Death on the Danube: Hungarian T-38 and 1ZM

Two more Hungarian AFVs for this weekend's early war tournament World at War, Blitzkrieg Miniatures' CKD vz. LT-38 (more colloquially known as the Panzer 38(t)) light tank and Warlord Games' Lancia 1ZM armored car. I tried some new techniques and changes to my old techniques on both these models and they are, I believe, the best I've done to date.

I will say that I am somewhat disappointed in the quality of the Blitzkrieg T-38, especially when compared to the M13 and M11 I have from them. A host of issues plagued this model from being stellar - there were air bubble holes throughout (being most prominent on the driver's visor and on nearly all the rivets on the engine deck), a lot of resin blobs behind the muffler, some missing detail along the inner right side tracks, missing MG barrels, and no distinction between the steel rims and rubber wheels. Unfortunately, time restraints prevented me from contacting them but hopefully this was a rare mistake. I add new MG barrels, new towing hooks, a tow chain, and some stowage to the rear engine deck.

I painted this in Testors Acryl Panzer Schwarz Grau overall, with some Testors Acryl Rust and GW Boltgun metal on worn parts. I did something a little different this time and did a light drybrush of lightened PSG, focusing on using vertical strokes to emphasize wear and streaking from rain and sun. Stowage is VMC English Uniform, Pavement, Territorial Biege, and Biege. Decals are Mad Bob and Italeri. I also changed up my weathering technique and sealed with a Flat spray, which provided better control and adhesion for the oil pin dot weathering I did. I also did some additional detail oil washing around rivets and in crevices. Final weather was with dry pigments.

The Warlord 1ZM is a fantastic model. It went together smoothly and easily. The only downside is the lack of right side gunner's door (added with plasticard), door handles and steps (again which I added with copper wire). I also added some plasticard strip between the obstruction rails and body for added strength.

The nicest part of the 1ZM is it could equally be used in the Spanish Civil War, early war Italians, and early war Hungarians!

I painted this in Testors Acryl Green Drab overall, with some Pavement highlighted with Granite Grey on the MGs. I also used Pavement on the wheels, but did not highlight it and instead did a heavy wash of P3 Armor Wash to mimic aged rubber. I did something a little different this time and did a light drybrush of lightened GD, focusing on using vertical strokes to emphasize wear and streaking from rain and sun. The distinctive turret striping was done by masking and painting with pure White, Flamenco Red, and Holly Green. Decals are GW. I also changed up my weathering technique and sealed with a Flat spray, which provided better control and adhesion for the oil pin dot weathering I did. I also did some additional detail oil washing around rivets and in crevices. Final weather was with dry pigments.