Painting/Weathering Hasegawa's Hitachi Zaxis 135 US Part 1

Part 1 of the Hitachi Zaxis 135US Excavator paint and weathering video, in which I take Hasegawa's excellent 1/35 kit from primer through to intial weathering, covering some chipping, rust and dirt/mud
I did say I wasn't going to do any more multi-part videos but I just couldn't shorten this enough without losing content, but this is much shorter than previous - I hope you don't feel like I'm skipping too much
As always guys the comments are open - please feel free to just drop me a note any time, also don't forget to like my facebook page and feel free to message me I'm always willing to help
Enjoy the video and see you for part 2
thanks
Jon - SMM

[@michkabailey222]

I'm happy with the multi-part videos. As they give me more detail, I'm not gonna complain. Love this channel.

[@ScaleModelMedic]

I'm trying to strike a balance at the minute and rediscover that "sweet spot" where I can still put across solid content that helps modellers but doesn't run on too long. I could do this with a video on a single technique but not so much on a full paint. I will get there I'm sure

[@basfinnis]

Looks great. Really good realistic effects

[@SteveJonesScaleModellingSite]

Luv seeing construction equipment weathered up. Stunning work.

[@CRAIGCHRIST83]

I absolutely love where this model is going! I can't wait to see the next part

[@norman-king]

Fantastic weathering techniques, thanks for sharing 👍

[@samuelvasquez8170]

That was a great video build.

[@Black73CatScaleModels]

I've been looking forward to this. Love how it's coming together. Bucket and blade are outstanding! 😍

[@ScaleModelMedic]

Thanks Graeme! Hope you've had a good Christmas and New year mate

[@TheRyatt]

Awesome work. Looking forward to the next installment

[@ScaleModelMedic]

I will try not to take too long with it!!

[@Emtbtoday]

The rust on the bucket and blades very nice! Try micro scales Gloss for bringing the clear parts up clear after 1 hour! The stuff is fantastic for it!

[@chrisjhart]

These videos are really relaxing to watch. You've done a stellar job so far.

[@JensenTaylor2804]

Sublime !!!!!!! Your presentation and demonstration are faultless. I have been waiting for this for a while :D

[@ScaleModelMedic]

Hi Ivan thank you mate

[@LTModels]

Great stuff Jon!! I would’ve pulled all my hair off applying those decals!!..... if I had any hair that is! Great stuff like always.

[@ScaleModelMedic]

Thank you, they were a living hell and I wouldn't do it again. It's a great kit, the windows and their decals are the one bad aspect. The tracks aren't great either but we shall see in part 2. I'm sure there are other modellers who are familiar with so much clear plastic who had no issues with them but that certainly isn't me!!

[@owenauer3406]

I have the kit, I plan to use the window decals to as a pattern to cut a mask out of masking tape. I was putting off building the model but you have motivated me, thanks.

[@ScaleModelMedic]

The window decals were definitely the worst part of the build, if you can mask and paint then do it!!

[@richardcraig5608]

great worn metal effects Jon! good stuff

[@ScaleModelMedic]

Thanks Richard much appreciated!

[@JohnBack]

Wonderful build! Thanks for sharing...your process is a wonderful contrast to hairspray technique and I’d completely forgotten you could buff Mr Metal!

[@ScaleModelMedic]

Thanks, I've moved away from hairspray technique almost completely these days, I just don't feel you have the right level of control over your chipping

[@JohnBack]

@@ScaleModelMedic I would agree but I still have so much FUN with hairspray :) non acrylic paints can give you smaller chips but there is a fine line between having fun and endlessly scratching away!!

[@ScaleModelMedic]

@@JohnBack I can't deny it's fun to watch the effect take shape, and nowadays more people are using thin lacquers etc and still getting chips. For me personally I went off it when I'd finished the Gaz 66 on my channel, the semi gloss and gloss nature of Mr hobby aqueous meant it resisted chipping quite a lot. From then on I can't say I've used it on a single military model but I do wish I'd used it on the king tiger camo. I wouldn't write it off as a technique at the end of the day it's in widespread use by very good modellers worldwide so it's not for me to slate the actual technique but on my bench it's on the way out as I rely on manual methods that offer better control. To each their own!

[@jonfoisy1237]

Looks great so far! Like you, I too primarily model armor. And my day job is operating excavators. Your build looks pretty spot on.

[@ScaleModelMedic]

Great to hear from someone with hands on experience of this equipment. When I was commuting further last year I had a bit of time to study excavators while sat in the roadworks on the m6 😝

[@jonfoisy1237]

@@ScaleModelMedic If you think about a bit... Take away the bullets, bombs and shrapnel. Weathering a piece of equipment like this is no different from weathering a tank. Construction equipment shows a lot more grease stains though. At either ends of the hydraulics, bucket mount pins and turntable. Very heavily stained with grease. I look forward to seeing how you get on.

[@steveankin2682]

Good job Jon. Happy New Year.

[@ScaleModelMedic]

Happy new year Steve glad you enjoyed it

[@davocueto3520]

Great video! Ammo paint can be tricky, I still can't fully understand them, obviously more opaque colors always perform different than the transparent ones, but with this paints I'm never confident about what's going to happen. I need to try them more.

[@tpaul802]

I actually found myself cringing and tensing up when you were cutting the carrier film off the window. Love your vids. Thanks

[@ScaleModelMedic]

I actually managed to pull it off and the excess film peeled away quite nicely but it was a bit too luxurious a shot to put in, trying to keep the length down. I managed to not mark the windows noticeably which was a miracle!

[@LoPigs-q8e]

good work, lot of tips&tricks, very useful thank you. for glasses and masking, why not maskol or similar? it works, even better if done with toothpick or rubber brush. best & stay safe, Alessandro

[@DavidRLentz-b7i]

Oh, I would love to find a kit of this in1:25th-scale! Also, a grader and a steam roller.

[@konamanstudio2447]

🍻🍺

[@robk5865]

Can someone please tell me what "FS" means on paint jars?

[@ScaleModelMedic]

It means federal standard and was a way of specifying colour on US vehicles, I think it was to take away any ambiguity on paint choice so it wouldn't vary greatly between different facilities, though I await someone more knowledgeable to put me right

[@robk5865]

@@ScaleModelMedic ok got it. Thank you for the reply

[@subseeker]

You mean 1:35 or 1/35?

[@ScaleModelMedic]

Box lists as 1:35 James

[@subseeker]

@@ScaleModelMedic very nice job, can't wait for the second part 👍