Maddoxx77 Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 There is something about PE and bras parts on a plastic model before paint that looks so spectacular. The amount of detail you put in this kit is awesome and shows true craftsmanship. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Brantley Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 That is really some awesome work @vaoinas! Just beautiful model building and really inspiring for me! 🍻 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEscaleSHOW Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 1 hour ago, vaoinas said: Thanks, John. The watering can is done all by myself. This photo was the inspiration for that. Cheers! Kristjan 6 hours ago, vaoinas said: Hey, thanks, guys! The gun breech is somewhat underwhelming in the Tristar kit. But it will hardly be seen when finished, so I let it be. Barrel is the same Aber one that I used in my previous Pz.IV build and it is as good as you can get. Gun mantlet is another detail in the kit that needs some attention. The sides should be grooved but are flush in the kit, so I cut these out and used some thin styrene strips glued together to make the new sides. They turned out to be not as even as I would like But I guess after the paint goes on, it doesn't show that much. I was really surprised though, there's no aftermarket option for this kit to correct the mantlet The turret has its basic basket floor. The motor is from a Dragon box and so is the MG with an Aber barrel. I had some Dragon early commanders cupola left over in my spares, so I used this instead of the kit one. Tristar cupola has no interior in it and the details aren't as sharp. The bolted strip at the rear of the turret is another story however. Tristar provides you a straight strip for this and it is meant to be bent carefully to the curved shape. Well I can't say I didn't try but it turned out to be the lost cause. So I used the Ausf.D part that was also in the kit - cut off the bolt heads and glued it on, but it turned out to be a tad too thin, so I added a thin strip of styrene on it and finally the correct number of bolt heads. There are also two bolt heads missing lower on the turret wall so I added these as well. The turret hatches have some great detail straight out of the box, but the vision ports are opaque unfortunately. Luckily the center portion can easily be cut out and I made some transparent vision blocks to fill these. The metal parts used here are from Aber set and add some additional detail. The jack has been added to the fender as well. And finally a watering can that I made the other day just for fun and plan to use on this tank. Here's how she looks at the moment. Cheers! Kristjan Hello Kristjan First class built with super details-the watering can is the cherry on the cake 👍👍👍 MD 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartH Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 Incredible detailing work you've done there and also so neat and clean looking 👌 As others have remarked that watering can is a thing of beauty in itself Outstanding 👏👏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaoinas Posted November 23, 2022 Author Share Posted November 23, 2022 Thanks, guys! Meanwhile I managed to paint the turret interior. Didn't bother myself with it too much though and the ugly turret ceiling and gun breech didn't lighten my spirit either. So a quick paintjob to close the thing once and for all. Here are the hatches with the glass blocks replaced. And the glass blocks in the commanders cupola. The towing cable has been added on the backside of the hull. I used 0.7mm Karaya copper cable for this. The cable ends are cloned from some Voyager Pz.III detailing kit. And I also redid the towing pintle bolt ends. I used 0.5mm brass rod there at first, but it seemed too thin, so I made the new ends using 0.7mm brass rod and the bolts look much beefier now. Cheers! Kristjan 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted November 23, 2022 Share Posted November 23, 2022 Superb detailed, impressive amount of extras... Cheers and TC Francis.👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaddyO Posted November 23, 2022 Share Posted November 23, 2022 Great work on one of my favourite vehicles 👏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaoinas Posted December 11, 2022 Author Share Posted December 11, 2022 (edited) Thanks, guys! Some final details here: After gluing the turret together, the lower triangular faces didn't much meet their end, and as also the welds were quite off, I decided to shave all the thing down to make my own welds. Here you can see the place of the original weld that was supposed to be on the gray filled area - actually the armor on the turret was much thinner. Also I had to fill the lower area on the left side face with a styrene strip to make it even to match other sides. I decided to replace all the hooks on the tank as well. These differed the size little bit all over the tank, but didn't catch the eye so much. But as these were arriving anyways I decided to replace these and I must say - the 3D printed hooks look much nicer. I also added the small wire to point out of the gun. I guess it was the first thing there to turn down the antennae, before they had the usual frame under the gun. It was an unusual and fun detail to add, my only hope is not to break it off before the model is finished. I also thought about some figures on the model, so here they are: The standing ones are straight out of the Alpine Miniatures box and only needed a magnetic square planted in their boot. The sitting one on the other hand is from the Miniart kit that I had the head and the hand replaced with the Hornet ones. It also needed its bottom and an arm to be altered with the epoxy putty to match the sitting position on the side hatch. And that's how she looks right before the painting stage Cheers! Kristjan Edited December 14, 2022 by vaoinas grammar 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f matthews Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 This just gets better and better. Awesome work all around! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 4 hours ago, f matthews said: This just gets better and better. Awesome work all around! Seconded! Stay safe Roger 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diablo rsv Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Excellent detailing work Kristjan, this going to be another cracking model. Wayne 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milan Mynar Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Fantastic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted December 19, 2022 Share Posted December 19, 2022 Absolutely top notch work. Shame to hide all that extra detail under paint. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panda Commander Posted December 19, 2022 Share Posted December 19, 2022 Apart from your superb work on the tank itself, the crew figures are actually posed like human beings! lt’s like a moment in time has been frozen… Outstanding. Panda Commander 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaoinas Posted December 22, 2022 Author Share Posted December 22, 2022 Thank you, everyone. I continue with the painting phase. First the preparing which required a considerable amount of masking. Then the primer to which I used Ammo-Mig One Shot gray primer. I also did some preshading after that. This time I aim to a darker shade of panzergrau, so I used Tamiya XF-63 straight out of the jar. For the brown I had AK RC RAL7017 Dunkelbraun, which I mixed lighter to match the gray. And with the gloss clearcoat. And then the decals and the dull coat were on. The marking scheme, that I that I had in mind was 10. panzer Division in France 1940. The bison insignias were sprayed using the PE-masks that were kindly provided with the Tristar fret. The diagonal yellow stripe on the left side was also replaced as I considered the Tristar decal a bit too orangey. It all seems pretty light here on the photos. In real life the tank look much darker. Cheers! Kristjan 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeff Posted December 22, 2022 Share Posted December 22, 2022 This is awesome! So much detail and skill. 👌 Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaoinas Posted December 29, 2022 Author Share Posted December 29, 2022 Thank you, Keith! A few sessions of oils and pin-wash later: Cheers! Kristjan 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaoinas Posted January 24, 2023 Author Share Posted January 24, 2023 (edited) This one is nearing to an end, so an update before it'll be finished. All of the details and separate parts are now painted to some point, few of them still need some touch ups. Most of the tools as well as road wheels are also glued permanently on the model and the mud and dust has been done. It seems a bit more monotone on the photos than in real life. Or at least that's what I keep saying to myself. Here's the thing: The figurines have a base coat on and need to get some details on them now. The faces, like always are awful when photographed but quite okay looking in real life at a great distance. Cheers! Kristjan Edited January 24, 2023 by vaoinas 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 That, Kritjan, is a perfect example of how to weather a tank. Just the right amount. And as for the figures. I think that you have the skin tones spot on. All in all, I'd say that you've done an excellent job. John. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 Sorry Kristjan, I have missed so much of this build, but have now caught up. Absolutely beautiful work on this, so many nice details that you have added to this model and the painting and weathering is superb. Very well done...👍 Ed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Model Mate Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 I'd get scared about adding that much dust, but yours looks fantastic - well done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Brantley Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 That is turning out beautifully @vaoinas! The dust looks perfect, and well done on your figures too! I'm about to venture into some figure painting as well and am a bit anxious about it. This tank is gonna look great! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaoinas Posted January 24, 2023 Author Share Posted January 24, 2023 Hey, thanks, guys. Here to report, the tracks are on now. Cheers! Kristjan 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f matthews Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 (edited) Looks amazing. Watching your build reminds me of all of the GOOD parts about the Tristar kits! Edited January 24, 2023 by f matthews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echen Posted January 25, 2023 Share Posted January 25, 2023 Very impressive build. The weathering on the lower hull, running gear and tracks looks spot on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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