All:

Greetings.

Here is my long-time shelf-queen (since 1974 ) Tamiya Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind. I've finally completed the construction and am wrapping up the painting for the upcoming CalMex show in WestLake LA this month. I am trying to (sorta) depict a late-1944 west-front WW built on a recycled H hull with zimm. I am seeking a "freshly-applied, broomed-on field white-wash by crew" look. And I am seeking criticism, advice, suggestions and comments!

The build = Tamiya kit plus styrene scratch details, gun barrels and sprue wires, spackle zimm, and (to be added) Dragon Magic-tracks and sprockets in place of those old rubberbands. Primed with Floquil RR enamel black, tri-colour camo sprayed in Tamiya acryls, umber oil-wash and a little pin-wash, followed by "white-wash" of ModelMaster enamel white with a stiff brush (for the broomed-on look?). After painting, I'll add some bed-sheets for added camo, plus cans, cables, spares, stuff. I'm thinking of tossing on a white-wash pail and a used broom...

There will be a bit of detail painting on rollers, bits and pieces, etc.

I do NOT plan on adding a lot of mud- it'll get some dust, dirt, and maybe a little mud on tracks.

So: some of my first questions: does the white need to be toned-down or greyed? if so, how best to do this? should I go back and pin-wash to bring out lines and stuff thru the white-wash? should I "restore" white-washed tools to their "original" finish?

Thanks in advance for anything you want to say!

Here are some pics: PLEASE don't LAUGH too hard and hurt yourself!

Hi Bob,

It looks exactly as you describe what you wanted it to look like. Personally, I like the way it looks just like that. The effect of the whitewash is great - I say leave it alone. Nice work, especially for a model pushing 40!

I think the contrast between the white wash and the camo is too stark but that may be just the lighting. It will also pull together after whatever weathering you do. To make it clear to others that you're going for the
look you should really have one or two crewmen with the appropriate tools standing by

Pat;

OK - that starkness you point to - maybe in part that is due to the photographer (I constantly tell my other self to get on the ball and do better with his snapshot techniques, or I'll up and fire him! But he doesn't seem to listen to me all that much... )... But I must agree- it IS a bit stark in most any lighting.

I am seeking to depict fresh white-wash... and figured that would be a bit stark. And from that I did not plan on doing hardly any (OK, none at all) weathering of the wash... but I am certes open to some tone-down if it'll look better!

So, do you have any suggestions for doing this? I can do something here, I think, within the time I have...

As for adding something to convey the freshness of the wash job...

Couldn't agree more with your suggestion of adding some involved crew... but.

The target show is 8 days from now. I have no figures on hand and have no figure experience, and don't expect I'll achieve either within the next week! So, like all armies thru-out history, I gotta "run what I brung"! That'll be the wirbel alone, and maybe on a simple base at this point, I'm afraid.

I AM thinking of maybe placing a white-wash pail up on the rear deck along with a messy wash broom propped agin that turret- maybe this'll go some for the "fresh" message, I hope?

Thanks for looking and for your tips! And if you have a tone-down idea, let me have it!

Cheers!

Bob

ssgt;

Sorry but I skipped past and you should of been first! My bad and I apologize!

Thanks for the endorsement!

I do agree to some extent with Pat above about it may be a bit stark and contrasty (both in photo and for real)- hence in part my posting it here! But I do like the fresh look I've achieved (ah, self-congratulating... Darn! if I break my own arm I'll really be in the dumpers for the show!) - at least it looks a bit scratchy and broomed-on, to me! And, I'll take it, to you.

That said - think some bucket n broom would be useful in conveying my "fresh" message?

Cheers!

Bob

Bob,
Nice! This realy looks the part. If you are looking for a fresh white wash, it's tough to use washes or anything else to add variety, depth, or show detail. It stands to reason that if the white is fresh, you would not have the accumulation of dust and dirt.
It looks great man, This kit was born the same year as I was! My hat is off to you.

I definitely agree with you and Pat - a whitewash bucket and broom would complete the message and remove any questions. I think the scratchy texture of the whitewashed areas look great.

Bob-- the faded pant job is outstanding, what did you use to get the rust effect on the muffler?
thanks
DJ

DJ:

OK, sorry bout not getting back sooner on that muffler... but better late than never!

I primed the entire tank, including that muffler, in Floquil engine black enamel. I then washed muffler with Tamiya acryls: hull red, red brown, lightened flat earth- in thin brush-ons, with patchyness for each wash. I let dry many days and washed with a little ModelMaster rust enamel, and later a little Tamiya acryl deck tan to add in some grey "ash look". I hit the inside of the pipe with Floquil sooty black enamel, along with around the end of the pipe.

The point here is... black followed by light washes followed by soot in the pipe and a bit of ashing. When I washed the entire tank with van Dycke brown oil wash, I hit the muffler pretty hard. When I later dust the thing with pigments, I'll add maybe some around the exhaust- rusts and browns to bring up hot-spots and a little dust to offset and be road dirt. Maybe a bit of deep black for sooting.

I am a firm believer in NOT adding any of that stuff some add in for rough "rust" texture- mostly you are talking "surface rusting" and not heavy-metal rotting on a muffler system and the relief is tiny, to say the least. Many folks over-do it, I think - But that's just my opine!

My thoughts on rust tend toward darker versions and subtle gradients w/ stained looks.

I "applied" some whitewash slop on this one- I've since gone back and darkened that on the muffler to show some "burning"- I'll be posting a pic tomorrow I think

Bob

Actually, it doesn't look that bad at all.
Don't forget that 'white' doesn't always mean white.... a blue grey wash then bringing up the white with Chinese white WC would look convincing. Then seal it with dullcote or whatever spray flat you prefer.

If you want to use Dragon tracks, I guess you know you'll have to change the drive sprocket, at least.

Kevin, all;

THANKS for the comments and insights! I really appreciate hearing (OK, seeing) what-all you folks have to say.

I completed it in its first draft incarnation last Friday PM for the Calmex show in Lake Charles, LA Sat 29 JAN. Whew! Nick of time, and all that!

And YES, I did those Dragon MagicTraks (and yes Kevin, I discovered way back when first putting them on that, no, they would in no way fit those Tamiya sprockets! Caused me to go search around the Armorama world for some help with getting some that would fit, which was really rewarding and a great showcase, to me, of how fine the folks in our hobby really are!). So so much better lookin' than those old vinyl things!

It came out pretty nice overall (IMO, of course) - did a light dusting down around those tracks for some road dust effect, and pinwashes and stuff around the top, added my cans and cable and a bit of detail on the spare bin, etc., and.... Voila! it was a "freshly whitewashed flakpanzer IV" off to the show! Hey, got a little marble rock for my troubles! Shows I can fool some of the guys some of the time!

But there's work to be done - haven't done my bed-sheets add-on yet, and still need to do the broom and pail bit. Next show in March, I'll maybe be ready!

Here's a snap - my camera is not working right, but when I get it settled, I'll post some more pics.



Thanks, All, for looking and your advice!

Cheers!

Bob