Hello, very nice build! I was following the thread and on the subject of that mystery hatch, in the squadron Armored Cars in Action it shows an early fixed pintle mount in that location. Just a possibility.

Thanks for looking Wayne! Yeah, I think the earlier M8's did use a pintle mounted MG there. The kit includes that option if I recall...

Getting some bench time this weekend!!! I finished two layers of filters using Sin Industries filters P245 Brown for Dark Green and P246 Grey for Dark Green. I used the airbrush to apply a very light filter. Let each coat dry for 2-4 hours.



My goal with the filters is to help unify all the various items. While I deliberately imparted a lot of variation in the stowage, to mimic the 1:1 scale differences in all things OD and Khaki, and to just help make each item pop, in the end things start to look a little cartoonish. So the filter helps to unify all the items. It also adds some additional richness to the finish.



It's subtle, but I think it helps. Next up, pin washes and streaking....

Also, still need to paint the muffler. Doh! forgot that during detail painting step! And finally, I was able to remove all the interior masking...that stuff has been on for so long I forgot what the interior looked like! That means I can also start planning/modifying the figures.

Jeff, this is really looking amazing

And one more thing before I return to the bench...I do plan to tie all that stowage down with some scale rope. Just wanted you all to be aware cause I'm sure you keen eyed detail nuts out there would be pointing that out sooner or later! hah!

Oh man this is great (still). I'll be checking in on this throughout the weekend.

-Conor

Alright, finished pin washes, using AK Dark Brown for Green. Sorry, no pic...forgot to stop and take any. Next I wanted to emphasize the areas of high crew wear, like around hatches and areas on the vehicle that are climbed on to board. Looking at ref photos, these areas are usually very dark, basically showing the original OD color rubbed through all the muck and grime, to an almost burnished effect. To replicate this, I actually turn to the old school technique of dry brushing. "WTF? Dry brushing? But I thought all of the trendy rock star modelers tell us never to dry brush? You're crazy man, crazy I tell you....." Well, like many of us, I've adapted my style to leverage some of the latest techniques. But, that does not mean the old skills don't have their place today. (Shep and Francois would be proud....) Enough jibber jabber.

Using some Humbrol green and grey mixed with a little black oil paint, I start attacking the crew hatch areas, fenders, etc.



Here are a couple detail shots. Here's the MG ring. Once I'm done w/ major weathering, I'll go back and add some graphite powder as well to show the truly burnished metal areas that receive high friction contact.



And here's the crew hatches. It's subtle, actually more subtle in these photos than in reality. Like the MG ring, I'll hit this later with some graphite.

I started working on the figures while I waited for the weathering to dry. The basic story of the vignette is that the M8 has pulled up on some GIs that have captured a German dressed as a GI. A classic Bulge storyline! I'm starting with the crew of the M8, considering they require the most modification. I'm using a variety of resin figures, Nemrod, Warriors, and the Bodi. Once I get the bodies posed, I'll start choosing heads from a variety of Hornet options, which explains the current "headless" state!

Jeff,

Is there an emoticon for 'stunned amazed delighted jaw-dropping reverence'? 'Cause I would fill this page with them!

Man, I don't know where to begin with my praise.

Pactra - I still have a rack of them!

Agreed. The figures look perfect for the kit. That's a very classic story line, yet somehow I don't recall ever seeing a diorama of it? Glad to see a unique turn taken.

-Conor

That all looks really really good brother! Great job getting different tones on the same color. Brilliant selection of figs as well. This will be a good'un for sure.
I share your views about old school stuff. Just because something is new doesn't always mean it's better. While I admire some of the skill needed to accomplish some of the newer finishing techniques a lot of time I see those methods used in a very inaccurate way.
I always love the brand new tank just issued before the BoB that looks like it had been sitting at Aberdeen for 40 years already!!
Seeing this update was a nice surprise for my Superbowl morning.
J
J

Thanks Frederick! Appreciate you looking and for the very kind comments! Having fun with this build, even if it is going slower than I want. Cheers.

Well, not much bench time today, but as I was going through my collection of Hornet heads to get the right expression and emotion for my figures, I realized I needed a better way to organize my "micro noggins." So, while watching the Superbowl, I managed to come up with this handy dandy organizer. I actually bought the case at Target for $1.00, knowing then that it would be good for something in the workshop. Worked out pretty perfect....

Afternoon gents, sorry I've been not making many posts lately. Was unable to get to the bench until this weekend. Been focusing on the figures. Each one is like it's only little complex model project! Here's where I'm at:

Started working heads/expressions for the M8 crew. Here's the assistant driver:



Still working the heads on the other crew. But turned my attention to the story taking place on the ground, starting with the "wolf in sheep's clothing," our German prisoner. I used a MK35 figure, but it needed a lot of work. Here's the body and I've only just begun drilling out the arm holes.



And here are all 3 figures on the ground, all roughed out with tons of refinement left to make:



The dude on the left is from Dragon. He needed a lot of work including a Hornet head (of course), new webbing belt and clasps, removal of hands and drilling out sleeves (will still use the kit hands though), and lots of redefining of folds and seams to add some crispness not possible w/ plastic figs. The Mk35 prisoner got new Hornet hands and head. I also replaced the ammo pouches on his belt. The original ones were BAR ammo pouches and just looked too pronounced. I scraped them off and replaced w/ some M1 pouches from a Dragon Gen3 set. I also replaced the overcoat buttons with new more defined ones that were the same size as the other dude. The Mk35 ones were soft and too small. He was also missing some seem lines on the coast, so I added those from Lead foil. His left hand also got a bandaged, also made of lead foil. I plan to have this guy's helmet laying on the ground, so my bald Hornet head needed a little hair. I've never sculpted hair before, so using another Hornet head (with hair) as a guide, I used a mixture of Apoxie Sculpt and Green Stuff to add the hair. I wanted to make his hair seem a little messy, hanging down a bit, like he was roughed up a bit. In the end, it turned out just ok. I might knock it back a bit with some sandpaper. Paint will help since the bright green makes it look a bit too punk rock for 1944!!

The GI on the right is from Warriors, and oldie but goodie. A very good sculpt! I used some other Warrior arms, from the same set. This guy is going to be holding an open musette bag in one hand and some dog tags in the other. The premise is that they're quizzing the prisoner on his knowledge of America based on his supposed name on his tags.

That's it for now. Looking to have the figs all ready for primer this week... AMPS Nationals is less than 3 months away!!!

Hi Jeff, I've been following your stunning build from the beginning and I'm just amazed at your attention to detail. And your figures are already looking top-notch. Keep up the great work!

And now for a dumb question: What is the product you're using to stand the figures on (the blue stuff) ... is it a reusable clay of some sort?

—mike

Hey Mike, thanks for the comments!! The blue stuff if is poster putty/fun tak/blue tak.... great for temorapary placement of parts, and not only just for photos shoots.

Final update for the weekend... finished some of the "story telling" with the heads for the crew. Trying to create some good interaction between all the figures with each one reacting slightly differently to whats taking place.



Won't be back at the bench until later this week due to some business travel. Appreciate all the comments, feedback, and suggestions. Cheers.

Thanks Jeff! That’s just the stuff I was looking for — picked some up this morning!

PS: A while back, when you began your blog, I pulled this little unit out of a storage box … M8!

—mike

Outstanding work on this project! If I could make one small suggestion it would be to make sure that you trim the necks further (or deepen the neck holes) on the 3 standing soldiers as they seem to have a bit of "pencil neck" look to them at this time. Everything else looks so good, I'd hate to see you miss this little detail!

Additionally, (and I think I'm nitpicking now) the head for the prisoner almost looks a bit small compared to the size of the body. I know the Hornet heads are really the best, but have you tried one from Verlinden to see if a larger head would look better here?

Otherwise, this is really shaping up nicely. Well done.

Awesome throwback M8!! Thanks for sharing.

Don, all excellent points and appreciate your feedback. The heads are dry fitted now, so I'll be addressing those pencil necks for sure! As for the prisoner, I agree. I think the Mk35 figure that I'm using is somewhat over scaled which is making matters worse. Not sure I have any Verlinden heads, but good idea. Otherwise, I might need to just go with it.

Again, appreciate the feedback and this is exactly what I'm looking for by posting this stuff. Cheers.

Hi, Jeff,

Nice little story you are telling with your dio.
Really looks great, thanks for sharing.

Now I am wondering: I thought that one of the items for the Germans to distinguish themselves from the real US troopers was a blue shawl. First of all, am I right?
And if so, are you going to use it?

And about the size of the prisoner: don't worry, since the troops were selected on US features such as body height. And even during WW2 there were tall Germans, who spoke fluently English/American.

Paul

Nice to see an update as this is one of my favorite threads.
I agree with Paul about the figure sizes. They look like a normal group of people where no two are the same height.
Really nice job on these folks so far. Something bothers me about the buttons on your prisoner though. The two rows maybe too far to the right?
Love the web gear upgrades. This dio is gonna rock.
J

Fantastic job so far. I'm looking forward to the finished product. I'm envious on two levels. First, your painting skills. Second, your supply of replacement heads!