My apologies for the long absence - turnes out RL can get in the way of modelling...other models got in the way of this one too
and I only recently picked it up again.
So, quick recap of what I've done so far:
Added some PE and welds:
Found a reference picture that showed some detail missing from the kit (for discussion purposes only):
And one that showed some pretty horrific welding:
http://svsm.org/gallery/JSU-152/IMGP1917Combined the two:
Initially I tried green stuff for the welding, but it stuck to anything but the model, so I ended up using Vallejo putty instead:
Most of the lifting hooks got weld beads too:
Gun is only dry-fitted at this point, hence the gap:
Did quite a lot of work to the horn that nobody's ever going to see (didn't have any Magic of Models horns at the time)
Headlight replaced with one from elf:
Kit shovel (below) got replaced with PE and a handle made from a sanded down tooth pick:
Added a divider to the exhaust, that will be invisible
Not a very good picture, but I replaced the opening/closing mechanism of the hatch with wire as the moulded on plastic one looked
Some more PE stuff:
Decided against replacing the tank mountings with PE - the assembly looked both complex and fragile and would be all but invisible once the tanks are fitted:
At this point I noticed that I should've glued the edges of the mudguards on top and not underneath
Shackles:
The shackles for the tow-cables weren't included in the kit, so I copied some from a Tamiya kit:
Mountings for the towcable shackles looked to thin in PE so I added some meat by glueing them on some thin styrene:
Put it all together and:
And paint:
And that's where I left it for about six months. Mostly because I wasn't sure how to do the number '176' and I felt trepedacious about tackling the paintjob.
As I couldn't find any decals of the right size, I contemplated making a stencil for the number, but in the end I just practiced free-hand for a while before commiting to painting it on the model:
I'd seen several drawing of this tank showing the amoeba camoflage coving the whole side of the tank, but I was sure it didn't extend past the fighting compartment. The recent arrival of a reference book on my doorstep backed up my suspicion, so that's what I went with. For the white wash I used AKs 'Washable White' applied by brush:
The rust on the spare tracks is not as vibrant in real life, but I'm having problems with the editor in Photobucket:
And some muck added:
The exhaust soot was made by holding a piece of glass over a candle and then brushing the resulting soot on by brush:
The wet-looking mud was created by mixing MIG Russian Earth pigment with Vallejo Still Water:
Still some way to go, but contrary to my own expectations I might get this done before the dead-line.
Hope you like it and all comments welcome.