"Flash Out!" - 120mm OIF figure ( COMPLETE!!! )

Actually, the alum rod was already drilled. I snipped a small piece of copper wire and glued it insde. Then I took a small loop of the copper wire and stuck it in the other end, using only a SMALL dot of glue just to hold it for painting. After painting the loop should be easy to pull out leaving only one end capped by the copper wire. The only thing that I could figure out is ow to make a small flange on one end of the shell. Although, during my trip, I thought about tapping on one end of the alum lightly w/ a hammer. Maybe that would make the flage for me. Then I could just flie off the end I hammered on with a file if it became damaged as well.

Hmm .... just might have to try that when I get back.

Oh ok, well that sounds far less crazy! I had figured you workin with some magnifying glass and a little blade spinning the shells around while you carved the flange out

Hammer idea might work depending on how soft the rod is, I guess seeing that it's alum, it might be fine

A lathe is the one thing that I don't have in my arsonal .... but I would like to have one! More toys, more toys!!! hehe! IOT get the little groove that you see, I just used a #11 blade ... laid the rod down flat and rolled it under the blade.

Sounds like a lathe-ish technique at least

You get your hands on one of those you'd have the ultimate sratchbuilding set up haha

One funny thing about the shells that I forgot to mention was that in trying to get the right size down, I think I nailed the scale perfectly .... How often does that happen!?!

I figured the 1/1 shells were 3". Scaling that down to 1/16 ... I came up with 3/16" in length. Easy enough for me.

Although after looking at the pictures of the shells a little more, I think that I'm going to drill out the ends a little more so that the blown out ends look a little thinner. Not that you'll be able to tell, but it's a shot ...

Don't tempt me! (.... you're an instigater ....)

Nothing to really update on this one yet as I didn't bring it with me on my trip. However, I've been doing some brain-storming... that's considered working on it, right!?!

I've decided to add a little .... wee bit ... smiggin' of water to the scene as most places in Iraq have some small puddle of "poop" water around. I think I might be putting a bit of it into the corner that I'm concerned out. I don't think that I'm going to go with any posters or graffiti as I don't want to make the walls with "heavier" than they already are.

I'm planning on finishing up this one either Sunday evening or on Monday to give me a break from my "raid" build.

Stay tuned for the updated pics if I get some in before its done.

 haha sorry!!! I don't think it'd be worth the hair pulling at this scale

But yeah- that's about the only progress on builds I ever make!

Sounds good- what are you planning on using for water? You could also add some newspaper old trash stuff in the gutters of the road/edge of wall

Will stay tuned!!

The old newpaper is a good idea. I'm also thinking about trying to add in a crushed up empty water bottle, but I'm not sure where to get one or how to make one.

As far as the water goes. I've never done it, but I'm thinking of using the "heat and pour" stuff from the model RR section at my LHS. Ever used any of the stuff? I'm definately going to be trying it out first before I apply it to the model.

I've got lots of great "ideas" that I can add in, but I've got to be careful not to make it too busy. My "raid" dio is a little bigger, so I may save a few of those ideas for it.

I've never made water before either. I was going to try some with a two part clear resin but never got around to it. I'm not sure about the RR water? I think if you were going to color it a dark brown or something it'd work fine, but I think if it's poured clear you run the risk of it yellowing over time? Not sure I might be making that up, I'd just post a quick one in the dio section, or do a search for like "favorite water effects" or something along those lines, try and get some oppinions for the guys that know what their doing.

 Yeah I know what your talking about, this is again, where you run into realistic messy torn up street vs. the art of the vignette and the figure as the center piece.

I think the puddle is a good idea, as it almost is groundwork, but at the same time it breaks up the street. So maybe not the trash- I think that would look good on the large raid with the 4 firgures as that ground/wall is really going to have to try hard to compete with the 4 big guys for balance.

camo,

I've actually used that before. Works great for things like oil stains and other small wet spots, but trying to build up enough Future to make a puddle would be a task in itself. I don't think that it would build up enough, but would rather "cling" to the sides of a depression, before it became a level puddle.

I picked up a small package of woodland scenes EZ water. Says to just heat it, pour it, and let it cure. Sounds easy enough. I'm going to do a few tests first with it though. 1) paint the "base", then pour and check out the color. 2) pour, then paint and check the finish. 3) Pour, then try to mix in a little color to it before it cures.

Not sure which might give the best results, but I guess we'll find out.

Busy working on the "raid" dio tonight. I plan to prime the base to this one in the morning. However, I may just do it tonight, so that it's ready for the first coat in the morning .... Hmmmm.

Thanks again for the idea. Future's GREAT for coating things, but I'm afraid it has it's limits when it comes to making a puddle.

I think I have to stop by the figure section more often: I completely missed your work.

And what an outstanding work it is. You made a great job converting and painting the figure and now I'm looking forward to see the finished base!

Avus! ... was wondering when you were going to stop in .... Good to to see you here and glad that you like the work. I COULDN'T have done it with out the help of psstoff and camo junkie. They've been tremendous help!

Especially camo .... helping me get the base completed (thanks man!)

This is the figure that we talked about weeks ago. This is the only project that I've ever worked on that has completely taken over my desk. I've got a few others in the workings, but they'll all been boxed for this one .... of course, then came alone my "raid" idea. That one crept up on me ....

Again, glad you like the piece. I'm hoping to get the base taken care of today and tomorrow.

Camo ... thanks for the piece on the water. I'll be sure to use a small tin or something. Thanks again.

Stay tuned ....

Hey no- not at all- glad you've been able to get on here and post -I've been away for the past few weeks and even when I've been posting I've been a little aloof- got a lot on my plate, school job etc

Thanks for the shoutout's though guys- I'm very glad to help and really appreciate it

As far as the Future goes, while it may not be able to work for depth or a puddle on rocky uneven ground- camo if you used it to make some water on your tiled floors (especially since you're using 1/35 scale) I can see that working out for you, but again, I've never tryed water effects so don't take my word for it!

Hey yeah, camo, I was going to say ... while the "future" water won't work very well in 120mm, as in that scale you kind-of have to start thinking about thicknesses and such, it should look pretty good in 1/35 - 1/48'ish scales.

hahaha yeaaa maybe

I do a lot of talking, you do all the work- my figures still don't have heads!?!

***UPDATE***

So here's a long awaited update on this one. I figured I could almost get this one knocked out while I was waiting for multiple molds/ castings to cure ... I was right.

Finally got this one in to the booth and after the primer coat things went pretty quickly.

....psstoff ... here's your dang shotgun shells! (haha). But seriously, thanks to your idea everything pulled together nicely (you'll see toward the bottom).

I thought that the base looked a little too much like plaster ... yeah, I know, it's plaster ... so I ground up a few of the left-over plaster crunks to make a sandy powder. I sprayed the base with spray adhesive, and sprinked the powder over the top. Let it dry, and then brushed off the rest. The texture came out more the way I wanted it.

Here I just spot glued some plaster chuncks for paint. These will be used to tie-in the wood base to the plaster base.

After priming coats, I turned my attention to the door. I figured this had to be pretty well done, as it is the second biggest thing in the dio and stands just opposite the figure. I tried really hard to get an even coat on the *&#^% thing, but I just couldn't do it. I figured I was tired, so I left it until the next morning. However, when I came back to it ... it was perfect.  I realized that ... DUH .... it's an Iraqi door. It's supposed to have a messed up paint job!

Door ... pre-weathering ...

... post-weathering ... (I added a little black for accent the shotgun blast, a little exposed steel coloring, and touches of rust stains. I also dusted the bottom of the door with the sand color, and then VERY LIGHTLY dusted the whole door with the same color.)

Here, I've added a little black coloring to the door jam to help add some interest from the blast. I thought it was a little much, so I went back and toned it down some after this picture.

AND ... here I've started putting everything together.

My next update will be the last one. This one should be finished. Right now, the stain on the wooden base is drying and .... well, I'll just leave that for the final update.

ENJOY!

I'm just intrigued by the door frame blasts- you have the residue closest to the figure all up the side of the wall with a harsh edge like the blast just blew the lock but the door stayed shut- then you have the second blast that took out part of the wall and the little locking mechanism all over the place as it actually blew the door open- that's just too cool.

Again, your real world experience gives you a pretty cool edge when it comes to things a just plain modeler wouldn't even think of, definitly adds a lot of realism to it.