Today’s build review of Takom’s 35th scale MK.V tank sees Clayton finishing what he started in splendid fashion. He has taken on one of the most challenging schemes to represent in his kit so let’s see how he got it all painted before the final stages of the build…
Takom
1/35th scale
Kit number #2034
Price: ¥6,210 /USD $50.40 /€47.24 from HLJ
It all started with a dare - But how did it end?
Clayton had just painted up the hull and all of the major masking work had been done - next cam the tracks, weathering and finishing of this beast to make a believable Mk.V...
Assembled tracks were
then sprayed in ‘Rust Tracks’
Some fine PE parts were then fitted to the model. In
hindsight, I probably should have just stuck them on and then worked around
them. I did have a few issues with the primer not sticking to the metal parts.
After stripping the first attempt paint, I lightly sanded the pieces and
re-sprayed. This seemed to do the trick.
A combination of oil colours was then used to soften and
blend the contrast of the check pattern on the side of the vehicle. By applying small, random dots of the various
colours, and then carefully blending them in with white spirit, a subtle but
convincing look can be achieved.
The same technique is now used in the green parts of the
vehicle using other complimentary colours
AMMO’s Brown wash for Green vehicles is now thinned and used
as a wash on all of the rivets and recesses on the model. This elevates detail
and brings the model to life.
Some small chipping is now brush painted. A lighter colour
is initially painted and the darker chipping colour is overlaid. To refine that
a little, the dark colour was then applied carefully by dabbing a paint covered
sponge in the areas that needed wear. With the paint, I was wanting to keep the
wear around service and crew hatches, and keep it to a minimum. This actual
tank had been in storage for some time and had seen no action, so I figured the
chipping would be minimal.
Rusty tones of pigment were now mixed with white spirit and
applied to the exhaust pipe in a random manner. The pigment, when dry, will
give an interesting texture and give the illusion of real rust. The tracks also received a wash using a
thinned version of that mix.
After the previous wash was allowed to dry, the tracks were
laid out and treated to Europe Earth and Russian Earth pigment. A brush was
then soaked in white spirit and used to blend the pigments into the
tracks. ‘Earth’ enamel paint was also
heavily thinned and used to add different tones to the tracks.
Once dry, the blend of pigment gives a pretty authentic finish.
Using AMMO – Gun Metal pigment on the top of my finger, I
now worked at buffing the high points of the track, producing a metallic finish
to the tracks.
Small amount of Abteilung ‘Light Mud’ oil pint is now worked
into the surface of the model using white spirit. This will help with the
lightly dusted look. The effect is subtle but convincing.
Some of the deeper recesses on the model now receive another
line wash, this time using the darker toned ‘NATO Camouflages Wash – A.MIG
1008.
‘Washable Dust’ is now lightly applied along the lower parts
of the model as well as a very light dusting over many parts of the model. This
will help tone the contrasts down and unify the paintwork. It will also help
with the dusty, worn look.
In addition to this step, but no pictured, Gunmetal pigment
was again used to spark up the high points in the tracks as well as the machine
guns and a few other select places around the model.
Conclusion
For TAKOM, this rhomboid shaped tank is really nothing new.
It is essentially a variation on the earlier releases of the Mk.IV’s. It is an
easy, uncomplicated build with a good level of detail. Perhaps the model could
have been improved with a basic interior, engine bay or even just the ability
to pose some of the pistol ports in the open position, but these are minor
complaints.
A positive with the kit is the fact you can build one of
three variations. The Male, Female or the Hermaphrodite. The easylink tracks
also guarantee a great looking, workable track with a minimum of fuss with
construction.
Obviously this model will appeal to the WW1 buffs, but given
its appearance during the Second World War, there is no reason it shouldn’t be
of interest to the WW2 fans out there too, or just someone looking for
something a little different.
So, for anyone even mildly interested in the subject, I
strongly recommend the kit. It can be a really quick project, or if you are
like me, you can make your life difficult and try and replicate a chessboard in
3D!
Thank you again to Takom for continuing to feed the hobby
with new and interesting subjects that seem to have been relatively ignored in
the past.
Clayton Ockerby
Thanks to Takom for sending this kit to Clayton to review and very soon make for you all to see how it all goes together. We will see part III in the next day’s news.
Also thanks to the kind peeps at AMMO for sending the paint & weathering materials for clayton’s schmick job!
See more of Clayton’s work at his website “The Workbench” or join him on his Facebook page
