It all started with an old Nitto kit, the M8A1, a fairly rare tracked tractor. The problem: it’s listed as being 1/35 scale, but the cabs are actually 1/48 scale! That’s not right!
Since this kit is missing the hull and running gear, we'll use a Bradley hull and running gear from Tamiya...
That's going to take a little work to adjust...
...to the Nitto superstructure, which will be slightly raised above the rear opening panel...
Once the interior is assembled, paint it army green, along with the interiors of both cabins...
Then the usual application of juice, followed by intermediate colors, and finally a metallic color as the finishing touch...
Another view...
Autre vue...
The rear superstructure. The floor is made of balsa strips stained with umber and sienna...
La superstructure arrière. Le plancher est fabriqué en baguettes de balsa teintées terre d'ombre et terre de sienne...
The assembly is mounted on the body...
L'ensemble est positionné sur la caisse...
The characters.
They are 1/48 scale and come from the surplus box.
Winsor & Newton oil paint for skin tones and red berets.
Humbrol for uniforms...
Painting.
Primer: Tamiya Acrylic NATO Brown XF68 (or Humbrol 98)...
Sous-couche : acrylique Tamiya nato brown XF68 (ou 98 Humbrol)...
Apply a coat of hairspray (see the Catalina tutorial), then airbrush on a coat of Hobby Color 79 beige acrylic paint (equivalent to Humbrol 121)...
On traite à la laque à cheveux (voir tutoriel Catalina) et on peint à l'aérographe
une couche acrylique de Hobby Color 79 beige (équivalente au 121 Humbrol)...
"Scratching" the paint to achieve the desired effects...
"Grattage" de la peinture pour obtenir les effets désirés...
Next, apply the usual wash of Umber and Sienna to bring out the details. Once dry, lightly highlight the metal parts using Humbrol 56 and 91. The vehicle is finished; all that's left are the markings...
The Setting
A wooden board measuring 40 cm on each side, which will be coated with a white acrylic primer. Pieces of extruded polystyrene will be used to create a terrain feature at the back...
The vehicle gives an idea of the future location...
Le véhicule donne une idée du futur emplacement...
Tile adhesive—which dries more slowly than plaster—will allow you to level out the unevenness in the floor and install the fixtures...
Place the gravel, shrubs, and accessories before the entire arrangement dries...
Pose des graviers, arbustes et accessoires avant séchage de l'ensemble...
Another view...
The accessories are given a first coat of brown-beige...
Les accessoires reçoivent une première couche de marron-beige...
We park the vehicle in its spot to get an idea of the adjustments that need to be made...
On repose le véhicule sur son emplacement pour avoir une idée des nuances à effectuer...
Then we paint the entire set using acrylic paint tubes...
Puis on peint l'ensemble du décor à base de tubes pour tableaux acryliques...
...By making the colors more vivid as you move away from the foreground...
...En accentuant la couleur à mesure que l'on s'éloigne du premier plan...
A view of the shaded area in the distance (the viewing angle is from the opposite side) that shows how the colors work...
Secure the model to the base using fast-setting wood glue. Apply markings and sand the tracks. Dust the tank with paint. Glue on the figures...
Secure the model to the base using fast-setting wood glue. Apply markings and sand the tracks. Dust the tank with weathering powder. Glue the miniatures in place...
Painting the background with Liquitex acrylic paint...
