hi all,
in the latest weeks I started a new project, wich I supposed to be less demanding: starting with the old (really very old) italeri's kit, I tried to build a convincent snowplow at work on a mountain road, just adding a plusmodels blade... how far I was from true!!




soon 8 discovered that the front leaf springs hold points are totally incorrect, as the leaf springs themself..



well, also the engine is wrong... actually the L3000 mounted a four cylinder diesel...
so, I elected to redo them totally, using a PE set from minor. a really nice set:


the improvement is evident...


and being careful, it's workable!








since also the chassis's crossbars where wrong, i rebuild them with brass sheet.

So far so good, I love seeing off the beaten path sort of builds.


Cheers

Jeff

thank you, jeff!
so you will love this, I suppose...


I used a lion roar dedicated set to improve the mercedes here and there...


and, before assembling the cabine, I assembled a pair of guys to be there. I wasn't afraid about their look, I had in mind to paint the windows as they where whitened with mist...


for the rear cabin, I wanted two soldiers working with some sand to be thrown on the road cleared from the snow, so I elaborated a little those...

then, I worked the rear cabin. again, from zero level...


and, slowly....


meantime, I began to paint the chassis, electing to "forget" the wrong engine.




then I mounted snow chains on resin wheels...



and began to study a way to do the canvas...

...and that wasn't so easy... at the Mk VI I was satisfied, or too tired to go on...




meanwhile, I worked out a new windscreen, with soldering rod gaskets, and deicing devices...


and then, with the cab fully glued, I was ready to prime it and began to paint the whole thing


still separated, of course...


then I painted on white stripes and insigna.


and, after some decals and oils,


It was time for zebra stripes!


I know... it makes so afrika... but I like to think at it as a snow tiger....


now it was possible to assemble togheter the main components, and start to think at the payload..



and to the workers, of course!


also, now it was time to add details like wipers, plates, width indicators, etc.




since the idea was to depict it in action, and potentially ambushed in a wood, I started with some trials of dio:


trials that are ended here:



using some charcoal I reproduced the rocky walls, on wich stay the partisans looking at the mercedes, and assessing whether it's a valuable prey.


it's not easy to image it under a thick layer of snow, but...


here we are.


now I'm testing some primers, and colors, to better depict the rocks,



and when I'll be ready with taht, I'll start to paint the dio base..

well, at today that's all, folks!
read you soon, p.

Wow Paolo. Very, very cool diorama. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

Hello

Beautiful job and superb idea with grill wood as rocks - where I can get same great threes ??

Regards
Przemo

OUTSTANDING

Paolo,
Stunning work & a great & off beat idea!! Love all the small details that just add to the realism!!
Mike

Really great work so far Paolo....

Great detail sir! I love the scenery too!!!

thank you all!

actually, the dio borders a little in the crib, with those rocks and trees... but, hey, it's christmas, no?
I guess how it will be with the snow on...

przemo, the trees are from model scene, you'll find them here:
http://www.model-scene.com/index_eng.html

bye, and merry christmas, p.

Yo Paolo,

This is a massive work! Great story...and a stunning layout...looking forward to it...


Keep this up!

Greetz Nico

This is really, very impressive! I occasionally dabble in super-detailing some older kits, but this one really stands out! All you need is a reindeer strapped to the hood.

Hi Paolo. Its work like that cataches my eye. Great overall ... but the truck, the figures and the ground work are all class. I know the trees are a bought item, but they look very good. Must check them out. Nice one.

thank you all!
a little progress on the rocks...

I had no time in the last period, just a dark wash, and some drybrush.


I like the way the characoal keeps the color, but I'm thinking ti add some more shadows and sagging..


it seems dark, but I have to mediate with the snow to come..

This is a very good job! I like every aspect of this dio.

Well done Paolo

Claude

mh-mh...
I did some shadows, acrilic and airbrush first, oil and brush after.
maybe I have exaggerated it, but I trust in snow, plants etc.

It looks amazing Paolo, don't over think it.

thanks, christopher.... do you mean don't overdo it?


...too late!
some ageing products by true earth, by brush.

No, don't think you over exaggerated the weathering on the cliff face, it looks beautiful.

veramente fantastico Paolo!!

You have a rare talent to find the right balance! Your painting (vehicles, figs and terrain) is superb!!

Big felicitations and thanks for sharing the beauty with us!

Cheers

Romain

Which trees did you use from them?

Hi Paolo
This is one of the most impressive dioramas I've see this year!
C[ ]

Just one question (may sound silly): The sand in the truck bed is it loose or glued with scenics glue?
Either way it looks amazing!

Cant wait to see this completely finished!
Dan

hi, thank you all...

the trees are model scene products:


really good ones. what a pity, that I will submerge them with snow!

dan, isn't a silly question at all, rather, if you have the doubt that the sand is loose, it should mean that I did a good work on it!
to represent the non compacted sand I did the volume of the payload with a sheet of packaging (polystyrene) then added a layer of clay to simulate the irregular shape, and on it I spread a mix of some fine colored earths, fixing it at first with hairspray. this gave me the the time to add some blade's signs near the tail where the workers will be.

I build this sandwich outside the cab to better work on it. then I transferred it in its final place, and after add some earth to fill the edges, I spray it with acrylic matt.

looks like a long story, but it takes longer to describe it than to do it...
bye, p.