"Talvisota" Winter War 1939/40 Diorama

Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 10:17 pm

Using the Zvezda T 26 and Trumpeters WWII soviet assault Red Army w/Winter gear kit. I will be building a diorama of the Winter War 1939-1940.

Initial thought and Plans call for the T-26 entering a forest occupied by Finnish soldiers. I will use the Trumpeter figures to simulate the finnish troops.Some minor mods will be required for the transformation of the figures. All on a Snow covered base. (my first attempt to simulate snow )I might add a burnt out or disabled Soviet BA-10 armored car, as well

thanks to conradschmid99 for getting me interested on the subject of the Winter War and the continuation war through his thread here: http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 29&t=11209

Post by **gustavlekstal** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 6:59 pm

Good luck buddy! To bad it's so hard to find Finnish soldiers! Im a bit of a winter war and early Russians panzers fan. Gonna follow this one closely. Good luck again!

Post by **rwsmith14** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 7:03 pm

T-26 is just about complete as far as the building process. Fairly Basic kit. Fit is not too bad. Biggest complaint is the parts are thick and soft. The attachment points to the sprues are thick requiring lots of clean up. some filling and sanding required. Presently as it sits. more filling and cleanup is required. all n all the kit is okay, tracks do not look too bad for what they are. if this was going to be a stand alone display and not part of a diorama I would go with the HobbyBoss Kit. took about 2 hrs of working slow to get to this point.

Post by **Russ72** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:05 pm

Look forward to this one mate. Saw a good film a few years ago, Talvisota - The Winter War, very cool.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:37 pm

Tracks are complete and installed. Tracks went on without any issues, next up is prime then paint tracks.Then install fenders.

installed a piece of screening on the air intake.

Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 1:39 am

This sounds like an interesting Dio coming up, will keep my eyes peeled for this one! Good luck mate

Post by **Coen** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 10:34 am

Nice clean work dude!
Cool looking kit.

Post by **Panzerwolf** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 3:59 pm

Very interesting subject!
Also I really do like Soviet pre-war to early war vehicles, epsecially the T-26.
Definitely looking forward to more!

Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 8:33 pm

gustavlekstal wrote:Good luck buddy! To bad it's so hard to find Finnish soldiers! Im a bit of a winter war and early Russians panzers fan. Gonna follow this one closely. Good luck again!

Russ72 wrote:Look forward to this one mate. Saw a good film a few years ago, Talvisota - The Winter War, very cool.

Coen wrote:Nice clean work dude!
Cool looking kit.

Panzerwolf wrote:Very interesting subject!
Also I really do like Soviet pre-war to early war vehicles, epsecially the T-26.
Definitely looking forward to more!

UKguyInUSA wrote:This sounds like an interesting Dio coming up, will keep my eyes peeled for this one! Good luck mate

THanks for all the comments guys It is much appreciated. Thank you for taking an interest in this project

Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 8:53 pm

Some more progress:
T-26 primed in black using Vallejo Black primer

Going to use Ammo By MIG's Soviet Camouflages. I'm using 3B AU Basic protector Alkidno-Urelanvaya, as the base color. Using this based the description on the MIG box: 3B AU: Dark Green used as primer.corrosion protector and camouflage until 1942. This was the standard color used between 1935-1939

3B AU applied.

ready for white wash winter camo.. should be interesting as this is the first time I'm attempting this. Will be using MIG's washable White Camo & MIG's Cremeweiss for a variation in the hues of white plus chipping fluid.

Will probably start the BA-20 while in between paint coats.

Ordered some more figures from Evolution of Soviet soldiers Winter War. They look good and dressed in exactly what my researched revealed for soviet infantry during the Winter War.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Fri Mar 27, 2015 12:42 am

First step of the winter white wash is complete, very satisfied with it at this stage. still want to add more white wash detail to the wheels and suspension and a few areas of the upper hull. The Washable White from MIG works good. I used the chipping fluid in conjunction with the Cremeweiss paint. the combination of the chipping fluid and washable white did not work out too well. whats pretty neat about the washable paint is that it is still "washable" until there is a varnish applied..

Next up.. work the wheel and suspension with more white wash. then on to the tools, detail and repaint the the tracks. gloss coat, decals, gloss coat again then weathering.

Post by **KalebBeard** » Fri Mar 27, 2015 5:24 am

Can't wait to see this thing all buttoned up and done Mate!

Post by **burnie43** » Fri Mar 27, 2015 6:24 am

Really nice subject, great job
Thanks for sharing
M

Post by **rwsmith14** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:40 pm

the few tools in the kit are installed. Suspension and wheel assemblies are detailed painted then oversprayed with whitewash. Still need to do more with the tracks. I want to give them a rustier look.

Decided not to build/include the BA-10. in the dio. Putting the final thoughts and plans for the diorama layout. I will update that in the next update along with the figures. The Evolution figures are wonderful !!!! some of the best figures I have seen. more on those next update.

Gloss coat then decals next.. followed by weathering

Exhaust

Exhaust just placed not permanently installed.

Post by **OliveDrab** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 6:50 am

Very cool to see some of these lesser known subjects RW. Great job with them

Post by **Coen** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 11:01 am

Yup! Rare equals cool!
Nice work RW!!
The exhaust looks cool

Post by **hansolo** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 12:11 pm

Looking very good so far! Great winter wash.
Looking forward to more.

Cheers

Post by **rwsmith14** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 10:03 pm

hansolo wrote:Looking very good so far! Great winter wash.
Looking forward to more.

Cheers

Coen wrote:Yup! Rare equals cool!
Nice work RW!!
The exhaust looks cool

OliveDrab wrote:Very cool to see some of these lesser known subjects RW. Great job with them

Thanks, Guys

Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 12:17 am

Decals applied. I'm happy there wasn't any more decals to apply. It was a pain to get them to sit down. I applied many many coats of micro sol to them. It wasn't a surprise, the youtube review of the Zveda T-26 mentioned the decals were horrible.

Washes applied. Use Ammo by MIG's DAK wash along with Winter streaking grime and Vallejo Rust streaking wash. Next up a flat coat and pigments. I plan on defining the rust a little bit more with pigments

Post by **Coen** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 12:43 am

Ow Dude!!! That's freaking nice bud!!!!
Wow!!!

Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 11:21 pm

Coen wrote:Ow Dude!!! That's freaking nice bud!!!!
Wow!!!

THanks Micheal !

Post by **wappynutter** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 11:29 pm

Awesome stuff mate....
Love the exhaust, the winter white wash, the rust effects and grime..... well everything really...

Keep up the good work..... Well done again..

Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 11:51 pm

T-26 is complete. all that is left to do is apply some textured snow and insert it into the dio.

here are a few mock up shots of the diorama. skewers and toothpicks are possible tree locations. started out with a piece of Foam board. Love this stuff.. you can shape it,, apply some terrain features using heat(lighter) the heat will melt the foam causing to it recede. (great for making seascapes) Foam was cut to fit inside the fame then primed with white.
Used and shaped foam pieces to form a defensive burm,Trench/Fox Hole. still debating this idea. thinking about "Digging" the trench into the foam base.

The Trumpeter figure running toward the T-26 is a going to be a Finnish soldier attempting to throw a molotov cocktail into the engine intake,.

The Evolution figures are fantastic. thier permanent locations is still to be determined.

Comments and recommendations for improvement are appreciated.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 4:27 am

Your doing a ace job mate.
Really cracking idea and the models are gonna look awesome when complete.
Brilliant job.
John

Post by **rwsmith14** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 7:49 am

Donkeywalloper wrote:Your doing a ace job mate.
Really cracking idea and the models are gonna look awesome when complete.
Brilliant job.
John

Thanks John

Post by **localjedi** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 1:46 pm

Awesome weathering of the tank. Truly impressing. Now I'm looking forward to the dio coming together...

Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 4:11 pm

Cracking job on the weathering of the tank...looking forward to see what you do with the dio and figures now!

Post by **rwsmith14** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 10:26 pm

localjedi wrote:Awesome weathering of the tank. Truly impressing. Now I'm looking forward to the dio coming together...

UKguyInUSA wrote:Cracking job on the weathering of the tank...looking forward to see what you do with the dio and figures now!

wappynutter wrote:
Awesome stuff mate....
Love the exhaust, the winter white wash, the rust effects and grime..... well everything really...
Keep up the good work..... Well done again..

Thanks Guys.. next up is painting the figures. that is something i'm still learning to do

Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Apr 14, 2015 12:00 am

Now that the T-26 is complete focus has shifted to the dio base and Figures,

Figures primed with Vallejo Black primer.

First coat of Flex Coat for the snow base is applied, when it drys it can be sanded , won't need to do that on this project.

second and final coat of Flex coat is applied. sculpted some small snow drifts. when dry the base will be cover with Powered snow, Applied Flex coat to the spruces trees.

I went ahead and Dug the trench into the foam base vice installing extra foam on top of the base and and making the Trench into those pieces.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 1:53 am

Did some work on the base.. added some snow drifts. Started painting the figures. still have a ways to go on both figures and base. still want to add some depth to the foxhole/Trench... will add some earth colors and mud to it, to give some depth and definition. still not happy with the hues of the colors on the Soviet figures. I will play around with the colors until I'm satisfied

.

Post by **Coen** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 4:23 am

Awesome work!! I was loving those trees with all the snow around them, then you added the tank. Excellent!!!
How are you going to do the tank track marks in the snow?

Post by **rwsmith14** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 12:26 pm

Mike, the tank tracks will be made, in the powdered snowflake snow still yet to be applied. The snow made with the flex paste is the snow base as seen presently. As it sits now nothing is permanently mounted except the trees. Speaking of tracks, when a tanks turns or pivots in the snow what would the track marks look like? Say it turns to the right, would the track marks be fanned or smeared out to the left ? When I get to that point and ready to make the track marks and before I make them permanent, I want to get your opinion on them. Thanks

Post by **Coen** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 1:58 pm

If the tank is travelling in a straight line they would leave a mark similar to a wheeled vehicle, but when tracked vehicles turn at high speed they leave a large wide rent in the surface. The softer the surface the larger the mark. When turning in place they completely till the soil. One side can stay still while the other moves or both can move in opposite directions making a real mess.
In snow a tracked vehicle making a slow turn would create a fairly wide mark.

Here are some photos of different vehicles leaving track marks.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 10:52 pm

Great pics Mike ! Thanks !

Post by **rwsmith14** » Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:16 pm

Got a little bit done this week not too much.

Painted the Trench base with Tamiya Flat earth. Plan to play around with Drybrushing to add detail and use pigments and washes. Maybe add some air dry clay and do some sculpting to add more detail. In the end definetly going to have some ice, snow and slush down there too

Changed the hue to Yellow Ochre on the Soviet figures. like it better. a little bright right now but, I think when painting is complete, drybrushed and washed it will tone done to where I want it. Pictures reveal a whole lot more painting work on the figures. Figure painting is not my favorite thing to do

. but not in a rush .. going to take my time and do it right.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Mon May 04, 2015 2:02 am

Been working on this here and there, figures just about done,, still some things to do on the Finnish figures. Put down first layer of Snowflake snow. Will continue to buildup layers of snow to give it s sense of depth Figures and T-26 are not yet permanent.

Just some poor impromptu pics

Post by **Coen** » Mon May 04, 2015 3:05 am

That's some very cool stuff bud!
It's really looking the part now.

Post by **Bissyboat** » Sat May 09, 2015 12:03 am

Great stuff! Love the set.

Post by **OliveDrab** » Sat May 09, 2015 4:32 am

That's some really nice looking snow effects

Post by **rwsmith14** » Sat May 09, 2015 6:47 pm

Coen wrote:That's some very cool stuff bud!
It's really looking the part now.

Bissyboat wrote:Great stuff! Love the set.

OliveDrab wrote:That's some really nice looking snow effects

Thanks guys !! just about finished.. just have to add the accessories to the Finnish soldiers(Trumpeter) and then add a wash to all the figures. Add another layer of snowflake snow and she should be complete.

Post by **Bissyboat** » Tue May 12, 2015 9:33 pm

Will you be fitting some of the finnish soldiers with German helmets?

Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue May 12, 2015 10:41 pm

Bissyboat wrote:Will you be fitting some of the finnish soldiers with German helmets?

Yes !!! 2 of the 4 will be wearing them. I had to steal them from the 1/35 Tamiya Panzer II kit.