I don’t usually prefer building 1/35 scale models. The main reason is that I simply can’t find enough time to dedicate to a single model. With the limited free time I have, I much prefer building 1/72 scale kits, which I can finish more quickly. However, I decided to break this rule and build the E-10 model that my wife gave me as a birthday present. The build actually started off quite well, but once again, the final result didn’t fully satisfy me.
This vehicle was actually a prototype that never entered mass production, and the Germans planned to equip it with an air suspension system. Because of this, the design drawings show the tracks in two different positions. I chose to build the model in the position that looks a bit like a modified Honda.
The assembly stage went smoothly, just like most Trumpeter kits. There were no issues at all. All the details were provided as separate parts, which is definitely a positive aspect of this kit. The mantlet also featured a very nice cast texture. The box even included some high-quality metal parts, although I chose not to use most of them.
After completing the assembly, I primed the vehicle in gray using Tamiya 87042 Surface Primer Spray L Gray. Many modelers prefer not to use primer, but I like it because it reveals mistakes before painting. Since the vehicle has a very boxy shape, there weren’t many assembly errors to begin with. Once the primer dried, I moved on to painting.
The build instructions showed this tank in the classic German three-color camouflage scheme. Camouflage is one of the hardest techniques for me, and this tank simply couldn’t be painted in a single color. For the camouflage, I decided to start with the yellow base color. For this, I used Vallejo Model Air 71025 Dunkelgelb RAL 7028.
For the green camouflage color, I chose Vallejo Model Color 70968 Flat Green. To create modulation, I added a small amount of Vallejo Model Color 70951 White to the green and lightly sprayed it over some of the previously painted areas.
I wanted the brown areas to have a slightly purplish tone, so I decided to use Vallejo Model Air 71402 UK BSC-49 Light Purple Brown. After painting the brown areas, I mixed in some Vallejo Model Air 71027 Light Brown to lighten the color and tried to modulate the brown sections of the camouflage with this mixture.
Once the camouflage was finished, I painted the barrel in anthracite to add some visual interest, using Vallejo Model Air 71052 Anthracite Grey. For the tracks, I chose Vallejo Model Air 71080 Rust. I used the same color to paint the machine gun shield and the exhausts.
As always, I painted the wooden parts of the tools on the tank with Vallejo Model Color 70917 Beige. For the metallic parts, I painted them with Vallejo Model Air 71052 Anthracite Grey and then dry-brushed with Vallejo Model Air 71062 Aluminium. I also dry-brushed the tracks with the same aluminum color.
Since I didn’t use any decals on this vehicle, I applied a satin varnish directly after finishing the painting stage. For this, I used Vallejo 70522 Acrylic Resin Satin Varnish. Gloss varnish actually makes later stages easier, but once I apply a gloss coat, I can never fully knock down the shine again. That’s why I prefer using satin varnish.
Before moving on to oil paints, the camouflage already helped break up the monotony, but the colors still felt a bit too dark. For this reason, I applied white, yellow, and blue filters using Winsor & Newton oil paints. After that, I placed white and yellow dots across the model and blended them with the help of thinner. My goal was to lighten the overall tone of the vehicle slightly.
Once all the oil paint work had completely dried, I applied a matte varnish using Vallejo 26518 Acrylic Matt Varnish. Matte varnish protects all the previous layers and also provides a slightly rough surface, which is ideal for weathering. After the matte coat, the colors on the model become more defined and visually pleasing. That’s why using matte varnish is important.
Since these vehicles were never produced or put into service, the level of weathering is entirely up to the modeler. I generally don’t prefer heavy weathering, so I decided to keep it light and rely mainly on pigments. That said, I did heavily rust the machine gun shields, which created a bit of a contrast.
I applied a wash to the flat surfaces of the tank and the tracks by mixing AK Interactive AK4062 Light Dust Deposite with thinner. For areas where soot would accumulate, such as the exhaust and barrel, I used Humbrol AV0014 Weathering Powder Smoke to create a black soot effect. I didn’t add any streaking effects to the vehicle.
To create wear on the areas prone to abrasion, I dabbed AK Interactive AK711 Chipping Color onto the surfaces using a sponge. To enhance the metallic appearance, I rubbed the edges with the tip of a graphite pencil. After that, I applied a graphite art pencil over the surfaces to diversify and naturalize the metallic effect. With this final step, the model was completed and placed in the display cabinet.
