1/35 Suomi couple ! BMP-1 & MAZ-537

You're right, I found plenty of pics just googling "finland forest"

Thanks.

Cheers,

Richard

Hi,

The BMP-1 is ready for the paint shop. Finnish BMP-1 details seen on BMP-1 of the eighties were added, thanks for the pics in the gallery of the BMP-1. The side fenders stand with blu-tack to be removable for painting of the rollers and wheels







I think I may paint it to enter the show my club organizes on the 13th and 14th of june near Paris. I will share the paint job with you if you don't mind (of course).

Next plastic part of the build will be on the MAZ-537G. Stay tuned !

Cheers,

Richard

Hei,

A little series to remember a step not to be forgotten before you rush your kits to the paintshop… and this is quite funny with the amphibious BMP-1 :



Washing the kit in a soapy solution ensures the paint to adhere well and really grip on the kit.

Once it had dried it went to the paint shop.
I painted a black layer as a primer and first camo tone. Though unusual, this will ease the weathering effects of the next greeny camo tones :





I used a new paint brand to me for this one, the Humbrol Acrylics. Well as you can notice, the result is quite good but this paint is really tricky !

Many thinning tests were necessary before I reached that result. The paint is very thick and diluting 60% paint / 40 % thinner seems to be the right mix.

Well next step will be the darkest green color being airbrushed.

Best regards,

Richard

Looking good so far. Keep up the good work :-)

That looks very good! Nice detailing etc. :)

Hello my friends,

Thank you for your nice words, much appreciated ;-)

So, now I gotta come to the green camo tones, and must admit I am not convinced by the crude 102 and 116 by Humbrol (neither am I by the new acryl paint of the brand…). I saw many different recipes for the green tones of finland camo… Finally I decided to make my own tests and blends from the tamiya range.

I got both the light and dark greens finally meeting my requirements, thinking I came across a close match.
The light green will be a 50% X8 lemon yellow and 50% XF5 dark green, while the dark green itself will be … XF5

Here are the tests :

See the original Sisu as a test standard ?!?

Now the tones are found, lets get that masking tape …


Next round very soon. Stay tuned !

Cheers,

Richard

Hi,

The light green (50% XF5 50% X8) was airbrushed tonight and I must admit I feel it turns out great. As you are for sure better specialists than I as regards the national camo, do not hesitate to let me know what you think about it…






Next step will be the dark green tone.

Regards,

Richard

Hei ystäväni,

I taped the model once again for the dark green layer


Then it was ready for the paintshop wher I airbrushed the dark green layer (Tamiya XF-5) this morning :


I was impatient to remove the masking tape. I finally did this in the beginning of the afternoon, tadaaaaaaaa !!!!!




That finnish camo is really very cool ! I love it. I hope you will find that my attempt reached reality at some point ? Well I am quite pleased with the result and can't wait to paint the MAZ !!!

This is where I am with the BMP-1 at the moment.

Thi week I received resin replacement wheels from Armory (ukrainian brand) for the 1/35 Trumpeter Maz-537.

The detail level is incredible. The resin casting is neat, very delicate and sharp. Accuracy is there to say the least. Have a look :



Comparison between Trumpeter and Armory wheels :




Stunning, really.

It is a must ! and at a quite reasonable price.

More to come, stay tuned.

Nähdään pian. Cheers,

Richard

I have no idea if that camo is realistic or not, but I have to say, it looks really good!