M29 Polar Explorer

The M29 Weasel was built with the FC Model Trend 3D printed track set. Many of the TAKOM kit suspension parts were still needed for the build.

The lower hull and suspension was assembled, painted and weathered before moving on to the interior and upper portions of the Weasel. The interior was sprayed that with a flat white-grey and weathered it for a lived in look. The driver, passenger and stowage items were added before moving on to the rest of the build.

The exterior was painted with AK Interactive Real Colors Orange. The Star Decals "M29C Weasel French Polar Expedition" set replaced the TASKOM set. The decals were applied over a gloss base, set with Micro Set, and sealed with a gloss top coat.

The smaller detail items such as lever handles, pioneer tools, headlamp interior were hand painted with Vallejo acrylics. This was followed by a pin wash using Tamiya’s Dark Brown Panel Line Accent Color.

Exrerio scuff marks were added with colored pencils, grime streaks and light rusty areas with enamel and oils. The Weasel was then sealed with AK Interactive’s Ultra Matte Varnish.

The rooftop stowage was cobbled together and carved to fit the space. The stowage was glued together as a single piece, then painted separately from the vehicle using acrylics, oils, and enamel products. The stowage was added after the Weasel was painted, then weathered along with the surrounding vehicle.

The final steps included removing the window masks, adding the windshield wipers, the headlight lens cover, some fuel stains, and built up snow and ice to mimic some of the research photos.

The ice crevasse base was made from separate pieces of foamboard. Each side was carved and then shaped with Flex Paste (Woodland Scenics) to portray built up ice. Multiple layers of light transparent blue acrylic paint were airbrushed from the top down, adding darker shades in layers, ending with a dark blue bottom to portray depth. The crevasse walls with ccovered with Triple Thick Brilliant Brush On Gloss Glaze (Deco Art) for an icy appearance.

Both sides of the crevasse walls were dry fit into a clear plastic cube. The cube walls were masked to allow a view into the cravasse. The interior and exterior of the cube was sprayed the with flat black enamel. Once cured and sealed, the mask was remeoved and the crevasse sides were inserted into the cube and set in place with Aleene’s Tacky Glue.

The upper portion of the crevasse and the surface was coated with Flex Paste (Woodland Scenics) topped with a thin layer of white Decorator Sand (from Darice) to depict snow and ice.