I thought I'd share a recent build of the Tamiya King Tiger (Ardennes). It's the kit with the DKW NZ350 motorbike and three figures.
I used a picture frame from a charity shop as the base, then polystyrene sections cut and glued in place to create an irregular sloping surface.
This photo shows the kit in place on the polystyrene as a test placing.
![](../../../i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh504/corsair_f4/P1000628_zps2f12cbbf.jpg)
The dispatch rider from the kit has had arms and legs adjusted/replaced to create a hapless fallen figure. The motor bike is a lovely kit in itself. Again, a test placement.
![](../../../i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh504/corsair_f4/P1000626_zpsd541e566.jpg)
The next image shows the polystyrene faced-over with a heavy filler. A couple of coats were used, with a damp sponge in play on the last coat to smooth the filler a little. Plastic card is used to finish the sides.
![](../../../i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh504/corsair_f4/P1000631_zps27d3bf67.jpg)
Here, you can see the 'trees' added. These are shrub roots, cleaned, dried, and glued in place, following which the whole installation is primed and then coated with matte black. The base will remain in black to set-off the scene more dramatically, while the black on the upper area is simply providing shadow detail beneath subsequent applications.
![](../../../i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh504/corsair_f4/P1000634_zps0ab0be28.jpg)
This photo shows the tank in place again for a re-test of the intended position. At this point, I've used spray-mount adhesive on the trees and terrain, and sprinkled 'leaves' and other forest debris in place. The leaves are in fact birch catkins, dried and teased apart. There is also a little moss here and there for variation, and various greys, greens, and browns have been sprayed in to pull the palette together.
![](../../../i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh504/corsair_f4/P1000641_zpse9c759f4.jpg)
Here is a close-up of the forest litter.
![](../../../i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh504/corsair_f4/P1000638_zps59e0ebfd.jpg)
This photo shows the tank now weathered-in and figures added. I used the tank commander from the kit, and the dispatch rider as noted, plus three other Dragon figures.
![](../../../i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh504/corsair_f4/P1000643_zpsa9b6e310.jpg)
The next few shots show the scene from other angles. I still have a little touching up to do, and the base needs a tidy-up of the matte black where it was scuffed up a little.
![](../../../i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh504/corsair_f4/P1000655_zpsc52e422d.jpg)
![](../../../i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh504/corsair_f4/P1000651_zps3a2ec70e.jpg)
I don't usually model armour, but I thought this was an interesting departure, and allowed me to exercise some creative flair!