~ ! Clash in Tunisia ! ~ { Final Photos on page 37 }

~Rob ~ thanx, yeah the kits small, full of small parts, the kubel update kit had some really fiddley parts, my 1st go at a bad P.E. sheet(spoiled by Lion Roar & Eduard) this was doubble-thich copper and no folding lines cut into anything, try to scribe them in and the part cracks off there when you bend!

~FootHills guy ~  Welcome to supper ~ Come back real soon too

~Narayan ~ Thanks, always fancy appreciation from a modeler of your caliber. I don't mind painting it ~ that's my favorite part ~ But I know what ya mean, I was just saying the same thing to friend about his build!

~ Steve ~ I will be shooting for "fantastic Dio"--you betcha! I'm very happy with several of the figures, a few, not-so-much...that's the next phase, getting those in-line too. thanks  the "The detailing is amazing on the pak and kubel." remark ~~ really the detail is just adequate to my needs ~ enough to appear really detailed in the scheme  of the Dio (I hope) without going totally overboard and taking so much time on them the Dio  is just a distant dream(I know you know what I mean, my friend! )

One more cool shot of my Kubel(from the same site) The caption read "Somewhere in Russia", but going by the CAMEL! in the background, I'm guessing around Tobruk maybe.

 

INDY

That is nice... that is really nice.  Really REEEEEAAALLLYYYY NICE...

I'll be on the edge of my seat following this one.  Got anymore of those 'Friday personal days' planned?

Indy,

Did you make the rifle racks or buy them? If you bought them can you tell me where from?

Thanks

bbrowniii wrote:

INDY That is nice... that is really nice.  Really REEEEEAAALLLYYYY NICE... I'll be on the edge of my seat following this one.  Got anymore of those 'Friday personal days' planned?

  HAHA,,Thank you, thank you BBoyd Buddy...more personal days...? (honestly the shops been a tad slow,was a good day for it....)BUT..the Wife is going to her parents this weekend...which means less interuptions "O'course!!! heheheeeee

 ~ Build48 Guy ~  That rifle rack came on the Verlinden P.E. sheet

and was a big improvement over the kit item, but I gotta reccommend you find another detail set as this one was not very user-friendly

~ Indy

 

 Nice progress dog shot, Indy! The build is going very well!

 

                          60

Indy, keep sending us those great pictures!  Because it will help me a alot when I build mine.  I think I have the same kit... but maybe older version because its colors on the box are pretty much faded and blue. LOL  Bought it via eBay along with 20 kits stash for a very good deal. 

Thanks!

 I may be wrong on this... but that "radio" looks rather suspiciously like a piano-style accordion!

Macktheknife wrote:

I may be wrong on this... but that "radio" looks rather suspiciously like a piano-style accordion!

Congradulations-you win the doorprize!.....Yes, I've been meaning to mention, a few modelers elsewhere have I.D'd those items for me as an acordian(what a strange addition to that detail set-but more-so with the desert in mind. The keys on it are not at all defined, although the many small buttons are, and the big strap on the back)explains why I couldn't figure out what model radio it was suposed to be!!

~The other items I guessed we're the batteries have since been I.D.'d as field kitchen-prepared food canisters,as used in the very famous manuver "Operation Sourkraut" "who knew

~~~Ok, so it's back to building up the figures. A few simple conversions, and a couple more advanced ones.    Easy to see the improvement made by the Hornet Replacement Heads(these can never be recommended enough)     A HUGE improvement,still had the expression I had in mind too Old DML/Warriors set  

 This one was maybe the most improved   The 1st attempt{back in the spares box!} Rifle sling added. I see now it needs some adjusting.   I'm calling this lad the 'Rookie",as he does'nt seem to know quite what's in store Not much more expression than before, but well suited anyways Helmet is alot better than DML's I'd say   Thinking of leaving this covered MKII for variety, if there's no objections   This guy was always part of the  plan   As usual, most of the equipment additions I will paint seperately, but add to the soldiers after the basic painting is done, but before any part of it is finalized, so I don't knock myself out  detail painting  more than I need to, and in case modifications become nessessary, I won't have wrecked much. ~This concludes this installment ~ Thanks for joining us (me), back soon with details about the heavier converts.                         !   ~  Indy

Congradulations-you win the doorprize!.....Yes, I've been meaning to mention, a few modelers elsewhere have I.D'd those items for me as an acordian(what a strange addition to that detail set-but more-so with the desert in mind. The keys on it are not at all defined, although the many small buttons are, and the big strap on the back)explains why I couldn't figure out what model radio it was suposed to be!! ~The other items I guessed we're the batteries have since been I.D.'d as field kitchen-prepared food canisters,as used in the very famous manuver "Operation Sourkraut" "who knew

 

Not as strange as one might think. Accordion proficiency would have been relatively popular in the Bavarian/more Slavic influenced areas of Germany. Besides the violin it was probably the most common personal instrument to be found. It was only in the 1950s/60s that the accordion really lost a lot of influence in contemporary music although it was very prominent from the 1850s until then.

~Thanks for breaking your Non-posting-anything-streak to talk about that Mac~ I just think that of all the things Verlinden could have included in the kit.... well. nevermind, it could add that something-unexpected among all the HeerGear. In the '90's we had a little expression  It was " Use an Accordian --Go to Jail ! "   They just don't ROCK.

My grandfather is a Polish accordionist, so it's nice to have at least one subject that I can prattle on about when it arises

~ Mac, interesting. I'm sure you have lots more you can add to the conversations,do not be shy and post some pictures of your models in the appropriate forums so the guys can enjoy them and tear them to pieces as they decide to at a whim.....hehe ~ Really nothing to fear ~~~~

    ~At this point, I'm developing a few custom figures by way of parts barrowed here & there,and sculpting the needed connecting areas. I need  a man at the gunsight, but having him bent down to sight seemed to totaly hide him from view, and maybe even suggest I was trying to hide him, so I'm building a pose where he is watching for the rounds impact over the gunshield, while casually puffing a ciggy, to show him very unaware of the incoming attack of foot-soldiers. It took some doing to get this position, and it's obvious it isn't done yet. The next steps involve some epoxy-putty to the area below the belt, to re-form the bottom of the tunic entirely,as well as replacing some of the top part of the torso's features, and maybe a change of boots too. The lower is from a Dragon tankriders set, the legs changed by heat-bend from an even position. The torso & arms from a nice (but boring) Platoon figure, except the whole upper-right arm which I formed from Milliput. The head is Alpine. Probablly will get some boots from Warriors, both to bulk him out a little, and because the ones he's got are a bit puny(DML)and of a type seen more in the ETO.  
 I'm working on another figure at the gun.This guy is the one holding the follow-up round as is always seen  in any in-action shot. I'm trying to model a fieldgun in a loaded & ready-to-fire condition, but maybe not an up-close, fast-fire scene. Given that. the breech is closed, The barrel elevated slightly, and  the follow-up-round-guy has taken a knee,and is waiting for word from the targeter. A commander & another crewman(at the front of the blog) stand nearby, both watching down-range. This figure is also from the DML tankrider set, hands removed and sleeves drilled out(still to decide on some new hands for him) the head is Warriors(a bit of wash on it so you can see his sour expression. Same cummy boots, naturally.      ~I took my que for these from some actual action photos, but still adapted what I wanted  with artistic licence, as a full-crew won't be seen, Im saying in my story(at this point ,at the end of the campaign) some crewmembers have been killed-off and some replaced by varrious personel. Convienient, I know, but  I usually like to take the route of mixing up the uniforms as much as possible for intrest, contrast & variety.  Here's a few of those Pak 40 crew  shots from history :   This one from Tunisia. See how "hidden' the targeter is in there? Full crew lines-up for fast-reloads--my figure's pose is close to man at front. I'm sure they we're trained to take that knee, and wait behind the relative safety of the gunshield.   These fellows in France. Sherman-hunting in Normandy, no doubt.
I found this dug-out set-up interesting, as Im sure there's no way to get comforable manning one of these, but my gun-position is supposed to be a hasty one, so I couldn't use this set-up. I'd say that gunner on the right better watch his hand, eh?   ~Ok, I be back when I get these conversions looking like something.  Thanks to ya, if your still there Mateys ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ Indy

Indy, always looking great!  So much work on your diomara but it will be a beauty when it is completed.  My only concern is the figure with a long neck... he looked abnormal to me but maybe it is time to have my eyes examined.  Unless you wanted to tell us a story abot his recent trip to a place in Africa where he had his neck extended by a local tribe that adds gold rings around the ladies necks!

LOL ~ Andy~ LOL  You think that neck looks long on the chap pictured in your post? I'm look'in at it in person it looks dead-on. I am getting some flak at about some of the Hornet Brit heads on the DML bodies though, especially ones left loose for painting. Mostly it's just a perspective issue, I'll explain in my next post, after I shoot a few demo-shots.

~       As for the neck thing...I've figured out much of it is from a slight "fisheye" perspective I get with my cheap digi camara when I get in really close. I get better detail - but it costs me proportion, to demo the effect...here's the original shot    ( note the odd perspective :you see both under the hat brim & the tops of the boot in one shot   This picture taken from farther-out and cropped/zoomed in post, softer detail, better proportion, neck looks fine     This guy too. If anything, I'd expect to hear the heads too big for the tiny DML body, but any less neck and the head will definately look too big!  

All that said, I saw how stocky this particular figure was, and the long slender neck was indeed out of place, so I re-mounted it.   Looks correct now for his chunky little body  I would"nt call the DML figures "fine".    They have proportion problems by themselves, despite thier widespread-use and I don't really like this figure  better now...... but it works.  

This one is entirely unaltered, but the fixed perspective shows it was OK Anyway he has the look of a "skinny-boy" somewhat, and I like having some variety within the group.

  This one's head is still loose, but I planed -off the base of the neck very slightly
 I'm greatful for your imput guys, and to have some other sets of eyes on all this at this stage.   Thanks again.............

AHHHH!  Pictures can easily play tricks on old eyes like mine.  What the heck... I am not that old as I am only 39 years old.  Now the neck looks better... guess he didn't visit that tribe to have his neck extended after all!  Thanks for taking your time... always enjoy following your work.

~ Andy ~ No trouble at all. My pleasure. Today I'm working on sculpting the finer points of the guncrew & some work to the big Warriors Tommies. I'll be back as soon as I've got something. thanks for staying tuned !

~~~~~~~~~~I got some more work done to these two   Bipod, sling  (looped over left arm), more detail sanding......
Both of them got thier 'clown-shoes' shaved down.  Pity to lose all that detail but it WAS very over-scale. I did a fair amount of other sanding here and there on both of them...amazing when you really take your time how much you can find needs done !   Still have the bootsoles to work.   ~~~I was also quite busy with my targeter :
Sculpted that missing area of his tunic and pressed in some equipment while at it, Not the most difficult sculpting task, but still not as easy as you think it will be beforehand.   Here some thin slabs of Milliput(fine white) are layed in his lap, ect.
It's pressed & kneaded near flat to meet the belt. Breadbag is a 'painted spare'(DML)the straps of it softened to flush-up to the belt, pressed into putty
Cigarette was added from some .013 brass wire, a drop of thin CA  to the back, then snipped. This let me make sure I had a square-cut to it's front end, and just the right length. You can see the tunic between the legs here too. Not really going to be seen later.

 WARNING :Smoking brass WILL kill you.      More shaping was done after the Milliput cured, with micro-files, dimond-needle-bits in the Dremel, and sandpaper. When somewhat happy with it,  it was surfaced with Tamiya Liquid Putty, thinned with laquer thinner. I thought it might be more interesting to show it here on the gun before I primer, as I will primer in a very close color for this DAK Daddy.    Loads more to do...off to work now!

Of course, copper wire for the cigarette, why didn't I thought of that, I aalways use syrene rod. Nice conversions indy, I can tell its gonna be a really action pack dio.

Diggin' this figure work. I especially like the way the Apline head makes him look so dutiful, oblivious to what we know is creeping up behind him. Never been a big fan of the Apline heads, but I can now see how this one works really well with the body, and within the context.

The only thing that I can think to say is that, as a refined smoker, the ciggie looks to me to be a little large for scale. But, at the same time, it also makes me want one of those big, fat, harsh French cigs (Gitanes). So, I can be satisfied with the notion that the targeter also appreciates good French cigarettes, and has horded a few cartons for himself

Watching for more updates. Mach Schau!

Steve

 

Mic wrote:

Diggin' this figure work. I especially like the way the Apline head makes him look so dutiful, oblivious to what we know is creeping up behind him. Never been a big fan of the Apline heads, but I can now see how this one works really well with the body, and within the context. The only thing that I can think to say is that, as a refined smoker, the ciggie looks to me to be a little large for scale. But, at the same time, it also makes me want one of those big, fat, harsh French cigs (Gitanes). So, I can be satisfied with the notion that the targeter also appreciates good French cigarettes, and has horded a few cartons for himself Watching for more updates. Mach Schau! Steve

~ Thanks for the detailed post Steve.  Looks "dutiful' , eh?   Good.    Listen what Chris Meddings at the MM site said about him :      "  Love the idea of a laconic german gunlayer having a smoke while he works "up a bit, left a bit, down a bit. Ya, that'll do" LOL       ~Found that funny even if I had to look up "laconic" {curt, short with words to point of rudeness}          ~So Alpine heads' not your fav.? I don't hear that much. I've noticed nearly all of them have a whistful stare, with the look of more going on in thier head than right in front of them..... Anyways, this one is the other(you always get 2 right?) head that came with this guy :

My only worry is he's just too similar, as he's nearly the same,  but I did this purposely to get some kind of tie-in between figures, because I'm using so many very different ones

I'm betting I can get enough varriation in painting, but at least the noses are very different, even if the eyes and ears are exactly the same.

Targeter :" I love you Man ! "       Commander:" Get off me !"           Targeter:"Oh come on...let me be in the Dio!"              Commander:"Do you promise to lay off zee shnnapps???" Targeter:"I think it's all gone"         Crewman :"INCOMING!!!!

~Others have said the cig looks perfect to scale. To the unaided eye it call barely be seen as it is!  I quit smoking Marlbutts a couple years ago, but I smoke these small cigars from Holland, I guess they are about the size I portayed. Any way you slice it, this is probablly this man's very last cigarette............................

               Mach Schau     =  "Do Show"           you got it~~~~~~~~~~~

From the sublime to the ridiculous.  The single most bizarre post I have seen in just over one year on this forum.  Indy, this provides a window to your soul.

I knew there was a reason I like you. 

Bill

 

LMFAO!!!  HAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

Wait a minute!  I thought German men do kiss on lips???  Maybe it was the Russians...

Citadelgrad87 wrote:

From the sublime to the ridiculous.  The single most bizarre post I have seen in just over one year on this forum.  Indy, this provides a window to your soul. I knew there was a reason I like you.  Bill

~  Bill ~ A simple  ,"VERY FUNNY" would sufice, but I consider that a great compliment , thanks.

~  Sir Edmund ~ pick yourself up, dust yourself off, & laugh some more, plenty more to come

~ Andy ~ I'm not sure you really get this (theres NO kissing involved)    To break it down....Haven't you ever been around a buddy who was way too drunk and won't shut up, and keeps saying how great a friend you are...and he loves you ...and the whole time you wish he'd shut up, cause you're nowhere as drunk as him, and he stinks, but he's your buddy, and you don't really wanna kill his buzz or make him mad but you wanna tell him to  shut up? NO? Never? Really?

~ Indy

 

Dude... Awesome Work Indy! and hope this suffices... VERY FUNNY

Axel Smith wrote:

Dude... Awesome Work Indy! and hope this suffices... VERY FUNNY

LOL ~ Yes, very much so.....Thank you for that~!

OK~~Here's "Follow-up-Shot-guy"...still needing some careful clean-up, but in the interest of keeping this thread updated..... also the round is just set in place(glue needed to seat it to his palm correctly), BUT I think I've got some good balance  with this one.... Another Alpine Head ! { Where the H.E.Double-Hockysticks is Manny?? He'd dig this the most !} That makes 3 of 4 crewmen with them. I like his chisled, gaunt look. The hands (need a little "skinnyness" carved into them)are from a top-notch Warriors "Waffen SS Gebirsjager" figure that I happened to have bought 2 of ( I guess for parts) cause it was so cheap. A hair dryer's heat  softened the right hand to get the grip on the warhead. The rest of him is all DML  
One area still to slean-up, that bootsole.The breadbag got straps scartched from some .020 styrene rod.   Heres those 2 gunners together in a near-relation shot. Both got some Dark Yellow "primer'. These we're the 2 most "unfindable" figures I needed. Having them close to ready-for-paint brings me very near done building my figures, but there's a few more tasks to do..............."I shall return !"

Looking good, Indy...I love the Alpine heads, and you always get a spare for other projects so it is too cool, but I agree that some have the "thousand yard stare" look about 'em...still love em though.  The loadrer could be portrayed as wearing gloves if you think his hands are too bulky...something not too uncommon in Africa, as many types of German gloves were made for hand protection and not just warmth...I usually paint the thin "deer-skin" variety a mouse-grey color...