Joe,

Like anything, taking pics of models is a learning experience! One of the best things you can do is use a 'light tent' or 'box' with a couple of desk-style lights so you can control the lighting angles and create a consistent level of lighting for your camera. Check out this link for some helpful tips as well as an easy way to create your own DIY light box: digital-photography-school.com/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent

Thanks Bill. Good tips on taking pics.

Thanks Dave! Good looking dog too by the way.

I brush paint and I'll be darned if I know how you guys assemble your models before you paint them. I have several models that need their tool kits and I thought I'd do them all together and then a final custom wash according to the scheme on the vehicle they're going on. It might take me two years to get it done, but I'll get it none the less.

As far as the photo quality, there are a lot of things I need to learn about that. I tried them inside in my living room "the cave" as I call it, coz it's always dark in here. The last set I took on the hood of my truck in bright sunlight. I am getting pin washes figured out but I keep forgetting to do them AFTER I do my other wash. It's frustrating to spend a couple of hours doing that only to realize you just did it so you could cover it up again. I guess it was worth the experience. Thanks for the advice!

Joe,

Keeping in mind that every monitor is different, on mine the last set of photos that you provided are definitely much lighter in terms of the vehicle tone colors, but without some common frame of reference it's hard to judge vs. the others you posted at least in terms of how it represents the actual vehicle's look. Cameras behave differently in 'natural' light (which is what looks like was used in this last set of pics) vs. artificial light. Color of the background and surrounding surfaces also play a role in what the camera 'sees' in terms of color and representation.

They don't appear to be washed out or grainy and have good depth of field and focus on the details. HTH!

november - they look kinda washed out... like either a really beat up winter whitewash or heavy dust. Part of it is that it doesn't have the tools and extra goodies on it yet, so it looks plain Jane. Doog is right about the washes. It really brings out the detail by giving it extra depth/dimension. Subtle streaking, stains, chips and scratches can go a long way too. I like the look of the muffler.

Ohh, and great looking dog... reminds me a little of one of mine.

EDIT: and of course this makes no sense now since you just changed you're avatar pic... LOL

Somebody do me a favor please and let me know how these look. Too dark? Washed out? Ok? My monitor has a different contrast depending on what angle you're looking at it. At any rate I'm sure they look better than the others I posted.

It started out as just practice. One of these days I'll stop practicing and just do it. Besides, if the past is any indication of the future, something I think I did a good job on today will look like crap to me a year or two down the road.

Pin washes are something I haven't figured out how to do yet.

Thanks for the weathering critique. I appreciate it.

EDIT: After looking at your page, you're quite the artist. Did you have a knack for that or was it a slow learning process (I didn't look at your profile so I have no idea how old you are). You work in models the way Alexei Butirskiy works on canvas. Once I call my models finished, it's very rare that I go back and do anything to them because each model holds the lessons of what I've learned in it's appearance and each one marks a little progress. Maybe once there comes a time that they no longer serve as a reminder of a lesson, its ok to go back and finish them out. This particular one I used a black filter or wash and it looked good except the recesses, so I did another wash when I should have done a pin wash as you said. I enjoy the learning process as much if not more than anything. That's why I have several hobbies I bounce between, but in a funny sort of way they all compliment each other.

Again, thanks for the tip and kudos on those works of yours.

If you're just using it for practice, shoot another coat of Dark Yellow, and use that as a base for weathering. I mean, you're only practicing, right? No need to worry about paint build up then?

If you WERE weathering a gray vehicle, I would say that some pin washes would have definitely helped bring out some definition in the model. As it stands now, it all sort of fades into itself, and lacks definition. Pin washes in raw umber would bring out recesses; careful drybrushing in blackish-steel will bring out the edges and shape of the whole hull and turret. Give it a try--might as well do it up?

Thanks Roy

If you're missing parts like that spring, you should put up a request on Missing Lynx or Track-link .  Tons of modelers with monster spares bins would be willing to help you out.

This is only about the 7th weathering job I've done. It's a pity I used grey but I guess if that annoys me enough I can figure out what parts need to be added, removed or replaced to make it compatible with a model that would have been painted in grey. I did replace the drive sprocket to the new style. I like doing these old Italeri kits even if they are sometimes inaccurate in detail. I've got 2 more Panzer IVs. I was intending to finish the Mark IV Special F2 but lost a spring and had to make a mold in order to mold a replacement. The melting process must have changed the texture of the plastic and it wasn't quick to set up. That's when I grabbed the H that's been sitting here since last year.

Ohhh, when I first saw her I assumed you'd done her in whitewash but the photos were dark!

Heck, hit 'er with a couple coats of whitewash on top and some mud on the bottom and call 'er done!

And thanks for the pointers guys. I appreciate it. The glasis plate  finally came out in a solid piece and is now reversed.

Anyway, these are the others I've been messing around with this last week, except the canon wagon. It was assembled when I got it. I've been thinking on how in the world I'm gonna paint the interior. 

This kit had been started when I bought it (ebay cheapy) and all the major parts were already glued together and base coated. LOL, I honestly didn't even notice the vents. I think I just planned to use it for weathering practice. Too bad I forgot that.

What bronto is trying to say is that Pz IV ausf H left the factory in a time when all AFVs were painted dark yellow as the base color.  Also, the horiz plate between the glacis and the nose has been installed backwards.  Those little vents?  They face toward the rear.

Welcome back.  It might be a little too late, but a Pz IVH in gray?

There. I think I got it

sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/.../10049_3508234803842_222789975_n.jpg

sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/.../603275_3508234843843_98972186_n.jpg

sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/.../383674_3508234883844_1965668266_n.jpg

Sorry. I can't figure out to get the photos posted so I loaded the URLs