1:20 Chinese Type 98 Main Battle Tank

Gerry · 26-03-2008

Good morning all around!

I just finished painting my newly assembled Trumpeter 1:20 Chinese Type 98 Main Battle Tank. The model is big (in league with my 1:16 M26 Pershing and 1:16 T-34/76)and I painted the camouflage last night according to the instruction sheet that came with it.

I wanted to model a dusty environment on this tank since most of the photos I downloaded from You tube were in scenarios in the dry and dusty desert or so I've read.

I would welcome any suggestions on how to weather this tank in such an environment. Here are some photos.

**Bluewavestudios** · 26-03-2008

Hi Gerry,

Firstly, very nice work on the Tank, that's a very fine looking model there. That beer in the pics is certainly well deserved !!

As for the dirtying up bit, everyone has their own favourite techniques for this so I am sure there are a few more posts to come yet on this thread.

As you want to do sand dust, why not use the real thing and brush it on..?? All sand will leave traces of fine dust if sieved off correctly & It will stick well to Matt paint. It might even be possible to airbrush this on but that is something I have never tried so I am sure others will put me right here if I am wrong.

As for my tank, I let it sit on a shelf in a suitable place for a few months and let the dust gather naturally on it, looks great !! A very fine airbourne spray of matt varnish was all that was needed to lock the dust down without making it shiny or soaking the dust too much.

Regards........Mark.

**GEEDUBBYA** · 26-03-2008

Howdy Gerry,

Awesome work! the model looks reealy good. Mark's idea of letting it sit in one place then a light coating of sealant will surely work....I am constantly dusting model aircraft it seems lol.
Have ya thought of taking any photos of your tank in the yard? I only ask because i am partial to pictures of aircraft models taken outside in a more natural looking surrounding. If you decide to do this be sure and get the camera down to groubd level so as that the angle is one you might naturally see the tank from, i think you will be suprised at how much realism the surrounding will make on the appearance of the model.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that the model looks really good.

Have a good day,

Greg

Gerry · 26-03-2008

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your suggestions. Much appreciated. I would prefer to airbrush or drybrush whatever will look good and achieve the effect I want. I really just want to know the mixtures of colors that would make it look natural. I wanted to try buff but looking back at the photos I've downloaded over the net, I noticed that the dust were on the yellowish or reddish side. I really dont know. Well natural dust is excellent but I hate to wait a long time for it to accumulate in the open.

I had some booze last night and decided to paint it after 4 bottles of light beer.

Best regards MARK. Many thanks.

Gerry

Gerry · 26-03-2008

Hi there Greg,

Really nice to hear from you again GREG.. never tiring of giving valuable advice to aspiring modellers like yours truly. Thats a very good suggestion. Im gonna bring my model outdoors and take some photos in natural sunlight and post them here again oh and yes, ill remember to lay my camera low near the ground. Im excited. Thanks a lot.

All the best..

Gerry

**Bluewavestudios** · 26-03-2008

Hi Gerry,

If you have photo's of the real thing to refer to, then go for sand of similar colour and get the dust from that, should help you get some realism on your model, the pics look fine after a few well deserved beers too !!

Regards.......Mark

**Bunkerbarge** · 26-03-2008

Gerry, get yourself a copy of the latest Tamiya Model Magazine International. There is nearly always an article on some sort of armour and the weathering techniques are staggering to see.

Use of washes, dry brushing, paint chip techniques, rust and paint fading ideas all come together to make a model that looks like it came from the battlefield.

They are superb publications and well worth every penny.

subzero · 26-03-2008

Nice work with the tank, an unusual subject and nicely done, its a change to see a different tank subject. I will await your efforts on weathering, will need to do a bit on my Leopard when Ive finished the mods.

Sub.

tak5haka · 1 Week Ago

Nice tank! Any progress on the weathering?

I'm really interested in more info about this, as I currently do a lot of modelling in 1/20 (Sci-Fi) and a tank kit in that scale is a very rare thing.

Does the tank come with any interior or other detailing parts at all?

Great work so far!