Pawel

Hello!

Lookin' really good! But even without the mirrors it's very impressive. I wonder if the seams along the mirrors could be helped in any way. Good luck with your project and have a nice day

Paweł

Thanks , Pawel.. Yes the seams are an issue for me. I could not get front surface mirrors of sufficient size to make it work. But.. I did get some high grade front surface film that I may apply directly to the mirrors to reduce the seams.It is constantly evolving. just hope to get it finished in time for the Nationals.

have a great day!

Claude

 

Looks great Claude! Thank You for the reply with the light info as well. The mirrors look good! Really gives the illusion of an entire Flak Tower.... This is just the coolest darn project I swear....

  Rudy

RudyOnWheels

Looks great Claude! Thank You for the reply with the light info as well. The mirrors look good! Really gives the illusion of an entire Flak Tower.... This is just the coolest darn project I swear....

 

  Rudy

 Thanks, Rudy.. I am working furiously to get it finished in time for the NAtional Convention in Columbia this August. I hope to put up more updates as I actually make progress again. I am currently rebuilding the twin flak gun with turned aluminum barrels and photoetch to take the place of the battered gun that is presently in the tower. ( Repeated handling/sizing, checking) has managed to make the current guns a little worse for wear. ( Glad I anticipated this and ordered the other kit early on as I had a feeling this would happen)Glad you found the searchlight info useful. They really are nice kits but have some of the tiniest plastic bits I've ever seen.. Thanks for the kind words.. More updates to come soon..

 

 Claude

this is so interesting. .  Cant wait for the next update.

Xena

this is so interesting. .  Cant wait for the next update.

 

and here is an overall view.. I still have a long way to go. I need to start working on the other searchlight and then all the figures and equipment that are going in it..The last pic is of the roof looking down. The open area in the center rear is the viewing portal the other pic was taken through.With any luck i will get it all done in time for the big show in August. Thanks for your interest. I'll try to keep updating here and in scratchbuilding..

Claude

Added bearing marks for the light AA positions on the balcony..

Great job and project.  I love your application of media.  One thing...don't get carried away with the cement texture...they (Germans) were actaully pretty good at making it rather smooth and uniform.  The temptation to over texture can get away with you.  You've done well.

Also..get a HUGE Nazi flag..they were proud of this building and draped the larges flags across it to emphasize its size and superiority.    (A Nazi thing)

Love the internal lighting and the overal execution.

Rob

rwiederrich

Great job and project.  I love your application of media.  One thing...don't get carried away with the cement texture...they (Germans) were actaully pretty good at making it rather smooth and uniform.  The temptation to over texture can get away with you.  You've done well.

Also..get a HUGE Nazi flag..they were proud of this building and draped the larges flags across it to emphasize its size and superiority.    (A Nazi thing)

Love the internal lighting and the overal execution.

 

Rob

 

Thanks, Rob, for the astute criticism. I am still on the fence as to whether or not I have overexaggerated the texturing. I wish that there were more pictures of it up in 1944/45.I may still tone it down a bit to keep the scale effect appropriate. I have larger German Flags and will add them along with some banners " Deutschland Siegt on Allen Fronten! and so forth. This particular tower was in Vienna and was never finished, but became operational nonetheless in Fall of 1944, so I am quite sure that after the July Plot, there was an additional emphasis placed on fortifications to display pronounced support for the Reich and the mission, ( and loyalty to the fuehrer, etc) It will be a unique balancing act. I don't want the flags to draw undue attention away from the structure itself, so I have quite a challenge to get it right. Right now I am trying to get the figures done, the ammo assembled ( no small feat since the shells i purchased apparently do not fit the casings without modification)and the other searchlight wired and finished. Lots of little finessing to do.

Thanks for taking the time to look, and i sincerely do appreciate the criticism.

cheers!

Claude

Sometimes critisizm can be painful..however, I meant no pain.  History has shown me that a second or third eye on things helps the perspective.  Perception is everything, and speeking for myself..I can get to anxious about a technique I'm performing and not notice I went a bit to far with it.

You have done very well from inception to fabrication.  I'm oh so glad you are accepting of constructive critisizm......it shows in your build.

I'm looking forward to its completion.

Again...super job on subject matter and its construction execution.

Rob

rwiederrich

Sometimes critisizm can be painful..however, I meant no pain.  History has shown me that a second or third eye on things helps the perspective.  Perception is everything, and speeking for myself..I can get to anxious about a technique I'm performing and not notice I went a bit to far with it.

You have done very well from inception to fabrication.  I'm oh so glad you are accepting of constructive critisizm......it shows in your build.

I'm looking forward to its completion.

Again...super job on subject matter and its construction execution.

Rob

 

 Thanks. The way i see it , youre never too old or expereienced that you can't benefit from others' observations. I was able to find some 1/35 scale swastika building banners in various sizes in cotton that i will be adding to the tower and I am currently wrangling all the wiring for the lighting so i can cut the mirrors to their final dimensions. I will be taking it to the IPMS National Convention in SC this August. So, every bit of constructive criticism is gold!  thanks for the kind words!

Claude

One perspective tool that aids me in my builds is using a critial eye when observing your work compared to the molded pieces you are adding....(ie..cannon, gear and the like).  If a texture you are applying doesn't match the scale of the added item...then you need to rethink it through.   For instance..imagine yourself at one of the guns...then turn around and run your hand along the molded cement wall you just formed.  Would you see and feel holes and defects the size and scale you're seeing...or would they be smaller and less noticable?  It's a sobering practice....really.

I've made this mistake before when rigging footropes on ship yard arms.  when they were finished they looked cool and neetly done...but further study revealed that if an actual scaled person were to be standing on one..the yard would be well over there head and they would never be able to furl the sail.

And don't even get me talking about forced perspective.  It is all together an entirely different form of creating realism in a small space.

I think you're idea to use mirrors to create the illusion of an entire tower platform is excellent.

Keep up the good work and good luck at the convention.

Rob

Decided to resurface the front and try to get it more inline with what scale should be. also experimanting with figures.. I have such a long way to go still. More to come..

this just get's better and better claudez

She's coming along great, love seeing the figures. They give a good impression of just how big she is! 

The mirrors is a great effect 

Fantastic work.......

Rob

rwiederrich

Fantastic work.......

 

Rob

 

Thanks. I'll drink to that!

 

Oh the good life...drinking beer you stole from the monistary you bombed...reading a book you didn't burn....on a tower you built to shoot down democracy.....Yeah...

Great job....super detail.

Rob(Just playin)

rwiederrich

Oh the good life...drinking beer you stole from the monistary you bombed...reading a book you didn't burn....on a tower you built to shoot down democracy.....Yeah...

Great job....super detail.

Rob(Just playin)

 

  thanks.. trying to get things wrapped up. Started cutting the mirrors today and have to build a rigid framework to mount them to the tower..

Almost finished.. just more figures and mirror work and I am calling this one done..

that just look's so cool , got to ask though , were are you going to put it ??

steve5

that just look's so cool , got to ask though , were are you going to put it ??

 

Thanks. I am taking it to the National IPMS Convention in August.. After that.. After I finish the show circuit, I will donate it to whatever museum wants it.

 

Hello Claude!

Oh yes, it's lookin' good! even the seams at the mirrors aren't that bad! It sure is going to be popular at the convention! Good luck with those finishing touches and have a nice day

Paweł

Pawel

Hello Claude!

Oh yes, it's lookin' good! even the seams at the mirrors aren't that bad! It sure is going to be popular at the convention! Good luck with those finishing touches and have a nice day

Paweł

 

Thanks, Pawel.. It has come a long way in a short time. I still cant get over that i started building this in April and here it is almost done. I am constantly tweaking and revising. I don't harbor any illusions about winning anything. I just want people to appreciate it. The funny thing is when its done, i don't know what the next thing will be.. Thanks for the kind words and support.

Have a good one!

Claude

 

Ach Du Leiber !

 Das ist de heffy bullet . I can put it down now Ya ? Oh Boy  ! is all I can say about the whole thing .        T.B.

Really looks great....

You've done too good a job on this--now your are just about cpmpelled to build a full-round version in 1:72/1:87 :)

CapnMac82

You've done too good a job on this--now your are just about cpmpelled to build a full-round version in 1:72/1:87 :)

 

 thanks, but i gotta tell you. This monstrosity almost has scale cost as well! I don't want to even think about totalling the receipts that I have amassed in the building process. 1/4 of the roof of 1/35th scale will have to do...If money was no object and more info was available ( there is very little online or in print believe it or not) than I would attempt a full tower top to bottom with full interior..but as I see it, the roof is where the action is..  thanks for the kind words..

cheers!

Claude

captfue

Really looks great....

 

thanks very much! I can't believe its almost done!