First Build Log - breaking the cycle... Pak 38 - Italeri

[Guest]

Li'l update for y'all!

I've added some long grass (brush bristles, not entirely happy with how it looks, any tips welcome), painted the shorter grass in various shades of green etc, painted up the ammo box, added small areas of wet mud (coating of Klear) and I'm in the process of doing the figures (only using gunner and loader, due to space constraints.

I should add that the mud is lighter in the photos than in real life, I musta overexposed the photos slightly

Stuart

[Gern]

That's comin' on very nicely.

Gern

[spanner570]

Yep, Gern's right Dave...I like the wheel tracks in the sand, easily forgot!

Re your grass, it looks O.K. to me but if you're not completely happy how about some moss from the garden? I use it all the time and if you root around you might find a type which looks a lot like grass, try looking on a rock, old paving slabs or bricks. This is where the finer mosses grow.

As you have omitted a couple of figures will you have room for the 'Scale Models trademark'? lol

Nice work.

Ron

[Guest]

Scale MOdels trademark? What be that then???

hmmm moss you say? There was some on that very slab i used to take the photos... i will investigate in the morning!!

Glad you guys like it!! I'll get the figures started and update you again!

Stuart

[spanner570]

The 'Trademark' is a bucket in the scale of the diorama! I foolishly put one in a dio. last year and mentioned that all dioramas posted should have a bucket...

This was taken up by one and all and is now standard issue, so be warned..Omit at your peril. lol

Looking closer at your pictures Stuart, the moss on your slabs looks dead on to me. Worth a try at least.

Ron

[Gern]

"Looking closer at your pictures Stuart, the moss on your slabs looks dead on to me. Worth a try at least."

I agree. Some of the bits you can see even have spindly 'tree trunks' growing. With care you might be able to get those off the slab in one piece and just insert them into your existing grass.

Gern

[Guest]

Haha Ron I actually do have a bucket or 2 kickin about, from the Tamiya "jerry can" set!! So it'll be going in, does that make me one of the scale-models "lads" then??? Hahaha!!

I'll give the moss a go today and see what I can rustle up! What do you guys do with it? cos just takin it off the slab would just leave it looking a bit too "rounded" and unnatural... maybe tearing it and adding clumps...? Help this is my first dio!!! lol

thanks a lot guys, it's feedback that keeps me building

Stuart

[spanner570]

Haha Ron I actually do have a bucket or 2 kickin about, from the Tamiya "jerry can" set!! So it'll be going in, does that make me one of the scale-models "lads" then??? Hahaha!!I'll give the moss a go today and see what I can rustle up! What do you guys do with it? cos just takin it off the slab would just leave it looking a bit too "rounded" and unnatural... maybe tearing it and adding clumps...? Help this is my first dio!!! lol

thanks a lot guys, it's feedback that keeps me building

Stuart

At the risk of complicating things a bit Stuart, you will find various different mosses knocking about in your garden. There is one sort that is more bushy than the 'Slab' one. Have a look around. I have never ripped them up so I can't comment on how it would look, give it a go and see how it looks.

As you intend to use the 'Club bucket' in you diorama it gives me great pleasure to welcoming you to the Brotherhood. Your membership badge and 10 yearly newsletter is on the way!!

Cheers,

Ron

[Guest]

Hmm well it's a sunny day so if i can get out of my deckchair and get the beer put down im going moss hunting!! lol

Stuart

[Guest]

Guys, good call on the moss idea! I found some that looked quite bushy, so I uplifted, gave them a bath in acetone to kill any stowaways and stuck them on! Looks much better I think and they have some natural colouring to them (dunno how long that'll last though)..

Photos soon!

Thanks guys!

Stuart

[Guest]

Also I have some "water" drying in the club bucket!:woohoo:

[spanner570]

C'mon Stuart, we all want to see the finished product!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ron

[Guest]

wow you were following eh! Well, due to making some progress on the Hellcat, all that's really happened on this one is that I've painted the base colour on the crew and one final tidy up and I'll be getting on with the detail painting. The figures were a crummy fit y'see...

Got an Airshow tomorrow and a Birthday on Sunday so probably not much progress on anything this weekend, but I will follow up with pictures asap, stay tuned.

Stuart

[spanner570]

Stuart, where has this got to?

At this rate you will be receiving your 10 yearly 'Bucket Member' newsletter!!!! LOL

Ron

[Guest]

OK ok i will get some pics of the figures. I've been experimenting with oil paints for the flesh and they look sunburnt.... not a good look lol! I'm kinda stumped with where to go with them cos it's doin me 'ead in having the gun finished and no-one to fire it!! Pics....... as below........

Stuart