John, Very impressive, I am looking forward to seeing how this progresses and how you do the camo. Cheers Kevin

Cheers to you Kevin!

I thought I would give you a more step by step look at the process.

In the first picture I have outlined the panel with my base color - kinda set the "loose" boundries. They are loose because its desirable to get some overspray past this line - just a controlled amount


The next step is to fill in the outlined area


The outline filled in


The base coat on top of the presahde completed. The next step is the post shading process.

Wow great job showing the steps, I understand it better now. Thanks John. Cheers Kevin

Ah ha!

What did you do w/ the schurzen bracket John?

LOL :-)

Steve

LOL it was knocked off by accident! I will put it back before I am finished! :-)

Ok - I have to ask - why does it take 1.5 hours to get two coats of primer down? Is that 'clock' time with drying in there or is that 'work' time?

It doesn't take that long for primer, It takes that long to paint in the base coat by panels. :-)

John,

May I ask what is your PSI you use when doing this? I would have enough paint on there in that time to look like some kind of cosmetic sludge smeared everywhere with a butter knife.

I am running at 10 psi, with the paint thinned 50/50 for the base coat, the primer is about 15 psi. The key though is the use of the double action AB. I only let very little paint out, and not at the full psi. It takes practice, but after a couple of kits its not that hard.

NIce work! I really like your Waffled Alkett Zim. Always good to see the StuG/Stuh s.

I do, however have a suggestion... I would give the jack block a 1/4 turn so the straps run north and south.
You may have already caught it.....

Chris

Thanks Chris, I love the waffle zim too. As to the Jack block, its square, and can be placed in the holder in any direction. I also have photograpic proof of it stowed this way as well! Thanks for pointing it out though, if I missed anything else please feel free to tell me!

Hi,

Great looking build.... and good pointers with the painting.... I always use washes on my kits.... kinda working lighter to dark.... not dark to light. Looks great though, I might try this with my next build...

Looking forward to seeing more...

Gray

John,

I have another question, sorry. How close are you holding your airbrush to the surface of the model when you go about all this?

Alex Ideally 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Some areas won't allow you to get that close and you have to adjust accordingly. The closer you can get the thinner line you can paint, but you have to reduce paint flow and pressure, with the AB trigger, not the regulator. You could really set the regulator higher, but I like 10 to be the max. With a double action brush you are really working in a range from 0 to 10 psi with the regulator set at 10 psi.

HTH.

Back to this project.

Here is the base coat finished.




The dark red sploches applied.



The dark red post shaded with some buff added to the red.



Still have to add the green sploches etc.

Nice airbrush work on your armor John, i to use a Custom Micron but on my figures its an awsome airbrush. I await your next update.

Sticky your work is awesome!
I sure hope you will be one of the instructors for the painting class (es) planned.
AND when do you find the time to build period let alone produce such magificent work????
My kids won't even let me go to the bathroom in peace :-) :-) :-) :-)
As has been said , can't wait to see this one finished too.

Cheers guys!

David I usually build after everyone is asleep - 9 till midnight, and rainy/snowy weekends the wife and I take turns with the kids. As to painting class - I guess it depends on need - I know clanky is teaching one and he is much better than me on multi-tonal paint jobs! :-)

Great looking stug John, as usual, I can't wait to see it finished. It has a certain quality to it that makes it very real ............ but it is not one element but all of them combined. Subtle touches in detail from the brass, zimm,and pieces left off, right through to the paint give it that magic touch.
Great modelling.

Here is yet another update - if these are too many just say so, ok?

Here is the green without shading side view.



And the top view.

Too many updates???? Ya gotta be kidding, dude! I eagerly await each and every one, John. I've always enjoyed blow-by-blow coverage of an accomplished modeler displaying his talents ... you in particular!

Keep them coming!

Mike Kirchoff

I believe we have all seen enough. :-) Seriously, keep the updates coming! Your work is inspiring as well as educational.

Patrick

Thanks guys. I just don't want to flood the forum.

Update time again! I have jumped ahead and finished the post shade, chipping, some dusting, chipped zim, filters, just a whole grab bag of stuff done and still to do!