Tamiya 1/48 Japanese Navy Komatsu G40 Bulldozer

[Ian]

My first build since my teenage years. This kit caught my eye and I started this evening.
After spending the last few days preparing my workspace, it was great to finally sit down and use my new setup!

There was a reason why Tamiya was my favorite when I previously made models, and this little kit is impeccably put together. I wanted to start with something small and simple as my first, to hopefully ease myself back into the mindset of the modeler.

Things went very smoothly, and the advice from folks on this forum on what tools and equipment to acquire paid off handsomely, so I thank you. If only I'd had this earlier in my model making life, so much frustration could have been avoided!

For anyone new to this (like me), my most used tools this evening were an X-Acto knife, Zona tweezers, the wonderful Flex-i-File system (REALLY wish I'd had these as a kid) and the equally marvelous Tamiya Extra Thin Cement.
The magnifying desk light that I borrowed from my Dad also came in incredibly handy and I highly recommend them to folks.

 

[kiwi gav]

Should be a good one for weathering, have fun with it

Gav

 

[rookie]

Nice start, cool subject too

 

[Jose Luis Lopez]

Go for it!!!!

 

[JohnSimmons]

Yeah keeping my eyes peeled on this.

 

[geegad]

seen this in a mag thought i would be fun to build and now i get to see it happen cool...love the work so far

 

[spud]

Very Nice Ian, Nice pictures too

 

[longlance67]

Hi Ian,


nice topic should building into a nice little model

ill be watching this one

 

[Ian]

A little reference for the tracks, from a digger that's at the house next door.

 

[spud]

well that's handy tell them to get a tank for reference for you next build ;D

 

[Ian]

Getting the hang of an airbrush tonight for the priming.

 

[Ferris928]

Very cool!

 

[spud]

looks good to me

 

[BBD468]

Hello Ian,

I like the little tractor kits. They look fun and give a man a little something different to sink his teeth into. Great job on it too man! ;D

Gary

 

[Ian]

Experimenting with painting schemes. Since this is my first build in a very long time it's a lot of playing around to see what works. Tried a little salt weathering on the seat area, and added some 'dirt' to the tracks.

 

[Ian]

More weathering attempts, using rustall, blackwash, dead flat. I guess I'm okay with it…

Tried do do a little chipping around the tracks and back of the tractor unit, but it just kinda looks like red paint to me. I'm
feeling the scale more than I want to.

Played around with a wire brush too on the engine canopy, but that looks kinda weird.

Suggestions welcome!

 

[rookie]

Looks pretty darn good to me... just keep chipping away ( pun intended ) ;D.

Waaaay better than my first attempt at weathering. Nice work

 

[spud]

You could Try this If you aint happy. lay down a rust base Tamiya XF-10 brown, Now add lighter shades of rust tones and pigments and sponge them on, seal that with future, then get some hair spray put down about 2 good coats, then repaint it, once that's dry say a hour after, get some Warm Water and stiff brushes and just wear it down.
if you do it i Would just chip it lightly on the edges and not go Mad with it

First tough i would sand the top of the engine as it looks odd and will show up if you decide to repaint it,

Hope this helps Ian.

 

[Ian]

Thank's Spud, I might give that a shot.

 

[spud]

cool i look forward to seeing it.