1/35 Austin Armoured Car with Vickers-Clyno Mk.IV

[gedmundson]

After ordering the Copper State Models 1/35 Vickers-Clyno Motorcycle with MG sidecar, I decided to couple it with a quick backdrop of the MiniArt Austin Armoured Car and got to work on that in anticipation of the CSM package arrival. This project is proving a lot of work, since the armoured car has a full interior which I decided was too well detailed not to enjoy the building/painting of.

The CSM motorcycle is quite a little gem (as expected) and I'm currently piecing it together. It will have to be partially painted as the construction continues and I am still trying to work out a logical sequence for that. But I'm sharing a few photos as I go just for interest.

Cheers,
Gary

WWCTL99939319-1__01470 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr

DSC_2749c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr

DSC_2757c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr

DSC_2769c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr

[KiwiZac]

The idea of an armoured car as "backdrop" for a motorcycle kit is very amusing to me, but I like the idea a lot! The fine detail on the bike is exquisite.

Gorgeous work so far Gary!

[NigelR]

Very interesting, following closely as one of my next projects is an armoured car with a motorcycle!

[gedmundson]

The idea of an armoured car as "backdrop" for a motorcycle kit is very amusing to me, but I like the idea a lot! The fine detail on the bike is exquisite.

Gorgeous work so far Gary!

Thanks Zac - the MiniArt kit had been kicking around in my stash for a couple of years and this was a good excuse to throw it together!
Cheers,
Gary


Nigel - looking forward to seeing your project with the armoured car & motorcycle. I do think these little bikes need a larger element to balance a small scene. I'm currently trying to discern which figures to add to my bike, since the two released for the Vickers-Clyno are a bit dis-jointed...as one sits with his cup of tea, the driver is actuating the kick-start (??). It might work...but I'm putting together a third figure as an option and will see how it looks with all elements arranged.

One tip I learned from the FB group "Tamiya Model Magazine" was the suggestion of placing the 3D printed elements into hot water before trying to remove the supports. With the brittle nature of the resin, I gave it a try. There are many supports on the two optional MG's in the kit and some very small, delicate handles buried amongst the tightly packed groups. by warming some water on the top of our cooker (very hot but not boiling) I was able to immerse the MG assembly shown below and gently remove the supports with a sharp scalpel blade since the resin went nicely soft like rubber. It worked very well indeed.

I have found a few very small parts of the larger 3D parts broken off and am careful to gather these from the small plastic bags they're contained in, and repair them using tiny amounts of cyano.

Cheers,
Gary

DSC_2771c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr

DSC_2775c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr

DSC_2776c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr

DSC_2777c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr
Although not working on the same bike...this figure could be an optional one for the "starting the bike" figure.

DSC_2764c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr
My colour scheme for the Austin, with some very delicately mounted rear mud guards.

DSC_2765c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr
Some of the fine etched metal parts have to be added after the main colour scheme and painted later.

DSC_2766c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr
The long process of weathering with airbrushed dust, oil paint washes and adding some of the smaller (easily broken off in the handling process) details.

[Richtrad]

I'm always mesmerized by your builds Gary, including your human figures. Getting 2 vehicles for 1 on this thread too!
Warren Q

[gedmundson]

I'm always mesmerized by your builds Gary, including your human figures. Getting 2 vehicles for 1 on this thread too!
Warren Q

Thanks Warren - it looks like I'll be adding the "Starting the Motorcycle" figure to my vignette. The two CSM British bikes are entirely different sizes, and so figure CSM F35080 will really only fit the Vickers-Clyno. So the idea would be "Finish your tea...we have to go!".

I was able to dry-fit most of the components of the Vickers-Clyno together before separating them for the painting process.
Cheers,
Gary

DSC_2779c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr
Vickers-Clyno on the left, and the CSM Triumph Model H. on the right.

DSC_2780c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr
The detail and fit of this jewel of a kit is extraordinary. A very delicate touch is needed for handling & painting.

[NigelR]

Lovely progress here Gary, and so full of helpful tips, thanks for sharing!

I haven't built an AFV for quite a while and I'm mulling over my approach to weathering, so I will be watching closely how you approach it.

[gedmundson]

I haven't built an AFV for quite a while and I'm mulling over my approach to weathering, so I will be watching closely how you approach it.

Thanks Nigel - I have repeated my usual weathering approach on the Austin except I did not paint it black first (the camo and and added detail later prevented that). The pastels I add at the end make handling quite tough for the final stages of construction. The bike combo has been pre-shaded in black, then the dark green arbrushed on. Now it is a case of hand-painting the details...then decals & weathering.

I made a start on the figures, too. Their faces are beautifully detailed with such grim expressions!
Cheers,
Gary

DSC_2781c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr
The figures were positioned to get an idea of how they would fit.

DSC_2791c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr
The delicate components of the bike were airbrushed black, then XF-81 after which the details are being brush painted in.

DSC_2785c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr
I have started to paint the figures faces using Vallejo acrylics.

DSC_2789c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr
I have used oil paints, airbrushed acrylic, and chalk pastel  powders for weathering the Austin.

 

[Richtrad]

That's some unbelievable artistry there Gary.

Warren Q

[NigelR]

Thanks for the thoughts Gary. These are all looking fantastic, the faces have come out really well, especially considering they are 1/35, which is a challenging scale for small details. The Austin looks superb and I like the way you are approaching the Clyno, it seems that assembling the whole thing and black basing is definitely the way to go.

[macsporran]

Good Lord, those faces are so life-like!
Simply stunning.
Sandy

[KiwiZac]

I'm staggered by the fine detail in the motorcycles and by your face paintwork. WOW!

[FokkerFodder]

Lovely work as always! And I?m sure I saw one of those heads blink?. I did the splinter camo version but have another one in the stash which I might look at next year. I hope Miniart keep going with a few more of their ww1 kits - they?re very good, although usually complex with a high part count. Looking forward to seeing the final diorama.
Cheers
Matt

[gedmundson]

Thanks so much Warren, Nigel, Sandy, Zac and Matt!

Work continues on the motorcycle with hand painting the bits of engine and wheels...then a gloss coat...decals...then a dark oil-paint wash, followed by more light dusting with thinned acrylic. I finally took the plunge and cemented together the two main sub-assemblies and have to say that the fit is impeccable. But the assembly and components are so very delicate.

Much more weathering & figure painting to do as our temperatures drop here in the Great White North.
Cheers!

DSC_2830c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr

DSC_2834c_01 by Gary Edmundson, on Flickr

[NigelR]

That's looking really good Gary, very nicely done. These MC kits are amazing and you are really doing this one justice.