Bish - thanks for the quick response, all clear now.  Good idea with the papier-mâché as a sort of 'primer' before adding the celluclay.   I find the latter product curls up from the edge of the base, and had to resort to spiking the edges with short brass pins to anchor the celluclay.

regards,

Jack

Thanks for the information there Bish, I've only used static grass much on bases so far, I'll have to give some this stuff a go too.

The papier-mâché is partly from habit. When I first did bases, all I did was cover it in that and then paint and cover with grass. Fortunately I have moved on since then. But I carried on using it as it does make a good primer and it also allows me to see how the ground will look, lumps and bumps and so on, and I can fine tune it before the celluclay. I do have one base, the one for the Fw 190 I did for that GB, where the celluclay has lifted, I reckon I could lift the whole chunk straight from the base. But, I think the problem was I rushed it, I didn't let the celluclay dry and shrink properly before adding the ground cover. I normally fill in the edges after it shrinks, and I think this helps bind it to the edge. But other than that one base, I don't have any issues and I have several bases a good few years older than the 190 which are fine.

Gamera, thanks. In future, I will try and give more detailed info on what I am using and how I am using it for the bases. I have been concentrating so much on getting the vehicle's to a point I am happy with I have neglected giving much info on the rest.

Ok guys, time to wrap this GB up I think. I know we have at least one build on going, and looking forward to seeing Dan's StuG finished. And if anyone else is still building, please feel free to post your progress.

Thanks to those of you who took part in marking this important period in history. We have had some cracking builds here. It would have been nice to get a bit more participation, but seems to be the way of things at the moment.

Thanks again all.

Bish,

I would like to thank you for hosting this GB. And I would like to applaud all the participants who completed their subjects, all examples of exceptional work!

I apologize for not completing my subject before the deadline. However, I do intend to finish and will post pictures until my Tiger II is complete.

Thanks again Bish for a great GB!!!

I'm slowly hacking away with the Ersatz M10- I put the tracks on her this weekend and hopefully will get the deck screens and the mud coat sprayed on the running gear sometime this week.

Thanks Gamera & Jgeratic: Sorry for the confusion, guess I should have added she's ready for future.  And excellent work on the Jagdpanzer and the two crew men.

Thanks Bish: Interesting material to use as bushes. Great weathering on your Jagdpanther, also like how you placed the Jagdpanther under those two trees for cover. Those crew men must be getting a upper body workout, cleaning that long 88mm barrel.

I've run into a snag, been using artist oils for weathering and there are areas on the Stug where I can't remove the excess with out removing the oil from the recessed area's.  Plus I must have used about 50 or so Q-tips on the front, top and siding(removing the excess).  Plan B is using a wash, came across this in one of the FineScale issue.  They used a pollyscale color mixed with dish soap, I've tried that and it works great.  Only problem is I don't have a gloss black in pollyscale, only in Model Master Acryl.  When I tried that on a scarp model, I had to use Model Master acryl cleaner to remove the excess.  On my Stug and future projects there will be future floor polish airbrushed on to protect the paint and decals, have not tried it yet to see if MM acryl cleaner will attack the future.  I'll see about getting a scrap model to test that out on.

My test/scrap model.

Thanks Dan, ye, pulling that barrel through would not be easy. It was hard enough pulling through a 30mm gun, often took two of us.

The StuG is looking really nice. Have you tried a fine brush to remove the excess wash.

Ouch I don't know what to tell you Dan, I pretty much only use spot washes for armour anymore. Good luck!

Dan, that's got some positive oomph now with the weathering applied.   For those trouble spots where you can't remove the wash properly, maybe a light airbrushing of the base colour over that area - similar to preshading that aircraft guys do?

With the technique of wiping off washes after application, general rule of thumb is to use different mediums.  So if you have an acrylic base wash, the surface should have an enamel or lacquer  finish.  Future is an acrylic, but even harsh abrasion with any kind of solvent  will eventually eat away at it.

Should add that you can try a dark brown instead of black for the wash.

regards,

Jack

Thanks Bish: Yes using a fine brush did get most of not all the excess up.

Thanks Gamera: Think I'll be using a different kind of wash for models that have tight spaces, for removing the excess easier.

Thanks Jgeratic: Yeah the black wash seems to stand out more than what I want it to. I'll try a dark brown next time.

I misted on with my airbrush Tamiya Buff to give a light and or a dried dirt look,  I like the oil enamel in the panel lines but the weld seems are to bold and stand out to much.  So I'll be going back over those area's with either Dark Yellow or like what Jgeratic suggested a dark brown color.  Also the weathering has made the injector pin marks on the tracks stand out, did not notice them before weathering.

Nice dusty look Dan. Can't be much left to do.

Thanks Bish, I like the dusty look.  I mixed to dark yellows from Model Master to cover up some of the bold weathering on the weld seems,  then airbrushed on a mist of Tamiya Buff.  All that's left is touch up on the rear and then the StuG is ready for dullcote.

Very sexy StuG Dan!

The mist coats seem to have done the trick. I have to second Jack- black is a little too intense for a tan vehicle- dark brown seems to work much better.

Dan,

Excellent job on the Stug! 

Thanks Gamera: I agree that the mist coats have toned them down, black does look to strong for a tan vehicle.

Thanks Hogfanfs.

I'll do I final mist coat over the rear area, then she'll be ready for dullcote.

Well now I'm going to call her done, gave the dullcote two full days to dry.  I'm very happy how this StuG. III turned out.  Just entered in my Sherman Easy Eight & Hezter to Bish's 1945 build.  I'll be applying weathering techniques I learned from this StuG. III onto future models.

Really nice StuG Dan, have enjoyed watching it come together. I have added a pic to the front page. I think that's about it for this GB, so will do a round up for both GB's in the armour section at the weekend. I am looking forward to your builds in the 45 GB.

Thanks again, and thanks to all who took part, some great builds here.

Super cool Dan! The mist coats give a nice dusty look to her.

Bish: I did finish the Ersatz M10 last weekend- about two weeks late. I took photos but wasn't totally happy with how they turned out (again!) and wasn't sure if wanted to try retaking them this weekend or not. I'll see about getting them up just to have something up even if they blow.

I thought there was one missing, thanks gamera, will hang on until you can post before doing the round up.

Thanks Bish, don't worry about it too much though, I did miss the deadline by a whole two-three weeks here.

Thanks Bish: Excellent group build all around.  Yeah can't wait to get that Easy Eight started!

Thanks Gamera: At first I was not going to mist the Buff color, then I went for it and it turned out great. Was thinking about misting Flat Earth for a some what darker dust, but I'm happy with the lighter dust color. Looking forward to seeing your finished M10 photo's.

I took these photos outside but I'm not sure the lighting is any better. Somehow this model ended up with dust on it in the photos too...  And there are small white spots here and there, I thought it was dust at first but now I think the matte finish had white dried tiny chunks in it. Thankfully I'm going to hit this one with the snow as she goes into the diorama so hopefully the white spots won't make a difference.

Dan - Great job with the Stug.

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Cliff - also great job with the disguised M10.  

I like the solid contrast between the uppers and lowers.  Photos aren't that bad, some are actually quite good.  Was it a cloudy day?

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Bish - thank you for hosting this one.

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regards,

Jack

Thanks Jack, I guess you could call it partly cloudy - seems like what the weatherman would call it. I was a little afraid to take them in direct bright sunlight for fear it might wash out the detail.

I guess I could have weathered the thing more but as I understand they weren't in combat that long, going from the shop where the disguises were fitted straight to being knocked-out or abandoned.  

That looks damn good to me gamera. I would agree on the weathering, I think you have it about right. I know what you mean about the dust, it happens to me every time. I dread getting close ups on 72nd aircraft pits.

Thanks for sharing it with us, I have added one to the front page and will do a GB round up in the armour forum tomorrow.

Thanks to all who took part. We may not have ha a lot of completions, but you lot have certainly helped make up for it with these builds.

Thanks Bish, and thanks again for running this.

Thanks Jgeratic.

Your M10 looks great, excellent job on her.  Like the darker color mud on the bottom and on the wheels.

Thanks Dan, still going to fiddle with her a little more though.