1/35 Ukrainian Merkava IV (Academy)

[NARSES2]

That looks rather nice (Up for the understatement of the year in next years Whiffies  )

[Old Wombat]

Thank you very much, gentlemen!  

Happy coincidence - the Ukrainian BDU digi-cam decals arrived today!  

[Old Wombat]

Camo'ed the TC's tanker coveralls from the bottom of the body armour down - because it won't be seen & is, therefore, the perfect practice area.

I'm glad I paid attention to the tips that Ramba (over on BtS) gave out about putting camo decals on figures because, even though I did, I still had some small(ish) issues.

Still, I've learned a bit - mostly relating to how stiff & fragile the Breeze Decals are until they've soaked up a LOT of Micro Sol.

Overall, though, still quite happy with this first effort. Hopefully the important upper parts will go a bit better.

[Wardukw]

Camo'ed the TC's tanker coveralls from the bottom of the body armour down - because it won't be seen & is, therefore, the perfect practice area.

I'm glad I paid attention to the tips that Ramba (over on BtS) gave out about putting camo decals on figures because, even though I did, I still had some small(ish) issues.

Still, I've learned a bit - mostly relating to how stiff & fragile the Breeze Decals are until they've soaked up a LOT of Micro Sol.

Overall, though, still quite happy with this first effort. Hopefully the important upper parts will go a bit better.

One thing is certain..camo decals for figures do not like me at all..no matter what I do including youtube vids my luck with this is zero ...so I'll just have to do it by hand 
Also it's been said on this site before ..where's the proof ?? 😁😈

[Old Wombat]

Camo decals are a slow process, in that I have to do one patch then let it settle & dry before doing the next - & it can take a few hours for all the Micro Sol to dry.

Having been looking at the tank, itself, I think the weathering is done as is, any more would be too much.

So, next will be "mudding" &, maybe, the base/dio, but that will need me to be able to sit down at it for several hours uninterrupted, which may not happen for a little while.

In the meantime, onwards & upwards with the TC!

[Wardukw]

I'm starting to get impatient with this Guy but slowly getting that under control   

[Old Wombat]

I'm starting to get impatient with this Guy but slowly getting that under control   

Patience, young padawan!

At the moment all I can say for how it's going is "I'm glad I'm using a digi-cam, where most of my faults are camouflaged by the camouflage!"

This is, obviously, primarily a side-effect of my inexperience using the things but may, also, be something to do with this brand of decal; the body armour decals may indicate if this is so, as they're a different brand (but are also Ukrainian),

Time will tell!

[Wardukw]

I'm starting to get impatient with this Guy but slowly getting that under control   

Patience, young padawan!

At the moment all I can say for how it's going is "I'm glad I'm using a digi-cam, where most of my faults are camouflaged by the camouflage!"

This is, obviously, primarily a side-effect of my inexperience using the things but may, also, be something to do with this brand of decal; the body armour decals may indicate if this is so, as they're a different brand (but are also Ukrainian),

Time will tell!

I had 3 sheets of uniform camo decals from Trumpeter..brand new..totally fell to bits and stiff are printing paper..utterly useless..Mocro set and sol wouldn't do a thing with em ..since then I haven't really bothered .

[Old Wombat]

A photo for the impatient people (person) ;


Click For Bigger View (CFBV)

[Wardukw]

Hahaha 😀 😆 no name mentioned 🤣
He looks awesome mate...really looks the bis 👍👍

Very nice work with decals 😊

[Old Wombat]

No names were used to protect the guilty.



Well, it turns out that's the easier sheet to deal with (Breeze Decals).

The Print Scale decals are even thinner, & more fragile, & take longer to come off the backing, although it appears that if I use Humbrol DecalFix to start with, then use the Microscale products it seems to hold together a little better.

With a larger pattern I think it would be much more difficult to hide the errors that I've made but the biggest difference comes from the printers & how they've printed the decals, & (I assume) with what type of ink.

Still, even with the stuff-ups, looked at from 12" to 8" away the decals still look good; it's only at 4" with a magnifier that you can see most of the repairs, & even some of those you need to know where they are & really look for them.

[zenrat]

...looked at from 12" to 8" away the decals still look good; it's only at 4" with a magnifier that you can see most of the repairs, & even some of those you need to know where they are & really look for them.

Stop looking so close is something I have to frequently remind myself of.  Especially with PSR.

[NARSES2]

Little chap looks good 

...looked at from 12" to 8" away the decals still look good; it's only at 4" with a magnifier that you can see most of the repairs, & even some of those you need to know where they are & really look for them.

Stop looking so close is something I have to frequently remind myself of.  Especially with PSR.

I take my glasses off 

[Wardukw]

It's that classic the more you look the more you find sort of deals and in most cases..it's a crappy deal so  I now work with this system...if I  can see it but you can't see it then it's not there 

[Old Wombat]

My theory is: If I can minimise the number of faults I can see at 4" under magnification, the less likely anyone is to see them at 12".


Anyway, more photo's of the TC;


CFBV

He'll be getting a thin gloss coat tonight &, probably, some oil washes.

Then tomorrow I'll hit him with a matt coat & some dry brushing, followed by fitting the final pieces (mic & binoculars) & another matt coat.

After that he should be done!

Then it's back to the main event!