Type 1 SPG Ho-Ni I - 3 Feb 2019 - Completed

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

Awesome works.

[JED]

Very nice

[RLFoster]

Thanks for all the kind comments!!!

Over the past two days I've essentially completed all of the "painting" on the model. The final few steps were to paint details like the gun sight and breech as well as add the basic rust tones to the exhaust pipes and mufflers. When combined with adding rust tones to the chipped paint and very, very subtle streaking from a few chips, all of the painting is pretty much done (I may have missed something that needs touching up).

Therefore, I felt it was appropriate to give a quick all-around view of where we are at the moment with more than the usual single photo. So, after giving the entire model a layer of dullcoat, I set up the photo area and pulled out the camera. Here are three shots under much better lighting showing the standard top-down view as well as two quartering shots so you can see all sides of the build at the moment:







Additionally, I wanted to provide a few close images to show off some of the subtle details and areas where additional work will still be forthcoming. Here are three more shots. The first focuses in on the gun assembly and show off some of the interior details. It's in this area where I might have missed some stuff and may need to paint in a few more items. The second photo is of the rear hull area. Everything is done back here (I think), but it will be receiving quite a bit of additional weathering. Finally, there's a shot of the front of the hull. I'm still debating whether to fashion a clear lens and install it in the light or add an empty socket and add details to make it look like the light has been shot out or broken.







At this point, many modelers might call their build done and press on to final assembly, but not me. I have outlined 8 weathering steps for this model beginning with heavy mud accumulation and these steps will probably take a week or more to accomplish. Once the actual weathering is done, I still need to paint and weather the tracks, go through final assembly, and add about 4 or 5 final details before I'll start to call this build complete. Until then, I hope you've enjoyed this extended update.

Until next time...

[JED]

This is looking really good,great details

[RLFoster]

Thank you, Jed...much appreciated!

[JCON]

Love the journey we are on with you on this build!!!

[RLFoster]

Thank you, Joe! As long as we don't get lost!

[BUCKY]

Very nice work, RL! Carry on!

[RLFoster]

Thanks, Bucky!

[Dukemaddog]

Brilliant work Robert! That is looking suitably used and yet well-maintained right now. I can't wait to see it with the additional weathering effects on it.

[RLFoster]

Thank you, Mark!

Taking the day off from the bench...needed a break.

[ogrejohn]

Looking cool Robert! 

[Buddho]

Wow, wow, wow, Robert.

[RLFoster]

Thank you both!

[Dukemaddog]

Everyone needs a break now and then. No worries; your work is always worth the wait. I've been taking an enforced break from my workbench myself. I hope to resolve that soon.

[JEFF]

Pretty sharp, RL.

[RLFoster]

Thank you, Jeff.

[RLFoster]

So, finally I have some photos to show you a bit of the weathering that I've begun to add to the build. It still has a long way to go.

First I gave the entire model a very subtle wash of both light dust and dark dust. This was intended to simple mottle the paint and give all the surfaces a used, dirty appearance. It also included some very subtle streaking to begin laying out the areas for further rain marks down the road. Here's a shot of the model that really doesn't seem to show much, but trust me, there were changes:



Next, I applied two coats of additional dust and rain marks, getting slightly more intense each time. I used the locations of the larger streaks to determine where to apply the largest concentrations of dust on the horizontal surfaces. While there may be a little more to apply, after two days I called it good for now and decided to move on. Here are two shots of this step, first showing the same side view as the previous shot and the second from the front, showing how both the streaks and the dust build-up on the fenders work together:





Today, my only significant progress - in addition to a couple little additions to the dust effects - was to mix up some "mud" and apply this to the upper surfaces of the running gear and side hull components. I tried to keep it relatively light and focused to the areas where mud and dirt would fall from the tracks during operation. Keeping in mind that this mixture will compact a bit and shrink during drying, here is a shot of the mud on one side just after I finished applying it today:



Now I need to let the mud dry overnight before I can start the rest of the weathering to the lower hull.

Anyway, that's today's update -- I hope you enjoyed it.

Until next time...

[BUCKY]

Very nice work, Robert!!

[JCON]

Looking well used!!! Excellent Robert!!!