Steam Tank

Here is a step by step guide to how the Victorian Science Fiction Steam Tank was painted.

The military might in the Victorian era was enhanced with powerful steam tanks. This is a resin kit from Ironclad Miniatures.

Steampunk Medium Tank

I recently wrote an article on adding Science Fiction elements to Old West gaming, SteamPunk Old West. I wanted some vehicles to go with the Old West miniatures I was painting. Looking at the resin models from Ironclad Miniatures, one that did catch my eye was one of the steam tanks. It comes in a variety of pieces.

This is a very clean casting. There are not many parts and this dry run shows it was very easy to put together. I am thinking about adding more details to the model.

The first task was to wash the resin, to remove any remaining mould lubricant. The model comes with just a few metal parts and these were attached with superglue. The turret has a metal hatch and a metal gun barrel.

I am going to paint the tracks seperately, so they are not affixed in this photograph.

The boiler and the funnel were attached to the hull of the tank.

I then gave the model a white undercoat.

I started painting the basecoat, the tracks were started with Citadel Chaos Black.

Here is the Steam Tank alongside a Foundry gunfighter.

I then have the main hull and the turret a basecoat of Vallejo Middlestone (882).

Looking more the part now the main paintwork is done.

I did consider doing the boiler in a different colour, more blackened metal, but then remembering steam engines on the railways, their boilers were painted.

Here is the Steam Tank alongside a Foundry gunfighter.

The tracks were drybrushed with Boltgun Metal.

Once I have finished painting the model I will add some weathering to the tracks. Simon did point out that he felt the tracks on the tank were a little “flat” and I have to agree with him. You really need proper linked tracks with this kind of model, and especially one at this scale. The tracks on the Tunneller are much better for example. Maybe a potential conversion project for later (or on another model of the Steam Tank).

The main part of the model was then given a wash of Citadel Shade: Agrax Earthshade.

There are some quite large flat blank areas on the model, as a result the wash hasn’t worked as well as I would have liked. However these areas will be slightly covered with the tracks and the turret.

With the tracks affixed and the turret on, the problems of the wash are diminshed.

The model was then given a drybrush.

I used a combination of Vallejo Middlestone and a mix of Middlestone (882) and Ivory (918) for a further lighter dry brush.

Here is the model next to a Foundry Gunfighter.

Maybe a few more details, but I am happy at where this model is now.

Here are some photographs of the finished model.

See more photographs of the Steam Tank.