|
|
Modeller Build Logs
Tasca Sherman Firefly Vc |
| By James Wechsler | | Started: | Dec 1, 2006 | | Updated: | Apr 29, 2007 |
|
OK, I’ll admit it, when I got the opportunity to do a blog using Tasca’s new Firefly kit I was giddy with excitement. I’ve got Tasca’s Pz. II Luchs, and I’ve built about three of their Sherman suspension sets, and two of their 0.050 cal MG sets. Tasca has yet to disappoint.
Now as a total Shermanaholic, I’ll admit that the thought of building a Sherman model that requires only a little bit of extra work is hard to fathom. I mean what is Sherman modeling without a bucket of aftermarket resin parts, replacement tracks, and a huge photoetch sheet? It’s … like modeling German armor (noooo don’t say it’s true)! There, I’ve said it. 2006 has been an allied modeler’s dream and Tasca’s Firefly is the grand finally of the fireworks show.
But in many ways I’m glad to be doing a blog using a great kit. My last two blogs involved extensive use of resin conversion and scratch built parts to make unusual Shermans. So they were heavily focused on construction tasks. Yet I’ve noticed that most of the comments I receive when I post photos of my models are requests for more information on how I do my painting, weathering, and groundwork. So for this blog I will spend less time on the construction tasks and more time on the painting, finishing and techniques for making simple ground work.
Up Next: The Construction Starts.
|
|
|
|
| Laying out the camouflage pattern | Jan 5, 2007 |
The camo for this vehicle is a hard edge black pattern. I have only a single, left side template from the Osprey Modeling the Sherman Tank book so I’m going to have to use my best judgement to layout the rest of the pattern. Mike Starmer’s book on British camo patterns is a big help.
Hard edge camo patterns can be a real pain. I do not like to mask for several reasons. First, I usually end up breaking off many of the small parts when I try to remove the mask. Second, I almost always screw up the mask and have to do a ton of touch up. Third, I end up with a small ridge where the mask is and it can look a little odd. I suspect this is simply due to my lack of painting skills.
Fourth, and most important, I’m a totally lazy modeler! Honestly, I just can’t stand spending hours putting a mask on only o remove it and then go in a fix it up. My time was much better spent learning to brush paint and not mask at all.
As I showed in my previous blogs, it’s entirely possible to airbrush the camo pattern and then go back with a brush and paint the hard edge on the model. But in this case, there’s an even easier method. I just used a black marker to layout to camo pattern. Then I’ll airbrush between the lines and use the marker afterwards to clean up any visible feathering. Simple huh?
So this chapter just shows the camo pattern sketched on the model.
Up Next: Painting the camo pattern |
 |
|
|
