Flamethrower Up! **FINISHED**for real! pg8

Great looking dio!

Really like the finnished product. Nice beach head..

Doog, Thank you for the favorable comments, you are too kind!

M.R. Thanks for looking and your great critiqe...I can always use another set of eyes. I think it cleaned it up a bit and the palm tree is a little more dynamic then the beam...The plane part is something I have wanted to try but have never had a reason to...It adds a little but I was leary of it being cheesy..

Chris, I think the tree is MUCH better, used the other peice because I guess I was too lazy to build another tree I do think this one will go to Richmond in a few months..Thanks for the vote of confidence and your positive feedback!

Sterno, that's really a great-looking dio! You don't see Pacific theatre dios often, and this one has everything--good execution, composition, and tension.

Great work!!

DP, Many thanks....for once a change I made works! I like the palm much better!!!

Tom,

INDY, Thanks for the positive feedback and props on the pics!!!

deafpanzer wrote:

Looks great Stern ~ A big improvement  I'd say ~ And nice pictures too !

Indy

AHHH!  Much better... was going to say something about the wood block but others have mentioned about it so there was no need for me to beat a dead horse.  Fallen palm tree looks alot better! 

Thanx Axel...I do like the palm better..hope it makes for a better overall apperance. Glad you like the toot...hope it helps someday!

Tom, Congrats again for the podeum at the show...very cool! The changes I made were things that I questioned when building...I think the palm log looks more in contex with the rest of the dio and I did feel it to be a little cluttered, Now with it cleaned up and the Marine a little more under cover, I like it better...I laughed to myself about the exposed Marine, saying Hes a Marine..he don't give a dam!!! He was very mission oriented! Thanks for checking it out!

IMO the palm tree looks much better than that chunk of wood... It fits more into place with the rest of the dio...

Great job Stern0, really wonderful

Oh, and thanks for the tut!

Here are the revamped pics...thank you guys for the great comments and critiques!

Mansteins revenge wrote:

wing_nut wrote: See, I told you I didn't know a thing about flamethowers.  I was wondering why nobody else said something.  I mean it was right there inthe pics  I'll be quiet now LOL...you have to wait for an AMPS competition before things start to bend mysteriously, right, Wingnut?

HEHE I though you may just say something

wing_nut wrote:

See, I told you I didn't know a thing about flamethowers.  I was wondering why nobody else said something.  I mean it was right there inthe pics  I'll be quiet now

Many thanks Frank!!! Email on the way!

Wing_nut...thanks for the kind words! One of the changes I have made is to put a palm truck in place of the timber...Ill have more pics up soon!

I had to dig but here is a photo of the flame thrower if you meant it was bent...

It looks real nice.  I have to agree with the commentrs aboutthe wood.   A chunk of palm tree would look better IMO.  And unless there is something I don't know about flamethowers, (which is really nothing at all), this is bent.

Another outstanding scene you have created, Steve; one that makes the viewer stop and imagine what it may have been like to be there with them!

 Congratulations!

OMG, I just realized you are in Charlottesville; I was at UVA Medical Center most of the day Tuesday while my grandson was in day surgery.     All went well, other than getting turned around in town due to a construction detour while we were leaving. :D

Take care,

Frank

 Well at least the tops of the log buttresses should have some damage as well... But, my! What a work!! Battle damage!

                                  60

..the work on the base, palms, bunker is excellent...gives me the impression of what I see in WW2 pics of Tarawa, etc...

Exactly            I totally agree w/ that

Where I think you could have done a better job is composition, specifically w/ the debris and some of the figs...IMO, there is too much clutter in front of the bunker and the soldiers are a bit too close, especially the one on the right---he's practially looking down into the bunker, which I assume is still active based on your title. I like the way the guys are creeping up on the left flank a lot better. They seem to be avoiding the line of fire...

Maybe some good pointers there from Manny. Looking back at the build, I like the beach before the clutter ,MAYBE some area free of it(like the front) would give the viewer a break(with a little "deadspace")and just show a little swath of virgin sand. (Less evenly distributed, perhaps?)  I think maybe that Marine on the right is about to get his coconut cracked, lookin in too,          but I really like this shot

You can't really tell all of what's happening in this shot, and the faces are mostly hidden from view, the shadows fall just right, and the light is revealing really well chosen colors and balanced pallete. I'd hope you touch up that frame before you send pictures to FSM---I'm sure Kelly with love it and want to print this one!( Of course he wants the ideal 'over-all' shot)

 ~~~  Indy                                                                P.S. Don't get me wrong either

Okay, my two cents...the work on the base, palms, bunker is excellent...gives me the impression of what I see in WW2 pics of Tarawa, etc...

Where I think you could have done a better job is composition, specifically w/ the debris and some of the figs...IMO, there is too much clutter in front of the bunker and the soldiers are a bit too close, especially the one on the right---he's practially looking down into the bunker, which I assume is still active based on your title. I like the way the guys are creeping up on the left flank a lot better. They seem to be avoiding the line of fire...

I also was a little perplexed by the timber on the barrel...a fallen palm would probably have been more consistent with the rest of the base...Also, there may be a little too much "junk" lying around up front that is a bit distracting...

Don't get me wrong, Sterno, this is good work and I am being a little tough on you because you are that good.

PS: Is that a Japanese a/c wing in the background?

That looks great Stern0!

I love the finnished product!

Thanks Tom!

60, Many thanks for that advice and worthy you are!...can you see it?...I think the right palm got turned a little but you can see the damage on the left one, ....not sure how accurate though!

 I am not worthy, but I feel honored to have suggested the tree damage. Looks great, SternO!! Thanks for sharing.

                                             60

Axel, a man made peice for sure...like in a coal mine...good eye!

Tom, Many thanks my friend, a great compliment!....bout time huh? If I had been building and not playing grab*ss on your threads I would have been done ages ago!!!!

Dave, many thanks sir...you are too kind!

Axel, thats why I post these things to get opinions....I kinda got stuck on finding something that the flamthrower would be crouching behind...the drum alone was not enough...I just figure it is a support timber blown over by the shelling....it is questionable..thanks for looking!

Really Nice looking build there Steve...

Don't take this the wrong way, but to me the squarish peice of wood over the banged up jerry looks a bit out of place, to me at least. The only reason I say that is because of the texture on it... its got those little tiny grooves in it that make it look like the stuff found in childrens playgrounds...to me atleast

I mean, its just my oppinion, and I know that sometimes the camera shows little tiny details that you can't see in real life...

Or maybe I'm just outta the loop or something

Either way, really nice looking build

Outfreakinstanding!!!

I think this one is your best to date Steve, really well done.

rb

Hey fellas,

Finally got this one done...I may post some more pics with different light...thank you guys for keeping up with this and your great advice and feedback!!! Enjoy!

looks great

Thanks agian Chris!

Wanted to post this scale reference of the slings vs Match....Don't believe they didn't spring outa my fingers into the abyss or the carpet monster needed a snack.

Does anyone have those magnifiers that fit on like glasses...wondering if they work, and can you work in them??

Chris, It was a pretty quick build...the base is so barren, wasn't much to do.....the trees and the figs were the time consumers....

Tom..in due time...it will be ready when its ready!

Thank you guys for keeping up!

Great work Steve- can't wait to see it finished, you went pretty quick on this one (I think?) good luck this weekend with the final touches

Hey fellas,

Here is a fig update and a pic of a PE sling...they were a pain but worth it!!!!

Looking real good Steve!! I love all the debris- the fuel drums look good to me, not easy to bang up those old Tamiya guys, I've tried with less success.

I think your Marines look good, might not be perfect with the larger than life zoom in, but I think from a normal view with the scene supporting them, they'll look awesome- the tweaking you've done with the plane parts looks good to me looking forward to seeing everyone in their place.

Here is the cast, I finally got all four together to the same point ...They are far from being complete (never should have taken such a close shot other than for my reference!) The flamethrower dosn't even have his tanks on..lots to do on the faces and gear..My faces look like dam cartoons... any tips much appreciated!

Tom, Many Thanks! The tommy gunner is screaming to the prone Marine who is screaming to the flamthrower... FLAMETHROWER UP!!!! It Got to go through the chain, man! Thanks again!

 Thanks INDY, The debris is tenative right now ,but I think you guys get the idea....lots more to tweek and finalize..I knew I had to get the sand right or you fellas would eat me alive!

DP, Thanks for checking it out..and glad you like the toot! I think the netting is here to stay...good eye on the wall...I haven't done the final weathering and dirtying up yet...so it will be a little worse for wear all said and done...Thanks again!

AWESOME!   Liked the palm trees (thanks for the toot!) and the camo net very much.  Looking forward to see it completed.  The wood wall looks kinda of clean especially when battle is happening.  It is only my thought...

Stern0 wrote:

~ Lookin beautiful Stern-man ! Even before the figures are i n place it has the feel of being he right size "swath" of beach - just enough to set the scene without too much x-tra. I really like how the sand looks settled up against the fortafications, and all the randomness of the Ziek chunks and what not. Strong. Model on!

Here is some work on the base I did this weekend....The fig is just placed there, unglued, as most of the debris and fuel drums...tenative at best. Still iffy on the camo net...

Axel Smith wrote:

Nice looking flamethrower, and cheap too... if you still need the link, i found it: http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=WA35493

thank you for doing that axel. almost makes up for your pines comment!!! j/k buddy! 

Nice looking flamethrower, and cheap too...

if you still need the link, i found it:

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=WA35493

Stern0 wrote:

Thought you were making fun of my eyesight there for a min!!! I will check it out. Thanks Tom!

no sweat axel!

was hoping it would be alot bigger buddy. sorry its so dang small. i wouldnt have posted it but rather the link for you to see it! oh well!

camo junkie wrote:

axel...we're only joking...i'd be worried if we werent!!

Don't sweat it cj.  Haha, it was a stupid mistake on my behalf! 

btw steve, saw this guy from squadron (actually warriors) and thought of your dio...cost for figure...$4, all resin too!!!

well, unfortunately its way too small but if you go to their web site you will see it. it's a marine running with a flamethrower.

There, i fixed it.  Better Guys?

Sorry about so many stupid and correction/ corrected posts.

camo junkie wrote:

Hans von Hammer wrote:  Axel Smith wrote: AWESOME PINES! And here i am whining how hard and impossible they are! Especially how he made them pines look like palms, eh? i know what he meant hans...but in the back of my mind i was thinking the same thing (no offense axel)

Okay. Now i feel REALLY stupid! but thanks for catching me, and feel free to make fun of me... sorry guys.

Sorry Stern0

A week! jeez...mine started yesterday.....dam, got 10 emails thought I was finally popular!

BTW: anyone else getting email notifications in quad???

Yeah... what's up with that?

Thanks fellas!! The funny thing is when talking to my wife about this peice, I am constantly calling them pine frons..permanant brain cramp!

I will get that toot done very soon guys!!!!

BTW: anyone else getting email notifications in quad???

Hans von Hammer wrote:

Axel Smith wrote: AWESOME PINES! And here i am whining how hard and impossible they are! Especially how he made them pines look like palms, eh?

i know what he meant hans...but in the back of my mind i was thinking the same thing (no offense axel)

Axel Smith wrote:

AWESOME PINES! And here i am whining how hard and impossible they are!

Especially how he made them pines look like palms, eh?

camo junkie wrote:

yeah ditto...looks like it worked and looks very convincing!

Here is a pic of the frons on the trunks....I kinda like it.....(did I say that out loud!?) and the peice of mits. wreckage while i was at it...Again, not sure if it has its place yet.

LOL. 

Nice looking work, very convincing leaves. She's getting closer, I can taste it!  

I dont like the way the colors look with the rest of the dio so it is still in the air.....

Do I HAVE to say it?

Thanks Col. Funny stuff! on dark modeling nights, I hear on the wind.. Stryyykerrrr! She is comming along though, glad I'm through the palm fron crisis...have a few things to work out, not to mention the figs..Thanks for checking in sir!

Scott, if it helps the leaves are on a single branch about 2 to 3 foot long with the leaves in tandem all the way down..a fairly large tree...branches hung low enough to reach from ground. I dunno! I wish I had never put that plane part in the pic...it wasnt finished and looks like hell. I origanally wanted it to be a wing peice with the meatball still mostly intact...I need some detail for the ribs and spars that are visible....I dont like the way the colors look with the rest of the dio so it is still in the air.....I do know it wont be where it is in the pic..many thanks!!!!!

Nice job, Steve .... I'm an outdoors-y guy, but I can't get a handle on the leave. (Size matters, ya know! hehe!!) Looks like something that outside on my bushes, but I can't be sure.

Palms are looking good. As far as the fuselage piece ... Not sure how I feel about it yet. It does add some interest though. Have you tried searching for "cut away" for that particular A/C? There are tons of cut-away drawings out there that should give you an idea of what you're looking for.

Wow... This's really taking shape, man...  It's more than peaked my usual interest as well, since the Jarheads are so rarely modeled outside the occasional pilot or tank commander....  Keep waiting to see SGT Stryker pop up with a satchel charge... (Ya I know, I know..)

I really don't know much about Gyrene infantry stuff (other than describing them as robot-like creatures that willingly charge MGs with fixed bayonets.. I'm mostly a Western Europe GI kinda guy), but if it's passing muster with that Jughead on the Vegas PD, life's good...  The palm fronds are great.

Thanks Tom, The curl is actually part of the process, turns out I was going about it totally wrong..these were a little time consuming but very easy!...I'll get on that toot!

Chris, Many thanks! i'll get some better picks of that wreckage for ya...tried to find some pics of the ribs on a Zeke...no go,  but it needs a little more work on it. would love to see ya do a PTO dio...

Jim, Much appreciated...give me a day or so and I'll have that toot up,

They look great!! And that plane section's pretty cool

I think you could write a tut on those leaves even if you cant ID the 1:1 leaf

Awesome work

Think I have a handle on the palm frons, these are cut from real leaves. If anyone can identify the leaf please let me know..I may do a toot if anyone is interested..

Looking great- are the leaves... masking tape strips perhaps?? They look great, just wondering how you pulled it off. What's the item closest to the lense? Looks like some kind of sheet metal and appears to have a rising sun on it- part of a fuselage perhaps? Hard to tell from the angle

Comeing along real nice

Here is the redone  camo...

A10, thanks for the feedback....my wife pointed out that he looked like a zombie...I didn't say it to her but she may be right!!!

No prob Jim..it is 1/35..at least the figs..everything else is just eyeballed..might not be exactly to scale...hope you can get to bed earlier tonight..sleep well!

looks good keep up the work

PS he does kinda look like a zombie

Looking great Stern0!

Really like that base work, and camo pattern on the marine.

Glad you can use that- I think he has a build log somewhere on UKs Military Modeling website, but I don't remember how I stumbled across it...

If I recal he added a lot of scratch detail to the fig. alone!

Can't wait to see your highlighting!!

MC, At least I was thinking big!!! I invisioned a 30 foot ark of flame going into the bunker with a massive hellstorm at impact....I may be able to handle the primer flame!!

agentg, Thank you for the positive comments! As far as the utilities go, I am just going by the box art..which parallels my research...looks like, we mixed and matched camo with the green and some still had only the sage green herringbone twill (at least the grunts)...I will have to see which color pattern was used more...the brown makes more sense for sure. Thanks for the info sir

Getting that pilot light done up would be pretty cool. I don't know if this is the same kit figure

http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/usa/m4a2tarawasz_1.html

But I'm not too sure if it would be visible inside that little nozzle. Unless it's actually outside of said nozzle

HAHA ... NP. Anytime. I guess I wasn't as clear w/ my FT question though ... although yes, flaming the hole (hmmm.....) does sound like fun, I was more thinking about how you were thinking to do the little flame thats always lit at the end of the FT.

I think that someone once before posting something about using a small piece of shiny ribbon!?! Don't know ... that's just the first thing that popped to mind. ....

Lookin forward to it .....

CJ, Will do...thanks a million!

Chris, I was being silly .....thats an incredible compliment, thank you...yep..everything to date except for my frozen germans are OOB..Thanks for noticing..I think..

MC, I am going to try to fit all four of the figs in...originaly I wasn't going to put the flamethrower in, was going to have him implied...The pictured Marine is the one yelling FLAMETHROWER UP! so I think the FT will be behind some debris at the end of the wall getting his command....having him flamming the hole would be awsome, but not in the cards on this one...id like to develop good fire first. You do as I do I take a little from each how to and customize it to fit your needs..I finally found a face technique that I can work with (hope it shows) but need to work on those highlights...standby for questions! Thanks.

Stern0 wrote:

...I know what I like and I know how things should look and I try to get it that way by method ...back to highlighting..you guys have that down and just want to try my hand at it because it looks awsome.....

As far as highlighting goes .... As I said before, even though I almost strictly use acrylics, I like highlighting w/ enamels. I have found that acrylics just dry too fast. Enamels give me the time I need. As far as colors to use .... I either use the base color (or a variation of it) or for OD green equipment (as Camo taught me) I use pale yellow. When I started back into modeling I basically read a bunch of how to's and kind-of combined a few methods from each one ... Hard to explain exactly how I finish my figures, but I'm pleased w/ the results.

... and yes, as indy pointed out, I continuously try to improve my finishing skills.

... or maybe we could stay away from inflamitory comments to begin with ...

Stern ... glad that you got the pants re-painted. Just keep working it, and when you hear the "ding", then you know you're done. HAHA!!!

How many figures are you planning for this one again!?! ... and are you looking to "animate" the flamethrower? (ie .... flaming cotton balls, etc.) ... just curious.

p.m. me with your ?'s buddy. i'll help ya however i can.

CJ, Good points all around....I know what I like and I know how things should look and I try to get it that way by method ...back to highlighting..you guys have that down and just want to try my hand at it because it looks awsome..and humility....please...the minute anyone thinks they are the best is the minute they see something that makes their work look terrible..a little humbleness goes a long way!

Scott, many thanks! I think that is my journey now...trying to find a techniqe that works, that can be a little taxing.

Indy, I have a pretty good filter when it comes to things I can use to improve my modeling,  But I have yet to read a mundane opinion or come across a mediocre modeler in here...I think that its all relative...I'm very glad to see that you used a broad stroke when saying that. You can bet your boots i'll be striving for improvments!

Chris...Stop making fun of me!

Good to hear indy. And also glad you agree with me on Steve's great portrayal of emotion.

But I agree camo! Lets see these new pants!! haha

anyhow...can we get back to stern0's build!

psstoff995 wrote:

Going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you mean mediocre minded modelers in a broad, non specific way and you weren't taking jabs at anyone in particular on this thread there indy...

Stern0- when I think of small dioramas with a clear subject/theme at hand- yours quickly come to mind. Hope we all can continue to bounce ideas and inspiration off each other. You put so much emotion into little plastic people (and usually OOB from what I can tell) and that's something I think we all strive for and few achieve.

Going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you mean mediocre minded modelers in a broad, nonspecific way and you weren't taking jabs at anyone in particular on this thread there indy...

Stern0- when I think of small dioramas with a clear subject/theme at hand- yours quickly come to mind. Hope we all can continue to bounce ideas and inspiration off each other. You put so much emotion into little plastic people (and usually OOB from what I can tell) and that's something I think we all strive for and few achieve.

Lookin' good there Stern .... as Camo stated .... just keep tinkering and you'll find the technique that works for you.

Again, lookin' good ... keep it comin' ...

CJ, Chris, Thank you guys for your support and encouragment on the figs...I see so many outstanding figs from you fellas, I just want to catch up! up until the last few years I have painted my figs (acrylic) then washed with a burnt umber oil wash..thats it! that just won't cut it anymore, you guys have that bar way up there. Just keep telling me whats good and whats not..Many thanks!

BTW. I did redo the pants!

M.R., Thanks for the positive comments especially on the fig...trying to make them look better and stressing it!! Of course you make it look so easy. The only reason the marine has full camo is the box art...he is the only one, everyone else is mixed with the santinis (green), the flamethrower is just santinis. I used my favorite medium for the base, Sheetrock mud also known as jointcompound. Very cheap, very forgiving.....On previous builds I have made my ground work solid SR mud..I did use some old sanding sponges to "fill" in  this time. The only bad thing about sheetrock mud is drying time...after each layer I sat it in the sun, helped alot., and that was only because it was very thick!

60, Good call!!! Consider the trees marred....I'm sure there wasn't anything around that didn't have shrapnel scars or bullet holes...thanks!!

Indy,Thanks for the realisim comment...my big peeve is to make it as real as possible, frustrating sometimes....

CJ, I did redo the pants and I'll try again....dam figures are killing me!!! Thanks for the help.

 Shouldn't there be some "blazes" on those trees? Shrapnell marks/damage?

  But it's rocking!

                                      60

Mansteins revenge wrote:

Impressive...looks very much like Tarawa...that figgie looks pretty darn good! The camo is pretty convincing, although I'm not sure how many Marines had the full camo outfit---I've seen mostly helmet covers in that pattern in most refs...What is the "mud" you used on the base???

Here is where it stands today...Final coat of sand (siffted) some veggies and a few scratched palms..Thanks to the U.S. Navy there was not much vegatation left on Betio!

here is a pic of one of the Marines wip. (looks like a zombie to me, some say thats all we are anyway) trying some different techniques on the figs to improve them...hope they are are better than previous ones, you guys let me know what you think.