Meng Whippet Tank

[Mark]

Over the last couple of years, somewhat off and on, I've been building the Meng Whippet Tank. Sorry I didn't do a build diary, but here is the finished model. Fairly heavy weathering, and I'd appreciate your honest comments, so I know where I can improve for the next model.

The weathering was a bit of a mint and miss affair. My first attempt at the oil dot technique, but I made a rookie mistake by not giving the model a gloss coat first. The oil paint wouldn't spread out properly, and the effect was far too heavy. Call in International Rescue, in the form of a very heavily thinned light tan colour which toned it all down nicely. The a wash of brown. Again, thinned oil paints. I remembered to give it a gloss coat first this time! Then a coat of matte, followed by some pigment powders, and a bit of MIG engine grime here and there. A little chipping and wear with some silver paint.

The exhaust was sprayed a couple of different rusty browns, then a couple of different rust (normal and light rust) pigments were added.

The tracks were sprayed with a very dark brown, then mottled with a couple of different rust shades. Then rubbed with dark iron pigment which gives a pleasing dark metal and polished highlights. Then some rust pigment was added here and there.

IMG_3434 by Mark Wakelin, on Flickr

IMG_3441 by Mark Wakelin, on Flickr

IMG_3440 by Mark Wakelin, on Flickr

IMG_3439 by Mark Wakelin, on Flickr

IMG_3438 by Mark Wakelin, on Flickr

IMG_3438 by Mark Wakelin, on Flickr

IMG_3436 by Mark Wakelin, on Flickr

IMG_3435 by Mark Wakelin, on Flickr

IMG_3432 by Mark Wakelin, on Flickr

[wingnut2]

Hi Mark, looks very good to me, well done Sir

[Morris]

Oh wow,! That is awesome - subtle weathering - very cool indeed

[Mark]

Thanks guys. I'm slowly getting better at this weathering lark

[royjess]

Brilliant, love the weathering, I wish my weathering was as good as that

[Mark]

Thanks Roy. I think I've got a way to go before my weathering gets as good as I'd like. I guess that some people are never satisfied

[steve131]

Great work , looks very good . Did you use Mengs paint guide or is it your interpretation

[Mark]

Thanks Steve. That’s one of the Mengs colour schemes. Well, it was before it got stained, rusted and faded.

[snapdragon]

Outstanding work, Mark.... I need lessons!

[Mark]

Thanks James, you're too kind.

Next time I do a weathered armour I'll try to do a diary to show the weathering steps. Mind, it all tends to be a bit hit and miss, but seems to turn out OK in the end.

[builder76]

Congratulations Mark on producing nice subtle weathering - on an very unusual Tank .

Regards
John

[Mark]

Thanks John. It’s a nice kit to build, apart from the tracks. They could learn something from Tamiya. The Tamiya British Mk IV tracks are brilliant!