I imitated dry dust on the floor with a combination of Ammo pigments, including Light Dust (No. A.MIG-3002), Airfield Dust (No. A.MIG-3011), Africa Dust 
(No. A.MIG-3003), and Sand (No. A.MIG-3012). Drops of fuel, oil, and water were added with Ammo Oilbrusher Dark Brown and Effects Brusher Fuel Stains (No. A.MIG-1801) and Fresh Engine Oil (No. A.MIG-1800).

Rust and grime streaks were added using Ammo Streaking Brusher Medium Brown (No. A.MIG-1250) and Grime (No. A.MIG-1253), as well as Streaking Rust Effects (No. A.MIG-1204) and Rainmarks Effects (A.MIG-1208) blended and shaped with enamel thinner on a fine-tipped brush.

To enhance and layer the mud and dust, I flicked on enamel products from Ammo, including Splashes Dry Earth (A.MIG-1750), Nature Effects Dark Mud 
(No. A.MIG-1405), and Heavy Mud Wet Mud (No. A.MIG-1705) by raking a toothpick across the bristles of an old brush.

MiniArt decals are thin and well-printed. I took a lazy approach to painting the photo-etched metal name plate on the nose; after priming it with white, I sprayed it red and carefully sanded the paint from the raised letters and border to expose the bright brass.

Underneath, I airbrushed a thin layer of Tamiya Buff (No. XF-57), followed by a hand-brushed application of AK Interactive Dust & Dirt Deposits Sand Yellow (No. AK4061), the perfect thing for this job that can be wiped off and refined when dry.

For more pronounced fuel streaks and drops around the filler caps, I applied Winton Burnt Umber (No. 76) and 502 Abteilung Engine Grease (No. ABT160) oil paint and Ammo Effects Brusher Wet Effects (No. A.MIG-1802), blending and streaking them with thinner.

To tie the base into the tractor, I used the products used on the vehicle, too. New Ammo products used on the base were Middle East Dust (No. A.MIG-3018) and Splashes Dry Earth (No. A.MIG-1750), Turned Earth (No. A.MIG-1753), and Dry Steppe (No. A.MIG-1751).

Final Thoughts

When I glued the tractor to the base, I had to adjust the texture around the wheel to ensure it sat right. Diorama guides suggest adding vertical elements for visual appeal, so I opted for a MiniArt clock, an item whose height and style fit the scene. Smaller accessories by MiniArt and 3D MicroCosmos, as well as a child’s toy from Plus Model finalized the project.

I airbrushed the soil with Tamiya Deck Tan (No. XF-55) and Buff and the grass with mixes of Park Green (No. X-28), Light Green (No. X-15), and Yellow Green (No. XF-4). Stones were picked out with contrasting shades of Vallejo acrylics.

For context, the tractor needed a base. I blocked in a section of insulation foam with black styrene sheet and added a raised section that will be concrete slabs at one corner. The crosshatch pattern adds texture for the groundwork to attach to.

I applied a layer of Ammo Acrylic Sand Beach Sand (No. A.MIG-2106) to the foam. Stir this paste well before use or it won’t dry properly. While it was still damp, I sprinkled on stones and sand and added static grass.

For the body color I mixed a pale purple by lightening Tamiya Purple (No. X-16) with a lot of White (No. XF-2) and covered the red brown.

With its panels, the Bulldog is perfect for applying color modulation. So, I added purple to the mix for a darker shade and airbrushed it along panel lines and corners.

I wanted to experiment with a combination of lacquers and acrylics to produce a worn finish. The latter can be removed with alcohol leaving the former undisturbed, creating wear without using hairspray. 
First, I airbrushed Mr. Color Red Brown (No. C41).

Built from 1921 until the 1950s, Lanz Bulldog tractors are so iconic in Germany that “Bulldog” is still used as a synonym for a tractor today. 

Development of the vehicle that would become the Bulldog started in 1912, but World War I slowed things. The eventual vehicle was more of a self-propelled engine with belt drive to power various pieces of agricultural equipment. The name “Bulldog” was derived from the shape of the vehicle. Power came from a single-cylinder, hot-bulb engine that could run on multiple fuels, including crude oil, kerosene, diesel, and even vegetable oil. Although safer than the contemporaneous steam engines, the engine needed to be heated with a blow torch for 10-15 minutes in warm weather and up to an hour in winter before starting.

MiniArt’s 1/35 scale Lanz Bulldog is a couple of years old, and the company has released several versions. They build easily, and I consider them a good weekend project.

My only alterations to the kit were wire for plumbing. To show weight, I gently pressed the plastic tires against a warm iron to flatten them a bit. The key is to be careful and not to use an especially hot iron.

Using cotton swabs and stiff brushes damp with 70% isopropyl alcohol, I rubbed and removed the purple acrylic from edges and panel lines. It worked, but not as well as I had hoped, I think because I let the acrylic dry overnight. If I’d worked sooner, the effect would have been greater.

I added rust to some corners and major chipped areas by blending 502 Abteilung Dark Yellow oil paint (No. ABT020) and Ammo Light Rust Wash enamel (No. A.MIG-1004).

To emphasize small details, I mixed Ammo Dark Wash (A.MIG-1008) with Oilbrusher Starship Bay Sludge (No. A.MIG-3532) and Dark Brown, and odorless thinner. I applied this as a pinwash with a fine brush.

Shades made by blending Ammo by Mig Jimenez (Ammo) Oilbrushers — Yellow Bone (No. A.MIG-3521), Starship Filth (No. A.MIG-3513), Space Purple (No. A.MIG-3526), Dark Brown (No.A.MIG-5312), and Buff (No. A.MIG-3517) — pop details and give panels more variation.

To refine the chipping and wear already on the model, I applied Vallejo Model Air Dark Brown RLM 61 (No. 71.042) with a fine paintbrush and a small chunk of sponge. Work carefully and slowly so as not to overdo this step.

I picked out the filler caps and the distinctive side-mounted radiator with Vallejo Model Color Gold (No. 70.996).