New Dio-WIP *Update 12-31*

You give the Zimmed Offering a ?

I'm looking at the Tiger I ZO when it comes out. 

the doog wrote:

Ok, so I was wrong--(from the guess in the "Armor" post about the 506th...) You certainly nailed the camo! It's really accurately done, Manny, and a faithful representation of the color preofile there! WELL DONE! I agree with MG42 about the tracks--definitely need to "silver" them, what with them being on stone streets and all...  This would be the recent "zimmed" KT right? That doesn't look like "field applied" zimm! LOL! This one looks like what we've come to expect from you, Manny--another "winner"! I'm sure it'll be chock-full of cool figures too?

Ok, so I was wrong--(from the guess in the "Armor" post about the 506th...)

You certainly nailed the camo! It's really accurately done, Manny, and a faithful representation of the color preofile there! WELL DONE!

I agree with MG42 about the tracks--definitely need to "silver" them, what with them being on stone streets and all...

 This would be the recent "zimmed" KT right? That doesn't look like "field applied" zimm! LOL!

This one looks like what we've come to expect from you, Manny--another "winner"! I'm sure it'll be chock-full of cool figures too? 

Nice.....from the teaser 

Manny, I love your dio & figure work. I was especially impressed with the US dio above.

Great snow job

This one seems to be moving along. I understand the idea of hopes, but you can't hope unless you try. I'm sure it will turn out great.

.... so you never answered the earlier question, "where are the women at"? I know....you are going to tell us the building is a burned out "adult fun house" 

Rounds Complete!!

Well, so much for the "mystery" vehicle...someone earlier guessed a Mk III...actually the DML zimmed KT will be the "star" of the dio:

...looks like my base measurements were spot on for the fit...this KT is modeled after a 503rd KT late in '44 defending Aachen:...

vespa boy wrote:

Manny you do have a great start there with a lot of textures in the street. I really like the paving bricks and the join mid way in the road and the drain in the gutter.  This is something to think about as you build (and forgive me if I am telling you stuff you already know) Don't forget that there is a lot of action and consequence on streeet level, if you have a damaged building, the falling bricks must have hit the pavement and caused some pitting . Road repairs often don't match the surrounding areas. Don't forget to make everything settle into the base.... e.g. the pavement will have been redone a few times during the life of the building, so make sure the building doesn't sit on top of the sidewalk etc. Nice work so far.

Manny you do have a great start there with a lot of textures in the street. I really like the paving bricks and the join mid way in the road and the drain in the gutter.

 This is something to think about as you build (and forgive me if I am telling you stuff you already know) Don't forget that there is a lot of action and consequence on streeet level, if you have a damaged building, the falling bricks must have hit the pavement and caused some pitting . Road repairs often don't match the surrounding areas. Don't forget to make everything settle into the base.... e.g. the pavement will have been redone a few times during the life of the building, so make sure the building doesn't sit on top of the sidewalk etc.

Nice work so far.

Manny, vespa boy is gonna be hitting you up for tips on that base! That's looking pretty sweet!

I agree that the section beneath the building looks better like that. 

vespa boy wrote:

Manny I am curious about street lamps, and maybe you can set me right here. I have been under the impression that the bases are made from cast metal which is strong when left alone, but is very brittle when hit, and results in a snap rather than a bend. Is this right?

Hellcat man wrote:

In the last picture is that the Academy Mutt or the Tamiya

In the last picture is that the Academy Mutt or the Tamiya

WOW Manny! Gorgeous! I've seen a few of these before but not that one with the American halftrack and Greyhound, and I'm not sure if I saw that Pz III one. The groundwork is excellent, as I would have expected!

You are truly a master! The US vehicles one especially catches my eye--the uniform camo and building look outstanding. I love your snow work, and the little details like the leaves.

Outstanding!

the doog wrote:

Manny, ya must have overlooked my post...what about the question I asked? Got any groundwork-type dios?

IYAAYAS wrote:

I gotta say the long board is really outta place!  otherwise it looks pretty good!

I gotta say the long board is really outta place!  otherwise it looks pretty good!

The general layout follows fairly standard conventions, and works very well as such. You don't really have any obvious areas of empty space, and the one I was going to suggest, you mentioned will be filled with rubble. Will this be an "at ease" or a dynamic type of scene?

I'm curious as to what you'll do to represent the gloom of winter. The light flaking of snow in areas is an interesting idea, since I don't seem to see these scenes set in the winter time as often.

kcmat wrote:

First let me say I look forward to seeing this one as it goes. Try and keep some WIP pics so we can watch. Easier to catch some tips than getting bombed with the finale. And on that note I have a couple questions. (not of your skill or technique) Things that caught my eye and would like to ask befor I make a booboo down the road. 1) The brick is "redder" (surely thats not a real word!) than I would have used. Is it the lighting or am I just from a region that uses a "browner" (and score 2 for the venacular!) brick? Maybe as Doog said with some mortar work it will tone down. 2) the one side of the building has what I take as smoke stain/soot. But more prevalant on the 2nd floor. Is there a hole in the wall I cant see that smoke or flames would have been coming thru? Was the beam there burning some? Is it not smoke stain at all? 3) The beams (not sure what you really call those. The timber IN the stone) is light. Like it's new wood. Or like it was treated for a natural finish. Was this often the case?   Seriously I ask from a learning stand point. Not knockin your work at all. Keep churning out great models!

1) The brick is "redder" (surely thats not a real word!) than I would have used. Is it the lighting or am I just from a region that uses a "browner" (and score 2 for the venacular!) brick? Maybe as Doog said with some mortar work it will tone down. It is a little "redder" than I normally  paint bricks. After all, I was the guy who said a few times in threads that bricks ARE NOT red...lol...part of the reason for the brightness is because I still have some toning down to do with washes and dusting; the other is that I wanted more of a contrast between building and tank...so there is a thought out process of contrast going on in my mind (hope it works!)...

2) the one side of the building has what I take as smoke stain/soot. But more prevalant on the 2nd floor. Is there a hole in the wall I cant see that smoke or flames would have been coming thru? Was the beam there burning some? Is it not smoke stain at all? In most of my dios I try to suggest what is past the border of the dio, and that's especially important to me because I like 'em small (to me the smaller dios convey more a sense of tension and urgency)...if you look close you can see that this is meant to be but just one row-house in a line of them that goes on...notice that there are remnants of an ajoining wall on the side with the cross beams...I will have rubble, etc. here that represents what was on fire and caused those stains...also, those beams have been charred a little as well...I actually used REAL FIRE from a lighter to get some of the burinig effects on this piece...if you look close inside you can see some VLS wallpaper that has been burned and is curling from the wall...the floors were also on fire...this method takes a lot of control...lol...

3) The beams (not sure what you really call those. The timber IN the stone) is light. Like it's new wood. Or like it was treated for a natural finish. Was this often the case? Wood is fickle...some of it looks distressed/old when it it actually new and vice-versa, depending on treatment, exposure, etc...wood used on the outside of a structure usually would have some protective coating on it, such as paint, clear laquer, etc...may still go back and darken it a bit...

Again, once the tank/figs are on the scene the building will merely provide a nice backdrop for it, along with the other bits, such as the barrel, waterpump, lamp, potato sack, etc...hopefully, it will all look like it is a cohesive piece when all the elements come together...will keep everyone posted on progress...thanks for the help...

Looking great so far, Manny. I think the layout looks fine. I like the detail on the accessories you've got happenin' so far. Is this gonna support a Pz III? I know how much you want to marry one, as do I

I did this same building in a dio, my first attempt at really detailing the interior. I made a mistake, though; I finished the bricks "boarding up" the ground floor window from the interior using Sculpey. Looked great- until I painted it... them's some glossy bricks. No amount of Dullcoat brought it down. I modeled / suggested a basement from the the inside, with some grenadiers heading down into it.

I don't think the wood beam look too bad. If anything, a little staining for aging, but I think it looks good. Sets off the brick and stucco (?) nicely, got's an artsy quality to it.

Keep up the good'ers.

Steve 

First let me say I look forward to seeing this one as it goes. Try and keep some WIP pics so we can watch. Easier to catch some tips than getting bombed with the finale.

And on that note I have a couple questions. (not of your skill or technique) Things that caught my eye and would like to ask befor I make a booboo down the road.

1) The brick is "redder" (surely thats not a real word!) than I would have used. Is it the lighting or am I just from a region that uses a "browner" (and score 2 for the venacular!) brick? Maybe as Doog said with some mortar work it will tone down.

2) the one side of the building has what I take as smoke stain/soot. But more prevalant on the 2nd floor. Is there a hole in the wall I cant see that smoke or flames would have been coming thru? Was the beam there burning some? Is it not smoke stain at all?

3) The beams (not sure what you really call those. The timber IN the stone) is light. Like it's new wood. Or like it was treated for a natural finish. Was this often the case?

Seriously I ask from a learning stand point. Not knockin your work at all. Keep churning out great models!