#12 Tamiya German Horch 1A mit 2cm Flak38 (Conversion)

That 7.2 megapixel macro digi cam is an unforgiving mistress.  

That is simply fantastic!  Your builds are most certainly top shelf work my friend.

Cheers

Dave

 Hi Bill,

Thanks Bill I was trying to simulate all the grime and excess grit the wiper would pick up and attract and it looks fairly natiural when you are not ponting a 7.2 megapixel macro camera at it! 

Here are some shots of the base I am working on today and the Horch out in it's element the sun!!!

Looking nice and dusty there Ed! I don't think you overdid it all with maybe the possible exception of the accumulation on the windshield around the wiper blade. The pics may be making it look heavier than it really is but I would think you would want just a very fine "film" there perhaps? All depends on what you're trying to replicate I guess. I am glad to see you didn't fall victim to the "wiper shadow" craze that often is seen with dirty windscreens!

 Thanks for you votes Wbill and Dave!

Build Update:  I was able to get the PE windows completed in the configuration that so interested me from the Aberdeen proving ground photos and it was a devil yes I said the devil!  I also completed the weapon mounting bits and applied the first round of pigments to the Primered gun deck which toned it down really nicely.  I also appiled a light wash of MIG Gulf War and Beach Sand to the windows and decied not to use a windshield mask so it would not end up looking like Tommy the Horch.   I am now ready for stowage and figures for this one but will probally make the base next just for fun.

I do want to note I purpsoely used more Pigments that I normally feel comfortable with on this one but it was the only way to create that dusty, worn desert look of an old gun truck.  It is just so easy to overdo this.

Adds a personal touch/character to the build...almost like it's winking at you.

Edmund,

Run with it man!  I like the flipped up wind screen.

Dave

Bob,

I hope I can live up to your faith in me!  Thanks as always for the support!

Ed - yet another masterpiece flows from your hands.

Stunning yet again.

Bob

Build Update:

When I was doing my research for this build I ran across this Aberdeen Proving Ground photo and the open window congiuration really held my interest.  I decided to give it a try and to keep the canvas covered window as a backup

Here is what it looks like so far.  I still need to glue in the windows but I am going to wait until I can pick up some gator glue tomorrow so the CA does not frost the plastic.

 Wbill:  Thank you Bill I apreciate your constatn support on these long builds. 

Rob:  Thanks Brother as always for the man love! 

Andy:  Thansk for stoppign by Andy it is always appreciated!

Svenne: LOL!  Very cool!  Dare I ask what the first reason you smiled today was?   The instrument dials were interesting because I had to turn the Archer Dry Transfers into water slide decals using their media paper which I had never done before.  Their tutorials on their site are excellent!  I then highlghted the bezel of the instrument dials with Gunbolt silver followed by mutliple applicatiosn of Future to build up a bubble of "glass" on each dial.  It's a great method and I am very happy with the results.

Dear Mr. Schnobs,

this post is todays second reason for me sitting here with a big happy smile on my face.
Excellent build log, beautiful result, great stuff!

How did you do those diials man?

Svenne 

Hi Edd mate, I must say ditto to Robs comments, and i wont ramble on but i will say that thats one very nice piece of work. Im allways lookin in but not a lot of time nowadays to post up.

Hey Ed

I haven't been around much lately and had to do some reading, and drooling , to get caught up. Man is this one VERY nice model.  I have to agree with the previous comments that have been made, this is awesome building and painting. I'm looking forward to seeing more and will try to stay tuned.

Rob

www.scratchmod.com

Looks like a productive couple of hours to me Ed, nice work on the tilt, very convincing result.

Edmund,

Thank you for the heads up on the color.  I'll have to give it a go.  Yet another reason to stop by the LHS! 

Cheers

Dave

Hey Karl,

Thank you it has been a labor of love that's for sure!   I just love ugly ungainly things.  I thnk that is why I like Stugs and AS 42's so much. 

Lookng forward to your next armor build.

Edmund, you've really put this build into "top shelf" category. I'm impressed at your dedication to this build and your employment of all the requisite techniques,

When I get back over here from the "MOPAR garage", I'll have to see if I can measure up....

Seriously though. really nice work!

Bob you are really nice to me! Thank You!

Mini Build Update:

Im speechless...................really I am.  I have to consult Websters for a new vocabulary to describe your work Ed.  Stunning is not enough.

Bob

Sorry Dave I forgot to answer your question about the tire color.  It is Floquil Weathered Black which is just a fantastic color for tires and road wheels IMHO!

Dave:  Thanks Dave I sometimes use differnt MIG filters on certain parts of vehciles to introduce tonal change and color shifts but I thought I would get a little more drastic with this one as you can see by this picture filters and washes can be played like a good instrument to create the tune you are looking for.

Wbill:  They were petrified so I let them soak for 10-20 minutes in warm mineral water before using Microset to set them.  I also applied pre and post coats fo future follwed by a light coat of MM Flat Acryl to prepare for additional weathering. 

Looking good Edmund, decals look perfect and you'd never know their age by looking at it. Definitely like where this one's headed!

Edmund,

I like the tonal variation you've done with the doors.  A very nice touch indeed!  I'm going to have to give the hair spray method a go one of these days.  What color did you use on the tires?  I like it.

Cheers

Dave

Thanks Marc!!

Build Update:   I continued the color shift theme and painted the doors a little different tone than the rest of the vehicle and subjected each component to the hair spray treatment. I decided to use the kit supplied decals which were very old but performed admirably. 

Nice , just plain nice.

Thanks Steve.  Yes thanks for the tip I check and then recheck references often it's part of the fun!

PE is a wonderful modern torture device for people that think too much.  Sometimes due to durability and scale reasons it makes more sense to use the kit part.  In this kit I chose to thin down and detail the kit steps rather than use PE because it simply did not look durable enough for me.

Fantastic work.  So delicate looking!  I wanted to comment on the Eduard PE and on PE in general since you mentioned this was the first time using the Eduard stuff.  Be careful and check your references against the PE you are adding to the kit.  I had a very bad experience with Eduard and a Pz IV E front mudflap.  Their PE was completely, totally inaccurate. Aber, another PE company was exactly correct though.  I had spent several hours trying to get the Eduard mudflaps just right only to find that they were completely wrong.  I had to scap the whole thing and revert back to the kit supplied plastic mudflaps.  Just be careful and check your resources.  I failed to do that and it cost me bench time and Eduard failed to do their research too.

Steve

Thanks Dave!

Build Update:  

Edmund,

I actually like the headlight kind of askew.  If it is going to bug you then by all means do fix it.  WHAT ever you do, do not go against the grain of your OCD!  That would set a great rift in the universe and, we can't have that now can we?

Again, what can I say that hasn't already been said?  This is coming along wonderfully

Cheers

Dave

I apologize getnelman for the lateness of my replies my children moved from the flue to colds so needless to say my hands have been full of more pressing concerns.

Adam:  Thanks Adam and that's a cool pic it made me smile!

Bob:  As always Bob thank you for the enthusiastic support!  i cannot wait to see you guys at the Pearson show on Saturday it shoudl be a blast!

Dave:  Thanks Dave you are very kind!  The headlight was an accident while chipping and I glued it on in a hurry and crooked I will take care of that!  The tilt is part of a Verlindin Steyr Upgrade set which I will not be using for that build so i kioed it for this one.  It is really well done and I like it.

Guney:  Thanks Guney!

Wayne:  Thanks Wayne and I agree with your theories on child rearing!

Bill:  LOL!  My pleasure Bill and your tractor turned out great!!