DML Hetzer Command Version

[Driver]

Originally Posted by RickLawler

...So what relic are you going to dust off now?


Rick

Well guys, the above question made think about what to do next. I don't want to spend months reconstructing another "oldie" so I decided to finish something that has been on the shelf for about ten years (can you believe that?): DML's Hetzer Command Version. It's almost finished and begging for a base so here I go!

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010117.jpg
First order of business was to take a brush and get rid of all the dust that was covering it. Then I gave it an oil wash with Burnt Umber and then a filter with Naples Yellow.

While the washes dried I took another “relic” from the shelf and cleaned it as well. It’s an old corner of a house that I made even before the Hetzer. (I’m starting to feel more like an archeologist than a modeler.) I used 5 min. epoxy to glue the corner to a base that I made with a piece of oak that was lying around and then poured plaster on it to make the terrain. Here we are so far.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010118.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010119.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010120.jpg

Now I only have to put the details on both of them. :D
Thank for looking.

Ruben

[lquah]

Ruben

Good to see some oldies getting finished. I plan to do that as well this year.

The second to last photo looks nice. How about snow covered ground?

Lawrence

[RickLawler]

Hey! What no stacks of references, no small bits of wire, no lengths of strip, no endless sanding......

You are stubborn, my friend. Even with this project you are recycling older work. Seriously, though, it looks like you've got a good jump on the layout and so you can really concentrate on a nice finish.

Rick

[skeletondude]

Nice so far,Ruben.Im waiting for more.(personally,I was hoping you would build a Tiger :D:p)

Marek

[Flak]

Can't wait to see more...Dave

[Driver]

Lawrence, Rick, Marek, Marco, thanks for your comments guys.

Nice so far,Ruben.Im waiting for more.(personally,I was hoping you would build a Tiger :D:p)

Marek

Don't worry Marek, the tiger is coming! I only have to decide which one first; Cyberhobby's Michael Whittman or Minicraft's mid production with interior. :rolleyes:


Can't wait to see more...Dave

That's the problem with the copy-paste thing!! :D:p

Now let me show you a little progress.

First I painted the terrain with some brown colors and added some static grass to cover most of it. Then I decided to make a pine tree to balance the composition. Here’s the result. (Sorry about the photo, I'll take a better one for the next post.)
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010132.jpg
I liked Lawrence’s idea of snow-covered ground but there was no way to put figures with winter clothing thru those little hatches so it will be done in a next one.

Here’s a shot of the tree.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010134.jpg

I also touched up the house and repainted the shingles.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010133.jpg

Next I started to think about the figures and searching around found this fellow that has been waiting almost as long as the Hetzer to be put somewhere. So I’m going to include it in the scene.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010139.jpg

The two figures are from the ones that come in the box with the Hetzer but slightly modified.
Here’s one…
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010137.jpg

…and the other.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010136.jpg

Since the infantry figure is wearing some protection against the cold I decided to do something with the other two and sculpted two scarves for them. Just to unify the figures a little.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010140.jpg

Here’s a shot of all the details that are missing on the Hetzer plus the fender tool box that is not in the photo.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010135.jpg

And here is every thing in place. The white thing is some putty added to the underside to represent some mud.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010141.jpg

The front also received some putty.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010142.jpg

Now it is time for some scratches, decals and a good coat of dust but that will be for the next post.

See you around and thanks for viewing.
Ruben

[skeletondude]

I really like the idea, Ruben!:thumb: Great work!
Where did you get that tree? I really need one like that for my next diorama.

Marek

[Driver]

Thanks Marek. I made the tree myself with a wood rod some "Caspia" branches and static grass. Maybe later I'll post an SBS on how I do them.

Ruben

[Panzergrenadier]

Very nice indeed!:thumb:

[Sturmmann]

Hey Bro,

Nice to see you are keeping busy. I guess the “Magic Sculpt” did work nicely for the scarves. They do look great.

Are you planning to add some different types of plants, maybe some small bushes? :confused: I think adding some plant variation would add more interest to the terrain.

Dave

[RickLawler]

Yea, the tree is uber-cool. Sounds simple, but very effective. Funny thing, I just sculped a handkerchief for a fig - brilliant minds thinking alike? :rolleyes:

rick

[Flak]

Looks nice...Ruben :thumb:

[Driver]

Siim, Dave, Rick and Marco; thanks for your comments and support.

Hey Bro,

Nice to see you are keeping busy. I guess the “Magic Sculpt” did work nicely for the scarves. They do look great.

Are you planning to add some different types of plants, maybe some small bushes? :confused: I think adding some plant variation would add more interest to the terrain.

Dave

Yes, the magic Sculpt is great for those little details. About the plants, I'll wait till the end to see if they are needed.

.....brilliant minds thinking alike? :rolleyes:

rick

You doubt it? :D:D

Ruben

[Driver]

Hi again guys, lets continue.

Next step in the process was to add some dirt to the Hetzer so I took my airbrush and gave it a coat of dust using brown colors. Nothing fancy, just the usual. While that dried I started painting the figures. Once dry I placed them in the vehicle. I also applied some pigments to the road wheels and such.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010148.jpg

Then I used a pencil to simulate the bare metal area on the rim of the road wheels.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010155.jpg

After that it was a matter of gluing everything to the base and finish some details like the steaks on the walls and rubble inside the house. Also the antennas where put in place at this stage. Here is the result.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010171.jpg

Since the SS infantryman has an ammo belt in his neck I placed an MG34 and an ammo canister by the wall.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010167.jpg

Here you can see the rubble inside the house.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010168.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010169.jpg

The SS soldier.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010170.jpg

Here is an overall shot.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010174.jpg

I'm going to declare this one finished for now. (But don't hesitate to tell me any suggestions you may have.) :D
Thanks for viewing

Ruben

[Panzergrenadier]

I like it. :thumb:


Well...maybe one thing, the grass seems a bit uniform. Some higher grass near the building wall and around the tree trunk? It is up to you and looks good as it is now.:)

[skeletondude]

Looks good, I 'specially like the SS-man with the ammo belt. :p

Marek

[RickLawler]

Howdy Ruben...good Voodoo!

If I were to make a suggestion(s)...(which appartently I am)....I think that it could use just a little more. I think that Siim was on track with his suggestion of varied grass length, I say color as well. I think that a little dark pin wash around the bold on the roadwheels would make them pop a little more. And, perhaps some of that building rubble would have fallen on the exterior of the walls as well...mess it up a bit.

Not major crits by any means....it just feels as though you might be putting this one to bed a bit early.

RockOn Ruben,

[Flak]

Looks good...Ruben

[Driver]

Siim, Marek, Rick and Marco, thanks for the input.

I don't have grass of diferent lenghts (maybe it's time for me to order the Silfor grass. :D) so I'll add diferent types of vegetation instead. About the rubble, I was so eager to glue the model to the base that I completely forgot to put rubble in the outside before gluing it. But I'll do it. Photos coming soon.:thumb:

Ruben

[Fledermaus]

Nice job Ruben :thumb: I agree with Rick about some rubble out side, I like the camo on the standing figure and the pine tree looks excellent:cool: please post an sbs about it.another old model rescued ;) I feel like I'm dragging my feet as you have finished several models:eek: and I'm still struggling to finish the stug dio,I better start to work faster :D:D

[Driver]

Well guys, here are the photos of the retouched base. :D

I put more vegetation under the tree using some floral moss and some rubble outside the house. It was a real challenge to put it there and paint it with the model in place without ruining the model or the house but at the end of the day it was worth the effort. I also gave the wheels another wash of dark brown to accentuate the bolts.

Here are some close ups…
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010181.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010185.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010186.jpg

…Some overall shots…
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010201.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010188.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010187.jpg

…and a Birds eye view.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010193.jpg

Thanks for viewing (and your suggestions, of course) and see you in the next one. :thumb:

[Sturmmann]

Nice work Ruben,

I think adding the floral moss did helped in making the grass look more interesting.

One suggestion, I would add some broken glass to the windows, at least small bits at the corners.

Dave

[skeletondude]

Looks great Ruben!:thumb:
Though I have to agree with Dave about the windows, that would make them look better.
WHATS NEXT??!?! :D

Marek

[Sticky]

Very nice. I thikn though you need lots more rubble.

[Sturmmann]

I thikn though you need lots more rubble.

I told him the same thing but he wouldn't listen to me :mad:

Dave

[Larry Bates]

more rubble!!!:p

[Instructorrob]

more rubble!!!

And dust Ruben, rubble also creates lots of dust.
Otherwise your dio and the Hetzer look nice, but it's a bit too clean to my taste.

Robert

[Striker]

Wonderful !

[Driver]

Hello everyone.

Dave, Marek, John, Larry, Benjamin thanks for the comments.

I told him the same thing but he wouldn't listen to me

Dave
Hey! Don't be jealous, I also listen to you from time to time. :D

By popular demand I added a little more debris to the base; mostly in the form of wood pieces that might have been blown to the backyard. (Remember, this is the back of the house not the front.) I tinted the wood with an oil wash of burnt umber, let it dry and glued them to the base. Here are the photos…

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010213.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010214.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010215.jpg

I also added glass to the window, here it is…

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/rdlopez65/Hetzer/P1010217.jpg

To make the design on the glass I searched on the Internet for a design, adjusted the size in Photoshop and printed it on a transparency for inkjet printers. After dry it’s just a matter of cutting and gluing it to the frame.


And dust Ruben, rubble also creates lots of dust.
Otherwise your dio and the Hetzer look nice, but it's a bit too clean to my taste.

Robert

That’s true Robert but dust get washed away with rain and as I already added some rain marks to the walls I think it will be an incongruence to have those and dust at the same time.

Thank for viewing
Ruben

[Kreighshoer]

voodoo power time again! :thumb:

awesome work ruben ...

cheers

[RickLawler]

OK Ruben, those window are inspired...ain't technology grand?

[Larry Bates]

Nic e looking windows Ruben :thumb:

YOu sure it's durty enough? :D

Laz