Hello again, I am participating in the Blitz Italy campaign with Hobby Boss Leopold gun which was used by Germany against allied forces in Anzio.

The kit is very nicely made and I built it almost out of the box, although one can find several things to inprove.

I have chosen a faded yellow - red brown camo, which is probably historically incorrect but I thought it was a shame to leave such a big model monochromed.

Anyway here is my progress. Tomorrow the fun part begins.



P.A.

Hi Alexander

I like this big rail gun, and the italian theatre camo scheme.

I've made the old Hasegawa one , many years ago, its in the spares box now

looking forward to seeing your update

cheers
Neil

Hello again. I have applied the decals and put some waethering work on the support wagons.







More soon, P.A.

Well Alexander.

The last pictures show your excellent work. It always is complicated to paint a big model.

Regards.

Very nice!! I built this one a two years ago being pulled by Hobby Boss' BR-52 locomotive, but in the grey scheme and it did take a lot of thought and work to break up the boring, single color finish.

Keep up the updates!!

Monkeybutt I know about your build, you have done a terrific job with both little beasts.

Anyway I thought I give you some tips about chipping the way I make them nowadays (ala Mig).

To start, you need a lighter shade ofthe model's base color, some very fine pointed brushes, a little water nearby a small piece of sponge, a steady hand and a lot of patience.

Firstly with the light shade of the base color the chips are painted in a random way.




To achieve this try not to work on the same spot for more than a few seconds, and move around in a chaotic way, painting here and there building the effect gradualy in the surface that you are working. Avoid similar patterns while painting the chips and use the tip, the side and different movements of the brush to create variety. In case you are not satisfied apply some water in a brush and wash away the color while it's still fresh and repeat.

After that using a dark brown color and an extra fine brush repaint inside the chips made earlier simulating exposed metal. A sharp brush is absolutely required on this step.





You can leave some chips on the lighter shade of the base color. This looks good on spots painted with the camo scheme.

Finally by using a sponge the chipping effect can be further enhanced on selected areas that receive heavy wear. The sponge can also be used on the whole surface but very very lightly.



It's an easy method which can really add to a model. Give it a go!

P.A.

Alexander I like this build from you the weathering you've done is spot on.My brother has this kit part build on his shelf! The worn area's are especially well done to the bare metal if you would like to explain how you did this that would be great!

James

Nice gun. Very subtle weathering. I used the same paint chip method with a couple of WW2 fighters. Think I'll save my money and go for the 1/72 Dora.

James, I 'll make a small tutorial on the sponge method and I'll send you a link.

@Everyone else : Thanks for commenting guys.

My model is 95% ready but I struggle to catch the deadline of the Italy campaign so I took some photos.
I have found out that a model of this size can get pretty tiring for someone who builds 1/72 tanks.













The model is too big to fit in my glass cabinet so I am thinking about going to the glass maker and ask for a small glass display case.

More soon P.A.

It looks really good.

Will you place some figures an the leopold?
I think that show the real scale from this model.


Greeting Daniel

Hi Daniel,

I'll probably throw in a figure or two, for the scale effect.

Also I'd like to recommend the MGM Hobby electroplating powder which is basically a small container filled with fine graphite which provides the best polished metal surface I've experienced fast and very efficiently.

I used it on the top of the railway tracks.

http://myhmshop.com/shop/image/cache/data/mgm-cp-250x250-500x500.jpg

P.A.

Hi Alexander

the Leopold looks great, love the chipping.

& thanks for the tip about the graphite powder

cheers
Neil

Just a quicked update. I decided to make a cover from plexiglass but it's gonna cost me 20 Euros to have it done and it's a ripoff.

I'd buy the plexi my self but I dont know an efficient way to cut it. Does anyone has a clue on it?

P.A.

Score ( i use the tamiya scriber) the line you want to cut and lay it over the edge of a sharp edged table and press down it the same as cutting sheet plastic, I do Industrial Design at Uni so i use it alot to fake glass, as glass is way to hard to cut to small curved shapes( at least for me)

Alexander, that thing must be HUGE!!! The build looks great and the painting is fantastic.

Regards,
AJ

Congrats Alexander. Beautiful painting and weathering. I hope to see the model with some figures in order to show the real scale of the Gun.

Regards.

Pedro.

Added some final details and rain marks with oil paint, vegetation and it's ready. Thanks for watching and commenting.







See you guys on the next build

P.A.

Outstanding work Alexander

One of these guns may have had brown camo, but I recall Leopold was dark yellow over dark grey, and the name and road info were stencilled around, so they were white.

I built and accurized the Hasegawa kit a number of years ago, it was a big job. I've always wanted to try my hand at this one, however. I know it's expensive, but it's worth it.

You should build a Teodor Bruno or Kurze Bruno to go with it!

This is one of the best braille scale models I've seen since a 1/72 sherman calliope diorama! Fantastic job on the bits and weathering.

Are you thinking of entering this in this months contest? You'd definitely get one of the places.

Hi Kevin, you are probably right, I took an artists license

@Alex : Thanks for you kind words.Maybe some other time I'll enter the contest.

P.A.

Hi Alxander

its a great looking build, hope you build some more military railway stuff !

cheers
Neil

Hi Neil, thanks for commenting. In case you don't know there is a campaign about it. I have already enlisted. Maybe you'll join if you didn't have enough of rails and railcars already

P.A.

Wow! Amazing build.
I like the grass by the rails.

Have you used any PE sets on this build?
Is there any PE set for Hobby Boss Leo?

I know there was Eduard set for Hasegawa Leo, but don't know would it fit to HB kit.
I am considering getting this beauty, so I would like to know about any options for her.

Hi Andrej,

As far as I know, there is no PE set for the Hobby Boss Leopold Gun.

I do not know if the PE set for the Hasegawa kit fits the Hobby Boss.

The kit stands alone very decently as it is because although it's big, it's quite simple.

I would recommend a straight out of the box build. If you paint it well it's a great model.
All I did was to replace the exhausts covers with wire mesh (partly visible in a picture) and the crane's floor with wire mesh too.

I hope I helped you.

P.A.

Thanx, Alexander.

It sure does help, since it is from the person who built it.

Enjoy.