So here is about step 3 of a WWII diorama that my girlfriend and I are currently working on (between looking after the puppy). Waiting for the clay ground to hard before we paint it and add some trees, grasses, and bushes.
WWII Diorama - Work in Progress
- Thread starter ArmedGinger
- Start date
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I used to love building Tamiya Tanks and had a bunch of them,
Their WWII models are first-class, cool idear with the Helmet
Their WWII models are first-class, cool idear with the Helmet
It was in pieces, picked it up from a garage sale many years ago and it's been sitting in a junk box ever since. So I decided it needed to be finished and used.
Back when... I deliberately limited myself to jets, not even props.; and definitely not armor.
Of course, that didn't last long. My first model tank.
Way back further (pre-teens); I started building and flying Rubber Powered free flight.
Hip Pocket Aero, and the plans. I am working toward getting back to building flying scale in 24" w/s and 1/24 scale. The garage shop is in the slow progress of getting a second bench and set of shelves for building rubber power free flight built; the existing is a reloading and maintenance shop.
I've been a sport rubber free flight scratch builder since around 1955 (age 9). I especially like P-30 and Coupe d'Hiver.
I'm never bored.
Greg
Of course, that didn't last long. My first model tank.
Way back further (pre-teens); I started building and flying Rubber Powered free flight.
Hip Pocket Aero, and the plans. I am working toward getting back to building flying scale in 24" w/s and 1/24 scale. The garage shop is in the slow progress of getting a second bench and set of shelves for building rubber power free flight built; the existing is a reloading and maintenance shop.
I've been a sport rubber free flight scratch builder since around 1955 (age 9). I especially like P-30 and Coupe d'Hiver.
I'm never bored.
Greg
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Shocked how much Tamiya charges these days for a model.
My parents would not have got me as many had prices been similar.
Perhaps they were inflation and all considered.
My parents would not have got me as many had prices been similar.
Perhaps they were inflation and all considered.
Yeah I picked one up awhile ago, $75 CDN or something like that. Insane. Still haven't built it....
Check out Squadron Models for all kinds of detail goodies. https://www.squadron.com/ Great source for highly detailed photo etched metal bits. Voyager is another. Not my photo, but this shows some of the photo etched scales parts they sell look like.
Oh you ain’t seen nothing if Tamiya is what your looking at!!! You can spend thousands on this stuff
Armortek | The world's leading 1/6th scale metal kit manufacturer
Welcome to Armortek - Your source for precision manufactured 1:6 scale RC Model Kits. Made out of metal with scale thickness armour our kits are perfect for hobbyists, enthusiasts and collectors alike. Designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom.
www.armortek.co.uk
Cool weathering technique for scratches on armor is with salt. Paint the base metal color. Moisten with a q-tip and apply salt. Then the top colors. When dry chip off the salt.
www.britmodeller.com
www.scalemodellingnow.com
Salt Weathering Techniques
Here is my step by step process of salt weathering. I know that many of you have done this before and you have your own methods, but I’ve done this on my last 5 builds and I now have the time down to 1 1/2 hours from start to finish. For most salt weathering, make sure that you have a good coat o...
www.britmodeller.com
Salt Technique for heavy wear and tear - Scale Modelling Now
Weathering aircraft with Aaron Scott A note from Geoff C… Inevitably photographs of models are hardly ever as good as viewing the real model, despite our best efforts ;-I We do all work really hard at the Mag though to bring you the best quality we can :) Ok, that said… when I saw Aaron’s […]
www.scalemodellingnow.com
AG, that's an awesome paint scheme. I wish in the 60's and early 70's I would have had access to color photos to give me the correct paint schemes when I was doing all my modeling. Also spent a lot of time in the woods looking for moss. If I wasn't in the ocean, I was glueing and I don't mean huffing. There are still some in my high school. It's actually great what you've done so far especially the backdrop...
AG.. That is a unique idea using the helmet, and weathering.
Nice to see that I am not the only one, occasionally building model tanks / WWII aircraft still.
When I was a kid , money from doing odd jobs either went to 22 lr ammo or models.
Nice to see that I am not the only one, occasionally building model tanks / WWII aircraft still.
When I was a kid , money from doing odd jobs either went to 22 lr ammo or models.
used to have a neighbor that loved all his life to set up sets of battle reenactments he kept rooms in his house with tiny models of soldiers and what real equipment he could find from each period . I never got into it as a kid but later many years after his death always love seeing the passion he put into his collection and all his traveling to find missing pieces or anything he could get that he was missing or wanted . stuff like this
it takes all types to make the world go round .
it takes all types to make the world go round .
I bought a 1/48 Tamaya F-14 with super detail that cost me over $50 back in the 1990's. It even had some diecast metal parts, like in the landing gear.
All the guys in our family are builders. My nephews sometimes do commercial architectural model building, and work up their own photoetched parts. I tend to just shake my head over that deep a commitment.
Greg
All the guys in our family are builders. My nephews sometimes do commercial architectural model building, and work up their own photoetched parts. I tend to just shake my head over that deep a commitment.
Greg
I love modeling.... mostly metal stuff.
I envy your painting skills. I never could manage to weather things. Your painting is marvellous!
Cheers and thanks for sharing!
Sirhr
I envy your painting skills. I never could manage to weather things. Your painting is marvellous!
Cheers and thanks for sharing!
Sirhr
I have done several Armortek kits. It's my winter thing....Oh you ain’t seen nothing if Tamiya is what your looking at!!! You can spend thousands on this stuff
Armortek | The world's leading 1/6th scale metal kit manufacturer
Welcome to Armortek - Your source for precision manufactured 1:6 scale RC Model Kits. Made out of metal with scale thickness armour our kits are perfect for hobbyists, enthusiasts and collectors alike. Designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom.
Current one is a Silver Ghost armoured car chassis.
LOVE the guys at Armortek.
Sirhr
Painting skills. Hah!
I once built a Monogram 1/48 F-84F model in the Italian National Aerobatic Team Getti Tonanti Frecce Colore color scheme. The orange one in the foreground. It was weird and beautiful, both at once. Not my model, but very representative. The F-84 was later evolved to be an early Nuclear Penetration Bomber.
I couldn't resist... Just barely managed to stop myself from building all five of them. The real challenge was getting the multi shaded bare aluminum fuselage right.
I once built a Monogram 1/48 F-84F model in the Italian National Aerobatic Team Getti Tonanti Frecce Colore color scheme. The orange one in the foreground. It was weird and beautiful, both at once. Not my model, but very representative. The F-84 was later evolved to be an early Nuclear Penetration Bomber.
I couldn't resist... Just barely managed to stop myself from building all five of them. The real challenge was getting the multi shaded bare aluminum fuselage right.
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@barneybdb here is a thread for you, my friend.
Still thinking you need an Armortek Universal Carrier....
Just 'sayin.
Sirhr
Still thinking you need an Armortek Universal Carrier....
Just 'sayin.
Sirhr
Me, I've a thing for 'big guns', so at the moment I'm building a 1:350 Tamiya model of the BB-62 New Jersey. This one will simply be a static 'shelf-sitter' while I go "all-out" and build a 1:96 version of the same. Both of these are "post 83" re-fit. The latter though, will be R/C'd, armed, and articulated.
It isn't a case near-so-much of "getting it done" as it is the "how GOOD can you build it"? That is my challenge to myself. The local model boat builders club here, they too are crazy like that. Not nearly as crazy as I am though, apparently, as they keep saying "get one-piece fibreglas hulls" and whatnot. They're only $1,200 USD plus shipping and duties....
I've already got the plate-plan, and am doing this out of aluminum.
It isn't a case near-so-much of "getting it done" as it is the "how GOOD can you build it"? That is my challenge to myself. The local model boat builders club here, they too are crazy like that. Not nearly as crazy as I am though, apparently, as they keep saying "get one-piece fibreglas hulls" and whatnot. They're only $1,200 USD plus shipping and duties....
I've already got the plate-plan, and am doing this out of aluminum.
Have you ever been on the Big J ? shes docked in beautiful downtown Camden NJ. Seriuosly though the part of Camden its docked in is safe during the day. Dare I say ....nice. Anyway, took the kids on it like 5 times before fleeing NJ. Learn something new everytime. I still find it hard to believe that she was used during the gulf war. I also marvel at the sleeping quarters of the crew. Planning to take the family down to the gulf to see among other things The Mighty A in Mobile. As for building models my oldest and myself are heavily into it and as someone pointed out earlier the rabbit hole does indeed run deep and expensive in this hobby. LOl we've come this far there's no turning back........
Senior year in High School spent a shit ton of money, at that time, on a 1/25 Tamiya Tiger Tank.
Spent money for an air gun for painting, bought a compressor, putty because I was going to actually fill seams and sand them up to make the tank look legit.
Spent hours getting the road wheels right, trimming casting lines, putty any seams, took weeks with breaks in between. I was going to do it right.
Went on in USMC that summer after graduation.
Came back 4.5 years later.
Mom had thrown the road wheels out.
Rest of tank is in the attic still incomplete.
Used air gun 4-5 years ago to paint my M40A1.
Compressor came in handy for bike tires.
That incomplete kit is still worth some cash.
I should try to get the road wheels from Tamiya and go at it again.
Spent money for an air gun for painting, bought a compressor, putty because I was going to actually fill seams and sand them up to make the tank look legit.
Spent hours getting the road wheels right, trimming casting lines, putty any seams, took weeks with breaks in between. I was going to do it right.
Went on in USMC that summer after graduation.
Came back 4.5 years later.
Mom had thrown the road wheels out.
Rest of tank is in the attic still incomplete.
Used air gun 4-5 years ago to paint my M40A1.
Compressor came in handy for bike tires.
That incomplete kit is still worth some cash.
I should try to get the road wheels from Tamiya and go at it again.
Indeed you should! You can probably get road wheels from a number of suppliers that will be more detailed than the original kit. Verlinden, Armorpax among others.
Modeling is a very relaxing thing. The art of miniatures is something that anyone who likes precision (and what shooter doesn't) understands. It's hard enough to make something large. It's way harder to shrink it down!
This guy is probably the worlds master at miniature guns... His son, Zavie, is following in his footsteps. I visited his workshop about 5 years ago. A remarkable man.
Scaled Models | David Kucer Miniatures | Québec
Scaled Miniature models craftsmanship for collectors
www.kucers.com
Oh to have his patience and talent.
Sirhr
Man my wife is a lucky lady.......
Indeed you should! You can probably get road wheels from a number of suppliers that will be more detailed than the original kit. Verlinden, Armorpax among others.
Modeling is a very relaxing thing. The art of miniatures is something that anyone who likes precision (and what shooter doesn't) understands. It's hard enough to make something large. It's way harder to shrink it down!
This guy is probably the worlds master at miniature guns... His son, Zavie, is following in his footsteps. I visited his workshop about 5 years ago. A remarkable man.
Scaled Models | David Kucer Miniatures | Québec
Scaled Miniature models craftsmanship for collectors
Oh to have his patience and talent.
Sirhr
Damn! $8,500 for a miniature firearm!
Some go for a lot more. They are very sought after in places like Japan where real firearm ownership is simply impossible.
Prices on his stuff have doubled in the last 3 years or so...
Sirhr
Still keen mate but being made redundant at age 66 has put all plans on hold at the moment. Still cannot get an actual end date from the company yet but probably before Christmas.
Grew up on Masonboro Sound in Wilmington, N.C. The USS North Carolina, BB-55 is there and still open to the public. Tours are still pretty good. They used to do a light and audio show until folks complained. Her nickname, "The Showboat" in WWII happened after, as a new battleship she went close in for fire support during a kamikaze attack late one day. With all guns blazing, it was said that sailors were stunned at the firepower almost showering over the carrier. "Damn, looks like a Showboat" was heard by one admiral. Anyway, they used to light up the 16 and 5 inch guns (powder charges only), then went to light special effects for the shows. I enjoyed making mostly air and ship models with battle damage using hot needles and aluminum foil for battle damage. Might have to get back to it...
I found a Fisher Price School House toy in the trash and brought it home.
Id put my duplicate Tamiya soldiers in the windows firing out down range from my BB gun position in the basement.
Guessing the scale would have been equivalent of a 75 round.
A great shot was a cleanly decapitated soldier.
^^^^^^^^^^^^ this
Many of the models I built, met an untimely demise from a 22lr or left over fireworks, and Estes rockets . I watched to many early Godzilla movies as a kid
Base layer of paint and the base grass layer down using moss passed through a coffee grinder.
Man those were the days... I was really into all that. I had a paper route at 13 or so in order to fund it all. I got pretty serious with it.
Very nice work, and I'm not detracting from it in any way whatsoever. I'm asking if you've seen the "lighted" versions that some have accomplished. They have a projectile that has 'left' the muzzle, and mimic'ed the "smoke" with cotton-batten that's been spray-painted. by inserting a/some LED's inside it, they really do mimic the "firing" effect.
You've done so well with this, that THAT Is about the only think I can think of, for taking it 'to the next step'. Not that it needs it.
You've done so well with this, that THAT Is about the only think I can think of, for taking it 'to the next step'. Not that it needs it.
Wilmington was a great place to grow up, dad and I used to crawl all over BB-55 on saturdays in the winter, rarely another soul there. I Still get chills driving east over the bridge and seeing radar masts, funnels, and those 9 16” barrels rising out of the trees when I go home to see my folks. Those huge rifles, the fire control systems, power plant and armor are what got me interested in engineering. Absolutely the most fantastic machines this country produced. Sadly, my kids will just have to settle for being drug all over Cowpens and Kings mountain battlefields for history lessons.
Very cool. Grew up building model tanks and planes with my Dad in our MD basement. Lot's of second hand smoke, airbrush fumes, and rock and roll. That feeling of patience and triumph. The height of joy for this kid was a full summers' day of Andrews AFB air shows and fast rope displays and finger banging the interior of APCs and Helos and whatever jolly green weaponry was on display, then returning home to add the details. Unfortunately, I have none saved, and the German tanks were my favorites too. Great memories. Dad's Dad was 3rd Armored at D+18 with a bronze star through all the Ardennes madness, so I didn't realize the significance of the Tigers until later in life. RIP Pops!
Testing out a muzzle blast for the tank diorama
99.9% done. Added some 7.92x57 casings as well to give it a little something extra.
Here is the final of the helmet tank without the muzzle blast.
Started work on a second WWII diorama with the missus.
I'm looking to build something similar for a bud of mine that was a 19K on M1's. What do you use for the clay base? Standard modelling clay or....? Looks great!
We use DAS Air-Dry Modelling Clay. Any brand of air dry clay will work, we just get this stuff off Amazon. It's really soft and easy to work with and dries within 48 hours. Be aware that it does shrink a bit. If you look at the picture after the grass is on, you can see the gap on the left hand side. We had to fill this in afterwards.
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