Another dio comin" at ya: KO'd 105 (lots pics)

SteveM

Member since
June 2006
From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World

Another dio comin" at ya: KO'd 105 (lots pics)

Posted by SteveM on Saturday, December 23, 2006 7:30 PM

...and for the second installment of "finish this stuff THIS YEAR, please!", my year-long labor of love/hate/indifference/love again project. I started the Sherman M4A3 105 in May, I think. Why so long? Lots of ref. lots of P.E., lots of whining and begging for guidance on this forum. This one officially places me at the opposite end of the Building Speed Spectrum from Biffa, Fingers, Wbill76, et al (and I know those guys would disapprove of all the weathering on it + the time spent on it). Warning- lots of pictures. Turn back now.

Let's call this 'un, "Victim of Breakout"

I decided late in the project to depict unditching logs that I kept seeing in ref shots on these 105s. Thought it might be something a little different for those of you who've suffered 1000s of Shermans by us newbies...

I tried to tie everything down and add more detail...

External telephone off the hook...

Better shot from a little while ago...

The staredown... these shots clearly illustrate my fear of painting the splinter camo-

The ride...

And finally, some more detail...

That's all for the year's output. Thanks for looking, if you made it this far. All comments welcome. I'm just glad I can call it "done".

Merry Christmas,

SteveM

Steve M.

On the workbench: ginormous Kharkov dio

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 24, 2006 5:23 AM

Another great piece of work Steve,the ground works great

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 24, 2006 5:34 AM

wow! Looks great; how did you do the ground?

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kenny_conklin

Member since
May 2003
From: Staten Island, New York

Posted by kenny_conklin on Sunday, December 24, 2006 8:21 AM

mmerry christmas steve great looking dio :)

"Rakkasans Lead the Way!"

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TANGO 1

Member since
December 2002
From: A secret workshop somewhere in England

Posted by TANGO 1 on Sunday, December 24, 2006 11:46 AM

Very nice work indeed! I am very impressed with your groundwork , its so realistic! Nicely done all round, thanks for sharing it with us.

Regards, Darren. C.A.G. FAA/USNFAW GB

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m1garand

Member since
November 2005
From: Somewhere over the rainbow

Posted by m1garand on Sunday, December 24, 2006 6:42 PM

Great work!

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jinithith2

Member since
January 2005
From: returning to the FSM forum after a hiatus

Posted by jinithith2 on Sunday, December 24, 2006 8:34 PM

oh thanks for making me feel like dirt Wink [;)]

jk.

another exquisite piece of work!!!! Great job. I love the extra stuff on the Sherman

I also love the expression on the German dude's face. "Holy bitesize riblets!!!" (sorry, I just like to insert my own commentary)

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SteveM

Member since
June 2006
From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World

Posted by SteveM on Sunday, December 24, 2006 9:34 PM

Thanks everyone for the kinds words.

SteveM

Steve M.

On the workbench: ginormous Kharkov dio

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Gun Tech

Member since
August 2006
From: Oromocto, Canada

Posted by Gun Tech on Wednesday, December 27, 2006 5:01 PM

Great!

Jean-Michel "Arte et Marte"

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KINGTHAD

Member since
May 2004
From: Dallas

Posted by KINGTHAD on Thursday, December 28, 2006 9:16 AM

Thad

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espins1

Member since
December 2002
From: Reno, NV

Posted by espins1 on Thursday, December 28, 2006 10:57 AM

Hey! That's really cool! Nicely done

Scott Espin - IPMS Reno High Rollers My Reviews

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winged prop

Member since
September 2006

Posted by winged prop on Friday, December 29, 2006 1:52 PM

Very nice, Steve, especially the groundwork!

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jthurston

Member since
October 2004
From: Katy, TX

Posted by jthurston on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 9:49 AM

I love how it amost looks as though the guy's shouting into the hole. "Hey Amerikaner! How you like me now?" (sorry)

Anyway, the groundwork is awesome, mud on the tracks is excellent, love the motorcycle. Overall, I think this is a fantastic dio!

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SteveM

Member since
June 2006
From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World

Posted by SteveM on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 10:57 AM

"Hey Amerikaner! How you like me now?"

I love that... with your permission, that should be the title!

Thanks everyone for the compliments.

Steve M.

On the workbench: ginormous Kharkov dio

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biffa

Member since
January 2005
From: in the tank factory in my basement

Posted by biffa on Saturday, January 6, 2007 4:20 PM

whoa steve that is very nice that groundwork looks perfect and i mean perfect it looks totally real this is great work all round and i fully approve of the weathering, take all the time you need when you are turning out gems like this.

i need to stop by the dio forum more often

Ron g.

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SteveM

Member since
June 2006
From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World

Posted by SteveM on Saturday, January 13, 2007 8:22 AM

I'm thrilled that everyone likes the groundwork; that's my favorite part of making a dio.

For those of you who asked: I sat there with a squeeze bottle of very thin dark earth colored celluclay, multiple shades of static grass and trimmed field grass, WS glue, 2 different shades/grades of real dirt, tweezers and a dental pick. Did about 5 square inches at a time. Kinda went like this: celluclay, dirts, static & cut field grasses (applied liberally), more dirt, stipple/pull/push with pick. When I got the texture where I liked it, I applied Woodland Scenics glue with an eyedropper.Easy peasy.

SteveM

Steve M.

On the workbench: ginormous Kharkov dio