May Featured Artist: Ken Jowett

We are proud to present the inspirational work of Ken Jowett for this month’s Featured Artist segment. Ken has not only been a regular contributor to the Fun4Change community, but he has also established an impressive collection of radio controlled armor, and even established an R/C tank club. On to the interview:

What got you into this hobby, and how long have you been at it?

Ken: I’ve been in this hobby since 2011; I already had a 1/6 Tamiya Tiger 1. Previously to that, I did tabletop war gaming with my brother. He suddenly died in 2009 and I was left wanting to do something, so I searched for tank clubs and found one in 2011. So it started from there.

Condolences on the loss of your brother, we’re sure he’d be proud of what you have accomplished since. Your Dragon Wagon, which we used for our group banner for quite some time, is absolutely amazing, and the oil leaks on the trailer bed are the perfect touch. What gave you the idea for this effect and how did you achieve it?

Ken: Ah, the Dragon Wagon… yeah, I am always searching for something new and I had a Tamiya RC Globe Liner which I never used. I found the cab to suit it and went from there; the float was way too expensive but what’s a dragon wagon without the M15 float to go with it… The effects idea came about thinking, “Well, it’s going to be hauling damaged tanks as much as running ones, and surely they would be dropping oil, grease and whatnot…” so that’s what I did. I used AK products to weather the float.

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Do you enjoy music while you craft, or any other kind of background ambiance, or do you prefer silence?

Ken: Always have tunes blasting out; I love listening to music while I work.

Besides having built up a phenomenal collection of armor, you’ve also established a notable tank club. When did you get started with that, and could you tell us a little bit about your club?

Ken: Yeah, after getting involved in 2011 with the first tank I found, and it was on the other side of Brisbane, after a year it became all talking and no play. So another member and I started NBRCTC on the 12th of June, 2012. We meet once a month at a local school that lets us store our buildings there.

You’ve also got a YouTube channel that we accidentally came across in search of something separate, where we discovered you have an awesome array of video of your work as well. Do you produce all the film content yourself, or is that a team effort?

Ken: Videos on our YouTube channel have mainly been done by the other member who started the club with me; unfortunately he has since moved on from the RC tank hobby.

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A signature touch of yours is those awesome backdrops you put together. Where can we get those backdrops, or can you give us some insight on how to do that?

Ken: The backdrops in the pictures are just images I found that I resized and messed with to get them how I want, and being a printer I can print my own stuff.

What was your greatest challenge of all your projects? What would you say was the most tedious, or frustrating aspect?

Ken: The most challenging thing would be getting them to look real… I myself don’t believe I have gotten there yet, and ask anyone who knows me—they will tell you I think my own work needs improvement.

What motivated you to see projects through when they get tedious?

Ken: This question I think carries on from the last because I don’t hold my work in high regard. That is what motivates me to keep going; there are two guys in this hobby who I hold in extremely high regard and I always strive to get there. Hopefully one day I might get there.

Aspiring hobbyists often wish they could achieve the level of detail that you put into your work. Do you have any advice for those just starting out, or for those who are struggling with their projects?

Ken: The only advice I can give is “Don’t give up.” Always try different things; never be afraid to stuff something. It can always be fixed or repainted… No one showed me; I just had to look at what other guys were doing and try to copy it, or do the same technique.

Is there a particular shade of O.D. green that you use on your Allied builds?

Ken: OD Green… Usually I just use Tamiya Olive Drab. I do also tend to add colours together to make a green that I like.

Could you share with us a few tricks or tips you have for weathering?

Ken: Tips and tricks… happy to share what I know with anyone, but it would need to be a separate article as you need step-by-step info and images together.

Thank you Ken, for sharing your work with us, and for your contribution to the hobby. We hope to see more people follow in your footsteps, making awesome creations, and building new communities. Be sure to check out this month’s gallery of Ken’s work, and if you missed it, don’t forget to stop by Ken’s personal website as well.