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Matilda III/IV

This Matilda 35300 model from Tamiya is a hight quality kit, very different from the old 35024 (with many incorrect details and out of scale). The parts are excellent, well molded, have a perfect fit, and this all makes for an easy and quick assembly. So, I just needed to make a few improvements in the kit, using partially the Voyager Model (35300) detail set, 2 Pounder and Besa metal barrels from Lion Mark.

Paintwork

I love the caunter scheme, but I decided to build my Matilda with a flat "Camouflage Pattern Number 2", to get away from the current Matildas with CS camo normally used by modelers today (because they are more attractive, indeed).

I truly wanted to do something different from CS on the camouflage for this vehicle and I began by spraying the model with a coat of Humbrol HU30 matt dark green as a base coat for the following paint. Once dry I started airbrush light stone 61 from AK Interactive set, code AK 4030, on the surface with a little weathering effect too.

Weathering

There is two kinds of scratches, those that go right through to show the steel surface, and those that reveal just the first layer of paint or primer. To make the second effect I used "absolut chipping" from MIG products, with excellent results in my humble opinion, that reveal the HU30 color. I gave it different nuances with subtle washes with Humbrol HU225 (matt middle stone) and HU147 (matt light gray), and the model begins to get a new life, a new look.

The paint was allowed to dry for a couple of days before I began giving the kit the proper weathering treatment. I gave it different nuances with subtle washes with MIG Neutral Wash, AK 075 NATO and Humbrol 103.

My next step was to add all tools, side skirts, exhaust pipe, the auxiliary fuel tank and others.

The next job was to apply a powdered pigment in some places (Vallejo desert dust). In fact these pigments are really useful for achieving many interesting finishes depending on if they are used dry or wet, mixed with water or thinner. Then, more washes for the oil drips on both sides are painted with NATO AK with and Mig Dark Wash. The periscope glasses were painted with X-9 smoke from Tamiya.

Finally I added the antenna and cable, two red flags, two little decals and a transparent glass spotlight on the commander's cupola to finish this project.

 So, the Matilda really looks as though it's been through some desert warfare.