Okay guys, here’s another ‘zaster (2 pics xtra pg 5)

ogrejohn wrote:

Absolutly beautiful work! Very top notch indeed!

Thanks John,
  Comments like this keep me going! Sorry it took so long but I'm slowly catching up.

Mansteins revenge wrote:

Although overweathered to my taste and historical belief, your artistry in the method blows me away...TOP NOTCH work here...5 stars...

  What a generous comment, especially knowing you tend to like vehicles that are "less weathered" so to speak.
 For me, it's just a moment in time Eric. I'm sure no vehicle went through the entire war much less went through it looking the same all that time; but, at some point a vehicle is surely going to have a bad day.
 
 Besides, the weathering adds another dimension to modeling and adds to the fun. That's what it's about for me.

Thanks a lot Manstein. 

zokissima wrote:

Oh yeah baby!!! This guy definitely lives up to your name. I am always impressed by the sheer variance of finishes exhibited on your builds.

Hey ZOK,
  Good to hear from 'ya.
  I can only hope to impress you again with the next build!
   Tank'ya, Tank'ya, Tank'ya.........

Stuart06 wrote:

Excellant on that used look.....you need to let us know the techniques... Did you use Mig products...  The look of rusting areas on the turret and the overall muddy look is great....truly inspiring.   Four Paws up

Hey stuart,
 No migs here. I've never used them.

    Thanks for such a doggone good assessment........

crockett wrote:

One of the best models I've ever seen. You nailed it. Congratulations. regards, Steve

....and I know you've seen many!

 So, with that in mind I'm happy to see that you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to look in and drop a comment here.

 By the way, a really super P-47 'ya built there too. 

dupes wrote:

Everything they all said above. Sorry I'm getting in on this one late, but I tried several times to load all the pics to no avail. Got too see the first couple, anyway. Awesome stuff DM!

 I'm truly sorry that you couldn't bring all of 'em up. I'm on dialup too and it makes it just as difficult to post'em.
Thank you for your time and approval Mark.....

MajorEET wrote:

THUNK!!! That was my jaw hitting the desk. I've seen some great models but this one takes great to a new meaning. DUDE- WHAT A MASTERPIECE! You have gotta be proud of this one. What sends me is that you only paid $5 for this kit and turned it into something above Smithsonian quality. The barbed wire in the tracks really is a nice touch! That is a beautiful model. I am with everyone else- you are just going to have to do a WIP and share some of that knowledge. My hats off to you. You have encouraged me to try harder. What a nice job!!!!!

  "THAT" is an exceptional compliment and I really appreciate it too. I'm glad to have encouraged you to further your skills. Look forward to something coming in the future.

wbill76 wrote:

Very nice work all around DR, bravo! The fact that you turned your own barrel with aluminum tubing alone makes this one a stand-out. I'll echo the calls from the others to post a WIP/build log...would be great to share in the progress on these as well as the end result.

Thank you Bill.
 The barrel thing really wasn't that difficult. If you're careful, (although you may have to add some additional detail) you can do it with about any WW2 barrel. Weapons with a muzzle brake require that you use or cut off the kit supplied one and attach it to the end of the barrel. My next build will also feature a do-it-yourself barrel too.

I'm trying to work up something here. We'll see how it goes.

Gun Tech wrote:

As usuall, I think you created a masterpiece. It amaze me how you can dirty up your projects that much (in a very good way) Outstanding job on the scratch barrel!   As said before, we require a WIP

 Thanks J,

  I almost didn't post it. 

  Another dirty one is on the way....... complete with yet another homegrown barrel.

Mobious wrote:

hey disastermaster,  love the weathering, love the barbed wire, love the overall colors, but most of all love the $5.00 price tag.... PRICELESS!  It's great to see what's possible! Trying to figure out what was used for the screens, was that PE? or scratched? IMO, for what it's worth, I liked the soviet gun up top, sorry It had to be replaced.  Mobious

Okay Mr Byerly,

  I'm glad there's so much love in the air here. The response has been overwhelming what with the PM's and all.

 I've finally gotten to you with an answer. The screens?

    So, here for all.

 Back in the mid sixties my dad worked in one of the larger machineworks around here. I found a sheet of this copper stuff in my mom's basement several months back. Well, apparently it's been there for a long long time.

 If you think the kit was cheap; the screening was free. Most all of what I add is scratch. I might try some PE some day but I always try to "do my own homework" so to speak.

 For what it's worth, I also liked the DG better. That plastic was very fragile. Anyway for $5 it was an acceptable trade-off.

 Now........ back to my tank build. 

Thank ya sir..... 

panzerguy wrote:

Ya know, if you guy's keep raising the bar like this I'm gonna need stilt's    Outstanding D-man

STEVE!

 (sounds like I'm talkin' to myself)

 When I originally read your reply I nearly choked......got a really good laugh, no kiddin' .....hilarious. Had to stop what I was doing for a 'sec. 

 Your remark was extremely encouraging and I appreciate it.

RBaer wrote:

Fabulous! The crusted mud is great.

Thanks Russ,

I'm always trying to stir up the mud, so to speak....

With you being an off road guy I just know you gotta love it! 

Glamdring wrote:

This is by far the best build I have seen around here for some time.  High praise indeed given the submissions over the last several months... Now tell me how it's done!

Thank you Robert...

 Glad you liked my recent posting. I believe you'll like my following build also as I'm gonna try and ace this one.

  Hope the next one reaches the same level of success and brings you some revelations you might find helpful...... 

moose421 wrote:

WOW   What a beautiful build.  The barb wire is sweet.  And your weathering is very cool.  Nicely blended.  The rust and dirt really makes is stand out.  But like said before the chain is a bit "big"  looks like you could tow a maus with it.  But other than that, Keep up the great work.

Heya Moose,

Thanks for the big push. The chain's no problem.

bspeed wrote:

.......it is one of the most real looking builds here on the forum!

Thanks Bryan....

     that means a lot!
 

SMJmodeler wrote:

Sir D: I feel like I need to knock the mud clods off my boots after looking at this!!!   I just appreciate viewing your work as an inspiration of modeling that I may someday aspire....  That CANNOT be styrene..level with us, this is a metal toy you had as a child and you just now added the extra detail and AM goodies...right??? I can't even critique it.  I don't know enough to check the accuracy and I'd have to be an idiot to comment on the weathering...I just oogle and enjoy...Thanks for sharing Steve. I think doog's request for a follow along tutorial would be great but I know that's not your style...consider though, OK?.....(best whining voice)....p l e e e e a s e....

АХ! Товарищ
(AH! comrade)
 

 Always good to hear from a loyal weatherhead. Nah, that's not styrene.... it's just that high quality russian metal.

 I DID add extra detail, but none of it is the aftermarket stuff. I most always improvise with bits and pieces of thrift/dollar store tidbits.
 

 WELLLLLLLLL........    if I can remember to take pictures as I go, I might be able to get some kind of info up later on concerning my next ongoing build.

 Now, what was I doin'......

Thanks greatly smj.

I did notice the barbed wire, but alas like others did not mention it. I did save the images on my PC to serve as reference of different finishings, yours is a  superb piece of work.

Terry.

K-dawg wrote:

VERY well done.. I have a soft spot for thrashed armor and you've done a bang up job man! Kenneth

Stand back as the thrashin' will continue ........ 

Thanks Kenneth

Puma_Adder wrote:

OKAY!

I can understand that!

Thanks!

wing_nut wrote:

Remarkable!  All of a sudden...WHAM.... DM's latest hits the boards.  And double ditto on the WIP.  There is a whole mess of things I would've loved to see how you did them.

  Marc,

        You know...... you've got your own "WHAM" factor here. For some reason that jack block you did just sticks in my head.

 I'm currently working on my next project and trying to get some dialogue together.

WOW WOW WOW

A masterwork!

I am humbled!

Mark

Jester75 wrote:

I can only echo what has been said above Steve, bravo sir!!! The dirt, dust and oh man the rusting, just plain super!!!

Thank 'ya Jester,

Those kind of sentiments just keep me a rollin'........

beav wrote:

That looks awesome!  I would second the desire for an overview on the rust process.   Hey, I'm planning a kitbash on this kit; how did lower hull and running gear build up?  The rest of the kit probably won't matter, since it will come from other kits and my own fabrications... Thanks!

And a big thanks to you also beav.

 The suspension on this kit is tricky, the fact that the instructions are so vague doesn't help a thing. Be careful as two of the parts making up the front roadwheel arms are depicted backwards and it's easy to assemble them on the wrong side upside down. Be sure to get the shock absorber/springs whatever in the right position.

 You'll have to glue the front return idlers in the furthermost position possible. Anything less will result in the tracks having gaps around the drive wheel and front return idler. You can't use the diagram depicting the track positioning. I had to switch the tracks around to get them to work.

 I always form my tracks around the roadwheels. On this kit the front roadwheels have to be put on permanently first, (you'll see what I mean) but of course if you do that it makes it difficult to paint them. Inversely, if you don't glue them on first, then you have nothing to form the tracks around. Have fun as I can't give you an accurate blow by blow account as to how I did it. I'm sorry, it's just something you'll have to struggle with as I did. I'm sure you'll figure it out. You already know more about this kit than I did when I started this project.

OK, the rust...


 It's simple really. Use a file or an e-xacto knife to "scritch" up the finish where the rust or wear pattern is going to go before ANY painting; of course this depends on how severe you want the rust or wear to appear. You can also use laquer thinner or liquid cement and a small brush to stipple the surface. These methods give texture for the rust and enhance the appearance.
 
 This is too easy. After the final finish is acheived, a very thinned (aprx 80%) solution of burnt (aprx20%) sienna....spread it out in the pattern you want and let it dry thoroughly, it shouldn't be thick....lighter than a stain but heavier than a filter. I only use turpenoid. It'll look like crap, but be patient and let it dry. Next, do the same thing with lamp black in the center of the patches....spread it around in the pattern you want, let it dry. You can blend other rust colors to vary the effect making sure to let each layer dry completely. I'm sure some will think this won't work because it's just too simple. Once it's dullcoted it does just what you have seen. At least for me.

 By the way, (not that I have a problem with it) there's no drybrushing involved in the finishing process on this project or in any of my previous builds; I can only imagine though that drybrushing would probably be a help.

Hope this answers your question beav and furthers you in the adventure.

tigerman wrote:

My, what a disaster. But a beautiful disaster. This is your best to date IMO. I just love the rust and scratches. You did a fantastic job on an old kit.

Hey Tigerman,

 My next build may take a little while as I have some more urgent "life's priorities" to attend to. Hope to see you puttin' something up here soon.

Thank you for checkin' it out and posting your opinion.

jwb wrote:

OK, ya remember that Panzer IV I posted a week or so ago.... THIS IS HOW I WANTED IT TO LOOK. Wow. WOW! I love it. That is just awesome looking! And ditto on the WIP progress.... I would love to see that myself.

 Yeah, I definitely remember it very well; looked pretty nice too....except that muzzle brake, he, heh. I believe it was your first tank too, right?
 If I can work it out on this end, you should be able to get your stuff to look something like the one I did, if that's what you really want.

Might be a while though.

Thank's for the WOW factor JWB.

tigerman wrote:

My, what a disaster. But a beautiful disaster. This is your best to date IMO. I just love the rust and scratches. You did a fantastic job on an old kit.

Glad you like it Tigerman.

 My next build may take a little while as I have some more urgent "life's priorities" to attend to. Hope you'll be puttin' something up soon.

I really like the realistic weathering on your tank, awesome work!!!!!!!!!!

MaxSheridan wrote:

After all these years of hearing otherwise, I now know that it is possible to polish a t**d!   Awesome job! Some day I hope to end up with something half that nice! Please, please tell show us how you achieve that awesome finish.

Thanx Max!

Just stay at it, and you will work out your very own shiny t**d too.

The rust is coming up next......

heya Steve

the 42 lpi looks way better to me-- don't know what size was on the earlier photos, but to my eye, whether it is correct or not-ESTHETICALLY--the 42 lpi looks perfect- !!--Don't Know if you will change it or not --up to you man and I respect your decision-but with that small correction it looks like  a 10 to me now!!--Thanks for the new 'old' picture-- again--awsome build my friend---tread-- edit--I am also kind of taken aback by the realative size comparison to your T-34/76-- much bigger than I previously thought it to be!!