Winter Warriors GB 2008

Wow, TONS of good progress here fellas! All three of you are looking real good.

Show me more! Show me more!  

dupes wrote:

Show me more! Show me more!

Der Tiger hat Klauen!!!!!!!!

(The tiger has claws)   Just a progress shot again. I think I've just about got everything ready for the white. Couple more washes and some drybrushing on the tracks, then white out.

Dale

A lot of great work here folks.  I especially like the 251 and Dale, it's a shame to whitewash that Tiger-great job.

I painted the T-34 today.  Had a little issue with the road wheels.  Painted & assembled BEFORE dry fitting....yeah, yeah, I know....and needless to say, the diameter of the opening in the road wheels was smaller than the axle....time to break out the drill bit...however, that has been the only build issue to date.  Also, I painted the road wheels while attached to the spruce...I will need to touch-up the road wheel a bit after they setup.

I need to be deciding on whether to do the heavy weathered or fresh whitewash look.

All the armor is looking good!  Again I feel rather lonely in here with my 109.

Speaking of which....

My last post had the whitewash applied and I was debating on whether or not I had stopped right when I should have or too soon.  In the end I felt it was still too spotty and decided to go over it one last time. 

Now I wish I had listened to some of the sage words here in the forums regardings winter schemes.  I think it now looks too even.   

Regardless, I've moved on and futured the aircraft.  I've also begun the decaling process.  Beware ICM decals!  I can now state they rank up there with Academy's decals.  Thick, amazingly resistant to decal solvent, and wow are they out of register!  Disappointing to say the least. 

At this point I just want this finished.  Too many headaches, but it has been a learning experience.

arki30 wrote:

At this point I just want this finished.  Too many headaches, but it has been a learning experience.

That's really what this GB is about...trying (and hopefully succeeding! ) a scheme/subject one normally wouldn't tackle.

Bob, looking good! White paint time!

Ack! My decal woes continue.  Any place ICM has a little bit of decal marking held together by a larger expanse of carrier film, i.e. the Geschwader markings or the tail kill markings, the carrier film completely disentegrates.  For the Geschwader markings that's irritating but not a major issue as the three now individual pieces are large enough to move around.  The kill markings however....Hauptmann Hans Philipp has the 50 kill award plus all the little bars on the tail surfaces...each side.  Imagine 30+ little bars floating around plus the 50 kill award.  Disaster.  I tried to piece it together but it was just too fiddly.

So, until I can find a better replacement for the kill markings, those will have to be left off for the moment.  Shame as those markings really add to the visual display.

If you have an ICM kit, do whatever it takes to find AM decal options. 

Crap, I DO have an ICM kit in the stash...figures it's a British Mustang Mk.III - and of course I have no AM Brit Mustang decals. Meh.

Thanks Arki...

Some great looking stuff here fellas!  WIsh I had known about this GB a while back.  I woulda definately done one for it!  I owuld do one now but I don't think I would finish it anywhere close to the end date, unfortunately.  I really like that Tiger with the chipped zimm and the primer showing through- very nice indeed!

Arki- Sorry to hear about your paint and decal problems, wish I could help you out!

Some more progress, I think I'm in the final stretch Yahooo!!! I still have to blend in the little parts with the fresh whitewash and just give it anither good once over, then seal her all up. Hope you enjoy.

Looks like you nailed it Panzer88! Congrats on a great build. I like it.

Dale 

Panzer88 - really digging the "subdued" winter wash. Like how it's blending in really well...any chance you can let us in on how you did it? Still trying to decide how I want to finish my Panther.

Daywalker - bummed you can't make it. However, there is still 2+ months left...although we hit the halfway point in ELEVEN DAYS! AAAACK!

Build faster, everybody.

Im loving the Halftrack, you really have the whitewash looking sweet.

Im getting on with the KV-2. I fixed the fenders to the body and gave them a quick primer up.

also primered the turret to check for imperfections....

I also decided to detail up one of the stowage lockers. The pe set i have already gave them handles and hinges

but i wondered if i could open the thing up. It involved a lot of whittling and sanding and smoothing, but it didnt come out too badly, in my eyes anyhow...

lastly i cut the crappy tow cable out of the ends and replaced them with some picture hanging wire...

tonights mission is to start painting the wheels.

...Guy

Hey, I was just updating the front page, still have a couple of "question marks" on the roster - do any of you remember seeing followup from any of these three guys?

DHM, Chef_Ben, cardshark14

I'd leaf through all the GB pages but my crap internet here in the woods won't let me. If nobody knows anything, I'll just PM them all and see if they're still up for it. 

Whitewash on and worn guys. Wanted this to be a late winter Tiger from the beginning. That's why I was doing so much weathering and such before the white. Also got the initial burnt umber oil wash on. Now comes the detail and weathering, mud. The finish line comes up.

Hope you enjoy

Dale

Thanks Dupes, glad you approve. Thanks again for setting up this GB and letting me try this. 

I went overall white, everywhere. Figured that would be the best way to make sure all the nooks and crannies were filled. Then removed everything that looked too "new". Used the hairspray technique and Polly Scale white. And a bunch of scrubbing. Now just have to age it a bit more. Dirt, grime, mud. More to come.

Thanks again Dupes

Dale 

Slightly Altered wrote:

Thanks Dupes, glad you approve. Thanks again for setting up this GB and letting me try this.  I went overall white, everywhere. Figured that would be the best way to make sure all the nooks and crannies were filled. Then removed everything that looked too "new". Used the hairspray technique and Polly Scale white. And a bunch of scrubbing. Now just have to age it a bit more. Dirt, grime, mud. More to come. Thanks again Dupes Dale

You did a really good job on that.  Hairspray technique seems to be producing excellent results.  The camo is also top-notch.  I agree with dupes, that looks just like the the pictures I've seen of the real thing. 

dupes wrote:

Hey, I was just updating the front page, still have a couple of "question marks" on the roster - do any of you remember seeing followup from any of these three guys? DHM, Chef_Ben, cardshark14 I'd leaf through all the GB pages but my crap internet here in the woods won't let me. If nobody knows anything, I'll just PM them all and see if they're still up for it.

dupes, I'm here.  I had been away from my computer for a while, and when I got back to it, the thing wouldn't work.  I posted some progress pics awhile back.  Progress has been slow, but I hope to post some new pics soon. 

here are some shots of my M 8, I was going for a shot from the Squadron book that showed an M8 that had a criss cross pattern painted on {it was also a drawing not a picture} I am not real happy but it has not had washes or dry brushing too much yet....

Dostacos - I think once you "muck it up" a bit you may be surprised how well this one turns out. Actually looks a lot like some of the more hastily applied field jobs I've seen pics of. Keep at it!

DHM - I thought I had seen some pics from you a while back, but spaced it out. Can you give me your kit's vital statistics so I can update the first page?

Dale - what kind of hairspray did you use? I really like what you pulled off here, think I'll be going for that style on my Panther...couple of good pics that put it in early spring!

Dupes- I use Suave "Max hold" 8, 2 coats applied 10 minutes apart, applied over a Model Master gloss coat that sat overnight. The hairspray was dry to the touch and could be handled when the white was applied. I also went a little heavier with the white in the areas that I figured were going to be less trampled so it would still wear a bit but not come completely off. The polly Scale was thinned 4-1 with water and sprayed. It'll be a bit more transparent, which to my eyes already showed some age. Started on the hull then moved to the turret, (which was detached, taped to a water bottle.) The Polly Scale dried fairly quick so just about the time I was done with the turret I came back with a #10 "fine shader" stiff brush, damp enough so that the surface of the white could be moistened in the spot I was going to work, and started wiping at the white, working in the same direction, which was towards the bottom of the tank. It only took a few seconds for the water from the brush to start softening the white, and the hairspray and start breaking it apart. I used a paper towel to dab at the paint and hairspray to remove the excess as I went along. The areas that would see less wear and have the whitewash remain were just brushed over with the brush being barely damp. Still wore it a bit, just didn't break it apart.

I had planned to take pics as it went along, but I'd heard some horror stories about the whole thing setting up too much and not releasing. It's also the main reason I started working the white so soon after applying, didn't give it much of a chance to set up much.

Hope this description helps out Dupes. Kinda went a bit "long winded" on it. Can't wait to see your Panther, any pics in progress?

Dale 

Not long winded at all! In fact, I'm glad you went through the whole process. Hadn't really thought about needing to move so quickly before the hairspray and paint set up fully.

Should have some update pics sometime soon...got SEVERAL builds on my workbench right now (trying something new) and it isn't panning out as well as I'd like. Heh. See me going back to the one (well, maybe two) at a time strategy.

Some progress on the M7 Priest.

I've approximated the winter camo thus far.  Next steps are to weather it some....but not a ton.  A few progress pics below.    -Larry

dostacos wrote:

I am not real happy but it has not had washes or dry brushing too much yet....

Hey dostacos - I'm really happy with your winter criss cross scheme.  It looks darn close to some of the photos I've seen.  It looks like it was brushed on in the field....the way it really happened.  Great job.  I think your washes and dry brush steps will cap off this M8 very nicely.

Larry