Jump to content

Dio: Big 'Un


Recommended Posts

Hi my dear fellows,

For a Dutch FB GB I decided to build a not often seen kit: Soar Arts' German 35,5cm M1 Super Heavy Howitzer (also posted in the Arty section). Yet I decided, this also needs a complementary (albeit skeleton) crew an ammo delivery truck and ofcourse a dio. My progress thus far: 
Gun: ready: 
734678-36520-73.jpg
734675-36520-55.jpg
734676-36520-47.jpg
734679-36520-90.jpg

After messing around with some foam board 
751715-36520-46.jpg
And grass and modelling paste for model railroading 
751716-36520-49.jpg 
the base progresses nicely too...

Then I started on the figs: 
747349-36520-13.jpg
Cleanup an assembly is rather straightforward.
Then I started painting faces (all in Vallejo Model Color) 

Step one: a base color of sand:
751717-36520-97.jpg

Next: Adding shadows, a mix of beige red and black red
751720-36520-85.jpg

Step 3: First highlights, with beige red
751713-36520-79.jpg

Step 4:Second highlights with base flesh 

751714-36520-46.jpg

Step 5: Final highlights with light flesh 
751724-36520-64.jpg

Please do note that the hands get the same treatment

Step 6: Adding the eyes. Whites with white and a tad of sky blue, black irises /pupils. 
751722-36520-71.jpg

Step 7: Lips painted, with a mixture of beige red and burned red
751723-36520-45.jpg

Step 8: Chin strap, black 
751718-36520-30.jpg

Step 9: Eyebrows, color depends on hair color 
751721-36520-81.jpg

The whole bunch finished. 

751719-36520-83.jpg
Next up: painting the uniforms, waiting for the truck to arrive (on order), finish the dio and fixing some details...

Edited by Golikell
  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, Ozzy said:

Looks a fantastic project, those figures look really good.

I thank you for your kind words.... Ever  since I did a project requiring 40 figures, I am not so affraid for painting them anymore (mind you: that was the first time I tried serious figure panting)... 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Major_Error said:

Great. Such a big gun! I believe it will be working dangerously fine.

 

8-)

Thanks...  With a plastic barrel, I think thing will go awry  if I'd try to fire anything :P 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Making nice progress: the base is ready, the gun is in place and so are the figures.
Also piled up a bunch of empty shells. This leaves only the supply truck to be added, which is still under construction.

763750-36520-77.jpg
763756-36520-36.jpg
763748-36520-99.jpg
763752-36520-50.jpg
763749-36520-46.jpg
763751-36520-45.jpg
763753-36520-41.jpg
763754-36520-46.jpg
763755-36520-75.jpg
764543-36520-41.jpg

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, GerryW said:

Amazing piece of work. 🤓

 

Gerry

 

Thank you ver much for the compliment. 

 

Just finished the driver (yes, the shoes have been painted too by now :) ) 

766019-36520-97-1440.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On popular request a update on the truck...

It is ready for weathering and to add the last minor details:
768327-36520-61-1440.jpg

The hood is created from square plastic (holders), Metal wires, alu foil (straps for the "windows") and tissue paper. 
768328-36520-44-1440.jpg

Driver in place, with rolled down window.
768329-36520-44-1440.jpg

Rearflap of the hood
768330-36520-13-1440.jpg

Overall view. The cargo body is still separate.
768331-36520-34-1440.jpg
 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Okay... now for the beginning of the weathering: 

Some very exclusive and rare polka dot camouflage... :D

770115-36520-54-1440.jpg

Also on the chassis and cab: 
770116-36520-81-1440.jpg

Yet, this was not to be for very long... After a vigourous application of white spirit:

770117-36520-17-1440.jpg

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Aaaand done!
After adding some details to the truck and some vigorous weathering (I wanted to represent a heavily used and more or less worn out truck) I consider this done.

Having said this, the only thing left was adding it to the diorama. A name plate will follow later... Love the result! 👍😁


Added hoops, loops and a "wire" to fasten the tarp.
771738-36520-57-1440.jpg

Also added lightcovers, windscreen wipers an filler cap, and I needed to make new bracket for the load bed, as the ones included were way too small
771741-36520-90-1440.jpg

The underside and (rear)sides have been lightly sprayed. First with dark yellow, then light sand
771746-36520-86-1440.jpg

Next a copious amount of  Russian Earth pigments, where the rear part received more than the front.
771733-36520-51-1440.jpg

Ofcourse, the wheels received extra attention...
771734-36520-53-1440.jpg

Next I put everything together:

771735-36520-11-1440.jpg

771737-36520-26-1440.jpg

771739-36520-69-1440.jpg

771740-36520-31-1440.jpg 

771742-36520-93-1440.jpg

771743-36520-82-1440.jpg

771744-36520-80-1440.jpg

771745-36520-20-1440.jpg

Edited by Golikell
  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lovely work Golikell,

The big gun was already looking fantastic, but looks even better now it's in a diorama with nice figures. I was a bit worried about your truck and the tarpaulin especially,  but the dot weathering has really brought everything to life. BTW, I do hope you cut out the centre of your grass mat and have put it aside for future dioramas!

 

 

Rearguards,

Badder

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for the kind words... I know the contrast on the tarp looked a bit stark, but on the eye it looked not so bad.   From experience, I know that dust has the nasty habit of settling on cloth (even if it is plastified, like modern tarps sometimes are) even more than on other surfaces. The tarp, therefore got an even more copious amount of pigments than the rest did. This also made the contrast less stark :) 

 

The mat was not so large and therefore went into the dio completely. Yes, also beneath the gun!

Oh well, I'll have to order a new one if I ever want to use it on a future dio. 😕 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
11 hours ago, Tigercat75 said:

Amazing Work . The gun looks like it's escaped from Navarone. 

Yes, it is quite a tube, isn't it?  The calibre is even bigger than Leopold (which was 28 cm) yet, as it was a howitzer, it's reach was not as big. 20 km opposed to 70 km. But then again, it was mucht more compact and was not railway bound...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...