Zvezda 1/35 Panzerjager I

[ElCapitan]

Weathering continues. I've used some more Mig wash and also some Ultimate "Mud" wash. The Ultimate wash is more orangey than I expected - maybe it's the lighting.




I'll need to get the tracks done before I do some proper mud.

I've also painted the spare tracks to go on the front, but didn't bother taking a pic of them.

[TheNordus]

If you can manage it, I'd recommend painting the rubber rims that contact with the track back to black, since any whitewash wouldn't stay on them for long while the vehicle is moving. Not sure if it would be a huge improvement but I noticed it. Still looking good though.

[ElCapitan]

If you can manage it, I'd recommend painting the rubber rims that contact with the track back to black, since any whitewash wouldn't stay on them for long while the vehicle is moving. Not sure if it would be a huge improvement but I noticed it. Still looking good though.

Yeah it has been bothering me a little bit too, I'll probably do that over the weekend.

[Tomcat64]

Nice progress Rob!

[ElCapitan]

Nice progress Rob!

Thanks, it's slow but enjoyable!

I've done a bit more weathering, and as @TheNordus Nordus suggested I repainted the wheel rims.




Also added the spare tracks to the front. I painted them black and dabbed some brown and orange on them before applying just a little humbrol "rust" pigment.





Finally I've finished prepping the track links for burnishing. All drilled, de-burred and washed. Hoping to burnish them by the end of the week.

Here they are drying after giving them a nice bath:

[ElCapitan]

Spent the evening watching Scotland put up a decent fight against South Africa at rugby, while I assembled and fitted the tracks at last! No real problems, they went together fairly easily. I achieved a nice sag and also had loads of spare links. I'm debating whether to drape an extra length of spare track on the front as shown in the photos as some additional protection for the crew - is that something that would have been done by armour crews?






I'm pleased with how they look, and quite enjoyed the process, so I would definitely consider friuls again in future.

[TheNordus]

The tracks look amazing. I have seen photos of some crews putting loose lengths of track on their front plates as extra protection for sure. Most likely they would either cover the whole vertical front plate until the driver's visor or be draped over the driver's position. So put them where you feel like putting them.

[Tomcat64]

Just saw this on Dan's thread - great work on the tracks Rob, they look superb.

Really looking forward to seeing what you've got in mind for the dio base too.

[darrengreenwood]

Nice work. Especially on those tiny track links.

[ElCapitan]

Nice work. Especially on those tiny track links.

Just saw this on Dan's thread - great work on the tracks Rob, they look superb.

Really looking forward to seeing what you've got in mind for the dio base too.

Thanks guys! I'm really pleased to have got it to this stage. I get such little time to model these days that I lose interest/momentum in builds quite quickly.

[ElCapitan]

I've done a bit of work on the diorama base for this build. Just putting the wall in place and filling round the edges with vallejo plastic putty.



Also chosen the figures I'll be using, taken from Tamiya's "Field briefing" and "German tank crew at rest" sets. I've modified a couple of them to fit my idea. I'm going to play it safe with an "at rest" scene seeing as it's my first attempt at a dio. The vision I have is of a unit stopping for a break while returning from the front.

[ElCapitan]

Gathering some pace with the diorama base now. Everything was primed in Ultimate grey. The painted stonework is Tamiya desert yellow and the remaining stonework will soon be painted in a very light grey. Pavement is a mixture of Vallejo Model color green grey and Vallejo Model color pale blue. I left the road as bare primer and picked out random cobbles with various greys.



I'm really happy with it so far. Will look a lot different when it's had some dirt washes and stuff.

[TheNordus]

It's looking very good! I've never managed to make a miniart diorama work for myself. Would personally rather build a house out of 1/35 bricks than do all that sanding and filling that vacu-formed parts need, and then it feels like the diorama base always bends in one way or another instead of being nice and flat.

Can't wait to see more though.

[ElCapitan]

It's looking very good! I've never managed to make a miniart diorama work for myself. Would personally rather build a house out of 1/35 bricks than do all that sanding and filling that vacu-formed parts need, and then it feels like the diorama base always bends in one way or another instead of being nice and flat.

Can't wait to see more though.

Personally I didn't mind the filling I had to do, and there wasn't too much sanding required after I had trimmed it up with a blade. Quite a good learning experience!

Here it is with a bit of dirt on it... Just a start, there will be a few washes going on as well so I'm not too worried about blending the strokes that are visible in the middle of the road. I'm liking the tonal variations on the pavements (sidewalks) already though.

[Tomcat64]

Hadn't spotted you moving this along mate

Nice work on the cobbles, and with the variations on the footpath as well

[ElCapitan]

Hadn't spotted you moving this along mate

Nice work on the cobbles, and with the variations on the footpath as well

Slowly but surely!! It'll look a lot more unified once it's been given more washes, I hope!

Thanks for the advice on rubble, I'll definitely try that Dutch company!

[ElCapitan]

This is looking more wintry now after a Ultimate winter wash in places. The effect is a bit more drastic than I'd hoped but I'm sure it will look better once figures and objects are added. Some of my figures aren't in winter uniform so I don't want a full-on winter scene. I could always give it a bit more rubbing with cotton buds but then I'm rubbing off my dirt washes as well...

[Stokesy44]

Now that is a thing of beauty. Love how the base weathering suits the vehicle weathering. Just looks right. Great stuff.

[ElCapitan]

Now that is a thing of beauty. Love how the base weathering suits the vehicle weathering. Just looks right. Great stuff.

Thanks Stokesy. Its a slow burner but getting there. I just realised the tyre tracks at the street corner don't really make sense I'll have to do some work there.

[Tomcat64]

That's superb mate - really like what you've done there with the winter washes

I wouldn't worry about some of the figures not having winter uniforms - not all of them were that lucky and getting caught out with the winter weather was a major feature of the Eastern campaigns.

[ElCapitan]

Thanks Tomcat, I did read about many of the Eastern front troops being underdressed.

I took some time this morning to knock back the stark white a bit by using some mud pigment for a more slushy colour. Also added a few details here and there.

[Quax]

Just caught up with this Rob, I think you've done a great job with the duo and the different tracks look fine to me just don't tell the crew that the wider ones were made by a JS 2...! I'm looking forward to seeing how all the figures come together
Paul

[Quax]

Just caught up with this Rob, I think you've done a great job with the dio and the different tracks look fine to me just don't tell the crew that the wider ones were made by a JS 2...! I'm looking forward to seeing how all the figures come together
Paul

[Kevthemodeller]

The base is looking superb Rob

[ElCapitan]

Thanks guys!

Next up - more details. My first attempt at painting wood on these ceramic crates from fields of glory. The casting isn't great unfortunately, but they'll do fine. I'll dirty them up a bit round the bottom but I'm pleased with the paint effect so far.

[Kevthemodeller]

Love that wood work Rob

[digger303]

Those crates are painted beautifully, but they do look like they are made from drift wood from Robinson Crusoe's island.
Perhaps two or three leaves would be a nice addition just to make the pavement or road less tidy.

[ElCapitan]

Those crates are painted beautifully, but they do look like they are made from drift wood from Robinson Crusoe's island.
Perhaps two or three leaves would be a nice addition just to make the pavement or road less tidy.

Yes, they do look a bit rustic - I worried about that from the start, but we'll just assume that they've been stored outside for a long time.

There is more detail to go on here - some debris, figures etc so the pavement hopefully won't look so neat by the end of it.

[digger303]

Those crates are painted beautifully, but they do look like they are made from drift wood from Robinson Crusoe's island.
Perhaps two or three leaves would be a nice addition just to make the pavement or road less tidy.

Yes, they do look a bit rustic - I worried about that from the start, but we'll just assume that they've been stored outside for a long time.

There is more detail to go on here - some debris, figures etc so the pavement hopefully won't look so neat by the end of it.

way ahead of me

[ElCapitan]

Recently I've been working on the figures for this. Here are a few of them at the moment. Some more detail painting still to do and have asked for advice on a wash in the reference section of the forum - viewtopic.php?f=66&t=26918

[Tomcat64]

Great work on the figures so far Rob - the flesh tones on the faces look really good.

With regards to washes I generally use a mix of black & brown thinned down and applied in thin coats until I get the effect I'm after. I tend to add more black than brown on the darker base colours. I've also experimented with using a clay wash n wipe for a different effect.

So far I've only used acrylic washes but may well experiment with oils on the next batch I play with. It may be worth running a panel liner along hard edges (e.g. collars or where shirts go under tunics) as well.

[ElCapitan]

Great work on the figures so far Rob - the flesh tones on the faces look really good.

With regards to washes I generally use a mix of black & brown thinned down and applied in thin coats until I get the effect I'm after. I tend to add more black than brown on the darker base colours. I've also experimented with using a clay wash n wipe for a different effect.

So far I've only used acrylic washes but may well experiment with oils on the next batch I play with. It may be worth running a panel liner along hard edges (e.g. collars or where shirts go under tunics) as well.

Thanks! Acrylic wash sounds easiest for me. Should I gloss first then?

[Tomcat64]

Great work on the figures so far Rob - the flesh tones on the faces look really good.

With regards to washes I generally use a mix of black & brown thinned down and applied in thin coats until I get the effect I'm after. I tend to add more black than brown on the darker base colours. I've also experimented with using a clay wash n wipe for a different effect.

So far I've only used acrylic washes but may well experiment with oils on the next batch I play with. It may be worth running a panel liner along hard edges (e.g. collars or where shirts go under tunics) as well.

Thanks! Acrylic wash sounds easiest for me. Should I gloss first then?

I usually don't to be honest but it'll definitely give you more control if you're experimenting.

[ElCapitan]

Very close to the finish line now with this build, which I'm quite pleased about because my desk needs a really good tidy and this is just in the way.

I've taken a few pictures to give an idea of what I'm going for. There is still one more figure to add, some very minor details and then lastly a bit of rubble.

[alextheblue]

That's a great dio Rob. Lovely weathering and it paints a great story!

[Quax]

Top banana Rob! I love it, I think it certainly tells a story

Paul

[Kevthemodeller]

Those figures look great, really lovely diorama

[ElCapitan]

Thanks guys. I since finished it - just need to take some decent photos of it!

[ElCapitan]

Final reveal posted over at viewtopic.php?f=46&t=26978