AFV Club M42 Duster

hellow everyone, I have been working on a M42 Duster as a review for AMPS. The review of the kit and how it builds can be found here:http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/reviews/showReview.aspx?ID=2176&Type=FB

Over the past week or so I have finally started the painting process. The base coat is Tamiya Black Green followed by Japanese Defense ground forces OD. I then did some mapping of various parts with different tones of green and the base colors. This was followed by a pin wash with AK Interactives Wash for NATO vehicles. I then started varying the tones of the finish by drybrushing in Oil paints, using dark brown for the shadows and an Olive green for the lighter areas. This is not the traditional way of drybrushing (so it may not actually be drybrushing as I think about it) to bring out highlights, instead I am removing most of the oil from the brush and then blending the oil paint on the finish to create the tonal variations I want, using the slow dry time to blend them toghether.


Attached are 2 pics of where I am at. Note the glossy appearance is due to the fact that the oils haven't dried when I took the picture (I forgot/was too lazy to put the oils on some cardboard to wick away the linseed oil). I will be adding more oils and then weathering soon.




Thanks for looking,

Sean

Looking great so far.

Great job so far.
There is a Duster parked at Eisenhower Park here on Long Island. Its been there for years. Nice to see such a good looking model of it here. Love the greens.

Super.......

Hi Sean
Shading with 'dry oils' is a great technique I like to use a lot. I'm not sure what it's called either, but that's some nice work matey.

Cheers
JT

Topjob!

Looking great.
I will be watching this one !!

oh man, that kit would look great all rusted up. Nice work on your, clean build and painting.

Guys, thanks for the feedback. A wise man,as well as one whose book says similar, advised me to use some blue oil or filters in the darker corners. I will give that a try as well tonight.

Scratchmod, I will leave rusting it up to professionals such as yourself. Though actually, much like Panzer Bill, I have photos of some former National
Gaurd M42's that have a camo scheme that is faded and rusty that would be a lot of fun to try if I ever build another Duster (sample pic attached). If anyone else would like the full walk around I took of these, I will be glad to send them to you. Just email me at lynch.sean35@gmail.com

Sean great pics and oh so very tempting.

As for the blue oils, yep it's perfect for green painted vehicles. As long as you don't let it sit too long and leave tide marks. I usually have a large soft brush dampened with thinner/spirits at the ready.Seeing what you've done here so far, should be aces for you. Besides the oils being great to great all sorts of effects, lets not forget the AK range of filters, washes and grimes. I use these the same as oils

OK enough blah blah....looking forward to seeing this Duster come to life. I might have to check into getting one, and hitting you up for those pics

Ok, so I did some more oil work last night, this time using some faded grey, dark yellow (I forget which shade) and a bit more green and brown. To speed up the dry time, I placed the oils on cardboard this time. I also, have sprayed a few coats of Mineral Spirits on with an airbrush. I spay the Mineral spirits on to help dry out the oils but yet not remove any of the paint which might happen if I applied the mineral spirits with a brush. I also applied a blue filter with an airbrush, but the AB clogged up (my mistake for not making sure there weren't any particulates) and then spit a large amount out. I cleaned most of the blue up, but some residual can be seen. However, once I dirty the beast up it won't matter.

Next decals, final details, chips, maybe a filter and then dirty effects.

Don't worry, I am picking up more and more AK, though I have several left from another manufacturer a bought in the past before AK existed. The cheap side of me, aka my wife, demands I use the older stuff before I buy new.

Well, as I secretly suspected, progress is going much slower than hoped for (I had wanted to be done by now). But I have managed to get the decals on and start painting tools and tracks (not pictured). Coming into the home stretch now though. AFV Club does give several nice options, though the carrier film of the decals is a bit thick, or I have gotten way too used to dry transfers and painting markings on (it's been awhile since I tried to get dcals to sit properly over surface details).

Realy realy GOOD!

Thanks Maarten

Hi Sean, nice work so far. The shading and tonal variations add lots of interest and bring out all those lovely details.

Cheers
JT

thanks John. I am glad to see that what I was attempting with the oils worked out. I appreciate the feedback.

Sean,
This thing is coming along so nice! These photos look great, the middle pic. in the sequence above ( I beleive it is your 3rd post?)in particular has a cool look.
The tool boxes, gun shield, and front fenders in particular, have a real nice look to them. Nice work bringing visual interest to a monotone vehicle. Nice work Sean.

thanks Iain. I really appreciate your and everyone elses feedback on this project. I have managed some time to get most of the details and tracks painted. Now to just try my hand at painting some chips with a brush and then time to make it filthy.

Finally finished painting all the details and the tracks (I know in one of the photos I have one of them on backwards). Also, tried painting chips and sctratches for the first time using a brush. Some are heavy handed, some ok, but good practice and learning regardless. Not happy with the color I chose for the light paint scratches, not sure if I will attempt to fix. With luck I will get some dirt on her in the next day or so as well as enhance te rust on the mufflers a bit more.

Well, finally got the Duster done. Fun project as I tried some new to me techniques (chipping with a brush for example) as well as some new products from AK and the techniques that go with them (using enamel paints for dirt and oils and washes). Overall I am pleased with the results and those I am not completely happy with I will learn from for the next project. I am including pics of the products I used to get here as well as the final pics of the Duster nice and dirty.
Thanks to everyone for your feedback on this project. I hope you enjoy the pics.

Hi Sean, a great finish on this baby!

Cheers
JT

Thanks John!. This was a lot of fun.

Sean,
First, thanks for keeping this thread going with full progress from begining to end. You have pulled of something rather tricky here and that is do a convincing job of the Red-Orange dust of Vietnam...well done dude! This is a cool finish for sure and I am looking forward to see it in person at a show here in the USA!
Do you have a base planed? Will the Duster sit alone or in a dio or vignette?

Great painting, looking like a real one.

thanks Iain and Tobias. To vignette or not is a great question. Honestly I haven't decided. If I do it will be in a hull down position. I have a few weeks to decide before the first show that comes along in Kalamazoo, Michigan. First I want to work on something else just for a break and then I will decide. If I do put it on a vignette I will post it here.

Thanks,