Paint Chipping Method!

Paint chipping has long been my nemesis as I'm sure it has been to many others. It seems that no matter how I did it, it just did not look right. There are many different methods that can be used but I mainly stick to 2 ways. Using a very fine brush and foam padding. These are 2 that I am most comfortable with. I am going to explain how I do brush chipping first.

I am the type of person that loves information. When I start out with a new project of any type, the first thing I will do is see what I can find out about what I am about to take on. For example, I sell vintage toys for a living, mainly online. When I get an item I don't know I immediately get out my books and hit the Internet. 2 weeks ago this paid off in a big way. I purchased a Marx Prehistoric Play set from the 1950s. I had these sets many times before but in this set there was a odd colored metallic green Brontosaurus, as well as other other odd colored Dinosaurs as most of the early Dino's like these were light green or grey. Come to find out this was a rare color. By doing that investigation, I took a set that would have sold for about $150 as a group, split it up, and sold it in lots of certain pieces thereby quadrupling the value!

I feel that an important way to improve your paint chipping methods is by researching. Going online and finding pictures of vehicles that are rusting. Going to construction sites and taking photos of backhoes and dump trucks. Although these are not vehicles of war, they wear and rust much like tanks and the like do. Also, looking at other modelers photos helps immensely, especially when it's someone like Mig Jimenez. He is more of an artist than a builder in my eyes.

When you look at a vehicle with paint chipping and rust you will see the layers of wear. 9 times out of 10 there is more than just a rust spot or a spot where the paint underneath, the primer coat, is showing through. There will be layers of wear. Take some time and look at the photos. When looking closely at the photos you can get the idea of the layers of wear and tear.

MORE TO COME!

New Projects for the New Year!

Well, I've jumped into the new year with a long list of kits I wil be building over the winter. Some include Dragon's Type 36 8.8 Flak gun, Dragon's Flakpanzer I Premium Kit #6577, Dragon's Sd.Kfz 7 8 ton Half Track and more. Actually the 88 and the Sd.Kfz. 7 are going to be part of a large winter diorama that I am going to document on the blog. Keep checking back and PLEASE email me with things you would like to see.

Dragon 234/1 Build

Well, I have decided to start working on my Dragon 234/1 Puma. I started this a few years back and never finished it as is so often the case. I am building this straight from the box as it is a nicely detailed kit and comes with P.E. parts as well. I have already completed the undercarriage which is a very detailed example. It is not a beginners kit by any means as there are some very small parts and complex assemblies as so often is the case with Dragon kits. I personally like the complexity of these kits but it does tend to throw off many beginner modelers.

Assembly of the undecarriage went rather smooth. This is a fixed suspension and I found that the best type of glue to use for these complex assemblies is Tamiya Extra Thin liquid glue. Steps 1 through 3 went along fine. Just be sure to take the time to glue all pieces in correctly.

Next was the interior which are covered in steps 4 to 8. The interior was done well. The only complaint I have is that there was alot of extra holes and humps to gide pieces in place that were not used. This is becuse the hull is used for the various versions of the 234's Dragon makes. I undestand that some equipment was left out because it may have not came with this version but I feel they could have included some type of accesories to mount inside. Most of the interior will be hidden but you will see a good portion of it if you plan on keeping all hatches open as I do. Parts C1 and C3, the gas tank halves, need some putty and clean up but not bad.

After the interior I moved right along through the rest of the build. I know it seems a little weird not to give and details but to be totally honest, Dragon did such a wonderful job with these kits that there was really no specific problems to speak of. I have got alot of the exterior painting done and have some photos below. I have decided to keep this all a german tan color with no camo. I love the kit so much that I feel the camo takes away from the beauty of the kit itself. When countries started building the new troop carriers of today such as the BMP's and the like, these Pumas were a big inspriration in design.

Hello!

This is my FIRST blog Ever! I am a male from the USA and am 40 years old. My main focus of this blog will be military modeling and sometimes throw in some comments about my other passion in life, Bass Fishing! I am a big fan of Mig Jimenez and many of my techniques I learn come from reading his articles and blogs. I only hope I can add 1/10th of what I have learned from Mig as well as many of the other true artists of military modeling that I have met through the years! Stay tuned as I will be adding my first article this week!