Building the Airfix 1/76 scale Cromwell Mk.IV to test some colours and weathering effects

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Today at Badgerworks, we build a tank, something we don't do all that often, but both of my kids recently bought model tanks and so we need to brush up on some techniques. First, we're going to paint it pink and then weather it, and after that we're going to add winter camouflage, chip it and weather it again.
And yes, the vehicle commander is a cat...
Music:
Theme - SteamGeezer Shuffle - Agricultural Light & Magic
In-episode - MCMRecords.co.uk
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[@markblignaut3166]

You are an officer, a scholar and a gentleman. Great video and love your sense of humour and commentary. I have this exact kit which I have been dreading to build but boy have you given me a whole lot of inspiration. Please keep them coming

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks, I appreciate it, and thanks for watching.

[@doczoff5655]

Just in case you're planning to enter any competitions I believe the commanders uniform should actually be 'highlighter green' for this theater/period... you know how outraged some judges can be if you don't get the research right!!! Lol. Quirky and fun and very well done... I love it!

[@johnfoggo9800]

Another great build. It is amazing what can be done with a basic kit, patience and some imagination. You've done a great job.

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks, I appreciate it :-)

[@chanchito4401]

Currently tackling this one myself!

[@mrwinebuff76]

Great to see something out of the norm colour wise great job

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks. There has been a surprising amount of pink used on military vehicles and aircraft over the years, although not so much on tanks... :-)

[@johntailing5283]

As ever, simply stunning work, , , Great Job

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks :-)

[@donalexander4113]

Nice work. At first I almost turned this video due to the pink volor but as I watched it I am now tempted to fo one myself. Great build!!

[@SteamGeezerUK]

As Jude Law once said, real men have no reason to fear pink :-) It's actually surprising how often pink was used as camouflage in real life. The SAS used to paint their desert vehicles pink, and there were a number of pink Spitfires used for reconnaissance as the pink was good camouflage at dawn and dusk. Thanks for watching :-)

[@allen921]

I knew you were ex mil! I could hear it in your voice! First clue was in another video where you hummed the 'big top' circus music, dead giveaway, hahaha. I'm was hoping to hear you say "cake and arse party" to confirm my suspicion. Great work as always, cheers from a fellow veteran and keen model maker.

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Glad to have you here, cheers mate :-)

[@wwkdiecastmore5647]

Looked like a fun little tank to build, well done!...Bill

[@SteamGeezerUK]

The wheels were a bit tricky, but apart from that it was painless enough. Thanks for watching :-)

[@clayeldridge75]

excellent work, thanks for sharing

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks for watching :-)

[@tigertanktoo]

The bottom looks pretty clean when you show it on that mirrored display. I must say, that build does make me want to do one for my grand daughters now. They love "Hello Kitty". Thanks for sharing this.

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks for watching. I didn't do the underside because I just wanted to test the colour and weathering. When it comes to the actual builds, we'll do the whole thing. This was just me being lazy :-)

[@tigertanktoo]

I figured as much when you stated it was just a test to see how the weathering goes. Thanks for that.

[@strikeeaglemodels1588]

Nice work mate looks sweet 🍻👍

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks. Armour's not really my thing, but I think it came out OK.

[@aussiefrenchman-hobbytable9960]

thanks for that video, I have a WW2 range rover that needs a desert pink paint camouflage effect, didn't know how to approach it,but now I do thanks from Down Under Australia 👍👍👍

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Great, glad I could help out. I look forward to seeing the finished result.

[@konradalexander7561]

For the chipping i recommend trying the reverse chipping method, where you apply chipping color last, same results but more control over the chips, as you damage only the chip layer not the paint layer

[@SprueFascinationChannel]

It came out great 👍

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks :-)

[@markellison1364]

Very informative, thanks for sharing.

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks for watching :-)

[@NoahSommer]

Even though I am an American, thank you for your service. Great work on the model. Also love the "floor monster" joke.

[@SteamGeezerUK]

You're welcome and thanks for watching :-)

[@handyman683]

Very clever

[@rob9472]

As always fantastic work fella, I can honestly say I would genuinely love to see a collaboration between you and Luke Towan with his dioramas and your models, That would truly be something to behold.

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks, I appreciate it. Luke is an extremely talented builder - I love watching his videos, I've really learned a lot from him. A collaboration might be a bit tricky, and we're literally on opposite sides of the planet, but who knows, maybe one day :-)

[@pandaphil]

That is one filthy tank. Well done.

[@SteamGeezerUK]

I thought I was quite conservative on the dirt :-)

[@brianartillery]

It's a nice kit. I used one to make a 'Centaur' (same body, different powerplant) Dozer with. I like that you are given the deep wading trunking and the Cullin Hedgerow device. I used these on an old 'Armourfast' Cromwell. If you weren't looking forward to the wheels, may I suggest that you give the Airfix 'Churchill VII' kit a swerve - It's got dozens. A few years ago, as a favour, I made six for a friend, and it drove me almost to distraction. I should have made the Hasegawa 'Churchill I/II' or the Esci/Italeri 'Churchill IV' - the running gear is all moulded in one. Highly detailed, but no faffing about with minute suspension units. Were this a German tank, it would have been a 'Pink Panzer'. I'll get me coat...

[@GeorgeLowrey]

Nice job and I love the Ausi humor.....

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks. I'm not Australian though, but they are lovely people :-)

[@GeorgeLowrey]

@@SteamGeezerUK Oops! New Zealand? I'm guessing.....

[@SteamGeezerUK]

@@GeorgeLowrey No, actually I'm from the UK :-)

[@stephanedavid3421]

when the talent meets humor

[@SteamGeezerUK]

We aim to please, as the sniper said to the range master... :-)

[@thomasmcelroy3637]

as i dont do a f v models.all i can say is blinding well done mate

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks :-)

[@mick923]

Love the vids really inspires me to try new things.... one question... are you Al Murray? 😋

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks, I appreciate it. Pretty sure I'm not Al Murray, at least the last time I checked :-)

[@schuur10]

If it were a German tank , you,ve had the Pink Panther!

[@tigertanktoo]

schuur10, I've build a tiger striped tiger 1. It turned out nice. I may have to do that panther thing you talked out.

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Someone else mentioned this - it has given me an idea... ;-)

[@udorechner6846]

Nice build and weathering but you forgot the gunbarrel! This looks now much to clean for the rest of the Tank!

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Well, this was just a test really. I wasn't going for perfect. The entire underside isn't weathered either.

[@user-iu9hk9jg2p]

Hello,I need some help,I've got some acrylic colours and I want to brush paint them,but they are not sticking to the plastic...If somebody can help,it would be much helpful!

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Brush painted acrylics won't stick to plastic very well, as you've discovered. Ideally you need a primer coat to give the paint a more suitable surface to stick to. You can buy primers in rattle cans from most hobby stores. That would be my first suggestion.

[@user-iu9hk9jg2p]

@@SteamGeezerUK Thank you so much!I tried to brush softly with a sandpaper and it I saw it worked and that it sticked very well,just like if I airbrushed it,I also tried the prime suggestion and it also works as ive seen.Thanks for the help,im now able to have a beautiful finish on my model!

[@billgoodwin8262]

Hi, I've watched a lot of your videos building different models and some of your dioramas. They are really neat and done quite well. However, I have several questions and hope you have time to answer them. First, I've seen you use what looks like putty on a stick to hold some assembled components. What is that stuff on the end of the stick? Second, where do you get it? I haven't been able to find a supplier of the Mig putty here in the States so could you provide a link to your supplier please. Thanks for your time. Bill G Linwood Kansas, USA.

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Thanks for watching, Bill. The stuff on the end of the stick is white tack, like Blu Tack but cheaper. I buy it in the Pound Shop over here, so you may find it in the Dollar Store or Walmarts. The Mig putty came from www.modellingtools.co.uk/ I don't know if he still sells it or not, but there are similar products from people like Green Stuff. www.greenstuffworld.com/en/inicio/896-airbrush-masking-putty.html? I hope this helps.

[@statoilbensin2190]

I always brush paint my wheels because I dont have masking stencil like you. Where did you find it?

[@rex8286]

looks like the pink undercoat was a little too powerful, but the detailing itself is amazing

[@SteamGeezerUK]

It's not undercoat. Pink is the main colour coat with weathered winter camouflage over it...

[@markblignaut3166]

I apologise for this being off topic but would you know where I can purchase seatbelts for airfix 1/72 and1/48 aircraft WW2 in particular. Your help will be greatly appreciated, thanking you in advance

[@SteamGeezerUK]

There are various photoetch seatbelt sets in a variety of scales available that I've seen. Some are aircraft specific and some are country specific or era specific. You can also buy buckles and so forth and make your own belts using paper, foil, masking tape etc. Have a look on ebay or Amazon for "photoetch seatbelts".

[@chrissharp5073]

Brilliant. Nice one with some great techniques to catch up on. Dare I suggest you dip your toe further into the pool and do a Pink Panzer?

[@SteamGeezerUK]

I see what you did there... :-) I might do, now you've made me think of it...

[@stephenbridges2791]

Interesting. I am a modeler of some 50 years. I think this is the first time I have seen pink used. Is it to replicate a red oxide primer under the winter scheme? If so, that is a newer approach than I have seen. I am about to do Tamiya's old stand-by Type 97 Chi-Ha tank in 1/35. I am thinking of using Vallejo's parched grass surface primer. Not a fan of anything Vallejo; but, I am wanting to try a new approach.

[@SteamGeezerUK]

I did it only because I wanted to test out weathering pink armour for another project (not built yet), no other reason really. Pink has been used quite extensively as camouflage on both vehicles and aircraft over the years, but I'm not sure it was ever used on a tank.

[@stephenbridges2791]

@@SteamGeezerUK I HAVE seen it before on high-altitude WWII fighters. I think the ones I saw it on were P-38 Lightnings; or maybe Spitfires. Can't remember which. Getting old, I guess. It's good to see new approaches. At this stage of the game, I am always on the lookout for new ways, and new techniques. I have watched several of your videos and I always enjoy them. Keep up the good work!

[@familyhobbies3343]

Could you make video Sherman firefly tank

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Maybe one day. I've way too many other builds to get through first :-)

[@vegasspaceprogram6623]

I'm not into the 1/76 scale. I lick 1/72 scale and I don't see why they have to make there tanks slightly bigger than the other scales. Quite weird

[@SteamGeezerUK]

Yes, I don't get that either. It's like vehicles being 1/35 scale and aircraft being 1/32 scale. Weird.

[@vegasspaceprogram6623]

@@SteamGeezerUK yeah I'm having to look for 1/72 scale tanks and it's harder than you think