1/35 AFV Club M5A1 Stuart

Gallery Article by Mike Scullion on Sept 12 2012

 

I have submitted a couple of aircraft models to ARC Air in the past but have recently developed an interest in armour models. I think the appeal is the opportunity for relatively heavy weathering and the diorama possibilities.

This is the AFV Club kit of the M5A1 Stuart in Canadian Markings. It depicts the South Alberta Regiment, 29th Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, 4th Armoured Division in north west Europe. They used both the Stuart and Sherman tank. The decals for the tank and the regimental uniform markings are from Peddinghaus, and offer a number of Canadian vehicle subjects in addition to the Stuart.

 

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The kit is up to the usual standard of AFV, with nicely detailed and fitting parts and goes together with relative ease. It was built pretty well straight out of the box.  I go back and forth between water and oil based paints on my armour models, applied with an Iwata and/or Aztec airbrush, but, at some point, they get a coat of Future before weathering with diluted artist tube oils. I find that the application of tiny dots of random colour, (red, blue, burnt umber, yellow ochre, white, yellow, etc) blended in the right direction with a
thinner dampened brush provides a variety of subtle hues on the standard olive drab or bronze-green finish. I try to use some of the techniques of Mig Jimenez but "have many a mile to go" in that regard. My "flat finisher" of choice is airbrushed Testor's Dullcote Lacquer.

The base is just a slab of plywood with laminate edging. Ground work is a mixture of Pollyfilla and coffee grounds (I like the texture and colour) and the water is Woodland Scenics Realistic Water. Easy to use..pretty good results. I used dollar store tempera type paint on both the groundwork and the water. 

I hope you enjoy the results. 

Mike Scullion

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Photos and text © by Mike Scullion