Got another tank that’s still in the pigsty phase

Got a tank in the end phase

10) Bring out details with a dose of weathering. I used an oil pin wash for this build. You can get these oil paints at any art supply shop. Odorless Mineral Spirits are a big help, and are usually safe to use on acrylic finishes. But always be sure to test things!

9) Go on and add photoetch railings to 1/700 ships while you're at it

8) Embrace your model build and add extra details like ship rigging. A good tool set is key to working in 1/700

7) Paint up the various bits and bobs with a variety of colors. Working in 1/700 scale can be a challenge, so go slow and take frequent breaks!

6) Lay on the base colors in light coats.

See how the white-basing comes through?

And enjoy the satisfaction of pulling off the waterline masking tape!

5) Try to give extra depth to your builds with white basing. All you need to do is build up white paint towards the centers of large sections.

Notice how I taped off the waterline to keep it black. This is a nice time-saving trick!

4) That's much better! Here's what the hull should look like :-)

3) Correct mistakes at the earliest before proceeding! I used sanding SPONGES on the hull's compound-curved surface. Sanding STICKS would create flat surfaces.

So yea...sanding sponges are a great addition to the toolbox.

2) Make a uniform canvas with a primer. This is especially helpful when a kit has multi-media like photoetch or resin parts.

The primer also helps to identify construction errors. Here you can see shoddy craftsmanship at the waterline that needs correcting!

A lot goes into making a model!

Here is a behind the scenes look at my US Navy Oliver Hazard Perry-class USS Ingraham (FFG-56) build in 1/700.

1) Start with primary assembly and stick tiny parts to something for easier handling