QB Well Wagon: Reprise

Way back in March of last year I posted about my efforts regarding a Steam Era Model’s QB well wagon. After a long hiatus, the model was recently finished. Painting and weathering was accomplished using the same method as those outlined for the QR, in the post below.

This model was completely soldered, apart from some minor details that were attached using ethyl cyanoacetate. Overall, this is a lovely kit to construct, and I would highly recommend it to those with some confidence in their soldering skills.

Update: I have updated the photos, after receiving a new camera.
Jules

QR Wagon

I have just completed a Steam Era Model’s QR kit. The first QR wagons were manufactured in 1890, and were used well into the 1980’s. This model represents the three door version, and features inside detailing and an end-mounted handbrake infrastructure.

According to Mark Bau’s site the QR's were relegated to departmental service after a long life as general service open wagons. In departmental service, they often carried sleepers and dirt. The doors were dropped and the sleepers would be manually thrown out of the wagon. They saw occasional service in revenue traffic when wagon supply was scarce.

Tamiya matte acrylic Red Brown (XF 64) was applied as the undercoat, followed by Humbrol matte enamel Red Brown (#100). The Humbrol paint was lightly applied to enable the darker and browner Tamiya undercoat to ‘ghost through’. This resulted in a deeper and much more interesting finish. Next, a coat of Pascoe Long Life floor polish was applied, which provided an even, glossy surface for decals to adhere to. Weathering was achieved by using a heavily thinned 50:50 mix of Citadel’s ‘Chaos Black’ and ‘Scorched Earth’ acrylics paints. The extremely fine pigment in the Citadel paints has really brought out much of the fine detail.

Update: I have updated the photos, after receiving a new camera.

Jules

AFV Acrylic Techniques by Mig Jimenez

Why is it that military modellers so proudly strive for prototypical appearance, while such goals are derided as ‘rivet counting’ or ‘elitist’ amongst model train enthusiasts? Discuss in 500 words or less...

I recently borrowed a friend’s DVD called ‘AFV Acrylic Techniques’ by Mig Jimenez. Mig is considered to be one of the best painting and weathering practitioners within the military modeller’s fraternity. For those of you not familiar with his work, please visit his blog site migjimenez.blogspot.com. It will take you around 10 seconds to realise that this guy has some serious talent.

The DVD follows the entire process of painting and weathering a WW2 tank, and includes tutorials that cover:

• filters
• washes
• fading
• mud
• rust
• chips
• metal effects
• dust

As the DVD name suggests, Mig uses only acrylic paints. However, I believe that many of the techniques can be used with enamel paints.

If you are striving for a more accurate, prototypical representation when painting and weathering your models, you could do worse than get your hands on a copy of this DVD.

Jules