Meng Models 1/35 German Vs.Kfz.617 Mine Clearing Vehicle

[Coen]

Haha.. Damned auto correct... Yes, the tub

[Unit53]

Great work as usual John, this is coming together nicely! I totally agree with you on the 1/35 figures, I think they look so much better with some simple shading, especially if they are well molded. I bought a 120mm figure at "EuroMilitaire" this year of an Eighth Army solider which I would love to have a crack at but definitely need to brush up face painting before I attempt that one. Barbed wire looks the business as well, looks like your going to have a really nice dio here, keep up the great work.


Martin

[Donkeywalloper]

Cheers Martin.
Yup, I watched a vid on You Tube and I'm sorry I can't remember who it was but will find out.
He kept everything simple and de-cluttered the techniques often used that to be honest intimidate the less skilled and less artistic.
As figures are not meant to be scrutinised under magnification or even face to face and under Post Mortem lamps, the simple approach is better.
I will dig out the vid link.
Hope your well Martin?
John

[Unit53]

Hi John, all good at this end mate apart from too much work and not enough time at the bench! I've been flat out on a couple of rather nasty deadlines but it should finished with soon. I still have my "Shelf of Doom" project underway although it did stall for a couple of weeks due to work commitments but I did manage to get a bit of bench time yesterday. Haven't had much time to keep up but should be back to normal at some point soon. Very much looking forward to the yearly pilgrimage to Telford and the IPMS Scale Model World show. A model frenzy weekend and time to add to the stash, drink some beer and feast on a couple of curries, bit of a boys Beano.

Have you ever been yourself, if not something to think about for the future.


Martin

[Yevgeny]

Looking great Donkeywalloper. Such an unreal looking thing.
Looking forward to see how the diorama progresses.

[Donkeywalloper]

Looking great Donkeywalloper. Such an unreal looking thing.
Looking forward to see how the diorama progresses.

Cheers Yev, just need to get time to sit at Bench and let rip

John

[Donkeywalloper]

Hi John, all good at this end mate apart from too much work and not enough time at the bench! I've been flat out on a couple of rather nasty deadlines but it should finished with soon. I still have my "Shelf of Doom" project underway although it did stall for a couple of weeks due to work commitments but I did manage to get a bit of bench time yesterday. Haven't had much time to keep up but should be back to normal at some point soon. Very much looking forward to the yearly pilgrimage to Telford and the IPMS Scale Model World show. A model frenzy weekend and time to add to the stash, drink some beer and feast on a couple of curries, bit of a boys Beano.

Have you ever been yourself, if not something to think about for the future.


Martin

I know just what you mean Martin about time at Bench. With Holiday and work and all the daily stuff in-between, its such a tough time on the thing you love......leave that hammer alone Mrs DW.
The IPMS sounds like a fantastic time, when is it?

John

[Unit53]

The show is on the 8th and 9th of November, here is a link, you'll be able to see some pics from last year. You must do it one year, it's inspiring, especially the competition...

http://www.smwshow.com/venue.php


Martin

[Donkeywalloper]

The show is on the 8th and 9th of November, here is a link, you'll be able to see some pics from last year. You must do it one year, it's inspiring, especially the competition...

http://www.smwshow.com/venue.php


Martin

Excellent Martin.
Thanks for links.
To late this year,but certainly a date for next year.
Thanks again.
John

[Donkeywalloper]

Pictures to follow tomorrow as bit bushed now.
Well a morning of Bacon Sandwiches on soft Tiger Bread with Tom Sauce.
Coffee and more good coffee.
Mrs DW lounging with Sunday Papers and me digging out spare room and filling three bags with accumulated five years of rubbish.
My mantra is at moment " if not used in last year, bin".
Bit of gardening this afternoon, and then Mrs DW goes off to watch last nights Strictly, and Mr DW off to Bench.
AB out,and coat of AK Red Primer Base AK 127 on the Italeria Barricades.
I'm gonna apply some Mig Chipping Solution over this and then add another coat of paint to give these a suitable rough effect.
Then out with Alclad Matt, and a coat on the three Dragon figures for this Dio.
Figures now just need assembling, and some Dry-Brushing, and a bit of Burnt Umber Oils Wash to pick up some details of uniforms.
The base has had a coat of Tamiya Buff applied with AB.
I'm gonna let that dry O/N and then apply a new product to me of Tamiya, Diorama Texture Paint, Soil Effect, Dark Earth.
It looks like poo in the pot
Well see how it goes on base.
No idea how it looks, but hey ho, lets have a go......
I will up-load some Jpg's tomorrow.
have a great evening chaps,
John

[Donkeywalloper]

Some pictures as promised chaps.

[AchtungPanzer]

Never ending Story . Good work with figures mate

[Donkeywalloper]

Never ending Story . Good work with figures mate

Your right Eryk, when, oh when will it end
All the parts of the Dio and the figures are in the Man-Cave.
Just need some solid time to get the puzzle together and finish this bloody thing.
Look after yourself,
John

[UKguyInUSA]

This looks like it could have an epic ending

[Donkeywalloper]

This looks like it could have an epic ending

Or....it ends in disaster and consigned to File 13 (Bin)
Cheers for looking in.
John

[Donkeywalloper]

Good afternoon fellow builders and those who are lost in plastic.

Well finished my stint of Nights yesterday morning and after a productive afternoon yesterday of catching up on jobs around the house, my goal was to have Tuesday (today) to myself in the MC.
I took Mrs DW to work this morning, so I could have the car, and sometime to myself pottering around Sainsbury's and have a coffee and read the paper in the café at Sainsburys.
Sounds sad I know, but when you have been on nights and away from all civilisation and the general hub-bub of life, its great to mingle with humanity (even in a supermarket).
The Sainsbury's up the road in Swadlincote has a fantastic café and great coffee and is sufficiently not in town as to be quiet
So back at HQ
Armed with coffee (to much coffee, but what's a man to do), and Peanut butter on toast, I could plan some Dio work for the 617.
You'll remember that I had bought a Dark Wood picture frame with an inner diameter of 28.5cm x 20cm.
This had its glass removed and a sheet of MDF cut to the size of the inner aperture.

I then roughed up the MDF (with a few upper-cuts and a swift punch to the ribs ), with some scores in MDF to give a key for the Mr Clay, which I used to fill the aperture and then contoured some ridges in the said clay.
Now then, this sat for some weeks (drying.... but in truth I was just busy else where).
I sprayed the Mr Clay with some Tamiya XF-57 Buff to take off the white clay look.
Whilst the weeks elapsed, I found myself on the http://www.historexagents.co.uk web-site (very, very good source of kit and the delivery and Customer care is second to none).
On this site I found this product.

Its a mat 19cm x 29 cm of Grasses, Flowers, Stones and Sedge.
Its really, really brilliant
Even Mrs DW found it extraordinary to look at.
The realism is uncanny. The range is amazing as well, from Forest Floor to all different Steppe seasons.
The description to fit this matting, was to wet the back of the matting with water (Sprayer) and then cut and glue with regular PVA.
See pictures:




The replication of Spring flowers is the Dogs Doo Dahs
So I cut the matt in this fashion.

Then as per instructions, wet the back of the mat with water from a Spray Bottle and then glued the matting down with PVA. The mat conforms really well to bumps and contours of the Mr Clay, and just using the fingers to tease ( ) the mat into place, it sits beautifully.

Now to make a muddy road in front of this mat, I used this product Tamiya, Diorama Texture Paint, Soil Effect.

Never used this product before.
I'm sure most experienced modellers would use PVA mixed with Garden Soil or such. But non experienced modellers such as myself, this is a product that does the same.
Its a coarse gritty paste, that when opening the pot does give you the impression of a pot of poo.
It looks very Mr Whippy in the pot .
It does though work extremely well. I used an old brush and my trusty fingers to work it all over, and it went on very easily.
Now this product (according to instructions), can be mixed with paints or slightly thinned with water.
I kept some back so I can use some around the wheels of the 617 and the boots of the figures.
I had though some of this product as well, to enable a even grittier and darker effect.

This was worked into spots already pasted with the Tamiya product and mixed and moulded to give darker colour and more "gloopier" mud.
See photos:

Some rocks from drive have also been sank into mud for effect.
So in my mind . The grassy side of the Diorama will be the Mine-Field and the muddy side will hold the 617 and some Pioneers in the act of clearance of said Mine-Field.
So to delineate (blimey that's some word ), I need a border (not flowers and a fence).....more rugged I think.
These are my Italeria Barricades.



These have been sprayed with AK Red Primer and then treated with some Chipping Solution.
I intend to spray these Grey and then give them a good working over with a brush to get some good chipping.
In-between the barricades (sorry forgot to take photos of other barricades i.e. Barbed Wire Posts and Wooden Stakes), I will intertwine this....

This I have cut off in sections and wound around some dowel to about 1/35 scale (Just over knee height).


I have then used a series of three rust colours from Mig to paint them. I will leave the natural colour of the metal to shine through in places and then dot paint to signify rust.

I will also use some of these products to give a more rusty effect if required.

So there you have it.
Sorry if this thread has been a colossal bore.
Todays thread and build has also been intermingled with me (and Mrs DW on phone and email from work, naughty girl should be working), helping me to bid on a online auction company (no not Ebay) for some furniture.
Lets just say £2000 worth of furniture (two items), bought for £400.
Good morning, I think.
Lovely to be with you all again.
Nearly there my friends.
John

[MikeyKb]

this is gonna look AMAZING when finished!
Awesome work so far!
I love that mat! I'm gonna check out that website you listed!

[Donkeywalloper]

this is gonna look AMAZING when finished!
Awesome work so far!
I love that mat! I'm gonna check out that website you listed!

Thank you Mikey means a lot.
They really are fantastic bits of kit. They retail in the UK for £18 ($32.52 CD at time of typing).
The variety and realism is best seen up close.
They cut well and mould onto prepared bases well. Plus you get a fair bit for your buck, think A4 sized paper.
Thanks for dropping by mate.
John.

[MikeyKb]

I definitely want to try it out! But..
That site you linked to is quite difficult and confusing to navigate...
Would you have another link, perhaps?

Thanks!!

[Donkeywalloper]

I definitely want to try it out! But..
That site you linked to is quite difficult and confusing to navigate...
Would you have another link, perhaps?

Thanks!!

Hi Mikey

Try this link to take you straight to page.
http://www.historexagents.com/shop/hxse ... ierCode=MS

Any other problems with link.

1. Go to www.historexagents.co.uk
2. Go down page and at left-hand side you'll find a list of Manufacturers.
3. Look for Model Scene.
4. All these base mats I used are in there.

Hope you find it.
Best of luck.
John

[FishBowlMan]

The diorama's going to be ace, John. This one's turned into an epic with plenty of stories to tell along the way.

[MikeyKb]

I definitely want to try it out! But..
That site you linked to is quite difficult and confusing to navigate...
Would you have another link, perhaps?

Thanks!!

Hi Mikey

Try this link to take you straight to page.
http://www.historexagents.com/shop/hxse ... ierCode=MS

Any other problems with link.

1. Go to http://www.historexagents.co.uk
2. Go down page and at left-hand side you'll find a list of Manufacturers.
3. Look for Model Scene.
4. All these base mats I used are in there.

Hope you find it.
Best of luck.
John

thanks, dude!

[Coen]

Really superb work John!
I've used those mats fro historex a couple of times and they're awesome.mimsave the left over bits if there are any and snip the grass tufts off for later use. Same with the wee stones.
Waste not want not eh?
This is going to be a hell of a piece bud.

[Donkeywalloper]

Mike, John Mikey

Pleasure to be of service.
Your right John, this is like the Trojan Wars for length of time in battle. I'm no Helen of Troy either.
Mikey, its a pleasure mate.
Mike, any praise from you inflates my small ego and sends me downstairs with smiles on my face and feeling great with the world.
Nearly there boys, nearly there.

John

[Donkeywalloper]

all

Well I have to crack some news........it's finished.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, some tiny bits to tidy up.
Suppose in any of our eyes, were never satisfied totally with build.
We know what went in to it and the mistakes and trips and falls that went with any build.
It's dark now and really not suitable for photos.
Once I can get photos uploaded to PB I shall start giving it its "Twirl".
Have a wonderful evening chaps.
John

[JayCub]

Very open honest and down to earth build log John, and an intersting kit, despite a couple of set backs I bet your chuffed with the results which I can't wait to see.
I look at this and wonder what went through their minds designing this, dont get me wrong I love German armor but tbey must have had a hard time moving these around along with breakdowns etc
Tom

[AchtungPanzer]

Wow John ! Will be a stunning Dio

[Donkeywalloper]

Very open honest and down to earth build log John, and an interesting kit, despite a couple of set backs I bet your chuffed with the results which I can't wait to see.
I look at this and wonder what went through their minds designing this, don't get me wrong I love German armour but they must have had a hard time moving these around along with breakdowns etc
Tom

Thank you Jay for your kind words.
The set-backs were at the time a right royal pain in the proverbial but now seem nothing.
These vehicles were just not up for the job and were destined for the scrap heap or for the last one in existence, the museum.
Can't wait to get photos up, but time i.e. damn work, has taken over.
Thanks for looking in Jay.
Have a great week.
John

[Donkeywalloper]

Good evening me old mates.

Right then the finale
Finally
The final reveal .
Second model completed in 35 years.
Okay here we go (pictures to follow at end of boring text).
I have, due to work commitments fallen behind on threads finer details of this build and completion, so I shall run through the last stages briefly.
The Vehicle has been treated to liberal lashings of Tamiya Diorama Texture Paint (Soil Effect / Dark earth) and Mig Mud P503 Europe Wet Mud, Rough Texture.
Also wanted a "after rain" effect on vehicle, so used a new product to me, of AK Wet Effects Fluid. This gives the puddle effect on the top of the flat surfaces as if the vehicle has been standing for a while.
I wanted some puddles in the base recesses, and so used a another new product to me of Deluxe Scenic Water, to produce puddles and pools of water.
The base has had its Italeri Barricades and Barbed wire "Strewn" and placed and I managed to source some Beware (Acthung) Mine signs from Plusmodels of Czechoslovakia.
The figures were placed to simulate a soldier pouring over a map of the minefield ready to blow charges and another Pioneer ready to move.
The label was made by Name It in Denham Bucks.
I'm pleased with the results and for those who like mud and grime on the vehicles I hope you like the results.
I have learned so much whilst involved in this project and as it is only the second build, the capacity to learn methods and skills still grows.
Thank you for bearing with a very, very, very long build.
To all that contributed advice, help and great words I
My work is done.
Love and peace to you all,
John

[Yevgeny]

Great looking beast and diorama.
This machine looks like something out of Japanese cartoon.

[Coen]

That is really wicked cool John, that mud is excellent. She totally looks like she's been in the field for awhile doing dirt duty. Awesome work bud!

[Donkeywalloper]

Thank you Mike, means a lot coming from a noble and revered artist like you
Few more snaps for your delectation :





Thanks,
John

[Willem]

Packed full of gritty realism John.

Awesome mate. Can't wait to see your third build.

[alextheblue]

Truly epic build John, fantastic work bud! You had your battles with this one and lesser men would have ran screaming like little girls. Not you, you hung on in there and turned out a really great dio - I doff my cap to ye Sir!!

[Donkeywalloper]

Chaps,
Wet, cold Sunday morning in UK.
I have been awake since 2, as could not sleep.
Ended up watching Inspector Montelbalano and drinking coffee with nips of whiskey
Came back to bed at 5:30, found Mrs DW awake and listening to Polish drunken singing in distance (they were quite good and we sat listening and giggling to the sound).
It has been an epic build for me Alex. Missing parts, barrels on the wrong way (Mengs fault). Car being written off.
But, reading your comments, Mike, Willem and Alex means so much to me. I can look out on a cold damp English November day and feel warm in my heart for the Brotherhood of a hobby that makes me and others happy (plus at times, mad, bad and bloody dangerous).
I wish you all and your families, peace, love, health and friendship.
Yours,
John

[Tiger131]

Superb build log and a cracking dio mudin hell top stuff

[gustavlekstal]

Top shelf

[Donkeywalloper]

Tiger / Gustav

Thank you for your kind words.
It means the world to me to hear from great fellow modellers.
Sirs, I salute you.
John