Winter Warriors GB 2008

Well, here's roughly what a Sherman looks like wearing Zimm. Field applied by a German crew member in the Tiger I style during a break in the action. It's beginning to take on a very unique profile guys

The Tiger I is also wearing the new paint color, instead of the green shade from earlier. Next start is the wash.  

Dale

detailfreak wrote:

and last but not least a couple of int. shots.taking it easy on your dial-up dupes.

Hehehhhe..."taking it easy on my dialup" would mean only one pic of your tracks.

Hey Dupes, you've gotta see this. Here's the spare Sherman hull I was talking about, along with a spare Tiger I initial version spare commanders cupola. It's a perfect fit.

Dale 

dupes wrote:

You know, that's not a half bad idea you've got there! Certainly would look interesting, and is hypothetically historically correct - so long as one believes in field applied zim.

It may be quite interesting at that Dupes. Never have seen zimm on a Sherman. Boy, wouldn't the "purists" be up in arms over it?  Sounding better and better all the time, LOL

Dale 

I used a mix of SAC bomber tan and Model Master Africa Khakibraun, about a 1/1 mix Dupes. I've used the same mix on an LRDG Chevrolet (captured by the Germans) and didn't get this tint. I went back and resprayed the Tiger the proper dark yellow. It's been bugging me since morning, the color has, and I figured no matter what was tried it wouldn't look right to my eyes... Does now Soon as the bugger dries I'll snap some pics. Thanks again Dupes, probably would have built this and always looked at it as needing something else, cause it just didn't look right.

SMJ, if you think a mini tutorial is a good idea I'll try to put one together. I've got a spare Sherman hull, and Manstein's always in on some "field applied" zimm posts. Could be interesting to see what we could drum up. Captured Sherman, field application, maybe three tone ambush camo. LOL. I do think I've got some german hull's laying around though. Fair warning, I've never done anything like this before, any sort of tutorial.

Dale 

jthurston:  Sweeeeeeeet!!!  Really liking this one!  Nice job on the whitewash, I like the wrinkled engine deck, and the "worn" wash is well done too.

Couple things: Are you planning to whitewash the road wheels?  I assume the shiny apperarance is future...make sure to "matte" that down.

Looking forward to seeing the completed build.

SA:  Can you give us a "mini tutorial" on that zim' technique?  I think it looks great and we can always use another way of doing zim' to add to our arsenal!  I've noticed some newcomers to the forum too who I'm sure would appreciate it.

The lighting for the photos really throws my colors off, didn't really catch on to what you were saying (then it hit me like a hammer blow) but the Tiger is a yellow/tan concoction. Sure does look green in the pics though doesn't it?

Just stepped outside and took a couple daylight pics, (below) Still looking green, going to have to put a tan wash over this or something to tone it down, you think? Couldn't be just the gloss coat throwing it off. Thanks for pointing that out Dupes, probably would have gone on with this color.

Ho ho! Thurston comes out of the blue with this beauty...what, were you trying to sneak this one in with no progress pics? Looks primo to me - can't wait for the finished product!

Slightly Altered - construction looks to be going very well, like your homemade zim! Question though - do you plan on putting some dunkelgelb over the green base coat? As far as I know there weren't any straight green Tigers...unless anyone has other references? 

Here's my T-34/85 so far. Still in progress, but I hope to finish her up this weekend.

Comments and critiques are of course welcome. I know about the gaps along the aft joints, they're going to be covered up. I also need to hit the whole thing with a coat of dullcote, and there are a few other discrepancies. But let 'er rip!

~J

 Dupes, SMJmodeler, Bufflehead, Biffa, many thanks for the complements on the Tiger. I'm making slow progress with it now that the Zimm is done. (pandemonium at the shop with the paint work needing done)

Here's a short update on the Tiger I. Color and some of the chip work is in place. I'm going to exaggerate the weathering under the whitewash a bit to see if I can get some subtle underlying effects to come through as well as the wear on the white itself. Still working on getting the fenders and exhaust guards to show the right amount of wear without going too far.

so here's the update pics, any input is appreciated guys

Dale

Hi Guys glad you liked my entry i appreciate the comments, Dupes i really just weathered the whitewash the same with the washes and such but i didnt do any of the heavier things like chipping which i figured would be underneath the white which is why i did all that first hope that makes some sense, the mud was a mix of woodlands scenic snow, whiteglue, brown pigments and water, i was going to have some small dustings of snow on this but it looked overscale for some reason but it does make good mud heh.

Hi Jthurston the fit was perfect i didnt use any filler at all and was able to paint the hulls seperatly and then glue them together without spoiling any of the paint job, this is one of the best fitting kits i have built they usually all require a little something.

Thanks again and keep the builds coming i really like to see whitewashed vehicles now to figure out how to get one of those flashy badge thingies heh.

WOW, Biffa that's an amazing build, much better than my previous attempt at the same kit. Well I've got the majority of the construction done on my Strv.103b, I'm probably going to do a wavy green n' white camo scheme on it.

Great looking builds so far guys,

Chris,

Biffa, that is one awesome looking build!!! What is your opinion of the overall fit of that kit? I have one in the stash and was thinking of breaking it out.

I'm presently working on the much older Tamiya 34/85 kit, with the flattened turret. I've changed turrets though, and am now using an old resin turret (from Tank Workshop, I think). It has the early-model D5T gun, which doesn't look as cool as the newer models, but the turret itself looks better in my opinion. I'll be sure to get some pics up this week.

I've never seen the hairspray technique before, and will certainly try it some time this year.

~J

Biffa - looks awesome! Glad the new technique worked out for you...did you need to do anything different to your weathering methods with the layer of hairspray in there? Some sort of sealer coat after you chipped away the white layer?

Also wondering about your mud - is it straight pigments, or do you mix something a little more "substantial" in there to get it nice and chunky like that?

Great build. Feel free to claim your badge at any time!

Gorgeous!  Even the mud looks realistic! 

In between work this weekend and the Superbowl, I've managed to shoot the RLM 76 underside along with some miscellaneous parts, i.e. wheels, props, etc.  Still slogging away at it.

Hi mg42, the green was painted first then white over the top then i removed the white so the green could show through :)

well guys im calling this one done i muddied up the running gear and did a little more weathering to blend it all together and i am happy with the result and feel good about learning a new technique and will definatly be using it again, keep the builds coming guys i will be checking in to see them often.

I've been busy slogging away at the suspension components.  They're actually pretty sophisticated.  The parts are very small, so it's been a bit of a challenge getting them together.  Good thing I took it easy on the caffeine this morning. 

Also, there is an error in the instructions in step 1-1.  Part E-6 is for the right side of the bogie, E-5 is for the left.  Pay close attention for those of you who have this kit in the stash.  The little shields on those two parts should be positioned so they act as a bumper if the suspension arm moves high enough to touch the leaf springs.

The bogie assemblies pivot on the springs, and the suspension arms articulate.  See!  If you watch real close you can see them dancing.  They're moving to the beat of the Led Zeppeling DVD I've got blasting in my fortress of solitude. 

Hmm.... I think I've been inhaling too many glue fumes.... 

ps1scw wrote:

Nice look on the 251.  The GrossD insignia in "blue" is for a specific battalion?  Each battalion a different color?

Another brigade sized unit also served in the BOB that also descended from Grosseutchland: Fuhrer Begleit Brigade--it carried a yellow helmet.

bufflehead wrote:

I haven't built one yet, but I do have a Pz IV Ausf D in the stash.

Hey Bufflehead, that's also the lone Tristar kit I have rocking my closet...tell me when you're ready and I'll start the "TRISTAR PZ.IV D" Group Build.

Scott - looks good! I would assume that a 5 part hull would be a bit tricky as well, but it looks to be square from your pics. Ooooh...indy 38(t) links...ouch.

I'm working on the suspension and wheels right now.  Very little cleanup to do except for a mold seem on the convex part of the leaf springs that needed a scrape or two with an X-acto knife and some light sanding.  Nothing out of the ordinary! 

If I'm really careful with the glue, the wheels will rotate and the suspension will articulate. 

This is my first Tristar kit and it will be my first attempt at plastic independant track links.  I've done two sets of Friulmodel tracks for other builds so I'm not afraid of the tedium.  It's the glueing and assembling that I'm worried about.  Oh well, gotta learn how to do this sometime, why not now! 

Just wait til you get to them indie links!! 

HEHE, just kidding Scotty!!  I've wanted this kit for some time, but decided instead to go with Dragon's (t)38 Ausf G since it was readily available at the IPMS Nats last year.  Is this your first Tristar kit?  I haven't built one yet, but I do have a Pz IV Ausf D in the stash.  I'm wondering if the plastic differs from Dragon's...harder, softer? 

I was taking photos of my Tristar 1/35 PzKpfw. 38(t) Ausf. F for an in box review I'm writing (I do reviews of books and kits for another website....) and was so enamoured with this little kit that I began construction last night.  So far so good!  There have been no fit issues of any kind, which is pretty amazing considering that the lower hull is pieced together with separate parts for the front, back, sides and bottom.  At first it seemed it would be a bit tricky to get them together at the correct angles but it was surprisingly easy! 

I'll have more progress to post tonight!