I haven't forgotten about the BV 138 and will update this one next week, but I thought I'd post this as a little "gap filler" just to show I'm still active. This was one of a few models I got for Christmas from my father-in-law - he picks bits and bobs up for auctions, junk shops and the like so I figured it's a suitable subject for the next competition so off we jolly well go...
It's the Arifix 1/76 scale model - 2 kits in one really from what I can see; the original Churchill MkV (in dark green plastic) with an extra bag of gubbins (in light grey) in there for the fuel trailer, towing hitch and flame thrower which replaces the hull machine gun in the kit.
The kit goes together well, although because of the construction of the skirt, you have to glue the 22 sets of wheels to the body of the tank, THEN fit the track, then fit the skirt so I was not able to get the outer axles to fit into the holes on the skirt. Maybe a dab of glue over the holes will give the impression that the holes have the axles in, and if I tell nobody, then my secret is safe.
The tracks are of that typical rubbery plastic and when glued together, are not quite long or flexible enough to be fitted over the wheels (there is a toothed running wheel at both front and back) without breaking the join! At least with the skirt covering the top of the tracks, nobody will know that they are just glued to the wheels and don't actually join up at any point! Again, another of my well kept secrets.
Painting! Well, I thought with a good old (and new) Airfix kit, Humbrol enamels were the traditional choice. I had the (correct?) colours too. Sadly, despite washing the kit in warm soapy water, they didn't take. Streaking and smearing on both the tank and the trailer!!! I couldn't figure it out, so I tried again with Revell enamels. Same result. I reverted to Vallejo acrylics and they took a treat. My only conclusion is that it may have been my brush? I have since use enamels on another kit (NOVO) with no problem at all and the only difference is that I took the time to give my brushes a good de-gunge. So, a nice "tank green" all over to start with. Tracks in gunmetal. Tyres in black.
Next stage was displaying it. As you know, I don't like just putting a kit on the table and the appeal of a flamethrower tank was too good to pass up - BUT, how to make a realistic enough looking jet of flame! Well, to be honest, I didn't think too long about it, I just had a look at what I had to hand and set to try a few things out. First a piece of acetate cut to rough profile onto which I built up a couple of layers of thick superglue each side, teasing it into rough shapes as it dried. Roughly painted, it looked okay. I then experimented with a tub of rubber solution type glue which I found turned very jelly-like when I mixed paint (I used clear orange and clear red) with it. This I used to build up the shape even more and then I discovered that the dried residue peeled off into those nice "fish skin" type things which looked pretty good as the little sheets of flame that roll off the jet. Fortunately, the first experiment was good enough for me and I'm quite pleased with the result. What do you think?
While layers of that were setting, I made a start on the weathering of the tank and trailer. Simple washes of black and a bit of dry brushing so far. I'm thinking that the markings should really be on at this stage too as they will have weathered along with the tank, so I missed a trick there - I'll get that sorted tonight.
The stage I'm at now is planning the diorama. It will take the form of a small pillbox dug into the hill on a bend in a Normandy lane with the tank hitting it at fairly close range with the flame. With the range being short, this will cause a bit of splash, so I'm going to be creating plenty of orange "fish skin" to replicate this, and of course the black smoke that goes with it. As that progresses, I'll be getting stuff ready to 'decorate' the outside of the tank with; sandbags, rolls of netting or whatever I can find in photographs, anyway, some pictures to date will give you a rough idea. TO BE CONTINUED SOON! Now, where's that BV 138???
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