Ardennes Dio -Friul tracks and mug up

Today I did a bit of work on the M4 Sherman Friul metal tracks. Friul tracks are great, though I had to use some thicker brass wire instead of the thin and way too flexible wire that came with the kit. After trimming the wire, a painting and weathering will be up next.

I also found the time to do a simple mug up of the dio. I’m still not satisfied with the positioning of the two SS infantrymen on the left side (okay I know that circles don’t have sides…but you get the point!)

I’ve scaled the dio down a bit compared to the original idea in order to make it more compact and intense. The positioning of the trees looks a bit weird and I still need to work on that. But still, the trees in the Ardennes are planted, so they do actually stand in straight rows.

Later I’ll sand the connections on the wooden sides down to get a smooth and completely round circle. I think I’ll paint them flat black to give a bit of contrast to the snowy surface of the scene.

A quick face painting practice update

As I write in my profile, I did a lot of modelling as a kid. Back then the only techniques I know was dry brushing, washes, and a bit of airbrushing and that’s basically how I painted every thing…

During my 12 year break from modelling a lot has happened, especially with the research tools available these days, like the Internet!

Coming back to modelling I’ve discovered stuff like acrylics and basic modulation techniques, which I’ve never tried on faces before. Now I want to learn! This is a test I did on a 14 year old Verlinden figure.

Base colour: VC-876 Brown sand

Highlight: VC-876 with variable mixes of VC-815 Basic skin tone

Shadows: VC-876 with variable mixes of VC-814 Burnt Cadmium Red

Deepest shadows: VC-859 Cadmium Maroon

…and yes…I know the eyes and eyebrows suck!!! ;-) I’ll get to that later!

Ardennes Dio - Oak Leaf camo

This has been my first time doing Oak leaf camo. First I did a few test runs on some scrap figures to get the right colour mix and pattern.

This particular Oak leaf is the fall version, which was issued to German combat troops from September 15^TH to April 15^TH. The jacket and trousers are reversible with white winter camo on one side and oak leaf on the other.

As a reference I used some colour pictures from the net and Jaume Ortiz’s great painting guide http://www.timelinesforum.com/index.php?page=oakleaf1

Like Ortiz, I made the violet brown base colour mixing VC-872 Chocolate Brown, VC-944 Old Rose, and VC-950 Black in an approximate ratio of 7:2:1.

Having applied a few coats of the base mix, I outlined all the seams of the trousers with VC-822 German Camo Black Brown.

After a few hours of drying time I moved on to the leaf pattern. Ortiz recommends starting out with a mix of VC-981 Orange Brown and VC-872 Chocolate Brown in a proportion of 7:3, but after having researched the subject I went my own way on this one.

I felt that the Orange Brown/Chocolate Brown mix was too bright compared to my reference picture http://www.germanmilitaria.com/WaffenSS/photos/S027161.html, so I went with just the Orange Brown.

The dots and outlining of the orange parts was done with VC-822 German Camo Black Brown .

Sticking to Ortiz’s guide, I used light washes to blend the colours together and make them look “worn”. This was followed by black oil washes on the darkest parts.

For a "first timer" I'm satisfied, next will be better think.

Next up, field kit and face painting…

Ardennes Dio - Figure painting

Here are a few pictures of the figure painting in progress.

I started out with 3 coats of “The Army Painter” uniform grey spray primer. Pic 1

Having given the primer a few hours to dry properly I started on the uniform basecoat of Vallejo’s “Off White”.

I gave the figure 6 light coats, deluded 3:1 thinner/paint. These 6 coats served as the “base”, not completely white, but with a bit of the dark grey primer still visible underneath. From there on every layer was highlighting, only painting the raised parts and leaving the folds and creases untouched. Pic 2 & 3

I went on highlighting like this for another 8 coats, building up the light.

Next step was a heavily thinned wash of “Winsor & Newton” oil paint Ivory Black #24. This did a fine job of emphasizing the shadows that I’d made earlier on.

Then I gave all the creases and details a very dark “pin wash” of Ivory Black.

With the oil washes done I finished the uniform off with a heavily deluded coat of VC “white primer”. This toned down the contrast between light and dark a bit, making it look a bit more realistic.

Next up Oak leaf camo…a first timer! ;-)

Ardennes Dio

I started on my latest dio project a few months ago. The scene is going to be a US airborne patrol + Sherman about to be ambushed by German SS in the Ardennes forrest December 44.

This is a 3D drawing I did of my original idea. It's changed a bit now, The road is lower then the fir trees. I'll have 3 to 6 US Airborne advancing on the right side and behind the tank (viewer's perspective). To SS soldiers will be hiding in the woods Left of the Sherman. One kneeling behind the logs, one standing behind a tree. I lowered the road part because I think it would be more realistic if the Germans were attacking down hill and not taking on the enemy at the road level.

It's been slow lately, but I have found the time to do a bit of figure painting.

I'll post real pic's later!