“A novice has a go!”
Kit ref: 03185
Feature Article by Geoff Coughlin
Thanks to Revell for supplying our review sample: Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model stores. For details visit www.revell.de/en
Introduction
Well I guess it had to happen didn’t it? Finally I’ve made some time to have a go at a piece of armour after threatening to do so pretty much since we started SMN! Sorry it’s taken so long, but, well you know how it is…
Let’s get the excuses out of the way first for why this one may just not be up to my usual standard – firstly, I am an aircraft modeller and have only ever built one armour model before, a Japanese modern ‘Type’ from the Tamiya range in 1:35, many, many years ago when I contributed to Tamiya Model Mag. Marcus N, the TMMI editor was good enough to give it scant coverage at the time but in all truth, that experience felt like so much pressure when you see so many fantastic armour models on the Net and in the armour modelling press.
I don’t know what it is, but armour modelling seems to have so many different layers, and levels to the whole project – seeming many more than I use as an aircraft modeller. From the build right through the painting and especially the weathering, it seems to me, someone who’s very unfamiliar with building armour, that a satisfactory, pleasing end result seems daunting and almost unattainable.
On, refection, maybe I shouldn’t worry too much about all that, but it’s hard to set it aside and stay true to my strong belief that the only person who needs to be happy with the end result is me, the modeller who built it – anything else is a bonus!
My starting point
Well, I have always loved the look of the Bradley, whatever version or sub-type – not too sure why that is, it just ‘looks right’ to me for a modern AFV. Ages ago I had bought a second-hand Tamiya Bradley kit in 1:35 but more recently, back in 2011 we did receive the very neatly moulded M2 A2 Bradley from Revell in 1:72, so that is my choice here.
Choosing to model this in 1:72 probably wasn’t the best or easiest option but that’s where I started and so I began to make a plan and make some mental notes that included:
- Small scale – so, watch the weathering, this needs to be subtle and less ‘in-your-face‘ because I’ve found that true when building aircraft models
- Reference – I wasn’t about to buy anything new at this stage; let’s see how it goes and go from there, so onto the Net and see what real M2 A2 Bradley AFV’s look like from the Gulf War, back in 1991. This is the scheme depicted on one of the machines offered in the Revell kit
- How far to go? Definitely no plans to buy any extras, I want to see if I can build one of these things pretty much from the box, maybe some limited scratched stowage as I don’t have anything in my aircraft spares box ☹
- Build and paint or paint as I go? Well there’s a dilemma straight away. I’ve seen several of the guys who build armour for SMN seem to build and then paint. What I want to avoid is any unnecessary painting so that’s the way I’ll go – build and then paint
- Paints? Choose and assemble the paints to use. Probably acrylic paints as I plan to use spirit-based weathering washes and products and these should work well together
- Weathering products – plenty to choose from here, too many perhaps as just about everyone seems to be producing them! Some better than others, so we’ll see when the time comes but I like the look of the AMMO of Mig Jimenez weathering washes.