Tally Ho Adventurer

Over the summer I watched Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny I was reminded of this photograph I took of the Talisman Adventurer metal model in a Egyptian setting.

The background was a printed backdrop. I used some sand flock to represent the sand. The wooden cases were resin models from Alternative Armies.

The Adventurer was a metal model that was release for the Talisman Timescape expansion.

Painting the Rolls Royce Armoured Car

The Rolls-Royce armoured car was a British armoured car developed in 1914 and used in World War I and in the early part of World War II. At the outbreak of World War II, 76 vehicles were in service. They were used in operations in the Western Desert, in Iraq, and in Syria. By the end of 1941, they were withdrawn from the frontline service as modern armoured car designs became available.

This mode, which I bought about twenty five years ago now, was originally designed and manufactured by the Honourable Lead Boiler Suit Company (HLBSCo) they were then small and relatively new. 

A version of the model is still available today and the other HLBSCo models are available from Empress Miniatures. The newer version consists of more resin and less white metal.

I bought the model for Tally Ho! but also intend to use it with my Bolt Action Home Guard forces.

I gave the model a base coat of Cruiser Tank Green (700), which I am not sure is the right colour for a 1940s Rolls Royce Armoured Car.

I think though looking at other models, that it’s probably okay, and  fine.

I wasn’t too happy with it, so after a while I decided to give the model another basecoat of Army Green Spray from the Army Painter range.

Once dry I masked the model with blu-tak. 

I then used a Humbrol Tank Grey 67 spray for the dark colour.

The next stage will be painting the tyres and detailing.

Mark IX Beast

Here is my 28mm Mark IX Beast tank in the desert.

Probably my favourite Indiana Jones film is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The combination of archaeology, mythology, nazi soldiers and lots of wonderful pulp action. Though we know it wasn’t real, and though we know that there was no actual historical version of it; I am sure most of us who have thought about recreating the Indiana Jones films on the table have wanted to use that tank. It appears at first glance to be a Mark VIII with a turret, the reality was that it was built specially for the film and was built up from an excavator.

I wrote back in 2012 about finding a 28mm model of the tank, since then I found it was available from Empress Miniatures.

I was able to order it and go through the resin pieces and constructing the Mark IX Beast. Following the application of the white undercoat, I started the base coat of Vallejo 70912 Tan Yellow on the Mark IX Beast tank. Having thought about the result and I didn’t like the Tan Yellow, I went ahead and made the decision to repaint the tank with Citadel Layer colour, Ushabti Bone. I then shaded the tank with various washes. The next stage was to start to tone down the shading with some drybrushing with Ushabti Bone.

I then photographed the model on one of my photographic terrain tiles.

See the full workbench feature on the Mark IX Beast tank.

Dusting up the Beast

Probably my favourite Indiana Jones film is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The combination of archaeology, mythology, nazi soldiers and lots of wonderful pulp action. Though we know it wasn’t real, and though we know that there was no actual historical version of it; I am sure most of us who have thought about recreating the Indiana Jones films on the table have wanted to use that tank. It appears at first glance to be a Mark VIII with a turret, the reality was that it was built specially for the film and was built up from an excavator.

I wrote back in 2012 about finding a 28mm model of the tank, since then I found it was available from Empress Miniatures, I was able to order it and go through the resin pieces and constructing the Mark IX Beast. Following the application of the white undercoat, I started the base coat of Vallejo 70912 Tan Yellow on the Mark IX Beast tank. Having thought about the result and I didn’t like the Tan Yellow, I went ahead and made the decision to repaint the tank with Citadel Layer colour, Ushabti Bone. I then shaded the tank with various washes.

The next stage was to start to tone down the shading with some drybrushing with Ushabti Bone.

The effect was to give the tank a dusty feel as though it had been driving for some time in the deserts.

I was quite pleased with how this turned out.

The next stage will be  further weathering.

See the full workbench feature on the Mark IX Beast tank.

Shading the Beast

Probably my favourite Indiana Jones film is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The combination of archaeology, mythology, nazi soldiers and lots of wonderful pulp action. Though we know it wasn’t real, and though we know that there was no actual historical version of it; I am sure most of us who have thought about recreating the Indiana Jones films on the table have wanted to use that tank. It appears at first glance to be a Mark VIII with a turret, the reality was that it was built specially for the film and was built up from an excavator.

I wrote back in 2012 about finding a 28mm model of the tank, since then I found it was available from Empress Miniatures, I was able to order it and go through the resin pieces and constructing the Mark IX Beast. Following the application of the white undercoat, I started the base coat of Vallejo 70912 Tan Yellow on the Mark IX Beast tank.

Having thought about the result and I didn’t like the Tan Yellow, I went ahead and made the decision to repaint the tank with Citadel Layer colour, Ushabti Bone.

The tracks were painted with Karak Stone. One of the things I noticed from the film, was that the tracks were not that much of a different colour to the body of the tank and were also heavily dusty and weathered.

I painted some of the stowage and canvas coverings on the sponson weapons with Karak Stone.

The wooden beam was was painted with Zandri Dust. I did some of the rolled tarpaulins with Morghast Bone and Wraithbone. I also used a Snakebite Leather Contrast paint for the furry looking blanket.

I painted the straps of some of the kit with XV-88. Most of the ammo containers and jerry cans I painted with Karak Stone.

I used Wraithbone and Morghast Bone for some of the lighter kit.

The tank was then given a wash of Citadel Shade, Seraphim Sepia.

I will then drybrush the model as well as further weathering.

See the full workbench feature on the Mark IX Beast tank.

Having another go at that tank

that tank from Indiana Jones

Probably my favourite Indiana Jones film is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The combination of archaeology, mythology, nazi soldiers and lots of wonderful pulp action. Though we know it wasn’t real, and though we know that there was no actual historical version of it; I am sure most of us who have thought about recreating the Indiana Jones films on the table have wanted to use that tank.

It appears at first glance to be a Mark VIII with a turret, the reality was that it was built specially for the film and was built up from an excavator.

Mechanical effects supervisor George Gibbs said this movie was the most difficult one of his career. He visited a museum to negotiate renting a small French World War I tank, but decided he wanted to make one. The tank was based on the tank Mark VIII, which was thirty-six feet (eleven meters) long, and weighed twenty-five tons. Gibbs built the tank from steel, rather than aluminum or fiberglass, because it would allow the realistically suspensionless vehicle to endure the rocky surfaces. Unlike its historical counterpart, which had only the two side guns, the tank had a turret gun added as well. 

I wrote back in 2012 about finding a 28mm model of the tank, since then I found it was available from Empress Miniatures, I was able to order it and go through the resin pieces and constructing the Mark IX Beast.

Following the application of the white undercoat, I started the base coat of Vallejo 70912 Tan Yellow on the Mark IX Beast tank.

I decided, looking at the source material that this colour was too dark, especially as I wanted to wash it with a shade or ink. So I took it back to the garage and gave it a spray of white to cover the basecoat and provide a lighter base for a sandstone or light brown colour.

As for the new base coat,I did consider using a Flames of War German Camo Beige 821 which looks like it might work.

In the end I decided to use a Citadel Layer colour, Ushabti Bone.

This I was much more impressed with as a base colour, so I finished the entire tank with this paint.

See the full workbench feature on the Mark IX Beast tank.

Starting again…

Probably my favourite Indiana Jones film is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The combination of archaeology, mythology, nazi soldiers and lots of wonderful pulp action.  Though we know the tank wasn’t real, and there was no actual historical version of it; I am sure most of us who have thought about recreating the Indiana Jones films on the table have wanted to use that tank.

I wrote back in 2012 about finding a 28mm model of the tank, since then I found it was available from Empress Miniatures, I was able to order it and go through the resin pieces and constructing the Mark IX Beast.

Following the application of the white undercoat, I started the base coat of Vallejo 70912 Tan Yellow on the Mark IX Beast tank.

Though this photograph isn’t quite showing the right colour, I decided, again looking at the source material that this colour was too dark, especially as I wanted to wash it with a shade or ink.

So I took it back to the garage and gave it a spray of white to cover the basecoat and provide a lighter base for a sandstone or light brown colour.

I didn’t do a full respray as I am quite happy for some of the undersides to be darker than the top of the model.

As for the new base coat, that I am still considering. What colour I use is dependent on what I have in my box, challenging to buy paints easily at this time. I Have a Flames of War German Camo Beige 821 which looks like it might work.

See the full workbench feature on the Mark IX Beast tank.

Basecoating the Mark IX Beast

Probably my favourite Indiana Jones film is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The combination of archaeology, mythology, nazi soldiers and lots of wonderful pulp action.  Though we know the tank wasn’t real, and there was no actual historical version of it; I am sure most of us who have thought about recreating the Indiana Jones films on the table have wanted to use that tank.

I wrote back in 2012 about finding a 28mm model of the tank, since then I found it was available from Empress Miniatures, I was able to order it and go through the resin pieces and constructing the Mark IX Beast.

Following the application of the white undercoat, I started the base coat of Vallejo 70912 Tan Yellow.

Having given the model another look, I think this colour is too dark, especially as I am anticipating giving it a dark wash over the base coat.

that tank from Indiana Jones

What colour I use is dependent on what I have in my box, challenging to buy paints easily at this time. I have a Flames of War German Camo Beige 821 which looks like it might work.

I also thought looking at the film footage whether I should re-arrange the stowage and baggage.

I did follow the example on the Empress Miniatures website as my guide. So most of the stowage is on the back of the tank.

Mark IX Beast

However looking at the film footage, they didn’t do this on their tank. Most of the stowage is on the sides. There is none on the sponsons, nor on the turret.

Though this side of the tank looks more like the one in the film, from a stowage perspective.

See the full workbench feature on the Mark IX Beast tank.

Undercoating the Mark IX Beast

Probably my favourite Indiana Jones film is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The combination of archaeology, mythology, nazi soldiers and lots of wonderful pulp action.  Though we know the tank wasn’t real, and there was no actual historical version of it; I am sure most of us who have thought about recreating the Indiana Jones films on the table have wanted to use that tank.

Having constructed the model I gave the tank a white undercoat.

I did the underneath first followed by the top.

The turret was undercoated separately.

See the full workbench feature on the Mark IX Beast tank.