job was to start applying the paint. I'm usining AK paints that are bottled and packaged for Meng.

Thanks for looking there will be another update soon.

1:35 Tamiya Panther G (Early) Part 2

1:35 Tamiya Panther G (Early)

Part 2

All the work today has been concentrated on the finishing, painting and fitting of the wheels.

That's the time consuming part done.

More soon.

1:35 Tamiya Panther G (Early) Part 1

1:35 Tamiya Panther G (Early)

Part 1

Started this the other day and been working on it on bits as I've been able to get to the bench.

This is primarily being built for a weathering demonstration I have been asked to do but Paul of Modelling Tools for his Extreem Weathering Show in late May.

Although I'm an occasional armour modeller this is going to be new territory for me, never having demonstrated any of my modelling techniques to anyone.

The version I'm building which is the same as the box art requires Zimmerit, which Tamiya don't provide but they do provide instructions on making your own with putty and a straight edge!


This was my attempt. I thought it looked a bit patchy but when looking at Zimmerit in photos it was not perfect, so I'm hoping my effort will past muster.

After starting on the road wheels and trying out AK interactive/Meng's German Tank colours the Zimmeritt looks okay to me.

Anyway this is as far as I have got to date. (And yes I know I have the rubber rims to do).

More soon.