SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Flak gun - winter scene

4070 views
31 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Sunny Florida
Flak gun - winter scene
Posted by renarts on Thursday, June 5, 2003 1:47 AM
Well guys, here's a winter dio I did.
Set-up: Flak crew just finished sprucing up the gun with some white wash. In a moment of mischevious fun they look to their mascot for help and try to coax him in to helping, or do they want to camoflage him?Evil [}:)]Wink [;)]

The ground is the celluclay/palster mix. This was textrued with sand and small rocks then things like vehicle ruts, foot prints, and other features were impressed, into the soft surface before it set-up along with some debris that would be covered by some mud. The puddles are a two part resin. Grass is frayed cisal rope and the trees and logs are tree roots. Once dry it was painted with acrylics and then covered with a gloss to give it that wet feel. The wall embankment was built up using mdf and then covered with boards ripped down from alder (a good scale wood effect). Figures and gun are Tamiya 1/35. Straps for the machine gun and rifles as well as for the gas masks were made from painted paper and shaped to look like they were drooping etc. Boxes were scratchbuilt from wood. Snow was added and is baking soda.

The platform itself is MDF, which machines nicely and is stable as well as resistant to movement after finished. It can be faux painted to look like anything from wood to marble. And because its heavier than wood it makes a nice base for just about anything.



Mike
Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: United Kingdom
Posted by U-96 on Thursday, June 5, 2003 4:30 AM
I am in awe, that is quite superb!
On the bench: 1/35 Dragon Sturmpanzer Late Recent: Academy 1/48 Bf-109D (Nov 06) Academy 1/72 A-37 (Oct 06) Revell 1/72 Merkava III (Aug 06) Italeri 1/35 T-26 (Aug 06)
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 5, 2003 2:47 PM
A fine well balanced scene.. great work..and for your next trick??
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 5, 2003 7:47 PM
Thats an awesome dio, mike. I really like the idea for the dio too. Where did you find the dog figure??
And also, how much does the MDF cost you generally?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Sunny Florida
Posted by renarts on Thursday, June 5, 2003 8:25 PM
Thanks Oracle,
The dog came with the Tamiya figure set "German Field Briefing" As I have two shepards of my own, I can sympathize with these guys.

MDF runs about $10 a 4'x8' sheet of 3/4". It is commonly available in 1/4", 1/2", 5/8" and 3/4". I'm sure it comes in other thicknesses but those seem to be the most popular at the Depot or Lowes.

Mike
Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by shermanfreak on Thursday, June 5, 2003 8:27 PM
Great looking dio Mike .... love the dirty knees. Winter unifrom camo can be one of the hardest to reproduce and I think you did a great job. The stove is a great addition to this scene.

P.S. - when were you working on this one?
Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Sunny Florida
Posted by renarts on Thursday, June 5, 2003 9:11 PM
I finished it back in April, sort of a warm up before the Panzer.

Mike
Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 6, 2003 10:44 AM
Thanks for the info on the MDF. I'll check that out this weekend.
Happy Modeling!
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Newport News VA
Posted by Buddho on Saturday, June 7, 2003 6:00 PM
Excellent diorama...very realistic!
Regards, Dan

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 4:44 AM
hi you can all most feel the chill in the air , very well done , cheers ian
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 10:54 AM
I love it. Very well balanced.
I also like your hint to the time period (winter '44).
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 1:42 PM
Superb! What more can I say?

Persist and Succeed
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 4:16 PM
Thats vunderbaa renarts, well crafted with a touch of lightheartedness. Is it me or are they laughing at that poor defenceless dog???
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Sunny Florida
Posted by renarts on Thursday, June 12, 2003 11:45 PM
Heres an overhead shot of the diorama.
I still need to take some pics of this and get some details.
Dogs in the lower left.

Mike
Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 20, 2003 10:57 PM
What's MDF? I'm pretty new at this...
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Sunny Florida
Posted by renarts on Friday, June 20, 2003 11:34 PM
Hey TreeBeard,

MDF - Medium Density Fiberboard. Its a very dense celluloid fibre board usually used in cabinet building and some furniture and building applications. It machines rather well, is heavier than comparable plywood, stable because it has no grain and is inexepensive. It can be found in most home improvement centers and or lumber yards. Comes in varying thicknesses as well. For bases it works really nice because it will not warp or crack over time, takes a nice decorative edge from a router, is heavy so it provides a stable platform, and is smooth so it makes a nice finish. With faux painting it can be made to look like any type of material from wood to metal.

Mike
Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, June 22, 2003 7:40 PM
Renarts, such an awesome dio. Is the snow just plain baking soda spread around? Great job.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Sunny Florida
Posted by renarts on Sunday, June 22, 2003 11:26 PM
I painte a mixture of white glue and water onto the areas I wanted the snow. Then I sprinkled the baking soda onto those area. After it was dry I took my airbrush and blew off the excess.

There have been a few that have had some problems with the baking soda discoloring or absorbing humidity and reacting. I have not had this problem (and I live close to the ocean and on an island between two saltwater lagoons so I can attest to the problems of humidity) and will definately keep an eye on this. Just as a precaution though I think I will switch over to talcum powder or very fine gypsum.
It may be a case of other environmental factors that caused their problem but if it saves me some heartache later it would be worth the switch.

Mike
Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 4, 2003 5:30 PM
very nice
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 2, 2005 3:45 AM
THAT looks outstanding!!
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Queensland/Australia
Posted by hemble on Sunday, October 2, 2005 6:48 AM
That's making me cold just looking at it, that is a great dio mate well done indeed.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 3, 2005 7:00 AM
Beautiful. Show quality.
  • Member since
    November 2004
  • From: Canada
Posted by sasd on Monday, October 3, 2005 7:57 AM
Very well done,love the sporatic snow and the attention to detail.
Great stuff!
"Battleing Bastards of Bastogne"
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Playing in the foothills of NY
Posted by CDNTanker25 on Monday, October 3, 2005 9:44 AM
looks awsome man, geez, I have this set all built and some figs painted... man that officer is one UGLY dude isn't he? not photogenic at all, guess I'm going to have to cut him out of the scene
James on the bench: Merkava II With MCRS-20% Merkava IID 75% IDF Magach Batash
  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Chehalis, WA
Posted by Fish-Head Aric on Monday, October 3, 2005 11:41 AM
This work is so well balanced! All the factors from the action, to the scenery, to the details and lighting... all mesh so well it looks almost real!

I think one thing that is really good is that the models are not just sitting atop the scenery... they are in it... the boots and wheels appear to sink into the ground a bit. A small detail, but huge in the effect.

A fine fine dio! Inspires me in my own plans and ideas.

Please please share more!
~Aric Fisher aric_001@hotmail.com
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posted by zokissima on Monday, October 3, 2005 2:01 PM
Wow, a very impressive piece.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 3, 2005 2:44 PM
Amazing job! Very realistic! Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 3, 2005 3:31 PM
Very well done.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 3, 2005 5:33 PM
That is quite impressive.
-ERAD
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:57 AM
Excellent work man!
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.