Tamiya Chi-Ha

Inserted a 3D printed piece to replace the louvers before putting in the PE. Didn't want to trash the kit piece just in case. This is basically just a square box so easy to print. Would have thinned the thickness just a touch and made the piece slightly smaller (didn't have proper measuring tools at the moment, do now) to make the fit easier. It is quite snug in there. 

Original piece. 

Result after installing the PE 

Original track sections in 10 piece units. 80% of the printed pieces don't need to be drilled out but I would suggest it anyway.  

Lesson learned here. Should have broken off the tracks before curing. Would have saved many headaches. There are a couple of misformed pieces on each set of 10 which are missing the underside tooth or it is at least different shaped. It is actually a relatively cool effect. Taking them off before curing would minimize some of the breakage that happens with the crispier cured tracks. I printed 240, needed 200 and ended up with 5 extra tracks which will likely be mounted on the tank as stowage. 

The big box of tank parts (and a couple of Ki-61 seat backs).
Link to the file. It is about $6 so well worth it! You can print as many times as you want. There is an option to print single tracks or 10 at a time.
cults3d.com/en/3d-mo..-type-97-chi-ha-tank 

Phase 1 of painting, Mr Surfacer 1500 Black 

Phase 1 of painting, Mr Surfacer 1500 Black 

Phase 1 of painting, Mr Surfacer 1500 Black 

Phase 1 of painting, Mr Surfacer 1500 Black 

Phase 1 of painting, Mr Surfacer 1500 Black 

Phase 1 of painting, Mr Surfacer 1500 Black 

Undercoat color in "parched grass" Karekusa Iro #334. Suggested color charts used plain Tamiya Khaki for this color. I added a bit of their yellow green to lighten it up a bit. 

First bit of Rust using LifeColor's lightest rust color from their rust and dust set. 

Undercoat color in "parched grass" Karekusa Iro #334. Suggested color charts used plain Tamiya Khaki for this color. I added a bit of their yellow green to lighten it up a bit. 

Undercoat color in "parched grass" Karekusa Iro #334. Suggested color charts used plain Tamiya Khaki for this color. I added a bit of their yellow green to lighten it up a bit. Yellow lines also now on to paint over. Used AK watercolor pencils for this. Will paint the color after I add some semi-gloss and chipping fluid. 

Next bit of Rust using LifeColor's second lightest rust color from their rust and dust set. Both thinned and painted on and then speckled. 

Next bit of Rust using LifeColor's second lightest rust color from their rust and dust set. Both thinned and painted on and then speckled. 

Next bit of Rust using LifeColor's Third lightest rust color from their rust and dust set. Both thinned and painted on and then speckled. 

Final coat of LifeColor painted (thinned) and speckled. 

Added AK Rust as a speckled color and then used AK Watercolor pencil for the "metal" colors of the track. 

Added AK Rust as a speckled color and then used AK Watercolor pencil for the "metal" colors of the track. Also used black rubber for the underside to show rubber left on the track. 

Added AK Rust as a speckled color and then used AK Watercolor pencil for the "metal" colors of the track. Also used black rubber for the underside to show rubber left on the track. 

Final product now ready for install. Still need to add dust and some mud to things once they are on the tank. 

Turret after chipping gloss, chipping fluid, yellow demarcation line and silly putty to mask that line. 

Hull after chipping gloss, chipping fluid, yellow demarcation line and silly putty to mask that line. 

Upper hull after chipping gloss, chipping fluid, yellow demarcation line and silly putty to mask that line. 

Hull after chipping gloss, chipping fluid, yellow demarcation line and silly putty to mask that line. 

Silly putty mostly on demarking the various colors, tape to remind me not to paint in those areas. 

Silly putty mostly on demarking the various colors, tape to remind me not to paint in those areas. 

Silly putty mostly on demarking the various colors, tape to remind me not to paint in those areas. 

Silly putty mostly on demarking the various colors, tape to remind me not to paint in those areas. 

So the chipping fluid was a mistake. Something did not work correctly with it and some of the paint sort of sunk into the chipping fluid. It covers too much of the model to really do much about it so just going to continue and finish. It may end up being heavily chipped or with a lot of washes on it to cover the issues.  

Lots of work left to do, will start chipping and weathering soon. Also need to clean up some overspray etc. It will be... fun? 

Semi-Gloss coated, pin washed, put tracks on. Still much to do. 

Semi-Gloss coated, pin washed, put tracks on. Still much to do. 

Overhead of the completed tank. Not super happy with everything particularly the chipping but learned a whole lot about doint it right.
 

Started the exhausts with a bit of white underneath to lighten the effect in spots. 

Started the exhausts with a bit of white underneath to lighten the effect in spots. 

First coat of rust (life color). 

Second coat of rust (life color) 

Third coat of rust. 

Zoomed out. 

Final product.