the tbt's started life as the kit part I chopped off the ugly block around it then built the stands out of some spare photo etch bits I had laying around. I also added the cables and bases to them. The lenses are from the eduard set the sunshades are small bits of stretched sprue and the handles are thin brass wire bent around what's left of the kit part. The rear tbt got its frame stand and wiring as well as some spare parts to represent the comms gear that seems to be in all the pics. The paint work it all started off as a dark grey primer base, it also ends up being the color for the decking and roof. Then I masked and sprayed the whole thing in tamiya insignia white, its a light coat letting the dark primer through in places to add depth. The whole thing then got a dark blue/grey oil wash. once that set up I added a filter of yellow ocre, white, black and a burnt sienna. once that was blended I gave the rivit and other small details a pin wash of black. Next I faded it to the final color with a light grey and whit paint scrub. this same scrub is also used on the decking to give that sun faded look. Then I added stains and scuffs to the deck with a burnt umber oils. The chipping is done with a fine brush and the model masters metalizer gunmetal. This stuff is supposed to be airbrushed on but I brush it on and I relly like the affect. I focus on areas of heavy traffic first and edges where the paint would be worn easily. Then I add the small chips the the large areas. After that I pick out the spots for the large chips. I try to use as few of the big ones as posible, a little goes a long way. The rust tones are burnt and raw sienna placed with a fine brush and then blended into streaks and stains with a large flat brush I try and accentuate high wear areas and the larger paint chips as well as areas that water spray hits or would run down the plating. lastly the whole thing is blended with a little bit of off white to even out the finish and give it some uniformity and add one more level of depth to the finish.
I took some more pics today out in the sun it just needs the final touches. you can see all the pics I have here
http://img413.imageshack.us/g/dsc01411e.jpg/here are just a few
![](http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/2924/dsc01550n.jpg)
![](http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/7700/dsc01551l.jpg)
![](http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/8361/dsc01552v.jpg)
![](http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9613/dsc01559.jpg)