Hi guys-

This is my entry into the Barbarossa campaign. It is the Dragon kit with Aber etch and Friul tracks. Let me know what you think... comments and suggestions are always welcome...

The rest of the pictures are in my gallery...
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/photos/showgallery.php?cat=12087&ppuser=694
Jeff

Looks good. Your wood effect is rather pleasing to the eyes. STUG

Awsome Job Jeff!! I also noticed the woodgrain.. and the fact that you drilled out the doohickies that hold up the fenders!!! What are those called? Fender Doohickies/

Excellent job though!! Hope I finish mine in time tomorrow!

Jeff that is one good looking StuG What truck stop was that pic in your sig line taken at? I drive truck for a living Is it aPilot truck stop?

Hey JR,
A really nice looking stug! I really like the weld details, and how the heck did you paint the wood? It's the best natural looking wood paint job I have seen yet. The only thing I would add is a little dry brushing, and a wash to bring up some of the details. Not too much mind you, as I like the subtle weathing you have done so far.
A great job!

Thanks guys...

TUNA - I can't help you with what those doohickies are called - LOL... I like doohickies! They were actually hollow on the real thing, but normally the ends were covered with a "poly-cap" to keep water and dirt out. So drilling them out is not necessary. It just happens that those things got knocked off and lost pretty easily - so I drilled 'em out.

Zod - That pic in my sig is indeed from a Pilot truck stop - I don't know where though.. makes me hungry for some chicken.. MMmmmm diesel fried chicken.....

Leaogunner- The wood grain effect is rather easy to achieve. This is how I do it: First, use a little Tenax or Plastruct liquid glue on a brush to stiple some texture into the plastic parts that are supposed to be wood. I then brush paint the wood with ModelMaster Acryl wood (#4673) straight from the bottle. Once that is dry, I use Tamiya acrylic Red Brown (XF-64). I shake the bottle and take the cap off.. Now I dip my paintbrush in rubbing alcohol and drip a single drop onto the paint that is on the inside of the lid. You wil see it kind of thin out where the alcohol hits the paint. Then take the same brush, and use this thinned paint where the drop of alcohol is, to do a wash over your tool handles. Gives a pretty good wood grain effect. This may take several coats. After all that - I used a very thin black oil wash on the handles and called it done. I'm glad you like the effect - I am very happy with the way it turned out.

Jeff

Great, another awesome Stug. Again. This is very very nice. I again like the wood color. and the fender holding doohikies are awesome, I never thought of drill them out, maybe I will do that for my next Stug as well.

Congratulations on a job well done.

Hiya JR,

what technique did you use for the dust on the lower portions of he tank?

Also, did you paint the crosses as they look simple and realistic.

Cheers,

Cokes.

Hi jrnelson , i like your stug, well done and also very nice the wood effect, the weatering is too light for my standard but it is well done, congrats
only a question... which type of stug is?
regards

Looks great. At first I thought it lookoed a little light in color, but the shots in your gallery look darker. My only suggestion would be to try to get a bit more rusty look to the exhaust system. The heat tends to make that stuff oxydize pretty quickly.

Thanks again for the comments - I appreciate your time :-)

Cokes - The dust on the lower portions is brown pastel chalk brushed on with an old paintbrush. The crosses are Archer dry transfers. I really like these... they don't have any carrier film so they are VERY thin and don't silver. The only thing with these decals is that they are extremely white. I used a fine brush and a black wash to "weather" them a bit... they still look a little too white, but I can live with that. :-)

Venom - The model is Dragon/DML 's kit number 9031, StuG III A (Michael Whittmann). Supposedly the vehicle he commanded in Barbarossa. Yea, the weathering could stand to be a bit more extensive.... I really have a hard time deciding how much is good enough. I kinda prefer models that aren't totally "banged up", but I see your point. It could use a bit more scuffing and the like. It looks pretty "factory fresh".

Al - The color thing has me in a quandry. I painted the thing in base panzer grey, then decided it was too dark. I lightened my mix a bit with tan, and sprayed the centers of panels, etc. I think I maybe over did it. However, I think the lighting has a lot to do with the apparent color too. It is amazing the difference the lighting for pictures makes. The above pictures were taken using natural light (by my picture window). The picture below is the EXACT same StuG, only artificial light. Quite a difference! Now a question - In your opinion, what would you do? Would you lighten the shade of grey a bit so as to give the correct appearance under artificial light, or would you use the correct shade initially and not worry about how the thing looks under normal (artificial light - too dark)? I honestly think you are right - the thing IS too light. The shade is definately not the correct color, but I'm in a fit trying to figure out how to paint my next panzer grey vehicle. Any help would be appreciated..... I'm open to suggestions. Anybody else that cares to give me their opinion would be appreciated as well. Thanks a million!
Jeff
(By the way - I went back and "rusted" up the exhaust since I took these pictures - very good eye Al :-) )