2 weeks ago, it took a 4-foot fall and now finally, she is almost done. Still in progress, an incapacitated Ferdinand from Kursk.... comments please. gloss on the decals is actually from the lighting.

I like it,the camo is well done also the weathering is very nice.two things you need to do.first try and retake some pictues out-side in the day light as your pics are to blaired.also please try a sort them decals out way to much silvering.did you give the model a gloss coat before you applyed the decals?use johnsons klear or better known as future. you can buy decal solution called micro set and micro sol which helps the decal settle down .other than that cool model,cheers

Geoff

The rolled out track looks good, as does the suspension and ground work around it, in the last pic.

A couple of suggestions for your consideration. The decals are really silvered and detract from a really nice model- so you'll want to address those.

Perhaps propping open a hatch or two will also give the viewer the impression that the vehicle is immobile, and the crew is preparing to address the broken track, or abandon the vehicle.

The buttoned up look of the Ferd doesn't initially convey the concept to the viewer that the vehicle is damaged, (just my opinion though). You've got a good build going here.

As you progress adding some figures, either Germans inspecting/discussing how to repair the damage, or Russians inspecting an abandoned vehicle, will really tie this whole thing together.

Good luck as you move through this build.

Steve

One thing that I noticed was the ground work. I like the rocks and things around the Ferd. The thing that I personally would work on is defining the edge of the groundwork. It seems to fade away and there is nothing indicating where the ground stops and the base starts. I just took a second look and in the second picture the thing that disrupts the fade is the dark spots near the left corner. They blend the fade and the base together disrupting the impression I get.
Maybe if you add a bit of dirt over just the spots to move the fade out a bit and camoflage the spots it would make the fade affect smoother.

The camo is very good, I like the base color.

Hey Geoff,
If I'm not mistaken, I saw this model in person a few weeks ago at Lad's. Your off to a great start, especially for your first round with an airbrush-If you address the minor details that others brought up, you will have a great looking dio. DML makes a figure set called "Survivors" (can't remember the kit #) It's a panzer crew bailing out of a tank, something like that would really add some action to your scene.

thanks everyone. slodder, the groundwork is actually not done..... it will cover the entire base, with a rock wall and some twisted wire in the front.... thank you for the comments, will update with the progress

geoff9110 - good deal on the groundwork then - what you have looks good, so more will be better

parks20, okay, i remember now. think i came in with that and also the chia-ha i'm working on. what i want to try and do is to make it so the ferdy is still in the fight, even though it is disabled. I have a couple infantryment i am going to put off to one side, one firing and the other moving up along the side of the Ferdy..... Going to scratch a fence with some styrene, some more boulders and dirt and "trees" and hopefully get rid of that shine on the decals.... future, sit for a day, then dullcoat?

Geoff,
yep that was me, anyway a couple of figures and a fence will dress things up a bit. As for the future and dull coat. It's too late for the future-you want to put that on before your decals, decals adhear better to glossy finishes. I would hit them with micro set, then dull a coat. That should help with the shine.

Another tip if you are going to try to get the decals down more - take a very sharp/new pin and gently tap the decal to give the microset holes to soak through. Be careful not to make them big or to tear the decal.

thanks for all the help, guys. hopefully, in a few days i'll have some updated pics for you....

well, here are some more pics.... the groundwork is done, one of two figures in place and the start of a fence..... still working on the decals, but i think it may be working.... will give final pics when it is finally done

comments please

Geoff, overall looks good, nice paint job. If I could just offer a comment on an aspect no one else seems to have noticed. The broken track indicates the vehicle was reversing when hit, as it has flopped out forwards, & the break is well back on the side of the vehicle. Had it been struck while the vehicle was advancing, the broken track would have rolled out the back as the tank moved over it. The trouble is, there's no tracks in the ground in front of it!

hi. thanks for the comments..... actually, if you notice in the previous pics when i first started the thread, there is track in front of the vehicle.... I noticed after completing the groundwork and taking the pics that it was covered too much with dirt, so it will be re-exposed and noticible upon completion.

oh, i see what you are saying.... track marks IN THE GROUND.... i will fix that, didn't even think of it....
thank you