Dio #2 WIP

I like it!!! Great base and the armor is fantastic...I didn't even know they made things like this....lots of potential on this on...can't wait to see more.

Stern0 wrote:

I like it!!! Great base and the armor is fantastic...I didn't even know they made things like this....lots of potential on this on...can't wait to see more.

Thanks Steve!  Yes I like the base too they are great for the new guy like me to get ideals and practice basic techniques in order to prepare for a more traditional Dio.  The company is fantastic and the Owner is a great guy as well.  I actually emailed him last night back and forth and he agreed to send me out two more sets of the column's so I can make the base unique and add more detail. 

I made some great progess today.  I prepared the base for the primer coat by about an hour of sanding and picking residue out of mortar cracks in the bricks and sanding the outside edge of the base.  I then gave the base a nice warm soapy wash and left it to dry as I started picking out the paints for the base coat.

I finally decided on my first primer coat which was Model Master light grey and which I applied with my Badger in two light coats.  I then chose my second coat of primer to add depth and shadow which was Tamiya XF-69 Nato Black.  I did the ring around the base free hand with my AB.  I am getting better with it, but sometimes it feels like a magic wand and othertimes I feel like I am holding a telephone pole!   

Here a few pics of progress so far:

My next steps after the primer coats are dry which will be tomorrow is to decide whether to tape the ring arond the bae vertically or horizontally is that makes senses.  I have seen it both ways and I do want the color of the lower base to take away from the scene.  I will be using Poly Scale Aged Concrete and concrete for the concrete blocks and a mix of Tamiya XF-57 Buff and XF-52 Flat Earth for the groundwork.  I might throw in some XF-59 Desert yellow as well.

If anyone else has some suggestions I am always open to them.

Thanks again,

Build Update:

Well, I should of known I couldn't walk away.  Here is what I have so far after acrlylic coats and a few filter and oil washes.  I have not added any dry brushes or MIG pigments at this point.

Just Air brushed acrylics on these shots no oil washes:

After repeated fileters and oil washes:

I must go to bed now so I will start pigments tomorrow.

Enjoy!

ajlafleche wrote:

While Woodland Scenics grasses are good, especially for large areas, let me suggest something like this: available from  from Military Miniatures Warehouse Scenic Expres also has a wide range of grasses and tufts thet are extrememly realistic.

Thanks for the info I had not heard of these folks.

I finished the base today after working pretty late last night and tonight.  It was a more of a paintng exercise for me than anything.  I need to have a goal to practice AB and oil wash techniques and I am pretty happy with it.  I am probally going to use it for my next build which will be a DML PZ.Kpfw III Ausf N stationed in Afrika.  That's why I have not added any vegation at this point but can always do so later.

Here are a few pics:

Here are a few wtih a PZ.IV G

Hans von Hammer wrote:

Just a tip for grasses in the future.. Instead of buying commercial products for long grass, try unraveled hemp rope instead...

Hey HVM,

Nice to hear from you again.  You had the same suggestion on my first Dio posting.  Do you have any visual examples of that application.? I am having a hard time visualizing what that would look like.

Thanks,

Sure... This one ain't mine (it's Shep Paine's Mongram B-25H) but you get the idea...

Works in 1/35th as well as 1/48th...

Here's another of Paine's in 1/25th (I think) using the rope after it's been dyed...

Hans von Hammer wrote:

Sure... This one ain't mine (it's Shep Paine's Mongram B-25H) but you get the idea... Works in 1/35th as well as 1/48th... Here's another of Paine's in 1/25th (I think) using the rope after it's been dyed...

I see that does look great.  Another question for you Sir what is the best approach to make sandbags for frontal space armor?  I have been doing internet searches on the topic and am getting mixed results and no definate answer.

Thanks,

Hans von Hammer wrote:

Couple of different methods out there that I use... One is using Chicklets gum, the other is making my own from bakeable clay, like Sculpy...

I did find a tutorial for making 1/35th scale sand bags that I like.  The links to enlarge the pictures are dead but it is still quite useful.

http://www.rgmw.org/2007/10/sandbags-how-to-make-your-own.html

Regards,