Bridlington & Wolds Scale Model Club Forum

Models => Modelling Projects => Topic started by: cph64 on August 06, 2020, 05:44:11 PM

Title: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 06, 2020, 05:44:11 PM
This weeks filler is the Mirage kit of the Vickers E Mk B kindly donated by Zak. There are more parts than I care to count, so won't!! Markings are for one used in Shanghai in 1937  3 colours, another just says China 1936, 2 colours and lastly on used by Finland in 1940. The colour quoted for this is Humbrol 30, Dark Green, but one reference says they were delivered in Bronze Green so I'll be using Vallejo Primer which is a close match for this. They were delivered without armament and in order to ensure compatibility with the Renault FTs they were equipped with the same Puteaux SA 17 37mm gun and Hotchkiss MG. When Russia attacked in November 1939 the only unit to have a full complement of 16 tanks was 4 ErHvK, with 3 ErHvK only having a handful. After an unsuccessful attack near Viipuri in February 1940 the inadequacies of their armament and poor performance in the snow led the Finns to learn some lessons and so at the cessation of hostilities they upgraded the tank with Russian 45mm guns from burnt out T-26s and these were used in the Continuation War But that's another model.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 08, 2020, 03:30:33 PM
After spending time treating the garden bench set I'd repaired yesterday, 1:1 scale modelling, it was time to finish painting the running gear. As an aside has anyone else had their jar of Tamiya XF-85 Rubber Black go off? I've had to trow the last part of one jar as it went lumpy and wouldn't coat as if it was separating and my other jar is going the same way.
This kit is trying to be too clever for itself as closer inspection of the sprues, whilst building, shows parts not only for the Mk B but also the superstructure for the twin turreted Mk A and parts for the Polish 7Tp, hence the 148 parts and consequently you have to be careful lining up the appropriate superstructure parts.
Regarding the turret you're supposed to join the Puteaux and machine gun together then pass them through the glacis plate. There's no way this was achievable so I fitted them individually to the plate, glued the retaining brackets on then fitted the glacis plate to the turret. The instructions would have you try and fit the brackets after the plate is fitted to the turret. I also deviated from the instructions and fitted the mudguards after I'd built the superstructure fully.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: zak on August 08, 2020, 03:41:42 PM
As I remember, its quite a tiny kit.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 11, 2020, 03:46:58 PM
Indeed it is small, as were most British tanks of that period. I've fitted the headlights and covers, the tool box to the mudguard and airbrushed the Bronze Green. Memo to self fully read labels, it does say UK Bronze Green on the Vallejo 70.607 Surface Primer bottle. Yet another senior moment!! The brackets for the mudguards are yet to fitted but as there will be a lot of handling when it comes to fitting the running gear I decided to leave them and the silencer off for now.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: Bigkev on August 11, 2020, 08:03:33 PM
Nice Chris,
remember small is beautiful.
Nice work,
Bigkev
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: chriswil42 on August 12, 2020, 09:11:22 AM
Looking good.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: MSea on August 12, 2020, 09:50:19 AM
Great Chris, will it go into a snow scene ???????
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 12, 2020, 04:52:57 PM
I'm thinking about MSea. Not much done today as Tracy left me a job whilst she went off with the Grand kids and then \I had some garden furniture to prep, so I've only added the top rollers and the drive sprockets which have had some teeth removed as experience has taught me that tracks never go over them easily!!
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 18, 2020, 04:09:50 PM
 Finally completed and painted, I had but the Hakariski (Finnish swastika) on the turret, as per the kit instructions, only to find out that at the battle around Honkaniemi on Feb 25 1940 they had no markings apart from a small 3 digit number plate at the rear. I have found no details for such and so they're not present. This meant a rub down to remove the turret decals and a respray. Each unit of the running gear is made up of 15 parts which meant progress was steady and I'd like to thank Messers Carden and Loyd for designing something that is an interesting build in 1/72nd!!! Weathering will be done once I've worked out the diorama (you've got your way MSea!!). The second photo shows a rough placing of items to get something of an idea and 3 and 4 are the photos used as reference with the last photo being everything primed ready to start painting. I've had these figures in my stash a long, long time so can't remember who made them or where or when I bought them!!
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: Bob C on August 18, 2020, 06:50:44 PM
Nice work Chris, I can’t work in that tiny scale.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: Bigkev on August 18, 2020, 08:09:35 PM
Nice work Chris, I can’t work in that tiny scale.

Ditto!
Bigkev
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 19, 2020, 08:30:20 AM
Thanks guys. I had some 'interesting' moments with the small parts.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: chriswil42 on August 19, 2020, 10:17:06 AM
Diorams appear to be IN.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 19, 2020, 05:34:46 PM
Further work on the figures and Maxim using a mixture of Vallejo and Tamiya paints. A few more touch ups required followed by some weathering using Flory washes and Citadel Nuln Oil.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: Bigkev on August 19, 2020, 08:21:25 PM
Nice paintwork Chris.
Bigkev
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: zak on August 20, 2020, 07:09:30 AM
What is Nuln Oil?
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 20, 2020, 08:49:44 AM
Hi Zak, it's a dark shade used as a wash to highlight items such as cockpit interiors, creases etc. Very useful.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 20, 2020, 01:42:45 PM
After touching up the paint on the figures they and the tank were given a coat of Matt varnish followed by a wash of Nuln Oil. Between things drying I cut another piece of card the same size as the frame interior and PVA glued that to the original followed by PVA on top to hopefully hold the sponge in place. Excess PVA was used to try and size the sponge and this was followed by a watery coat of filler. Some form of protection for the infantry was created using lumps of filler and once set fully everything will be trial fitted. I left the filler thin in places to try and replicate the ground as per the reference photos as peaty soil is dark. Further weathering will follow.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 21, 2020, 04:31:53 PM
Cracks around the edge touched up, figures added and the tank given a dusting of Flory White. The snow set Howard gave me has gone AWOL, it's too big for the carpet monster so the cupboard monster must have eaten it. Everything on hold until I either find it or come up with Plan B.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: zak on August 21, 2020, 05:42:29 PM
Tanks on icing sugar?
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: chriswil42 on August 23, 2020, 03:56:00 PM
Talking about food again.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: councilman on August 23, 2020, 04:05:04 PM
Tanks on icing sugar?
Its not icing sugar... he has a habit.
Great modeling Chris.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: MSea on August 23, 2020, 04:37:03 PM
If he sneezes we will all be in trouble
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 23, 2020, 07:14:00 PM
Too much 'Snow White'.......
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: Red Lancer on August 24, 2020, 10:23:45 AM
Looks impressive!....
 I've used baking powder  for snow before..
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: chriswil42 on August 24, 2020, 04:23:24 PM
I believe baking powder is quite popular for snow
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: zak on August 24, 2020, 06:26:07 PM
I believe baking powder is quite popular for snow
I use baking powder as a filler with superglue.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 25, 2020, 11:35:22 AM
I also use baking powder, but this initial stage used some old filler that was going off and had water added to get it flowing again, which helped it bind to the sponge.
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: Bigkev on August 25, 2020, 04:37:26 PM
I also use baking powder, but this initial stage used some old filler that was going off and had water added to get it flowing again, which helped it bind to the sponge.

All this baking material, I hope to see you all on next year's great British Bake-Off!!
Now, that I would watch!
Bigkev
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: cph64 on August 27, 2020, 04:22:21 PM
No point us entering Howard would create a masterpiece in multi-coloured icing!!!!
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: Bigkev on August 27, 2020, 06:04:12 PM
No point us entering Howard would create a masterpiece in multi-coloured icing!!!!

Yes, probably true Chris.
Bigkev
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: chriswil42 on August 28, 2020, 09:09:46 AM
No point us entering Howard would create a masterpiece in multi-coloured icing!!!!

Yes, probably true Chris.
Bigkev
And probably with a tartan finish!
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: Bigkev on August 28, 2020, 06:30:38 PM
No point us entering Howard would create a masterpiece in multi-coloured icing!!!!

Yes, probably true Chris.
Bigkev
And probably with a tartan finish!

Aaaach Nay!
He's not a sasanach, excellent modeller, yes, but Sasanach? I think not.
Cheers,
Bigkev
 
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: Red Lancer on September 08, 2020, 06:05:56 PM
Can't do tartan anymore.......Humbrol stopped doing it!
Title: Re: Vickers E Mk B
Post by: chriswil42 on September 10, 2020, 10:51:50 AM
Mix your own Howard.