With my
growing interest in gaming the Pacific theater, fueled by the long anticipated
release of TooFatLardies Pacific handbook for Chain of Command. It was time to
equip my Japanese army with a troop of three Chi-Ha Kai tanks.
The
1:56/28mm scale plastic model of the Chi-Ha Kai is produced by Warlord Games:
It’s very easy to assemble and comes with enough components to make either the
Chi-Ha or the upgunned Chi-Ha Kai Shinhoto tank.
Here is how I painted the vehicles.
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| Apply
a thin layer of watered down PVA mixed with fine pumice to simulate dirt and
mud on the lower portions of the vehicle (tracks, wheels etc) allow to dry |
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| Coat
the whole model using a spray-can of suitable black primer |
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| Encompass the whole vehicle with two thin coats of Vallejo Model Colour Green
Brown 70.879 and allow to completely dry |
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| The
camouflage will comprise of strong well defined lines which are circular and
curved in nature. Vallejo Model Colour Flat Brown 70.984 will be used to create
the first layer of camouflage. |
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| Vallejo
Model Colour Refractive Green 70.890 is used to create the second layer of
camouflage. |
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On
completion of this stage the vehicle should appear to have been coated with 3
different colours, each equally encompassing 1/3 of the vehicle. |
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Apply a
wash of Citadel Agrax Earthshade to the body of the vehicle and a wash of
Citadel Nuln Oil to the tracks and wheels. |
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| For
the next step, you’ll need a thin dry brush and a fine tipped brush |
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Load the
dry brush with Vallejo Model Colour Green Brown 70.879 wiping the brush on a
paper towel to remove most of the paint. In tight very light circular motion,
start applying the paint in the middle of the Green Brown Camouflage pattern
and moving outwards just short of the already applied basecoat that has been
washed over with Agrax Earthshade. |
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Next use a
mix of 2:1 ratio mix of Vallejo Green Brown with Vallejo Ivory 70.918 applying
the same technique as described above, starting in the middle and just
short of the previously highlight. Finally use
a mix of 1:1 ration of Vallejo Green Brown with Vallejo Ivory 70.918 and use
the thin tipped brush to apply a very small light spot in the middle of the
camouflage.
Remember
each highlight edge needs to fade into and blend with the previous applied
highlight. |
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Follow the above step for both Vallejo Model Colour Flat Brown and Refractive Green. |
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| Use
Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey 70.862 to paint the tracks, rubber of wheels,
tools and machine guns |
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Once dry
apply generous wash of Vallejo Model Colour Flat Earth 70.983 mixed with water
over the tracks, wheels and lower portions of the vehicle. |
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Using a dry
brush technique to highlight portions of the wheels, track and lower portions of the
vehicle by lightly dry brushing, high spots with a Vallejo Model Colour Green
Brown . |
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Tool
handles can by painted with Vallejo Model Colour Brown Beige 70.875 and
highlighted by mixing Vallejo Model Colour Basic Skintone 70.875.
Citadel
leadbelcher paint can be used to highlight some portions of the tracks, the
machine gun and corners of the tools. |
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Use Vallejo
Model Colour Black Grey 70.862 to apply tiny specs on the panel simulating
chipped paint.
Apply
the supplied decals coat it with a suitable clear protective vanish and its
ready for the gaming table |
Cheers John
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