Tristar Pz IV Ausf B DONE 8/12 page 11

Nate,

Thank you so very much for the compliment.  I've been chomping at the bit to get the static grass down.  I've been tracking the package for the ion generator and, it left Salt Lake at 0436 today.  It'll be here on the 27th.  The only down side is that is toward the end of my work stretch.  The up side is that it'll be here when I'm done with my work stretch and I can get it built.  So, stay tuned, as I should have the grass down by the end of the week.

Cheers

Dave

Wow, your base is looking awesome!!!! I can't wait to see the static grass applied.

I've saved a link from a model railroad site for building a static grass applicator myself, and it's on the "to-do" list, so I am VERY curious to see how you make out.

Nate

T-rex,

Thank you for the compliments and having a look at this build.

The negative ion generator will be here Tuesday and I gathered most of the parts today to build it.  I only need to go to the hardware store and get the ABS supplies.  The plan is to have the grass on the base by this next weekend.  BIG kudos to Railfan233 for sending me the link to build one of three applicators.  Mine will be the 120volt version.  Yes, I will be careful and, yes, I have played with 120 volts before with remodels on the house.  No riding the lightening for the boy.  

I did get a little bit done on the base today.  Some color and some flora.  The rocks I had already painted with Vallejo Basalt Grey.  Today, I gave them a wash with Woodland Scenics Burnt Umber. To give the impression of dirt and dust that had settled into the nooks and crannies.  I then highlighted them with Vallejo Stone Grey, followed with a very delicate highlighting with Pale Sand.  The flora is by NOCH. The sets  used are: Grass Tufts Flowering and Grass Strips Spring.  I applied the Grass Strips to have the random clumps that will stand higher than the static grass when I get it applied.  I am thinking that I will be applying more to the base before the static grass gets applied

The base had a dark wash applied, Woodland Scenics Earth Undercoat and, was highlighted with Vallejo Buff.

Cheers

Dave

Looking good, keep up the good work.

Still very schwingalicious Dave

Bill,

Thank you for the compliments and your support. That having been said.... that whip stings!           I repainted the base color yesterday and am much happier with it not.  I'll still be using the Woodland scenics colors for washes.  This base is an experiment in progress as I've not built many.  Four previous ones but, nothing as this involved.  I'm getting better about not biting off more than I can choke down.

Bob,

Good morning brother.  Yeah, I get those ideas from time to time.  You know, just like a busted watch... correct two times a day.  I'm looking forward to getting back to the tank as the ground work has been moved to the fore of the line.  The panzer has been ensconced as to keep the base work dust off of it.

Cheers

Dave

Dave - thanks and excellent idea my brother. 

Bob

Nice to see you had a chance to recharge the batteries, sometimes that's just the trick! Nice work on the tree and ground work Dave, now get this one done already!

Railfan233, 

I snorked my coffee this am when I read about your "Tazebot".  I snork more java reading replies in these forums.  Thank you again for the grass applicator link.  I'll be ordering the generator and gathering the parts tomorrow.  It looks like it'll be the 120v option.  Woooo Hooooo!

Bob,

My brother.  Thank you for the compliment and the consistent support in my builds.  That TBM is looking fantastic by the way.  We need to set up another visit.  When we do I can bring all the supplies for tree building and case of Ninkasi.  I think the next time I build a tree I can cut the assembly time in about half.  I would like to try my hand at some evergreen trees. You know, for a nice friggin' cold middle of winter dio/vignette with some white wash armor and troops that look chilled to the core.  

Cheers gentlemen and thank you for looking in on this build.

Dave

Brother Dave, this is lookin STUNNING!  I still cannot get over the tree and how well it looks.  You need to give me a toot next time you come over.

Bob

hughes2682

  Hey, maybe I can apply the grass from across the garage.  Or maybe couple that with a 1/16 scale R/C Tiger and that'll keep the cats out of my flower beds. Just kidding. Oh I know I'll catch for that one.

Cheers

Dave

Well, I don't think it would work across the garage, and it would be bad to the cat, but you are on to something.

You could probably make an RC tank that fires a Police tazer, and use that on the neghborhood hooligans that trespass and vandalize your property (just 1 zap, and they'll be more than willing to leave you alone) Mabe that would cut down on crime: the tazebot

Railfan233,

Thank you for worrying and the link.  That is exactly what I was in search of as it appears that nobody has the 12v ion generator avaliable.  Yes, I have "played" with 120v before with some remodels around the house. Looks like I'll be building the 120V version.  Hey, maybe I can apply the grass from across the garage.  Or maybe couple that with a 1/16 scale R/C Tiger and that'll keep the cats out of my flower beds. Just kidding. Oh I know I'll catch for that one.

Cheers

Dave

Well, Dave you may say no worries with the static grass applicator, but I'm still going to do a little worrying for you.

Here's a link to a back issue of an on-line model railroad magazine I subscribe to, with an article on how to make a few different types of static grass applicators (both using a negitive ion generator, and another one not using one) It also has some adresses of negative ion generator dealers, if you want to get one.

I hope this helps.

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/mrh-2010-MarApr

The bench has been idle for a about a week now.  The better three quarters and myself were out of town.  A grown up (ie no kids) biking/kayaking trip to the San Juan Islands.  I'm feeling quite a bit more human now and the creative juices are flowing better.  I got a little bit done since getting back.  I got some color on the base.  Now mind you, these are only initial colors.  They will be built up in layers, so the stark colors are not the final product.  The vertical portion of the base is painted with Liquitex Burnt umber.  The ground portion is a mishmash of Woodland Scenics Yellow ochre, raw umber, burnt umber and slate gray.  I also used a bit of Liquitex Raw Sienna.  The rocks were painted with Vallejo Basalt Grey.  I am still needing to fabricate a static grass applicator.  Finding a 9-12volt Negative Ion generator is proving problematic.  No worries.

This is a detail shot of the tree with the excess foliage brushed off, so that the branches and trunk are now visible.

Cheers

Dave

I'm calling the tree done.  

The trunk and larger branches were washed with Vallejo German Black Brown.  Once this dried I dry brushed the same areas with Vallejo light grey.

I did a test shot on a scrap piece of basal and some Woodland Scenics Turf blends and, decided to apply it to the tree as it looked sparse after the test shot.  I first sprayed the tree with 3M Spray Mount.  I then placed a small handful of Woodland Scenics Coarse Turf Burnt Grass T62, held the base upside down in the bag, shook the bag.  Instant foliage.  I sprayed what was already on the tree and then placing Green Blend T49 in the bag and, repeating the process.  This darker green gave the foliage more depth.

Now I can get started on the rest of the base.  Once I finalize those colors then I'll get back to the tank (after the decals are on) so then I can apply the colors to the tank, thus tying the tank and base together.

Cheers

Dave

Bil,

Thank you for the info.  I had planned on heeding your advice anyway when, I took another look at my references and, clear as day, I found several pics that clearly show the placard, including several with the post that it is mounted to.  Putting a "few" hours in at work and not enough sleep.  Oh well. That happened.  As always thank you for following this and your support.

Cheers

Dave

Dave,

I'd say run with the placard. The use of the rhomboid placard wasn't discontinued until late in 1940 so the IV-Bs would be most likely to have the placard and vehicle number vs. the turret.

Indy,

Thank you so very much for checking in on this build and the compliments.  Ed and Bob sold me on the Elmer's filler.  Very forgiving stuff to work with.  I got some more done on the tree today but it's probably nothing that would show in pics.  Some of the branches got painted with Vallejo Burnt Umber. Oh, and the other track run got its graphite treatment.  So, both track runs are done.  Nest will be decals for the beastie.  But first, I'm trying to find a reference pic that shows a number on the left side of the hull.  Whether it is on the hull itself or on a placard.  I've got the PE placard that came with the kit, it's just not called out.  Hmmmm.  

Cheers

Dave

Its all looking brilliant Dave

Perfect choice of construction materials

This is going to be a real corker when it's done

Oh my there is a whole lotta SCHWINGING going on here.  

Marc and Bob,

The both of you dang near made me snork my IPA on the monitor (again!).  Thanks for the laughs guys.

I accomplished some more on the base.  Mostly modifications.  I felt the embankment was a bit blah so I casted some outcropping rocks using a Woodland Scenics mold and hydrocal plaster.  To place the rocks I cut out a couple of areas using my Dremel and, "cemented" them in using Elmer's Wood Filler.  I filled in around the rocks using the same Elmer's material.  

This one is a bit fuzzy.  I tried numerous time but the camera kept focusing on the first tree I ever made.  It 'll give you an idea of how it looks.

The tracks dried overnight.  I used Devil Over the Atlantic "Track Brown".  I like the color and it goes on pretty nicely.  I shot two views of different stages.  In both of the pics the finished track is on the left(treated with a MIG pigment wash "European Dust" and graphite for the contact areas) .  In the first pic the track on the right does not have the wash applied nor does it have the graphite.

In this pic, I have applied the MIG pigment wash to the track on the right but not the graphite.  That will happen tomorrow.  Perhaps the decals as well and then I can get started on the weathering.

Cheers and good night

Dave

I say...

BADABINSCHWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob

Dave again I say... SCHWING. 

The tree is very cool.  All it needs is a rope SCHWING to go SCHWINGING.

Cool tree Dave!

You're not kidding about all the rain we get here in the NW. So far this year we seem to break a record every month.

Bill

Thank you!  Upon realizing how simple the tree was to build, it got some ideas rolling around in my head.  One of them being a PAK 43/41 concealed in some heavy cover.  I got the right hand track run build yesterday in a 98 link marathon.  I had to step away from the bench after that as I think one of my eyeballs roll back into my skull briefly.  I'll get it glued and fitted today.  Possibly even some paint on them.  Thank you for checking in on this build.

Cheers

Dave

Nice work on the tree Dave, vey convincing result/effect.

Deafpanzer,

Thank you for the compliment.  When I was a kid I wanted to live in a tree house but, that was Southern California.  Then we moved to the Pacific Northwest.  Talk about your rain festivals.  No thank you (on the tree house that is)

I got a bit more foliage on the tree.  I looks a bit more filled out.  I also picked up a couple more Woodland Scenics rock molds.  I plan on adding some rock that will stick out on the embankment.  My eye kept going back to that spot and I was thinking to myself (and out loud), "That just doesn't look right".  The slope just seemed too steep not to have any rock showing.  So I may be going at the base with a Dremel tool as well. Wooooo Hooooo.  Power tools.    When I do, I'll post some (de)construction pics.

Cheers

Dave

B-E-A-U-T-F-U-L tree!  It makes me want to build a treehouse and live in there forever...

Kirk,

Thank you for checking in on this build and for the compliments. There is a lot we can pull from the folks in RR.  I also pulled some inspiration from a lady in my Dojahn who creates and tends to bonsai.  I probably would be good to get a bit more experience under your belt before undertaking a Tristar kit.  They are really good kits. Their assembly and small parts is a bit different than most.  Though Dragon has a fair share of small parts in their kits as well.  When you do a Tristar kit pay particular attention to the hull pan for any warpage.  After gluing my hull together (knowing there was a warp for and aft) I would do it differently next time.  THere are a couple more in the stash for me to try my hand at next time.  When you do a Tristar kit feel free to drop me a line (i.e. PM) and I'll give a couple of pointers on how to beat the hull pan warp.

Cheers

Dave