When I started this review, I stated that the build would be a bit odd because the turret had to be fixed to the upper surface of the chassis, before that was then fitted to the rest of the tank. I was quite happy with this arrangement, until I got to this point. Then I thought…nah! I’m going to cut the toothed ring apart so that I can just drop the turret in when it’s all built!
The plastic toothed ring that is screwed to the bottom of the turret obviously harks back to when the model was a radio controlled item. It works well, but obviously causes the previously stated problem, it is just a matter of cutting off the toothed section of the main ring. I did this with a powered band saw, but it wouldn’t be too much of a problem with a small saw and a vice to hold it firmly.
Afterwards, a little cleaning up of the saw cut, and there we are, a drop in turret!
Ok, painting was fairly straightforward process for me…..as usual, just feel my way through it!
I started with an overall coat of desert yellow, which was given a stippled coat partially of matt white acrylic, leaving small areas of the yellow showing. The areas of shattered zimmerit, were given a red oxide colour, and then stippled with a grey ochre colour to simulate the zimmerit adhesive.
The whole of the turret was given a stippled coat of AK dark brown wash in different densities, and the top surface was given a stippled patchy textured mud effect.
The gun barrel had a bit of special treatment, in that, normally steel tube would allow dirt and debris to settle partially onto the top, but fall around the tube, but moisture would fall around the tube, settling in beds at the bottom of the barrel, then ‘drip’ off.
Hopefully, this has come across.
The shell hits were stippled matt black, then a smear of chrome to show the ‘hit’.
The whole was then given a patchy wash of AK dark brown to even the tones out, ensuring that the paint has settled into the zimmerit.
The track sections were painted and weathered, then fitted, and a dry brush of steel over various areas and details and that’s it!
As usual, never too confident about painting, but I think it’s ok….for me.