Small Scale Military Headquarters

I ordered a Solido Willys Last week and it arrived today. I love this thing. I only paid $14.00 for it. It has alot or detail, and is exactly the right size. I don't know if a driver will fit in the drivers seat without modification though as the firewall is pretty close up to the seat and there are pedals on the floor that look like they may break if I forced a driver in there. I have to play with it later and see if I can carefully get one in there. If not, I will probably mod a figure to get it to fit (shorten the legs or something. It does need weathering though, but I am practically an expert at that now so Im sure it wil turn out ok. I have the 21'st bob jeep and this is the exact right size. I left the cover up as you dont see that very often and I think it looks good being different. I noticed that people are bidding like $50.00 and up for the green 21st jeep and I just couldn't see paying that. as I only had the bob jeep I wanted a nice OD green one and this one fit the bill nicely. (got my bob jeep for $7.00 in TRU Clearance last year btw)

I bought one awhile back too for a great price and wished I had bought more. They are really good. I dont know squat about weathering, so please post or send some pics when you finish!

Weathering military vehicles is pretty easy. Techniqes and tips used in plastic modeling work just as well as on diecast. First a blackwash is applied to the entire vehicle except glass area. A black wash is a solution of a little black paint thinned with water or paint thinner, depending on the type paint.(water based or enamel). Practice on hidden area till you get the desired effect. After the black wash dries the darker color will have settled into and around detail making it pop out. After a day or so of letting the paint dry, you are ready to dry brush. Pick a lighter color such as an off white or light earth color and get a little on your brush. Start dragging the bruxh across some scrape paper or rag to remove most of the paint. When the paint is almost gone, drag the brush across the model making sure ti hit the raised areas. The total effect should b to lighten the raised area while the previous black wash darkens the lower areas and gives a 3D effect. Remember the dirtier the vehicle the more realistic it looks. Check any model sites for other tips

dfoos wrote:I ordered a Solido Willys Last week and it arrived today. I love this thing. I only paid $14.00 for it. It has alot or detail, and is exactly the right size. I don't know if a driver will fit in the drivers seat without modification though as the firewall is pretty close up to the seat and there are pedals on the floor that look like they may break if I forced a driver in there. I have to play with it later and see if I can carefully get one in there. If not, I will probably mod a figure to get it to fit (shorten the legs or something. It does need weathering though, but I am practically an expert at that now so Im sure it wil turn out ok. I have the 21'st bob jeep and this is the exact right size. I left the cover up as you dont see that very often and I think it looks good being different. I noticed that people are bidding like $50.00 and up for the green 21st jeep and I just couldn't see paying that. as I only had the bob jeep I wanted a nice OD green one and this one fit the bill nicely. (got my bob jeep for $7.00 in TRU Clearance last year btw)

Where did you get the jeep? Online store? Ebay? I would love one at that price.

I got it on Ebay. There were plenty going for a lot more. Just be patient and you will come across a good deal.

Thanks for the tips Grockwood. Also, think I will break down and finally buy an airbrush setup. Any recommendations from folks as to the best for the money?

Thanks!,

Andy

I originally had a badger set that cost about $50.00 it was a single action bottom feeding type and it wouldn't get smaller than about a quarter inch (paint stream). I found an aztec starter set for I think $29.00 at a hobby store that works way better. It is like its more expensive older brothers but it is plastic instead of metal. it still uses the same tips and such. I'll have to dig it out and post the model number, but I like it alot and for the price it is definately the best starter set I have seen. the stream is adjustable to pin tip thin all the way to about a couple of inches thick. I use this thing to paint camo stripes on 15mm Flames of War tanks. Its also top feeding so you waste alot less paint. I'll try to post the model number sometime today.

Thanks dfoos! Model number will be great, hopefully still available out there.

Ok, My airbrush is an Aztek 1000s.

I didn't see it listed on the
Testors / Aztek web site.

I don't know if it's still being made but I see it listed on some sites for sale.
Here is a link for one under $20.00. I paid $29.99 for mine at a local Hobby store. I wish I could have gotten it for this price.

It is a single action, I was thinking it was a double action, but it acts like its almost double action because the on off isnt just a switch or button, its a finger lever that as you press down further it sprays more so there is quite a bit of control of the velocity of the stream. It is also internal mix so it's much better than most of the beginner sets out there with external mix. THis is also why it will go to pinpoint thin streams. It is just like some of Aztek's more expensive models but it is plastic instead of metal. I like it alot. You will need a can of propellant but you can get those anywhere and make sure you use proper thinner and Acrylic paint. I tried using water based paint thinned with water and it didnt work too well. It dries up in the brush too fast and blocks further paint from coming out, so you're flushing the thing all the time. With the proper paint and thinner, this brush works great.

http://www.hobbyoutlets.com/testors/9321.htm



Good Luck,


Dennis

Thanks Dennis!

Well, I got a Driver to fit. I used a 21st tank commander because the drivers out right now have big bulky BOB coats on them and I wanted a more termperate look for the non winter camo jeep. I replaced the tanker's head with the head for the BOB driver and it looks pretty good. the tanker is wearing a light jacket instead of the big coat. I had to remove the legs from the knees down. Even so it's still a tight fit. Added some junk to the back and front seats. I will probably add some stoage hanging off it after I weather it. I thought I'd post pics of it now because I have a lot of projects going on and it may be quite a while before I get around to weathering this one.



Oh yeah, he still has his 2nd tank div. emblems, I'll either paint those out or cover them with some other emblem when I weather the jeep.