Virtual Vappa 6th and 7th February 2021

[Etranger]

Is it plastic or resin? Plastic is easy enough to put welds on, resin is a bit trickier but thin 'sausages' of Greenstuff along the weldline work.

[Shahbahraz]

Plastic. I've been using plastic putty to add welds and texture. Messy though.

[Etranger]

Plastic. I've been using plastic putty to add welds and texture. Messy though.

If you dissolve the sprues in plastic cement - eg the Humbrol brush on bottles, then you create a slurry which you can put on with a brush - works for seams and for the rough cast surfaces of eg the mantlet. Slightly less messy but don't breathe in the vapour, unless you're not fond of your frontal lobes (it's like sniffing glue or petrol!).

[Shahbahraz]

I know about that one, but I haven't done it in this case because the Rubicon plastic is actually ABS not EPS. So I worry about the slurry falling off. I'm relatively happy with the Plastic Putty so far.

There are still more grab handles and various bits and pieces to be added, not to mention hessian strips, but I am relatively happy so far.



Noticeably, they used to carry a ton of stuff on the turret sides, packs, helmets etc, so I need to add all that, thinking I might just have to use Milliput. I'm also wondering how to model fir branches.

[Etranger]

That's the problem with 1/56, stowage etc isn't that easy to find. That's a bit surprising, given the proliferation of cottage industries producing such gear in other scales. Presumably some of the warlord or Perry plastic figure sprues have some suitable stuff.

MEK (Methyl-ethyl-ketone) melts ABS plastic nicely but it's also nasty stuff - it can give you liver cancer, amongst other things. Plumbers supply shops carry it for welding plastic drainpipes.

Look at the model railway foliage ranges (eg Woodland Scenics) for suitable material for foliage - there's at least one great model shop local to you that will have something suitable.

EDIT - thinking about it, I found something at the local craft store that would be ideal for individual branches. It looks a lot like this stuff.


It looks like green furry wire!

[Shahbahraz]

Thanks for that. I will have a hunt through the bits box, but I have surprisingly few Perry bits left over And the model railway shop is a great tip.

I know Rubicon do a stowage set, and I have some bits left over, but I think the Milliput might work ok with masking tape straps. There's a particular 'winter' look I'm going for, and I'm wondering if I should have a go at the commander figure as well and try to make it look more like a pixie suit.

[Shahbahraz]

Nice one, I did consider stripping back some lichen into straighter 'branches' and dipping it in dark green static grass..

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

Warlord do "stowage" packs for both British and German tanks in 1/56.

[Shahbahraz]

Haven't been impressed by those. Making my own should give it a more personal touch.

[Paul]

That's the problem with 1/56, stowage etc isn't that easy to find.

Some of this might be of use:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... e&_sacat=0