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Nashorn

The model is from Dragon. I didn't change very much as my modelling is more for relaxation than serious. I only replaced the mudguards as the mould was very coarse, the fit was perfect all the way around. Before painting, I added a little texture to the surface of hull and armour and some ricochets that maybe a little too distinct, but I like that.

After a base coat of Mr. Surfacer 1200, I airbrushed an unusual pre-shading. Which I call a cow's pre-shading, because it looks like a cow's patches. This is followed by a light thin base coat of colour using Tamiya Dark Yellow (don't cover the "cow's patches"). Finally pre-shading was used as a marker for the camouflage colour. During the airbrushing I added a little of Tamiya's Buff and Khaki, to get a lighter base colour. My choice for the camouflage was Gunze Olivegrun with a little bit of white, to lighten the tone. .

Next step was weathering -- to make the washes and filters I used oil paints for artists, mixed with White Spirit. After that I made chips and scratches, then repeat the wash, but very gently only. The interior then gets an intensive wash. Finally I added a copper wire around the armour plates. The wire was painted with metalizer.

The model looked OK, but I needed something more. On photographs from WW2 I observed logs in unusual places. I decided, do something like that using pieces of wood, I drilled little holes and thru these holes I pushed the copper wire and finally attached these behind the drive wheel. Unfortunately there was still something missing for me. I decided adding a fascine was the thing I needed. I used ordinary wood, selected by scale and shape. This was followed by a masking net made from bandage. In the next step I used pigments applied dry and wet to represent earth and mud on the big tank destroyer. At the end I added suspension oil leaks, I used Humbrol gloss varnish to get this effect.

I still need needed more. Quick decision -- leaves around the tank. But I didn't want all the detail covered up. I used leaves from an ABER photo etched set to get a natural effect, I had to bend every single leaf and twig. After that I soldered everything together. Basecoat was Gunze Metal Primer. Next a base coat of green using acrylic paints on a palette and mixing different shades of green I painted leaves using my imagination (Painting the leaves wasn't easy).

As you can see the model can be made even while relaxing. I made this during my holidays, in my summer house in North-East Poland between the fantastic forests and lakes of Mazury. One of the most beautiful regions in Poland. I highly recommended this location for a holiday for anyone.