Tamiya Char B1 bis

[Andrew Hall]

.......

[sam_dwyer]

AAAHHHH White balance!

Looking great Andrew,

Youve wasted no time in getting started on this.. I think most people have pushed everything aside on their model desks and started the Char

Ill be 'right click, save as' your shots for ref on my flamm I think ;)

Sam

[renarts]

THis is quite the detailed kit. You are doing a great job. I noticed that your home made punches slightly dome the plastic dots, making them perfect as bolt heads. Nice touch. I look forward to your progress.
regards,
Mike

[James Tainton]

Nice work man- I've had this kit for a few weeks now but I have a lot on my plate as it is. I am getting lazy,(smart?) in my old age and I kinda wait now for others to go to the pointy bit of building new kits... helps me when I go to build mine. The fact that all the necessary additions/fixes get ironed out before I commit glue to plastic, that is. I too have had an interest in this vehicle since I got into tank models as I like the historical progression and development angle of the vehicles. ;)

[Larry Bates]

Very nice Andrew,

I need to add this kit to my repertoire soon. The camo is just too hard to ignore.

;)

Larry

[Panzergrenadier]

Sweet work so far. ;)

Man, that's a lot of wheels! :o :lol:


Siim

[Sheeds]

Nice one Andrew.

I'll wager you a Coke this kit isn't finished by Euro 07. :thumb:

Banger work thus far though mate!

Willy.

[Plushy]

Sweet work Andrew and thanks for the Dome bolt tools too i made myself a set today after i liberated some sewing needles from the wife and i must say they work Great ! :)

Also you dont happen by chance have plans or diagrams of the interior layout or any photos ? I am building a partial interior for mine and have only managed to fiond a few photos on the Chars Francais site . I am still hunting for photos of the gunners side of the main hull and the dividing wall between the engine compartment and the crew compartment .

I cant wait too see your next few steps on this build !! :)

Cheers Plushy .

[Andrew Hall]

.......

[mnickolson]

Nice Andrew. I have also got to get me one of these to add to the growing stack to things to build.

Mike

[Andrew Hall]

......

[Panzergrenadier]

Nice skirt. ;) :lol:

Siim

[panamadan]

Simuliar to the modern Challenger II. ;) Dan

[Sticky]

Super job so far. I was thinking about using lead foil for the skirts, but the brass looks nice.

[Larry Bates]

Nice work on the skirt Andrew!

Larry

[Andrew Hall]

.......

[Andrew Hall]

.......

[Plushy]

Looks Great So far Andrew keep the pics coming !!

Plushy

[Larry Bates]

Looking good Andrew,

France and Italy today, too bad I'm going into the office :angry:

Larry

[Finnmodeler]

Andrew,
this seems to get it done by itself :lol: Have you any pics of camo? I love this tank and will definately do it to have it besides old Matchbox version.

Niko

[Andrew Hall]

.......

[Panzergrenadier]

Andrew,


:o .......Super work there. :thumb:
Coming along nicely.
Grrr you are making me want to buy one. :lol:

Siim

[Andrew Hall]

.......

[sam_dwyer]

Coming along fantastically Andrew.

Lots of progress, considering the heatwave you guys are suffering through!

Looking forward to seeing more,

Sam

[Larry Bates]

Looking good Andrew,

Nice site too. Keep it coming. Nice job on the turret.

Larry

[Sheeds]

Love ya work! :thumb:

Willy.

[MartinD]

I'd keep the trackguards. They look really good to me, as does the rest of the tank! :thumb: And no, those bolts don't look too big to me.

Cheers, MartinD

[Larry Bates]

Hi Andrew,

The kit is looking great. I saw this link over on ML, with some nice pics of the Char B1 in case you haven't seen it.

http://www.military-kits.com/sections.php?...rticle&artid=92 (http://www.military-kits.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=92)

Cheers.

Larry

[Uruk-Hai]

Neat trick with the needles, Andrew!

I didnt understand if you bought with the blund end or if you ground them down. However needles for brodiery comes blunt and cheap. I actually use my set for sculpting but here seems to be another use. :)

Cheers

[Panzergrenadier]

You have done a good job. :thumb:
Keep the pictures coming.

Siim

[Sticky]

Very nice indeed Andrew. I have been giving the antenna boot some thought and I came up with this.

1. Dupe the part in an RTV mold.
2. Pull resin part from the mold early and deform its shape
3. let set then clean it up.

I used this technique to add weight buldge to my M16 tires.

[Panzergrenadier]

You can also heat the piece just enough to deforme it a bit with some blunt object.


Simm

[Andrew Hall]

........

[Finnmodeler]

Anderw,
that looks so cool :)

[Finnmodeler]

Originally posted by Finnmodeler@Aug 30 2006, 05:36 PM
Anderw,
that looks so cool :)
Sorry,
wasn't very constructive comment. BTW. Mr. Surfacer, I assume it is, is it sprayed or brushed? I'm too intimidated to add similar on my own as it's too difficult...

Niko

[Finnmodeler]

And still one more comment, there are location holes to be seen in otherwise excellent trackguards.

Niko

[Andrew Hall]

.......

[Sheeds]

Looking Grrrrrrrrrate Mate! :thumb:

Due to this rapid progress, it looks like I'll be buying you that Coke at Folkstone next year. ;)

Willy.

[Finnmodeler]

Originally posted by Andrew Hall@Aug 30 2006, 06:34 PM
Hi Niko,

Covering up those locating holes comes under my "fix trackguards to hull" comment The trackguards aren't fixed in place yet. I'll make up the sqaure section supports and no-one will ever know the trackguards are held in place by lengths of wire

That grey stuff is Halfords Plastic Primer. It's really a car paint for priming plastic bumpers etc. Halfords being one of the nationwide automotive stores in the UK. It's very tough, dries quickly and is ideal as a model primer. It's good for creating a slight casting effect if you spray a bit into the lid and quickly stipple it on with an old paint brush. The only bad thing is it stinks the house out

Cheers _ Andrew

Hi Andrew,
I should have read more carefully your text. Anyway, great that it is covered. Waiting to see more details added..
Halford again. It comes up every now and then, a bit like Future floor wax! BTW I bought a bottle of Future in my visit to NY in 1998, that was the main reason for the trip :lol:
Maybe I should visit your island just to get some Halford but not Rob...
I have a spray can of Mr. Surfacer, would it work same way?

Niko

[lquah]

Andrew

Glad to see you're back. Those fenders look great! :thumb: Proves that you don't need PE parts to make a model look good.

Lawrence

[mnickolson]

Andrew,

All I can say is Man what a nice job :)

Mike

[MikkoH]

Hi Andrew!

Glad to see you back at business! Your char is coming out very nicely. Especially like the homemade fenders! :) Keep it coming.

Cheers Mikko

[Stuke Sowle]

Even though I have followed your work for years now Andrew you continue to surprise me with your eye for detail and then applying it to the kit you have at hand.

Now I am not sure if I will ever be able to build this kit knowing all the "enhacements" that I would need to make to it! :)

[Andrew Hall]

.......

[James Tainton]

Nice work Andrew- will refer to this thread when and if I should ever get to mine.:thumb:

[Larry Bates]

Hi Andrew,

Good to see you back at work on the Char! Now, if I can muster up the energy to get back on my Panther! :)

L

[Andrew Hall]

.......

[Stuke Sowle]

Fantastic work mate!! Those little touches really set this one apart from others that I have seen.

How are you going to tackle the paint scheme - masking tape, silly putty??

[lquah]

Andrew

Fantastic build. I am really enjoying following your progress. :thumb:

Lawrence

[Andrew Hall]

.......

[Finnmodeler]

Andrew,
greta job there you've done. Those fenders look so nice!

Niko

[Panzergrenadier]

Sehr gut!:thumb: :thumb:

Siim

[Larry Bates]

Andrew.....

Ah, yes, Carpaccio masking, my favorite.:D

Larry

[Sticky]

Looks really good, I think the Carpaccio method may have some merrit! Bring on the paint.

[india11]

An exceptional build....
Keep it up.

Ray.

[Sheeds]

Luv ya work AH. :thumb:

Glad to see you're still going with this, while your mind is on Pamzer IV's! ;)

Sheeds.

[Andrew Hall]

.......

[Panzergrenadier]

Looks very good.:thumb:

It also poped into my mind that the black lines might not cover the soft camo edge completely but since, as you said, it will be dirty, it doesen't really matter that much.:rolleyes:

Keep this baby rolling.;)

Siim

[Larry Bates]

Looks great Andrew! Cunning plans eh? I can't wait.

Larry

[india11]

Excellent Andrew....great job.
Ray.

[lquah]

Andrew

It's looking good :thumb:

Lawrence

[Flak]

Excellent...:thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

[Sheeds]

I wish I could remember the line Blackadder says to Baldrick about a cunning plan and a fox with a degree in cunning from Cambridge university etc etc....oh well.

Anyhow, Ace job mate. :thumb:

Sheeds.

[James Tainton]

Nice work-sorry to here about the cold, never pleasant to be under the weather.

[Andrew Hall]

.........

[James Tainton]

Looks great- ever think to print out a set of decals yourself. Aiplane guys do it all the time.

[Flak]

Amazing...can't wait the next update...

[lquah]

Andrew

Fantastic freehand painting :thumb:

Not sure if have seen these sites:
http://www.military-kits.com/sections.php?op=printpage&artid=92

http://www.chars-francais.net/archives/renault_b1.htm

Lawrence

[pwranta193]

You never cease to amaze... that coat of arms is a fair ambitious piece. Nice work on the "Aquitaine" block letters, as well - I remember you suggesting "gouasch" pigment on the Panther builds - is this the same stuff? (now I can't remember why that was prefered)- or what made it different from other pigments)

Your base painting looks great as well - nice lines on the sides of the hull.

Does it help or hurt to have a good belt of Single Malt before embarking on this type of pain?

Paul

[Stuke Sowle]

I thought I read somewhere that a glass of booze steadys the hand? Maybe that was wishful thinking.

Nice work Andrew! Fantastic work actually.

And didn't you use to do planes....oh was that a secret? My bad!

[RC_Hill]

That's totally awesome Andrew!

~RC

[Finnmodeler]

Andrew,
you have really outdone yourself with this one! Painting looks just right, not much more I can say. Well, of course ask about colors you have used :)

Niko

[tamigawa]

Very nice build. I love the extras and that emblem is smack on!:thumb:

[Larry Bates]

Nice painting job Andrew, rather ambitious one also.

Larry

[lucatolo]

Excellent, Andrew:thumb:

Really envy your free hand paint skills!!!


Luca

[Sheeds]

That's just plain nuts mate. Nice job. :)

Sheeds.

[Andrew Hall]

.......

[Andrew Hall]

......
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/Andrewausfa/cHARBA42.jpg

[sam_dwyer]

Gday Andrew,

Mate you nailed the weathering! I think you got it spot on, they were a pretty putrid machine.

Looks to me like its done, whats next?

Sam

[Sheeds]

Farking nice work AH! :thumb:

The hand painted coat of arms has me shaking my head. Having tried free hand painting, I have much Respek for your skillz.

Sheeds.

[Sticky]

Looks Supa dupa! Nice hand paint work.

[Andrew Hall]

.........

[Sheeds]

Still looks great up close.

The other children laughed at me when I told them I used a No. 4 brush to paint the "Remer" sign on my Panther......but after your advice I'd say I wasnt insane. ;)

Sheeds.

[sam_dwyer]

The othe children were right to laugh at you, Ralph ;)

[india11]

Just plain awsome!....if I had tried to paint an emblem like that...the kit would have had its first flying lesson!...
And the wethering is exceptional and very inspirational.

Outstanding Char.
Regards,
Ray.

[tamigawa]

Absolutly astounding work!:thumb: :thumb: Very inspiring! I still have yet to get my hands on one of these kits:(

[lquah]

Andrew

Absolutely beautiful work there. I love the weathering and the one of a kind emblem! Simply marvelous :thumb: :thumb: :)

I reckon if you took a photo of it in B&W, you will be hard pressed to tell it wasn't from a real thing. On the brushes, have you tried those chinese calligraphy brushes. They come in a variety of sizes and have very fine tips. The good thing about them is that they have a fat body which is designed to act as a reservoir for paint/ink.

Lawrence

[Sticky]

Hate to do this to you, and in no way does it lessen you great paint job, but I just found this on the Archer site:

http://www.archertransfers.com/AR35220.html

[landm]

To borrow a term from our Aussie friends Andrew, that is looking ace! I think your hand painted emblem looks incredible, and if I may say so, better than the Archer version. Yeah the Archer one is nice but yours with it's "imperfections" adds a bit of realism. I'd be willing to bet that not all (if any) of the real emblems were perfect. If I didn't know better I would think the close-up pic was of the real deal.

Cheers,
Mike

[Larry Bates]

Andrew,

Looks friggin awesome dude, (well that s what the surfers would say.)

Nice freehand painting man. :thumb: And I love the weathering.

Larry

[Pvt Mutt]

I've got to agree,the hand paint job
is really trick.

I'll never reach that level of skill.

<L.D.>