Tamiya 1/35 Elefant with a few goodies

[Quax]

Superb as ever Stokesy, always inspirational

[Bissyboat]

That´s one for the books of great tanks. Great progress.

[Tomcat64]

Great work - the mottling effect on the camo is absolutely stunning - really well done

Looking forward to seeing how you get this all dirtied up now

[Stokesy44]

Great work - the mottling effect on the camo is absolutely stunning - really well done

Looking forward to seeing how you get this all dirtied up now

That´s one for the books of great tanks. Great progress.

That is very very nice!! Stunning painting skills!

Superb as ever Stokesy, always inspirational

Gosh, thanks for the encouragement guys. Been a bit under the weather the last few days so the beast has been unattended since the weekend. Hope to get started on the chipping tonight or tomorrow, then its a bit of detail painting, glossing and decals. Then the fun really starts with the white wash. Watched Paul's how to guide the other day so hopefully I wont make a complete Horlicks when it goes on.

[Stokesy44]

Detail painting and chipping done. I'll do more chipping after the white wash but this first lot will be underneath. It will show through where the wash has washed (no pun intended) away.

Nothing fancy for the chipping, used Vallejo black.







I painted the forward hatches and had a look at them with the main gun mounted. A suitably busy front end. Should look good once the 2 crewmen are positioned.





I don't normally say this about AFV's, my affection is usually reserved for aircraft, but damn, the elefant is a fine looking beast. I don't mean MY kit looks good, I mean as a Vehicle, the Elefant is great to look at.

[Kevthemodeller]

That's coming along very nicely, love the chipping and the cam

[Stokesy44]

That's coming along very nicely, love the chipping and the cam

Thanks Kev, its much appreciated.

Proper change of pace today. I glossed up the hull ready for the decals then turned my attention to the diorama base. Its a first for me so I bought a bespoke kit to use as a starting point. Fields of Glory Models road base with 3 rubble piles. The kit also included some loose bricks and some balsa wood for debris. I wanted to add more rubble and debris so, in addition, I bought some more balsa from Hobbycraft and some aquarium gravel from a local pet store. I also had a nice pot of filler indoors which I planned to use for enlarging the rubble piles and increasing the area covered by debris in the kit.

I got to work about a week ago and put the 2 corner piles into position. I used the filler to merge the piles with the base and added brick and wood debris to enhance the moulds. The filler is great because its gone slightly off. Its still soft enough that you can cut it with a knife so its great for making larger debris bits while you can also add water and stir part of it up into a proper filler which can be used for general piling before the detail is added.

Had an absolute ball as I got to sculpting. Here's the 3 piles in position and merged onto the road base with some added brick and timber



I'm not sure on the precise position of the vehicle yet, I may increase the debris field to get in nice and tight to it, making the available roadway smaller as a result.



This is before I started adding my own piling





I then set about making my own mess and joining up the rubble. It was great fun using the filler. I applied it with various knives, wetted it down in places and also used white glue mixed with water when I was adding the brick and timber debris. I also used some cut up cotton bud tubes for pipe work. Its nowhere near finished yet, in terms of coverage, but I'm loving how its building up.




Haven't had this much fun in ages!

[Kevthemodeller]

Hay that's coming on nicely very nicely

I'm toying with the idea of a base for my current Wespe build, I've not done one since I was about 15

[Bissyboat]

Nice pile of rubble there. The moulding looks amazing.

[Stokesy44]

Hay that's coming on nicely very nicely

I'm toying with the idea of a base for my current Wespe build, I've not done one since I was about 15

Go for it Kev. If you're like me you'll enjoy the change of pace. I cant wait to get back at it today (6Nations rugby allowing).

Nice pile of rubble there. The moulding looks amazing.

Thanks Bissyboat. I'm definitely going to add more, creating a narrow pathway left uncluttered for the Elefant - as though its weaving its way through a bombed out town. I may have to get more creative and see if I can come up with more debris types. I've got some barrels and sandbags so they can go on, also some molded crates so I'll see what I can come up with. I also need to keep in mind the snow effects, how much coverage etc.

All good fun!

[privatepete]

Very nice indeed, superb painting skills as ever

Another good DIY product for dio work for builds, rubble is tilling grout.

[Bissyboat]

Hay that's coming on nicely very nicely

I'm toying with the idea of a base for my current Wespe build, I've not done one since I was about 15

Go for it Kev. If you're like me you'll enjoy the change of pace. I cant wait to get back at it today (6Nations rugby allowing).

Nice pile of rubble there. The moulding looks amazing.

Thanks Bissyboat. I'm definitely going to add more, creating a narrow pathway left uncluttered for the Elefant - as though its weaving its way through a bombed out town. I may have to get more creative and see if I can come up with more debris types. I've got some barrels and sandbags so they can go on, also some molded crates so I'll see what I can come up with. I also need to keep in mind the snow effects, how much coverage etc.

All good fun!

Fantastic. All the above sounds good and will definitely give an extra umph to your dio. You could add some barbwire and mangled oil drums too. Can´t wait to see more updates.

[Stokesy44]

Fantastic. All the above sounds good and will definitely give an extra umph to your dio. You could add some barbwire and mangled oil drums too. Can´t wait to see more updates.

Thanks mate. I have some oil drums, buckets and jerry cans so I'll be adding those in addition to the rubble. Did some more work this morning after deciding I will definitely enclose the vehicle with more ground work. Pictures to follow later today.

[Stokesy44]

I decided I did want to add more ground work around the vehicle so I got to work building up the other side of the base to create a narrow track down which it would look like the Elefant was travelling.

Rather than do another pile I thought I would have a go at a damaged masonry wall using some DAS clay. This is what I came up with.




I want to pile rubble at the base of the wall so I made the initial pile shape using more clay. Once its all dry I'll get into the detail texturing with debris, wood, bricks and pipes etc.





I reversed the direction of the Elefant and backed it up to the edge of the board to see how it looked. I like the idea of having it this way. It leaves room at the front of the vehicle if I want to put some oil drums and crates on the road for added detail. One of the crates is in the picture for reference. Its not in the right place yet.



Once I've finished all the rubble I'll decide on the extras. They may not be needed and I don't want to put them on just because I have them. Leaving the space clear in front of the kit may look better anyway.

[Stokesy44]

I added some mortar detail to the top of the wall and cemented it into place. I then set about making some bricks and masonry from DAS clay.

I tried to replicate what I had already done with the other piles.






I'm struggling with the composition still and have reversed the Elefant again. I think the problem is I used the 2 corner pieces before I added the wall section. If I had planned on the wall I probably would only have used 1. Oh well, we learn by doing. Its not the end of the world and I'm still really pleased with the base.

Here's the kit back facing the way it was originally.



It needs to dry out now so its back to working on the Elefant. Decals next then the white wash.

[Bissyboat]

The Elephant is blending in nicely.

[Stokesy44]

I think I may have managed to solve the composition problems with the base. There was no flow to it, as shown by the fact that it didn't seem to matter which way round I positioned the Elefant.

I wanted to build up one end more to give the vehicle more of a sense of 'travel', of moving through something I suppose.

I think I've cracked it. It needs detailing but I really like the way it looks now.




Now with the Elefant. I've put the decals on now too.





Much better. Now I can really crack on.

[demarcation]

Awesome work mate!

[Tomcat64]

Great work on the base mate - really effective!

I think the challenge you've got is that the Elefant is so huge it just dwarfs everything around it so the base components have to be big enough not to look lost - and you've definitely nailed it

[Stokesy44]

Awesome work mate!

Great work on the base mate - really effective!

I think the challenge you've got is that the Elefant is so huge it just dwarfs everything around it so the base components have to be big enough not to look lost - and you've definitely nailed it

Thanks Guys

I think you've nailed it Tomcat, the problem is the sheer size of the Elefant (the clue's in the name!), that, and my poor choice of base. Its a new game for me and I don't like making the same mistakes twice. If I could start again I would put it on a longer base and I would have planned for taller structures from the outset.

I love being able to experiment though and working with clay, filler and balsa has been great fun. The FOG kit came with the base, 3 piles and some loose bricks and wood. I've added to that with casting my own bricks and masonry from clay and using additional balsa. Next time, I think I would still buy a base (if its a road setting) but I would build the rest from raw materials now I have some idea of what works. For more extreme terrain I think I'll look at using foam board next time to create the basic shapes then clay and filler over that for detail.

While this is all very exciting I know I must get back to working on the Elefant itself! So I'm going to let the base fully dry out while I apply the whitewash and weathering to the beast. I have the Ultimate winter wash so I'm going to try and spray that today. Should be a giggle

[Stokesy44]

On with the winter wash. I decided to spray it on. I didn't fancy my brushing skills on such a large kit. After masking off the hatches on the casement and cling filming the tracks I got stuck in.

Result doesn't look too bad. Just the right side of opaque, hopefully.





After letting it dry I went at it with the cotton buds and a flat headed paintbrush for uncovering the markings. I used wet buds for uncovering the edging and dry ones for distressing the flat surfaces.

After round 1, it was looking like this







I cleared up the dust and left it for a bit. I wanted to remove more of the white but I didn't want any areas to be completely free. I sharpened up the edges and took more off the flat panels. I used wet buds more on the flat panels this time, trying to create a real unevenness in the texture, as though the paint had flaked as much as faded and been worn off over the winter.







I then sprayed the beast with aqua gloss to seal it all down. All ready for the weathering now.

[spock1701]

Nice work with the winter camouflage, Stokesy! The underneath paint job shows through just enough to create a nice, weathered look

[Bissyboat]

Looking good. The cobbles and the rubble look amazing. All true to the scale and very realistic.

[Stokesy44]

Thanks guys

Went to work on the weathering. Applied a dark dirt wash to bring all the panel lines and nooks and crannies out in detail. As I started to clean off the wash the varnish and white wash started to lift in patches. It was creating a really good effect, particularly on the Zimmerit coated surfaces, so I carried on. I also applied fresh whitewash judiciously to create contrast and stop the white becoming too dull or reconstituting it in areas where I didn't want it to come off.

This is the end result. Seriously chuffed!








Looks good up close too





What a beast - and that's without the main gun!



I'll matt varnish the hull then its on to the mud effects on the running gear and lower hull.

[rodrant]

oh ! It is very nice so far ! Makes me grab mine and make a start on it !

[Stokesy44]

oh ! It is very nice so far ! Makes me grab mine and make a start on it !

Thanks Rodrant. Go on, crack that box!

Painted the crew. Haven't weathered and washed them yet but I thought I would have a look at them on the vehicle.









I'll weather them tomorrow (probably) and also finish the lower hull and running gear. I want to start painting the diorama but I think I should finish the beast first.

[MagpieII]

That's some really nice work. The whitewash effect looks excellent

[demarcation]

Wow! Whitewash beautifully executed and the figures look fantastic! Great work!

[Always48]

Incredible work there. The diorama base is going to look great. been watching and learning some interesting ideas here.

[Tomcat64]

Fabulous work mate - that's coming together really well.

Looking forward to seeing it on the base

[Bissyboat]

Great work! The crew really lifts the build. Perfect poses.

[Stokesy44]

Great work! The crew really lifts the build. Perfect poses.

Fabulous work mate - that's coming together really well.

Looking forward to seeing it on the base

Incredible work there. The diorama base is going to look great. been watching and learning some interesting ideas here.

Wow! Whitewash beautifully executed and the figures look fantastic! Great work!

That's some really nice work. The whitewash effect looks excellent

Thanks Guys, I really appreciate the kind words.

Its been a quiet day today. I corrected a minor schoolboy error in that I had the colour of the crews' hats wrong! The Mini Art set I used is a winter tank crew and they are depicted as wearing black panzer unit caps. I painted them according to the instructions but I forgot the Elefant crew would have had grey caps as they were Tank Destroyer men, not tankers.

Other than that I glued the upright wall section onto the base so I can get on and prime it and I made up 6 oil drums from an old Tamiya accessories set. The fit of the drums was pretty grim so I spent a fair amount of time (happily, it must be said) sanding away to get them up to scratch. I still haven't weathered the lower hull and running gear of the Elefant yet but that may now have to wait as I'm itching to start painting the base

Its all new to me, working on a diorama, so its fun to have more than one thing to work on. Oh what a dilemma!

[papatika]

Nice job on the white wash, I love it. Maybe I just missed, but couldn't find: what product have you used?
I have chosen the same kit for figures (inspired by your build). It will be interesting to see how different the same kit can be at the end.

[Tomcat64]

Its all new to me, working on a diorama, so its fun to have more than one thing to work on. Oh what a dilemma!

Welcome to the dark side, there's no turning back now - your shelf space will be consumed!!

[Stokesy44]

Nice job on the white wash, I love it. Maybe I just missed, but couldn't find: what product have you used?

Hi, I used Ultimate winter wash, applied with my air brush.

[Stokesy44]

I used oils on the wheels. First a wash using dark brown then filters using white and light tan. I'm after a colour that will serve as a good base for pigment mud and snow later on.





Sticking with the oils I got to work on rusting the hull and weathering the crew. The rust streaks are burnt sienna run through with a flat head brush for the streaking. I also reapplied some white using the flat head brush to keep the opacity of the white wash up. I don't want to fade it anymore than it already is.

For the crew I applied white to the hats, gloves, belts and boots. I also used white on the faces to wash out the pink look they had previously. I then added dirt and beard effects to the faces to make them look nice and grimy. For the winter suits I applied black overall and added browns to the elbows, backsides and lower trousers for the crew whose legs are visible.

Suitably dirty and knackered looking - both men and machine










The base is finally ready for priming so that's next up. Black for the edging and grey for the base itself.

[spock1701]

Great-looking figures, stokesy! They look very nice on the beast

[rodrant]

Stokesy ...I just bought that figures set , they are really very nice on that Elefant , I should use them in mine ...

oh and like a lot your dio idea ---should be very nice in the end for sure ...real cool build !

[Stokesy44]

Great-looking figures, stokesy! They look very nice on the beast

Stokesy ...I just bought that figures set , they are really very nice on that Elefant , I should use them in mine ...

oh and like a lot your dio idea ---should be very nice in the end for sure ...real cool build !

Thanks Guys. I'm very pleased with the figures. They needed a bit of TLC when I put them together but the end result is well worth it. The winter suits really lend themselves to the weathering process and the variety of poses means they go well with whatever vehicle you put them on.

[Tomcat64]

Great work on the figures mate - these look brilliant!

[Stokesy44]

Great work on the figures mate - these look brilliant!

Thanks Neil

I placed the oil drums and jerry cans to see how they looked. I think I'll go with this set up.



One thing I realised was, according to reference pics, German fuel drums had a drain / tap halfway down which these Tamiya barrels lack. I racked my brain for something I could use for the connector and came up with cutting rings out of a plastic cotton bud tube. They look ok to me.



So this is the base all ready for painting. I must confess I'm a bit daunted by what happens next!




First up was primer. I had some Vallejo primer left over from when I switched over to Ultimate so I figured I would use that rather than waste the Ultimate stuff on such a large area. Black for the edges, grey for the base.




I'll let it cure for a while then start on the timber, bricks and roof tiles. The plan is to paint the bits that need specific colours then use oils and washes for detailing everything else. Best laid plans and all that.

[Quax]

looks terrific Stokesy, theres a real diorama battle going on between you and Tomcat! both inspirational and aspirational and just

Paul

[Stokesy44]

looks terrific Stokesy, theres a real diorama battle going on between you and Tomcat! both inspirational and aspirational and just

Paul

Thanks Paul. I've been following Tomcat's dio. If I had a towel I would have thrown it in already!

[Bissyboat]

I agree with the above. Beautiful brushwork

[Stokesy44]

Before I get started on painting the base I thought I should finish off the Elefant.

I put the tow cables on, the bow gun, radio mast stub and machine gunner's hatch. I attached the barrel and travel lock, finally, then applied oils to both to weather them. After that I used Vallejo pigments for mud effects on the front, rear, wheels and tracks. Its a little light right now so once its fully dry, I'll apply some satin varnish with a hint of dark earth just to wet shine it and darken it down a little.







Crew in place







Now its finished I can concentrate on the base Scary stuff for a dio newby.

There's no pressure though - it better turn out well. I bought 3 kits at the weekend specifically with 3 dioramas in mind. Madness!

[Stokesy44]

Had a go at painting the base.

I used acrylics for the bricks, timbers, roof tiles and large chunks of masonry. Once that was done I did a Ultimate wash on the flat paving surface before using oils to wash down the debris. I then used oils on the paving to create tonal differences.

It still needs some work but its not the disaster it could have been for a first attempt.

[Stokesy44]

I used pastels to darken down the mud effects on the hull and tracks. It went on nice and thick on the tracks and wheels and I blended it in on the hull itself.





I then went back to working on the base. Using oils I added more colour to the debris piles. I also used oils to paint the bricks. I felt the original paint I had used was too thin so the bricks had a kind of sheen which I didn't like. Once that was done I added more colour to the road paving, creating more concentrated dirt and discolouration. To finish off I dry brushed all the rubble with white to highlight the detail and make it look more dusty.







This is the rubble pile I built from scratch, I think it looks ok. I'll definitely use the method again. Lots of stuff learned on this build.




I know I haven't done the snow yet (scared to be honest!) but I wanted to see the Elefant on the base to see how it looked. Got a bit carried away with the camera but who cares eh?






Thus is where I got a bit artsy fartsy! Some nice camera angles.




The crew have got that veterans look about them




Now I just have to paint the oil barrels (easy) and do the snow effects

[privatepete]

Hi David I'm playing catch up on page 7 I'll post later but what I've seen , good luck with the white stuff

[privatepete]

Hi David it has come along long way since I last looked in and you are building dioramas now and I must say very very good ,it will be nice to see it finished with the Elefant taking centre stage which bye the way is brilliantly finish off (hope mine is half as good) keep up the very good work

[Stokesy44]

Hi David it has come along long way since I last looked in and you are building dioramas now and I must say very very good ,it will be nice to see it finished with the Elefant taking centre stage which bye the way is brilliantly finish off (hope mine is half as good) keep up the very good work

Thanks Pete. Its certainly been fun learning new stuff and working with new materials.

I didn't get much done today. After getting some advice on the colour for the fuel drums I painted them using Ultimate grey primer then got the oils out to weather them for rust and general dirt.




All that's left now is the snow. I tell myself I'll do it tomorrow but I'll probably wimp out again and find a reason to delay. Today's reason was cleaning the desk