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[Andy H]

Thanks again, my friend 

O.k...let's try something different - won't be much mud on this one, which means I'll have to be more careful than usual on the running gear. Again, the crew figures should bring this one to life, and I've got some suitable Commonwealth infantry figures in sauntering past poses. At least living at the seaside means I'm not short of sand for the base...



Having picked up the recommended colours when I bought the kit, I'll be trying out Tamiya paint, which I've had varying results with in the past. I'm led to believe their paint retarder makes a huge difference to the normally instant drying time and lifting problems. Only one way to find out. 

[rogeroger]

A nice looking tank, but bloody slow. In Steel fury they chose the slowest tank to use in the driving tutorial. Its painfully slow going up a hill in the tutorial, and then there's the anti tank ditch.


That is a nice tank kit with the figures and all.  I look forward to seeing it painted and dusted.

[Andy H]

O.k, chaps! Let's get this Matilda built...






The familiar start - all those wheels.



Early impressions, it's a very nice kit. Back later when I'm further down the road. 

[Andy H]

Detailed suspension presented no problems other than eating up time, I'm wondering just how much of it will be visible when the sideskirts are on.



Following on from the three-piece pointy hull front, and unusually for Tamiya, the bottom hull is a further three pieces rather than the traditional one-piece tub - and it's a pain in the derrière getting it all lined up. In fact, I had to carefully prise apart my first attempt. After much cussing, I dry fitted the top to ensure an easier time as the build progresses. I think slow and steady will win this particular race...



...and that's as far as I've got tonight, I'm letting the hull cure thoroughly before putting the wheels and tracks on. The rubber tracks look pretty good to me, so I don't think I'll be bothering with the link and length option.

Back soon with more miniature Matilda mayhem. 

[Andy H]

Here's where I'm at tonight. Tracks on and upper hull in place - no problems with fit this time around. As suspected, all that work on the suspension will be hidden.





The only problems so far have been entirely of my own making; I drilled some locating holes far too large (will improvise filler tomorrow) and my macho pride led to picking up the magnifying visor only after I'd fumbled with small parts and spent some time on my hands and knees retrieving them from the carpet. Having conceded that life's easier now I can see better, I certainly wouldn't ban the Red Army version from the stash.





Next up is the turret assembly, the exhaust system and some hard thinking about whether to leave the side skirts off until I've slapped some paint and weathering on the running gear.

Found a pic of the very tank represented on the boxtop, has given me some ideas about stowage and weathering.



Thanks for looking in, more soon. 

[Andy H]

'Tilda's ready for some paint. 

The crew aren't fixed yet, but I wanted to make sure that they're posed correctly. Not sure if I'll keep the string tow cables.
















Will update once the basic colours are on - thanks as always for looking in. 

[Andy H]

After too many real-life interruptions, 'Tilda's got some paint on her. Very early stages, but I can see where I'm going with it.

Not too impressed with Tamiya paint applied with a brush, I found a near-enough colour match from Citadel/Games Workshop and painted over it. Not too worried about how bright and scruffy it looks at the moment, next step is putting the decals on and flooding the whole thing with sepia ink - it's going to look very messy for a while. That bright blue should fade under under washes, highlights and dust. Apparently, it should be 'silver grey' according to latest research, but if it looks the part, it looks the part as far as I'm concerned. Did I mention it's going to get messy? 













More miniature Matilda madness soon. 

[Andy H]

Slowly starting to look the part. Camo tidied up a little (more to do as I go along), decals on...







...time for yet another mug of tea, then it's on to the first wash. I'll probably call it a night after that.

[Andy H]

And that's as far as I got tonight. More touching in, sepia wash applied. We're getting there...













...next up, more touching-in, some highlighting and slapping some sand on it. As ever, thanks for dropping by, more soon. 

[Andy H]

De-glossed, chipped, scratched and highlighted. I've temporarily removed some parts to make life easier. A hundred and one finishing touches to go, but it's starting to look like 'Tilda's been out in the desert for a while...











Saving the tracks and what little can be seen of the wheels until last.

More soon. 

[Andy H]

Time to get the crew done. Same technique as the last couple of builds - 'wet' paint over matt white undercoat, shaded with a wash, uniforms highlighted with light  drybrushing of original colour (Revell 'ochre' in this case), then a very light drybrush with off-white.















Time to mount up chaps - we're on the last lap!

[Andy H]

Close to the finish line. Thanks to a spray of fixative to secure weathering powders, she's glossy again. Just a little work on the smoke dischargers, fixing a wing mirror, permanently fixing the crew in place and deciding if the tow cables return and it'll be time for a final coat of matt varnish. Not going to rush things at this late stage.













Thanks for looking in - back soon with 'Tilda presenting herself for final inspection.