GHQ 1/285th Scale M1A1 (SA) Build review
SKU: N533
MSRP: $13.99 (about $2.80 per model)
John Kelley
MSRP: $13.99 (about $2.80 per model)
John Kelley
The Model:
GHQ has been producing wargame models since 1967 and not only are they for the wargamer but also are used by the U.S. military. Their website has a FAQ section that tells the company’s history and the reason for the 1/285 scale. It has some very interesting information on it and it is well worth your time reading the FAQ. While I am not a wargamer I do find their models very interesting and highly detailed, almost as much as larger scale kits. The models are approximately 1 inch long (2.54cm) and are cast in metal.
GHQ has been producing wargame models since 1967 and not only are they for the wargamer but also are used by the U.S. military. Their website has a FAQ section that tells the company’s history and the reason for the 1/285 scale. It has some very interesting information on it and it is well worth your time reading the FAQ. While I am not a wargamer I do find their models very interesting and highly detailed, almost as much as larger scale kits. The models are approximately 1 inch long (2.54cm) and are cast in metal.
The M1A1 (SA) comes with 5 models to a pack and includes the hulls, turrets and machine guns needed to assemble the models. Each hull has an opening in the bottom of it but it is not seen unless you have the model upside down. I did notice that the drive sprocket track guards are molded on so this is an earlier lower hull, but it does not seem to make any real visual difference. The turret basket is filled with a box, rolled up tarp and an Auxiliary Power Unit. There is a little flash on the end of the gun barrels which is easily trimmed off. The barrels are often bent and need to be straightened but this is easily done with your fingers or a set of hobby pliers with smooth jaws to prevent damage to the model. You get at least 2 extra machine guns and this is a good thing as 2 were missing the barrel due to casting flaws and the M240 grips needed to be straightened too. I did see mold seams along the side skirt armor, bow plate and turret faceplate and I filed these down with a set of jewelry making files I bought from Michael's Arts and Crafts. Otherwise this is as much work as it took to prepare the models for painting.
Painting:
To aid in painting I super glued a nail under the hull and painted the turrets holding the gun barrels This is a tip I learned from the GHQ Forum and it works very well.
To aid in painting I super glued a nail under the hull and painted the turrets holding the gun barrels This is a tip I learned from the GHQ Forum and it works very well.
I primed the models with Vallejo Black Primer with a brush. I only gave them one coat and this wore off during the finish coat painting causing me to touch up areas where the metal showed through them. I bought the ASLAVs (Australian Light Armored Vehicle) too but these I sprayed with Tamiya Light Grey Primer with no more paint rubbing off during handling.
Mixing Colors:
For the finish coats of paint I have a lot of paint from many companies and I could not see buying more so I mixed up Vallejo Model Color paints using a photo I downloaded of an M1A1 (SA). My biggest concern was the brown which has a slight pink tint to it. For that I chose Tan Earth and began mixing up paint using a sheet of styrene painted in Tamiya Grey Primer. I began painting the colors onto it changing ratios and painting more samples as needed. I used a brush as I find it easier to apply the camouflage on small models like these. I used a 5/0 for the camouflage and a small flat brush for the base coat.
For the finish coats of paint I have a lot of paint from many companies and I could not see buying more so I mixed up Vallejo Model Color paints using a photo I downloaded of an M1A1 (SA). My biggest concern was the brown which has a slight pink tint to it. For that I chose Tan Earth and began mixing up paint using a sheet of styrene painted in Tamiya Grey Primer. I began painting the colors onto it changing ratios and painting more samples as needed. I used a brush as I find it easier to apply the camouflage on small models like these. I used a 5/0 for the camouflage and a small flat brush for the base coat.
For the green I used 1 drop Russian Uniform WW2 70.819 and 3 drops Sand Yellow 70.916.
For the brown I used 2 drops Tan Earth 70.874 and 1 drop Pale Sand 70.837.
For the black I used 2 drops Black Grey 70.862 and 1 drop White Grey 70.993
For the brown I used 2 drops Tan Earth 70.874 and 1 drop Pale Sand 70.837.
For the black I used 2 drops Black Grey 70.862 and 1 drop White Grey 70.993
I thinned the paints with a little distilled water to keep them thin and to not clog up the details. Half way through the painting process I finally made a wet pallet and this helped quite a bit but the paints can become thinner the longer they set in the pallet.
After I completed the camouflage painting I gave the models wash of Citadel Agrax Earthshade all over them to shade and add depth to the details.
After I completed the camouflage painting I gave the models wash of Citadel Agrax Earthshade all over them to shade and add depth to the details.
I did paint a single model with colors that were very close to the mixes above for anyone not wanting to mix paints. These were Citadel Death World Forest for the green and Kislev Flesh for the brown with the Vallejo Black Grey. I used the Agrax Earthshade for the overall shade and Seraphim Sepia for the Kislev Flesh areas to give them a browner tint.
The same model compared to the model with the Vallejo mix. The Citadel painted one is on the left. In the photo they look alike but the Citadel one is a slightly darker shade to the Vallejo but it still looks very close to the photo I printed.
Once the paint had dried I brushed on two coats of Vallejo Matt Varnish to protect the finish. I plan to put the models in a diorama so I dry brushed them with the Pale Sand heavily along the tracks and skirts and lighter on the top surfaces.
I enjoyed working with the GHQ models and I had not considered buying them until I found the YouTube channel Trixiepara Military Modeling. He currently has 154 videos of building and painting GHQ and Battlefront 15mm models from the Team Yankee game as well as ships from Davao. I highly recommend watching his channel.
I also highly recommend the GHQ models if your a wargamer but they can also be used in dioramas as well. I purchased my models directly from GHQ and their service was great.
I also highly recommend the GHQ models if your a wargamer but they can also be used in dioramas as well. I purchased my models directly from GHQ and their service was great.
Resources:
GHQ Models
YouTube channel Trixiepara Military Modeling