Tiger Coelian -- FINISHED PICS!

MIKE -- thanks, Buddy! I appreciate that! This one is definitely a challenge in what I'm trying to portray, but you know how I like to try to stretch my legs!

Thanks, too, for looking in and commenting, BOYD!

Looking great!   I am still following this with great interest.  Feel free to call me names such as wimp because I don't have enough courage to do something like this...

Good to have you back... it has been a while since your last build that Panther Ersatz? 

That's sign language

Tony lee

LOL!  Tony, that was a good one! 

That's the sign for the ... back to the program sorry Karl! 

Great work Karl, the painting as usual looks first class but my comment is that the combination of hull and turret looks so natural, their shape and look seem to compliment each other in a way that makes the whole thing fell authentic.

Terry.

Hi everybody,

Well, I've been slowly plugging away on this beast--my Tiger Coelian AA panzer. It's been a slow process because I've been learning and experimenting with the whole "Color Modulation" thing, and I think I've finally got a good handle on it. I used it on the turret here; the rest has been done with my standard weathering methods of washes, pin washes, pigments, and stippling. Here's where I am so far...

Again, the concept is a brand new production turret stuck onto an old dark yellow-n-green Tiger  (P) VK4501 hull for expediency's sake. The old hull is beat to hell, but the new turret is finished in the new "overall Green". The hull is beat-up, the turret new.

I used pigments on the lower hull, with careful washes and streaks to show variation. The chips are still being painted on the hull; note the red primer needed to do the chips in "levels". The tools are still being worked on; the bare steel engine guards are rusting...

A closer look at the lower hull.

A few close-ups. I did the turret by first very carefully airbrushing subsequent coats of lighter and lighter green over the base coat. I think it's a combination of Nato Green and Buff with some white? Then I used oil filters to further tint the paint in subtle applications. Finally, pin washes of black were added to the seams and around details.

The steel rusting has been subsequently improved...darn, I broke off a spare track hanger.

The suspension and wheels have been put on and are drying. I've put some light pigments on them, but they will receive a "treatment" soon. Washes, pigments, etc.Note the prototype VK4501 in the background.

You can probably see the tissue balls under the tracks/hull to help them "sit".

Well, that's it for now. I"m going to try to finish it by Monday if I can, so watch for updates!

All comments and questions always welcomed!

Interesting concept, looks great too Karl.

Holy excrement......the paint work on the turret is fantastic....very nice.......the turret almost looks tooooo good to be on the old beat up hull.The barrels look very nice

It is great to have you back posting in armor.....we missed you. It is always great when one of the old gang posts!!!

Rounds Complete!!

WOW!  Great color modulation especially on the turret.  Happy to see you back here too.

I was wondering if we would ever see this contraption again Karl

That thing looks like it should have been in production.

Were you chewin beetle nuts when you came up with that idea buddy?

Lookin sweet

Tony lee

I can just see the guys from Dragon taking notes as we speak. LOL

Very cool project Karl. I kind of like these fantasy or paper panzers. It's nice to see different things here.

I like the weathering. Definitely one of your trademarks.

Josiah, thanks, man!

And thanks, too, Mike. It's good to be back. I"m hoping that I can contribute more to the Armor forum this year!

Thanks, Andy; good to be back, as well!

Tony, ha ha, "Beetle Nuts"? Maybe? Definitely some honey-roasted peanuts have played into it. lol. Thanks, for looking in!

Thanks too, Tigerman--I wouldn't doubt that Dragon releases one soon--they did that right after I posted my kitbashed Tiger (P) VK4501 Command Tank. I couldn't believe it. Well, just remember that you saw it here first!

I appreciate you looking in, guys, and for not forgettin' me! I'll be working through the weekend on this, and hope to have another update soon!

Interesting build. I really like how the camo started out (pg2) with the dark yellow and green but in my opinion it has gotten very dark on you. Maybe a little heavy handed with the filters. Again, just my opinion. I do like the concept of a test bed though.

Nice to see you picking this one back up again Karl...just don't make us wait another 3 months before you post again or the pitchforks will come out!

Very interesting effects on the turret versus the hull...looking forward to seeing it finished!

Thanks, K-Dawg. I actually went really light with the hull filters--what I forgot to mention was that I did some "hairspray" on the hull, and the "darkness" you're seeing is the gray base coat showing through. I wanted to simulate a really old, used testbed hull that was just abused. Thanks for the observation though---it's interesting to hear how some perceive the finish!

Bill--thanks too, buddy! I'm going to try to get a new WIP started as soon as this one is finished! Good to see you post up a new one too--I was wondering where you'd disappeared to? Cool beans!

Well, it's been a while since I've posted a finished piece of armor here, but here's my first build of 2012-- I present my own "concept panzer"--the soon-to-be-released Tiger (P) Coelian. (Just kidding about it being released, although it probably will be, lol!)

I used MIG pigments on the wheels, emphasizing and tinting them with oils. The tracks were painted dark brown, washed in rust oil, and then drybrushed steel and then lightly dusted & coated with pigments--"Light Mud" from MIG.

The rest was weathered with oils from 502 Abteilung, and hand-chipped with a brush. The tools painted with oils. I decided against tow cables, as the hull was supposed to be a test-bed.

'Nuff talking--here's the Beast...

I'll be painting up this figure, watching for "jabo's".

And here's the next project. A fresh offering from Trumpeter, and a model I've been waiting for for a long time!

See you soon with a new WIP, guys!

Comments and observations always appreciated! Thanks for taking the time to weigh in with your thoughts!

Another great one sIr,worthy of another magazine article

Mind blowing is the only term I can think of to describe how I think of this one Karl. Beautifully executed and the concept looks so natural and convincing as I stated before, I don't think it would look out of place any where in a panzer line up.

 Good luck with the waffentrager I have the 105 version and they are a brilliant collection of kits.

Terry.

Echo Anthony's comment.  Looking at your build reminds me one of those sci-fi tanks.  Looking forward to follow your next build... You like to build weird vehicles, don't you? LOL

I believe it is your first winter living in NC.  Bet it made you not miss the weather up north in NY.  Grew up in Buffalo myself...

Wow! That is awesome! Another of your great works !

Really cool and well done concept build Karl.

I'm already digging the next WIP.

Oh My Gosh Karl

Do I buy those peanuts off the street or just at the store? I got to get me some of those.

Outstanding Concept buddy

Tony lee

First impression is WOW...then it hits me how "heavy" the model looks, which is always my first test at realism for an armor model...you really got the "heavy look" down on this one with the finishing treatment on the chassis and running geat...looks like you expanded your "color modulation" chops on this one as well...I like the choice of overall green as a late war alternative...

One interesting thing I did notice, and maybe this is by design, is the subtle but distinct difference in the weathering you did on the turret vs the rest of the vehicle...the turret is cleaner and colors brighter, and that makes sense from the standpoint that it is shielded from much of what the tracks throw up, but it goes a little further than that...not a bad or good thing necessarily...I do think that rear hull cross looks a little clean vs the area around it; the white is too bright IMO...

Outstanding work; looks like you have expanded up a half-notch or so with this one, Karl...I like what I see waiting on the bench as well----no one does the BIG beasts as well as you...

WOW! That thing is gnarly! You sure did a great job adding a great variety of color and texture to this build- I especially like the wear and rough rusty armor plates on the engine deck- really nice complex finish there!!!

Awesome doog, awesome!!  It has indeed been far too long for us to see more of your amazing work!!  Great concept vehicle and fantastic build!  Painting and weathering are outstanding.  Builds like this are what inspire so many of us to greater heights!  Can't wait to see the next project!

It sure looks great Karl!

Karl - I love it...the diversity of the beat up hull and new turret is striking. Outstanding....as I said before, it's great to have you back in the armor forum

Rounds Complete!!

Worth the wait.

Nothing to add to what the othes have posted except to say get your butt in gear on that Waffentrager Karl!

Tojo--thanks for that high praise! I wish that I DID document this a little better to make an article out of it, but I don't think I actually have enough material to make that a reality! FSM already has a few of mine still to be published, so I kinda took a break on this one. It's been a busy, stressful year, and I just wanted to build a model "for myself"!

Terry, thanks too--I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to "bring this one home", but judging from the comments here I seem to have pulled this one out of my......it was looking sketchy there for a while though!

Andy--"weird vehicles"? Oh, you've noticed? Yeah, I guess I like to do diverse subjects. It keeps me on my toes. This one was a challenge to do, with the different techniques and "conceptual" aspect of it. I"m glad you find favor with it! Oh yeah---and I"ll take an NC winter over a Finger Lakes one any year! It's been AWESOME! Can't wait to get he new mountain bike out and hit some trails!

Thanks, too, TREY and tigerman!!!

Thanks too, Tony! Kind words from one of the consistent  "rock-solid" finishers of the forums. I appreciate it!

Manny--hey buddy! Thanks for the kind words! The difference between the turret was intentional; I wanted to make a newer turret on a beat-up old test-bed vehicle--something that would allow me to explore two completely different weathering philosophies in one model. It was probably the most challenging model I've done in a long, long time. I almost scrapped it more than once, but I'm thrilled to see that you've caught the different techniques used on the two halves!

Njal--thanks for noticing that rusty deck guard! I actually used Vallejo's "crackle medium" on it, and was pretty happy with the way it turned out. Thanks again!

Ernest and OgreJohn--thanks guys; much appreciated, honestly!

Mike--It's GREAT to be back! It's been a stressful year, and it's definitely eaten into my modeling, but I feel rejuvenated, and hope to turn out some more armor with better regularity!

Thanks too, Ed and Bill! I'm cracking plastic as we speak! I'll update when I have something to show!

Thanks again all who have weighed in! It is indeed a pleasure to be back!