Peter posted a thread over on the armour forum asking what people did with old completed kits.

This is an idea partly inspired by that thought. I often build models inbetween articles as test pieces, this sharpen a technique ready for the next build, or concentrates on an area of the previous build which went wrong or needed developing.

I took an old Schwimmwagen which was used as a test piece for a German three toned camo scheme, and cut it in half to suggest a sunken vehicle.



The figures are a German Panzer crew from Dragon and the head will be from a Hornet set.

This is a concept I would like to continue, as selling kit is ok on ebay, I think this is a better use of old models because you are getting more use out of the kit. Value for money eh?

Thanks

Stuart

Honestly i don't think much of this old kits and ebay stuff, but then I really happen to like your idea and your setting for a diorama
JB

Hi Stuart. Way better way to use an old kit. In reality what would you get on Ebay?
This is already starting to look very cool. I like this layout a lot. Looking forward to more progress!

Thanks guys,

I have reviewed the layout of the scene and started work on the faces of the figures. Part of the reason for doing this dio was to practice on my figure painting skills, any pointers would be much appreciated.



I just have the shading and stubble to apply to the Hornet heads.



Thanks guys.

Stuart

thats a really cool idea, i never would have thought of that. Can't wait to see more

Hi there

Nice idea. Will there still be bubbles rising in the water?

Cool idea! I like it!

Something totally different ! I like it ! G.

Very creative idea. I like the layout.

His right eye is a bit to round (black part). I'd like it more if it were more like his left eye. Nice head replacement.

I've got a copy of Shep Paine's "How To Build Dioramas"it has a great chapter on painting figures,learned alot from it.

The first layer of tinted water went down well. This is the first time I have used Solid Water Resin and I should really have experimented on a scrap piece first, damn my patience.



Thanks

Stuart

looking good Stuart

a simple idea using old kits, look forward to seeing it finished and i hope you submit os we can produce a "On display" for it

cheers

Keith

Should have this little dio finished tomorrow night. The water has been completed and is drying STILL, turned out way better than I had expected it to.



My figure painting has improved a bit as well, which is sort of the point behind these kind of projects.



Just the reeds to be inserted into small holes i will drill into the base. I will leave this as late as I can to prevent plaster dust sticking to the tacky Solod Water.



Hopefully have an update tomorrow night guys.

Stuart

Hi there

Love the idea of the dio but would have loved to have seen some idea of where the swim wagon would have travelled to get into that situation (some amount of tracks and mud on the banks). Looks a little too undisturbed. Bubbles still leaving the sinking ship would have given a time line to the event. Got out in the knick of time!!!

I wish I could get the painting as detailed and neat as those on the figures and wagon!!!!

Very nice!

Looks like it is coming along well. I agree with Nige above though. The water needs some ripples and bubbles, it is way too smooth. The bank needs some tracks and skid marks or something too, it is too pristene. Great idea, it just needs some tweaking to make it great.

Definatly true. If you don't mind going back and adjusting your your groundwork, you could have an amazing piece of work. From experience, its doesnt take much to leave skid marks on grass when applying the breaks. It would definatly add more realism and give the project a nice twist.

Also, you might want to gloss up the schwim and add some waves/ ripples to give the viewer an indication of time.

However, the most important point i'd like to highlight is the quality of your work. The water turned out great, especialy for a first time try. The figures are better than you think they are, and the groundwork will look amazing once you spice it up!

Frank

Hi again

If they got wet in the dive in or climb out there might be a degree of tide line in their wet clothes. Of course depending on who got out and when! They are close to the edge that they could have jumped and stayed dry. The guy kneeling looks the most distressed and maybe is the unlucky sod pulled out dripping wet when he found out that his mates had left the drain plug out of his motor after the last service.

Hope this helps

All the best

Wow - this is nice - only tip i would give is that the vehicle would have left tracks and done some damage to the bank as it went in - remember that dioramas should show the effect of the vehicles - tracks, mud, splashes etc. this is well on it's wat to being a stunning piece!

The second guy,s cap could be floating nearby when he lost it abandoning ship

Isn't that a cap floating in the water next to the Schimm?

I agree with most of the stuff said above: a little action to the water, some damage to the bank, some wet clothes...all would add to the overall look of the piece.

It's still a great idea, and from what I could see, the figures turned out well.

Nice job.

-YL

Very cool looking water. The figures are nice too.
What is missing is any evidence of the swimmer driving over the ground, no track marks. May be the way you are going to 'plant' the grass it will show up.

The hair is still work in progress at the moment, I have applied the first layer to the guy standing up, helping his comrade. Still needs work, but I should be able to lick it with a little work.

The dio is almost finished, though I need to make some more clumps of grass bent into the water to simulate the damaged caused when the vehicle crashed through into the water. Also work is needed to the river bank; weeds and colour variations in the mud etc..



I experimented with the wet fabric and found that by applying a darker shade of the uniform colour, a fairly convincing wet look is achieved. Not perfect though.



So, still much more work to do on this little dio, just finishing touches though.

Thanks

Stuart

looks great . outstanding job

Hi there

Tide line and light splashes above on the knealing guy look great. You got that look of he kept his head above water ,,,,,,,,,, just!!! How much of that hair have you got? It might need quite a lot in a broader band and maybe placed and trimmed at diffierent heights to stop it looking a bit like a manicured hedge, Maybe a pulled and crumpled look away from the river of some of the reeds off to the side where one of them has dragger their sorry ass out.

It really is a nice wee piece that could show so much. Will there be a recovery dio with the front half getting pulled out of the water? Tee hee. Double value for the kit price!

I think this is fantastic work! I really like this idea of "recycling" old kits and giving them (at least half of the kit) new life.

I have never used the Solid Water Resin. How hard/easy was it to use and who makes it?

Thanks for sharing.

Jeff