A couple of update pictures,







Added a little muddy path to the diorama base, still got the hedge to start!! (help)

Ok, so I managed to get the italeri field tool shop set...

And have started putting bits together to see if they fit in with he dio....

Ok, I've been thinking about the Hedgerow, and have got some "rubberised horsehair" but don't know where to start... Any help???

Thanks

Here's a test with the horsehair...

well, decided I'm gonna stick with the rubberized horsehair hedge, just need to paint it and add some foilage.

Also started to collect together some little bits to add to the dio....


Some fuel barrels,


a ladder and some empty shell casings (not sure if they are visible)


and a view from the front....

More to come, comments / criticisms welcome.

couple of accesories painted....





photos are a bit crap.... will try to get better ones tomorrow..

Not really an update on my blog, but I had to laugh tonight. I was spraying the hedge and soil in my dio and my wife came into the kitchen..

"Will you ever be happy with it?" she enquired "What? It's not finished yet!!"

Any how, as mentioned I've painted the hedge and added some "scatter" as leaves.

I'll post pictures tomorrow...

Ok, so now I'm the stage of painting my figures to go with the Stug... I've painted the basic clothes colour, now I need to do the boots, which I know when new where black - and this is what the instructions specify.

But! I want to paint them so they look well worn, any ideas on where to start...
Thanks.

You could start with a medium russet brown color and add a black oil paint wash over that.

I would undercoat the brown using an acrylic like Citadel (Games Workshop) "Beastial Brown." I'd use black or Payne's gray artist oil paint thinned with mineral spirits over this. I'd mix this bit "thick" and use a clean brush to take off most of it leaving the brown showing through on the high points (almost like reverse dry-brushing).

After this dries for a day or two, you could add some pigments that match your ground work colors or dry-brush those same colors on, but not too much so that the work on the worn leather still shows.

I'm sure there are other techniques that would get pretty much the same results, though - black boots with brown leather showing through on the high wear points. However, if you play with the colors (the acrylic undercoat and overlaying oils) this is a good technique for painting a lot of leather items from brown leather jerkins to black boots and just about everything in between.

HTH,

Ok, so I've managed to resurrect the Opel Maultier..... But I'm struggling as what colour to paint the canvas top..... I did think green (olive) but it doesn't look right. Any ideas or suggestions would be gratefully accepted.

Just a couple of updated pics...

The Maultier has it's tracks on, and is in position, all that's left now is the Canopy for the Maultier, oil cans, ammo crates and shells!! (Not alot really)!

I've done a couple of updates to the dio now, finally getting around to the figures !



The guy inside the Stug compartment his shirt is field grey... (looks to green for my taste..



Any comments accepted...

No update, just better quality photos...

Been a bit busy with work and family since the last update! Managed to start adding some stowage to the rear of the Stug..



Trying to make a couple of jackets just hanging from the side of the tank as though they are the guys who are loading the stug.. (any suggestions are always welcome)

The mud looks very good with the highlighted tracks.

Can you post any larger photos? This looks really good, I am just having a hard time seeing all the detail you put into this model.

Any particular part you want to see?

Hi Paul,

Sorry for the fact that I have just read your hedge plea as I know will fall in the to late to date basket,I have just read am going to use an article were some dried flowers were used as the "stems / branches for the base of the hedge but as I can't find I am going to use woodlands secnics "trees' as the base as in 1/35scale looks like will make nice hedge branches, then it says to use woodlands scenics poly fiber which is a little like horse hair, for future ref it is their part # FP 178, you then tease it out over the branches. Then you spray with hair spray & sprinkle over with, basil, mixed herbs,etc, then add more hair spray. Add lichen to the base so looks all tangled & paint as desired. I don't have a scanner or else I would send it to you but if it helps, it is in Tamiya Model Magazine International number 83, December / January 2000 / 01. Called Brilliant Bocage by John Murphy. Diorama looks great by the way.

Cheers Mike

hi guys,

well this diorama is starting to come to an end, but what I'd like to know is what colour to paint the Stug shells? And also how best to replicate MG42 casings, I know I could use brass wire, but not sure as to what size would be best..



Here is an updated picture, the crew have all now got heads! just a few small details to finish then I can start a new dio!

Paul,

You might want to look into getting the Model Kasten detail set for this kit.Not as much detail as the PE, but it's made for this kit.

Also, they make a nice sprocket set.

Regards, Paul

EDIT: Never Mind....musta been writing before checking the next page...duh!