Okay, so I finally finished the first of the 31 armor kits I built earlier this year while the weather was bad and couldn't paint (My build room is exposed to temp/humidity issues).
This build was pretty much OOB, but I had to make some alterations due to incomplete info on Tamiya's part. I chose to go with some late model features included in the kit (G2 version) but it was not indicated that the pioneer tools (among other small changes) were supposed to be relocated to the rear of the vehicle so I had to break off everything, relocate it, and repair the damage left. Since the tow cables supplied were now too short to fit the new layout, I made one out of wire and the cut-off ends of the originals. I also used leftover screen from a Tiger kit to make vent covers. I decided to go with a scheme I saw in an online pic as it seemed to differ from the usual run of paint jobs. I painted it initially with Krylon red primer, as it was pretty close to the factory primer to suit my eyes, and laid the Dunkelgelb over that and outlined it in white. Took a lot of touching up as my AB skill is still novice level and I was experimenting with acrylics in an attempt to wean myself off enamels. Decided I like Tamiya better than Vallejo for AB use.
Anyway, I started by making it look factory fresh, then I washed it down, used a sponge to dab it with chipping, rusted up the exhausts and applied some soot to the outlets, and lightly dusted down the entire vehicle. The vinyl tracks were washed, dusted with rust and worn with a silver pencil, then glued in place to simulate sag. The lower suspension was then slathered in dark gray pigment to simulate an old mud coat and all was sealed in a matte coat.
Early shot showing gear in wrong location:
And completed:
He111 should be finished by tomorrow.