Dragon 1:35 OT-34/76 Mod.1943 (No.112 Factory)

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Stunning stuff, great to see how other people's minds work.

Thank you! :-D
And can you tell my wife I've got a mind?
She still thinks I lost it....

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Fantastic build thread!
Very very nice work and equally interesting to follow.
That winter dio including the ice is a real cracker...
Great work!

Lol! Thank you very much, glad you like it :-D

What was going through your mind
if we can't have snow in the Netherlands i will have snow indoors
looks great though
keep upthe good work

What can I say.... i love snow!
Thanks Mark

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

вот мы снова !

In other words, Here we are again!

A lot of progress done to the T34, so let's get started

I made a start at painting and weathering the T34, as some of you could see a preview of on facebook.
I want a really used and worn T34, so the winter wash will be very worn.

But first things first, I started to paint the tank.

As I used a colored primer, the T34 is here in green, but that has no function so far, it's just primer.
I also didn't bother to pre-shade. When the winter wash is applied, the shades will be appear by its self!



Sprayed a hull red brown color on,



The large areas was painted camo black brown, to simulate bare metal.





Randomly sprayed on basic rust, making sure to still show the steel I just put on.



With light rust I painted the higher areas and the locations were there would be intense heat.



After all dried up, I sprayed two coats of chipping medium.



After a good dry, sprayed on the base color



And a very light coat of 4bo green to finish this session.



With a damp brush I started to chip the paint.
I had to stop during progress for it was getting late, and continued the next evening.
The chipping fluid still worked, but I had to rub the paint a bit longer.
So when chipping paint this way, make sure you have the time to finish the entire model.







Didn't forget the bottom this time...



Looking good to me!



Then I applied the decals.
Great decals, good print and very thin, but I made a mistake though....
It had to go onto the white wash instead of the green....
But I had a solution, as you can read later on.




The figures I ordered from Down Under arrived, so I paused my progress to put the figures together with tack so I could see where I wanted them.



There is a little story running in my head when I'm building diorama's and this is the story behind this dio:

September 1943
Somewhere in Russia.

Two German soldiers of the ski troops were going down hill after escaping a failed mission.
They were ambushed by the Russians who killed most of them.
One of the Germans, heavily wounded in his chest by a bullet, died at the water front a day later, where they were hiding.
The other soldier dying of grief for loosing a good friend, buried him under a heap of snow, and put his friend helmet on a empty riffle to give him a proper burial.
3 days of intense cold, frozen limbs, eating grass and drinking snow, a T34/76 showed up at the water front.
Being almost frozen, dying of hunger, tired of hiding and outnumbered, he decided that the best thing for him to do, would be surrender.
After all, it's better to be a POW, then a crisp meat bag in the snow after a blast from the flame thrower.
Besides, he is looking into a big barrel too.....

That's the story that I had in mind for this dio.











Then It was time to apply the winter wash.
That was a first time ever for me, so I asked on the ISM facebook page for some opinions, and I got honest and good opinions, witch I'm thankful for!

I sprayed MIG chipping fluid on the T34 and MIG white wash on top of that.
Started to chip with a damp brush (finished the whole model this time) and the result is looking great.





I am going for this look as shown in this colored photo.
A heavily worn hull and a touched up turret.



Remember the decals that I put on the green instead of the white?
Well, as I looked at pics of Russian slogans on turrets, I noticed that almost all of them were hand painted by the crew.
So that's what I decided to do as well...













And Then I could start weathering the T34.
During progress I forgot to take pics, sadly...
I started by applying a
dark wash,
pin wash,
rust was,
rust pin wash,
Rust streaks,
winter streaks.
The wheels are chipped now too and the rubber was painted.
I finally covered the T34 with a mix of vallejo still water and Krycell snow powder. This will give a frosty look on the steel when dried up.







Well, I hope you like it so far, I know I am
Thanks for tuning in, and I hope to see you all next update!
Happy modelling boys and girls!

[Chip1942]

Marvellous work awesome use of the HS technique

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Marvellous work awesome use of the HS technique

Thank you very much! I'm really pleased with it myself !

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Not really a update, but I forgot to put these pics in my last update,
I did some more weathering with oils, dark and light rust, added shades with dark brown oil wash, and with dots of white oil I gave the white wash a bit more color variation.

[chief5437]

This is turning into another epic build Frans. Looking really good, the ice looks great and the weathering looks spot on, especially with that reference pic you showed. Nice work buddy

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

This is turning into another epic build Frans. Looking really good, the ice looks great and the weathering looks spot on, especially with that reference pic you showed. Nice work buddy

Thank you very much Rich!
Normally I weather my vehicles a little less, but I must confess that I'm enjoying this one.
I figured snow and ice would make a tank rusty and worn!
I'ts nearly finished now, just some minor details to be painted.
Then, the damn tracks.
I really really do not like the dragon magic tracks, it's almost that the don't like me or something....
Anyway, I'm going to replace them for Friul metal tracks.
I know those are expensive,, but this model deserves them.
After working really hard to get this model to the stage it's in know, don't want to ruin them with unnatural tracks.
Cheers mate

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

волками жить, по-волчьи выть

("Live like wolves, Howl like wolves")

Welcome back Comrades !

First let me start by saying that I'm not going to use the magic tracks from Dragon.
They don't do there magic to me, I do not like the look of how the links are bend.
So I'm going to change them for metal tracks from Friul, because I think this model deserves them.

While waiting on the tracks, I haven't done a lot.
I started on the trees that are planned behind the T34.

I asked on facebook if I should put two or three pine trees in the dio, and had some several opinions.
Three looks more natural, but can be to crowded, and take off the attention to the actual model.
So I took a test, and called my wife in the man cave (she brought coffee with here, so she's allowed ) and I asked here: " what do you think of my progress" ) . She didn't see the model on the dio before, and immediately she said "Owh I like those trees..."
I asked here what she saw first, and yes.... The trees were the first thing she saw. So I decided to put two trees in with different height the and a tree stump in front of them for the magic uneven number, so it looks more natural.

Here are the two pics so you can judge for yourself. But I'm not changing it now!





The trees are form greenline, ready to use.
I can make them myself with wire, airclay and moss, but I was feeling lazy this time... besides, it is very time consuming..

These trees, do have wire showing, so with airclay I made the bark by first applying masking tape around the wire, and then the air clay.



Then with a steel brush I gently scribe the bark structure in the almost dry clay



Painted it dark brown



And after druy brushing the bark (forgot the pic, sorry) I sprayed hairspray on the tree and the Krycell snow powder.
4 layers in total.



And yes.... two is enough









The next thing ( and last so far) was putting the figures together and prime them.
A lot of filling required and I had to adjust one figure to let it sit on the back of the tank correctly.



All black primed.



Now these are going to dry for 24 hrs, so here ends my update!

Thank you for dropping by and hope to see you next time.
Happy modelling people

[Coen]

This is epic work bud.... Epic!!!!

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

This is epic work bud.... Epic!!!!

Thank you Sir!
I must confess thatI really like it myself. .
This can turn out to be one of my best dioramas so far. Tried some new weathering techniques with oils, and love how the oils behave. Going to use them more and more now.
Cheers mate

[rodrant]

Wow !!!

This is a great build ! Really Great ! Love all details and it is growing in awesomeness with every update !

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Wow !!!

This is a great build ! Really Great ! Love all details and it is growing in awesomeness with every update !

Thank you very much!

[MarkVerploeg]

That is some very nice modelling Frans
i think the story is well represented by the tank and figures
keep up the good work

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

That is some very nice modelling Frans
i think the story is well represented by the tank and figures
keep up the good work

Thanks Mark
A lot of work this one, have to be careful not to get bored with it and rush things...
That's why I'm painting the figures first now before finishing the T34.
Got to wait on the Friull track anyway

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Близо́к локото́к, да не уку́сишь.

So near and yet so far.


Hello again!
Yes, I said: so near and yet so far.... A lot of work was done, still got a lot to do, so lets go!

First things first, I decided to go for Fruil tracks instead of the Magic tracks from the kit.
Main reason is details and the natural way the metal tracks behave. Gravity reasons mainly...



Starting with Ultimate burnishing fluid.
The stuff makes the track links nice and dark in a fast way



After a light sanding to give them a used look, the tracks were finished.
I didn't bother to give them a track wash, because there will be snow on them.



76 links to each side. 78 was to many...





And mother Russia got new shoes....







And here she is on the base.
Without snow on here shoes, they are brand new...





With the T34 almost done, I started on the German POW.
It's a nice figure from Matis, however a few errors had to be corrected like a few air bubbles.
Just his belt and boots, and he's done.



And that's all we have time for today.
I know it is not a big update, but that's because I'm really tired and have a lot of pain in muscles and bones.
Apparently I'm suffering of a dangerous low level of vitamin D3 that if not treated, can kill me.
No worries, they discovered it on time, and I have meds for it.
That being said, I wish you all Happy Modelling!
Until next time !

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

FINAL UPDATE

Hello guys!
Final update on this build.

Added snow on the tracks.
The snow is from "precision in snow and ice" the best snow that works for me
And cleaned up the base a bit.





I made sure I put some water on the tracks too for he is driving on cracked ice.



A lot of snow on the other side...



With a winter wash I created a frozen steel look.



I needed a pause from the build, so I painted a resin t34 tank badge that I'm going to put next to the dio when completed.
Only for the reveal pics that is..
Here's the original one:



And this is mine painted in Andrea colors:
Primed:



Painted gold



Red and green added



White and final details.
Finished with a gloss coat



German POW finished













Next, making icicles

A mix of silicone and krycell snow powder







And applied with a toothpick.
Pulling the mix slowly down to create the icicles









The Russian figures finished.
Just need to add the gun sling











And all finished on the tank



And that's all folks!

Reveal pics in the reveal section.
Hope to see you there!

[MarkVerploeg]

That is a really cool build Frans
i like it a lot

[Coen]

Still Epic!!!!!

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Still Epic!!!!!

Thank you VERY much, really appreciate it!

[wappynutter]

Still Epic!!!!!

Gotta agree with Mike.... but even EPIC isn't enough to give deserved praise here..
So have a collection of claps and bows before i turn off the laptop...



I'm sure it deserves more but my mouse is all worn out again now!.. lol...
Continued success Frans, i do love a good dio... this IS a damn good dio!..

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Still Epic!!!!!

Gotta agree with Mike.... but even EPIC isn't enough to give deserved praise here..
So have a collection of claps and bows before i turn off the laptop...



I'm sure it deserves more but my mouse is all worn out again now!.. lol...
Continued success Frans, i do love a good dio... this IS a damn good dio!..

Haha! Many Thanks mate.
A lot of claps and bows indeed... wow!
I did worked my butt off with this build, and I only worked on this build. Normally With long builds I kinda lose interest for a while and start another build to clear my head. I wanted this build to be one of my best and I think It is... except for the figures. They could be better. Bad moulds.... However, very happy how things turned out and this build is going with me to a contest next month!So fingers crossed eh?
Cheers mate

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

That is a really cool build Frans
i like it a lot

Thank you Mark
I will take it with me to Overloon, so you can see it for real.
Hope you will still like it then
Who knows, it might win some...

[MarkVerploeg]

That is a really cool build Frans
i like it a lot

Thank you Mark
I will take it with me to Overloon, so you can see it for real.
Hope you will still like it then
Who knows, it might win some...

I hope that i will have my T-34/85 ready by then
but i had a bit of a setback so i don't know if it will be done by then
I will take my Panzer III Ausf.G DAK with me and maybe the Hind
if there is a class i can enter it in as it's not really a vehicle
it has the firepower of a tank but that is the only thing it shares with armored vehicles

[NonProlificModeler]

Wow, Frans!!! That's just beautiful, mate!!! Winter dios are my favourites along with water dios. You have both on your dio. Fantastic model, great figures, what more can one ask for??? Brilliant! Greetz from Germany. Jens

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Wow, Frans!!! That's just beautiful, mate!!! Winter dios are my favourites along with water dios. You have both on your dio. Fantastic model, great figures, what more can one ask for??? Brilliant! Greetz from Germany. Jens

Thank You Jens!
The hardest thing to do was creating a frost look
Glad you like it!

[NonProlificModeler]

Not too difficult to like it. It's just amazing!