Pavesi P4-100 Gun tractor 2025-06

[BarleyBop]

Hmmm, the stowage I see in photos is mostly piled on the rear fenders. And often it is under tarps, effectively hiding all those hooks and attachment points I laboured to scratch build.
Nope, don't wanna go there...

Added gobs of Kristal Klear on the headlamps, hope it will look like lenses.
Still some details like rear lights, possibly plates, the driver, steering wheel and shifter to add.

Though the Regio Esercito doesn't seem to have standard air recognition marking, and it wasn't consistently thought of as in the British army, I decided to a dd an undersized flag on the hood... vanity decor, the splash of colour looks good on there!

Gobs of Klear just applied, will dry clear, Kristal Klear! (I hope)

 

[BarleyBop]

Wheels on. Looking like something now!

 

[GCB]

Looking great.. and those weird wheels (which look like spaghettis - very Italian) add a special touch!

 

[locomotive]

Absolutely pig ugly looking thing.
It's brilliant!

 

[user 22148]

Totally bonkers looking contraption! Superb looking build!

 

[BarleyBop]

weird

pig ugly

bonkers

I guess I should be pleased...

A tractor only its builder could love.

 

[BarleyBop]

So there were no decals.
I'll have to make my own with inkjet printer.

At the same time, will include a few for my Mini, which I've had to draw from reference photos.
I had some RE plates, but they were too big.

... a few different sizes to be safe.
Above are printed on premium glossy photo paper.
Below, the ink doesn't doesn't sit well on the DIY decal paper.

 

[urumomo]

I was going to ask what brand decal paper that was ,
then scrolled a bit farther , " oh "
never mind

 

[BarleyBop]

brand decal paper

It is a good question, as I wonder if others have had better luck.

It is passable for larger decals, but for the tiny ones I'm producing, not so much; there must be a better setting I could select on my printer... not so much ink, different resolution, different paper type?

One of these days I'll just have to waste paper and try every combination.
For now, I'll resort to the peeling emulsion technique as they don't have to be transparent.

 

[urumomo]

I've only printed a couple of decals and they were passable for the subject matter .
That first photo looks fantastic ! haha .

This subject of printing decals comes up here every so often .
I think the consensus is laser printing is superior

 

[BarleyBop]

laser printing is superior

From what I've seen, seems so.

 

[urumomo]

My Canon inkjet stopped printing a good while ago , but being retired I never have the need to print anything anymore .
If I buy another printer I'll go with a laser model .
Printing decals is the only thing I can see ever needing to do in the future

 

[BarleyBop]

 

[user 22148]

Was that form the photo paper print? Looks good!

 

[BarleyBop]

photo paper print?

Yup, I found I can carefully remove the 'emulsion' (not really an emulsion like real photo paper, but the glossy layer that is prepared to receive the ink), using a knife, to make it thinner... for situations like this, or flags, seems to work well.
And the print quality pretty good too!

I give it a spray of decal print fixative so it doesn't smudge before manipulating.

this morning I can see a bit of white paper fiber on lower edge, will touch up with ultra fine pen.

 

[Jakko]

If you're careful, I would think you can even sand most or all of the paper away behind the marking.

 

[BarleyBop]

sand most or all of the paper

Yup, though I mostly scrape, in this case I missed a bit on the curl of the edge.

 

[BarleyBop]

Started painting the driver, and reversed gear. Thought I might paint him in oil from primer up.
Wiped off the oil base, and will lay down very thin acrylic instead. Then I'll go to the oils for details, tonal blending, shading and highlights.
In the meantime, added a bit of chipping to the buggy... light paint scuffs, scratches and chips, with redbrown primer showing through. Nothing too drastic.

 

[Tommergun]

OMG I see RUST!!!

 

[BarleyBop]

OMG I see RUST!!!

It's been sitting on the bench so long!

 

[BarleyBop]

Incremental progress I know - about the speed this fella moved through mud - but I've added a bit more pigment in binder for some variety in colour and texture, mostly on the business side of the wheel paddles.

 

[BarleyBop]

Driving it away...

 

[kevin]

That really came together, looks great.
Well done on the build, the driver, painting and weathering. You even got the eyeballs painted on the driver!
Any plans for a simple base, that would look great in the sand.

 

[BarleyBop]

came together

Thanks Kevin!
Bet you were starting to think it must have buried itself in the mud somewhere!
I've never done a base, or diorama, but this really is calling for something to sink those wheel paddles into!
Feels like a project for when the snow flies...

 

[Tommergun]

Man I like your style. Well done!

 

[BarleyBop]

style

Ha! I wish... but thanks, the support and the inspiration from you guys makes a difference!

 

[GCB]

Great job as always! Another one for your special collection.. and yes, one day you should try a diorama!

 

[ambivalentmaybe]

That is one of the strangest vehicles I've ever seen. Great work on the build!

 

[BarleyBop]

strangest vehicles

Haha, yes, I, and apparently the Italians, sure can pick 'em!
I still have a few Italian vehicles in the stash, and am enjoying their eccentricities...
Cheers!

 

[Grumpa]

WOW! What a challenging project! and what great work.
3D printed is such a unique genre, nothing I could even attempt to take on nowadays.
What an oddball vehicle, The Italians sure did have a sense of humor during WW2.
No wonder you find their equipment so interesting, I especially like their SPG mock ups.
from that era. Again, fantastic job!

Jim.