Tamiya's 1/35 German King Tiger

Nice work the mud/weathering is first rate.

Boy, just noticed those King Tiger trends really chew up a guys porch paint...  

Hahaha! Yeah, those Tigers had big tracks. And thanks for the compliment. I enjoy doing armor. I always like mine to be dirty or at least well weathered if not battle damaged. War is never pretty or clean so the weapons of war shouldn't be either in my opinion. I think the mud really did the trick. It's only the second time I've tried doing mud on a tank. I think it came out pretty good.

Jim

Well, the sun kinda washes out your colors a bit---might want to try color-correcting them in a photo program next time?--but the model looks really nicely done. Really nice figure, too.

The mud itself is excellently done as well, although if I had to nitpick, it's a bit "red clay" for Europe--but I realize that that may be the effect of the sun's lighting?

Well done, overall. :)

Jim, I have to reiterate the kudos on the mud/weathering!  Great job!  

Eagle90

the mud is perfect! I don't know what it looks like in person, but the mud color is a little orange For Europe. Besides that, you get a gold star!!!!!!

Thanks everyone for the comments. I think the camouflage colors are a little bold. They need to be toned down a little. Other than the sun giving all the colors a warm tone that's pretty much what the model looks like. So, yeah the color of the mud looks a little like red clay. I didn't know what color to use for Europe so I guess I used the color of dirt I was most familiar with here in East Tennessee...red clay. I always aim to try some new technique on each model no matter how minute it may seem. I can count the armor and military models....not including aircraft....that I've built on both hands so I have a lot of learning to do to be able to build an historically accurate model.

Jim

I think the part that looks the best and the most realistic is the rusty exhaust.

Great man!

The mud and dust looks very nice, the cammo and rusting look perfect.

I would also only suggest, the commander be a little bit more dirty. Looks to clean, specially since he would have to climb on all that mud and dust.

As "the doog" commented I think direct sun light is too bright!, some of top model photoraphers tend to take pictures at dawn or dusk, light is softer and not so direct...gives natural, cool light.

Other than that, great kit!

Jim,

I should have added---just in case you think anyone is too "nitpicky" about the red clay color.....in AMPS judging, they'll actually "ding" you for dirt color if it's not appropro for the specific theater of war. Yeah, kinda "nitpicky", I know, but just so you understand why it bore mentioning at all.

I really like it! That TC figure came out very nice as well! I dont think the sunlight looks bad at all. After all that is the real deal. I thin the only drawback of the sunlight is no control over the shadows- Mr Sol does it his way. As far as the mud tone goes, yes, Euro mud is lighter and grayer when dry. That other mud color you have under the red clay stuff would work for your next muddies Panzer build.

You did a good job on th epainting, but I'd concur that the dirt looks too orange, its alot like the red-orange clay we have here in the South.  I'd say airbrush over it with some dark brown and khaki colors to balance it out some.  But the ambush camo scheme looks good tho, I have the same kit in my stash so I'll get to it eventually.

I'm seriously jealous right about now.Well done.

I don't want all my armor models to be muddy but I will probably muddy the next one so I can get the color right. I agree that the figure should be a little dirty. I'm not that great at doing figures. Definitely need more work there. The next time I take pictures I'll try a different time of day or different location so the sunlight isn't direct.

"I'm not that great at doing figures."

Nonsense, I say!  The figure may be a little clean but other than that it looks pretty damn good.

Tankster

, its alot like the red-orange clay we have here in the South. 

OOh, yes, like in Augusta and Aiken, SC... I think is the most orangish Ive seen...

Thank you, bitbite. Getting the right look for the black leather coat was frustrating. It could be better.

here is a shot of German mud... in the training area we called "area mud" LOL

Very well done. Yeah, the mud is a bit "orangy", but the application is spot on. The rest looks mighty fine to me as well. Bravo.

well the orangy could be from the camera shot. ever notice how rust looks redder in some photographs? and it could be. there are traing areas in the BRD that will turn tanks almost pink after a week. at that point one either uses artistic licenses or has a color phoitograph to justify it.

Here are some photos taken on a cloudy day. Everything looks a bit better.

We learn by doing.

Jim

I knew it.

Trust me, for high quality photographs never use direct sun light.

As you did, only at dawn, dusk, cloudy or interior of the house.

Now we can all appreciate the great details and painting.

Awesome!!

Thanks, garzonh. So, what about the dirt? Still too orange or does it look okay?

Thanks for the photo, cb1. That will help with future builds.

I'm no soil expert, but lets try to get a scientifical approach to this:

1. Tiger tanks were used in France, Poland, Hungary, Belgium.
2. The red/orange color is realted to iron on the soil, basically rusting creating the color.
3. From Encyclopedia of Earth: "Soils of the humid tropics are generally red or yellow because of the oxidation of iron or aluminum, respectively"
4. If we review what Biome Europe is:

Hey, thanks for the soil study. That was helpful and interesting, garzonh.

the doog

Jim,

I should have added---just in case you think anyone is too "nitpicky" about the red clay color.....in AMPS judging, they'll actually "ding" you for dirt color if it's not appropro for the specific theater of war. Yeah, kinda "nitpicky", I know, but just so you understand why it bore mentioning at all.

I entered some models in a South Carolina AMPS contest not long ago and I was amazed how 3 judges can spend over an hour on each model with rulers, lights and magnifiers inspecting for accuracy and realism down to how the dirt buildup carries up on to the model!

That WAS a great post, garzohn! Very informative!

Wow, plasticjunkie. That blows my mind. I've entered only one model contest in my life, back when I was a kid. It was at the local Walmart, believe it or not. That was before there were Super Walmarts. I've often thought about entering more contests except that there are none that I know of where I live or the surrounding area. And I don't travel. I'd love to be able to build models as good as the guys who win those contests but I don't think I'd ever want to enter any. Competition is okay I guess but that kind of judging just seems like it would detract from the enjoyment of the hobby, for me, anyway. But, each to his own. Thanks for the comment.

Jim

Jim, I would highly encourage you to look online to see where the nearest model club is and travel there for a few meetings. Even if you never enter a contest, interaction face to face with other modelers (especially those that do build those winning builds) will help you improve your own builds. It did for me quite a bit. As far as contests themselves go, there are the IPMS type judging, which although it has hard set standards, in the end can be quite subjective becuase there is 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in any category. Period. No matter how good all the builds are. And then there is the AMPS style judging in which kits are judged against criteria only  for  gold, silver, or bronze awards and potentially all kits in a given catagory can win gold- if they meet the criteria. Conversely, none can as well if they do not meet the criteria. And some contests have a "display only" catagory, where builds are entered strictly for that, and not for competition judging.