Eric: Looks good to me- I like the tiger stripes(hmmm, panther is all black and doesn't have stripes)! I gave mine a light misting with the mustard yellow to dull down the contrast a little.

I don't even try to be too close to perfect anymore. I forgot who it was on the armour forum but I thank them for pointing out that the camo work was done by some guy climbing around on the vehicle with a spray gun so it's not going to be too perfect.

Eric, that's a smokin'  hot JP you got there.

Jack, great Spit.

It has its shoes on. Work on the tools should commence this evening.

Love the new shoes!!!  Be sure to break them in first or you will get blisters... again beautiful work you are doing and it is your third.  Jeez, I am still working on my first. LOL

I apologize for not posting updates... holidays sure has kept me busy.  

Thought I posted an update earlier but I didn't.  Did the heavy chipping with help from AK Worn Effects... please keep in mind I am going for end of winter scheme where most of winter camo has been peeled off after seeing plenty of actions. 

I sprayed mist of same white paint to tone down so the colors blend better. 

And it has tracks on... Friuls. 

And the figures are 99% complete... the Tiger also got decals on too.  Only 3 decals this time... 

Thanks for looking!  

Andy: Gorgeous looking Tiger I!  And those figgies.....are the Cat's meow!!

Marc - Panther is looking the biz!

Andy - winter scheme looks terrific, as do the figures.

If  I may suggest, mix up a watered down red and with a pointed brush apply it over their eyes.  Basically want it to accumulate around the shape of the eyeballs, but particularly pool on inside corners.  Also add some redness to the nose and cheeks.  Mind you, this all might be part of the 1% you indicated still needs attending to.

regards,

Jack

Andy - Great looking Tiger I!  And figures are awesome .... several outstanding projects ... glad xmas is over - 2nd job took up too much bench time - slowly moving along ... tow cables assembled ... tools next. Armor86 

Armor86- Thanks!!! Love all of PE work on your Tiggy too! 

Jack- Glad you like 'em so far.  You read my mind... last 1% is highlighting the flesh, paint lips and cheeks.  Which color would you recommend?  I have Vallejo rose pink which is dark pink.  Thanks for the tip about painting the eyes. 

Greg- Thanks... appreciate it! Meow! 

Armor86 - excellent work with the PE.

Andy - rose pink sounds fine to me.  I usually just mix a shade on a palette using red, white and a skin tone, and maybe a little brown added if needed.   I'm not familiar what technique you use for painting the figure, but I layer it on gradually, maybe two or three steps, the final one being darkest in regards to the red areas.

Can't remember where I found these (maybe the PlanetFigure forums) but here is a guide for bringing back some warm colour to the face:

regards,

Jack

Gamera

Eric: Looks good to me- I like the tiger stripes(hmmm, panther is all black and doesn't have stripes)! I gave mine a light misting with the mustard yellow to dull down the contrast a little.

I don't even try to be too close to perfect anymore. I forgot who it was on the armour forum but I thank them for pointing out that the camo work was done by some guy climbing around on the vehicle with a spray gun so it's not going to be too perfect.

Marc, dang you're almost done with number 3!  Looking splendid.

Jack that is a great graphic.  Perfectly delineates that areas and colors for a face.  Saved to a file for future ref.

Marc: Nice, good to see her with her 'paws' on and ready to roll.

Armor86: Looking good, the tow cables look great.

Andy: Super job there, yeah if these guys are freezing their butts off on the Eastern Front I'd figure they'd be a little flushed. Jack's diagram should be all you need.

I love this AK Chipping Fluid,it really works great.Here are the chipped roadwheels,they still need to be weathered and filtered

Andy , looking great.

Marc, ditto.

Armor86, whoa, detail city.

I tried to get some better shots today, all too dark, too "flashed" or poorly composed. Will try again tomorrow. Here's one that got the look and colors right, poor composition. Drat.

BTW, I lost one wheel hub, so I whipped out what (I hope) looks like a hub without the dust cover/grease cap and used some gloss black to simulate leaking grease. I've built three KTs now and lost one of these things twice.

This one isn't too bad.......

Tojo: That whitewash looks great!

RBaer: Wow, I think you just nailed the war-weary beat-up look.

jgeratic1

Andy - rose pink sounds fine to me.  I usually just mix a shade on a palette using red, white and a skin tone, and maybe a little brown added if needed.   I'm not familiar what technique you use for painting the figure, but I layer it on gradually, maybe two or three steps, the final one being darkest in regards to the red areas.

Can't remember where I found these (maybe the PlanetFigure forums) but here is a guide for bringing back some warm colour to the face:

regards,

Jack

Jack- Thanks man!  That diagram will be very helpful!  Yes, similar... several layers starting with darkest then now base flesh. Next will be highlight and pink flesh.  Thanks again!

Anothiny-  No kidding about AK products.  I found it a lot easier to use than actual hairspray products.  Wheels look awesome... very realistic! 

RBaer- Your KT looks GREAT  It definitely has seen a lot of action... 

Had a moment there after fitting the turret - very close fit ... move the bar / clasp over .... finished fasteners over the tow cable / cleaning rods. Armor 86

Again great work guys.

Question about the AK fluid? Is it kind of like a chalk and scrubs off easy?

Armor86: Great work there, like Andy's tank it's almost a shame to cover all that PE in paint.

BTW: Is this Heavy Chipping Acrylic Fluid what you guys are referring to here?

Over the last few weeks I've been really sick and have had a lot of non-modeling things to do, but I've been getting some bench time here and there, so I've started my Panther G. So far this is the best armor kit I've ever worked on, with crisp detail, near perfect fit, and intelligently planned out construction. I did a quick test fit and I think the hull may fit so fell that, for the first time in my experience, no filler will be needed! I've got the suspension pretty much done, along with a few other bits that are added before the hull gets started, and later this week I'll be getting going on the wheels, my ABSOLUTE favorite part of armor modeling (sarcasm ).

Here's some of my progress so far. It doesn't look like much, but getting the suspension perfectly aligned and cleaned up took a fair amount of time. Once I finish a major assembly I'll take better quality photos with my Canon, but these quick "in progress" pics are just smartphone quality.

I'm really excited to continue on this project, I think it's gonna be pretty great on the shelf. Thanks for looking!

Mike- Great start.... hate 'em wheels too! 

Gamera

BTW: Is this Heavy Chipping Acrylic Fluid what you guys are referring to here?

Gamera- Yes, but I used 'Worn Effect'.  There's two kinds from AK... I was afraid that 'Heavy Chipping' may cause excessive peeling so I used WE instead.  Still a great product.  I poured just little into my AB, sprayed two coats and it did the trick. 

Armor86,all that AM looks fantastic,the details really make the difference,looking forward to see it dressed up.

Eric,the AK fluid is clear and dries clear,you don't even know its there after it dries.heres the process

Basecoat

Acrylic clear

Chipping fluid

Whitewash

Acrylic clear

Weathering effects and pigments

After you spray the fluid,allow it air dry,then spray the whitewash,allow it to dry for 45 minutes,then apply warm water and then you chip off the whitewash using a q tip,stiff brush or tooth picks,whatever works for you

Thanks Anthony. Doesn't seem so painful as it does time-consuming.

Streetfightingman, glad you're back in the game. Good looking start. I heard that that is a fine fitting kit.

Mike: Nice work there! I built several of the old Dragon 'Imperial Series' kits and thought they were were ok but this Tiger Smart Kit is a cat of a different colour- great fit and detail all around - great kit!

Andy & Tojo: Thanks! I saw the Worn Effect too but figured with the heavy wear you must have been using the 'heavy duty' version. I've got a few of the AK products but I'm going to have to give this a whirl.

Jack, thanks for posting that. I really need to improve on my figures, i think this will help a lot.

Tojo, nice work on the wheels.

armor, that is looking hot, great PE work.

Streetfightingman, great start. Roads wheels, every modellers favorite part.

Anthony the chipping looks a treat.  I may have to break down and tyr that AK stuff.

RBaer... That's a sweet little kitty.

A86... The anticipation of seeing that thing with paint on it is killing me.

SFM... Good start.  I like when the kits hove the torsion bar suspension   If nothing else it helps keep the axle that are pinned it the outside of the tub from weakening and breaking off form getting to much weathering solvents on the glue joint.

OK Eric, my maniacal GB running friend... limber up those cut and paste fingers cuz #3 is done.

All you eagle eyes out there... if you see them... shout it out so I can fix it.

 I am going to take a stab at a homemade cobblestone roadway for a base.  Thanks to all that have followed along.

I left comments in the Armor Forum, but again, it's a beaut!  Love your whitewash and weathering.

I can't wait for the 4th! Holy Moly, we need more badges just for Marc.

Wing Nut -- that's a beautiful, beautifful job, and embodies the thrill of realism that reminds me why I'm in armour modelling! Top job, sir! I only wish I could do as well!

Mike/TB379

Marc - that is just simply amazing!  Funny Eric should mention we need more badges for you, I was thinking exactly the same thing.

If I was to question anything about the finish from a realism point of view, it would be the darkness of the horizontal and vertical lines created by the zimmerit pattern.  The lower area looks fine, particularly the rear, but  I'm wondering if dirt would collect so uniformly in all those recesses, and instead maybe have some of the white wash  still visible here and there?

Again, top shelf work.

regards,

Jack