Sd.Kfz.11 Towing leFH18/40 Howitzer

[danb]

This just gets better and better looking forward to seeing the final piece

Dan B

[wbill76]

Nice work on the HT cab and back cover JT, look forward to seeing it painted.

[multicam]

Looking great JT! The back cover especially:). Gonna look awesome with paint.

[TRM]

Looking great JT!!! Can't wait to see the paint fly buddy!!

[johnt]

Hi Rob, ER, Tony, Dan, Dicky, Bill, Nate and T, many thanks guys for looking and your replies! Commencing the painterization, more soon

Cheers
JT

[armorguy]

What an impressive vehicle the 11 is !!! Great build so far, and that canopy...W!O!W! This is much better stuff than Cleenex tissue, and it has the nicest texture. The 18 looks lovely too, it's a bit tricky when attaching the shield but you did it flawless !
This deadly couple has it all !

[bigjohn]

Nice Job JT, This is gonna look cool. I'm glued to this one!

[noname]

Great job on the canopy.

[wouter]

impressive work JT! Looks great assembled and that tarp is just awesome! Great technique

Cheers

[Mence]

Lovely John, the HT is looking great, the tree even better and as for the shooty bit....

[robbo]

Lovely job on this one John, I've got one of these in the stash too

[johnt]

Hi Guy, yeah the shield was a bit tricky now that you mention it, somehow I got the sucker on there!

Thanks John!

Hi Matt, thanks mate!

Hi Wouter, hopefully the tarp will look better painted, thanks mate!

Hi Prof, thanks!

Hey Robbo! It's a nice kit, an easy build, took me a little over a week -that's quick for me!


Thanks guys, this is where I'm at: the painting has started, here's a SBS:

Vallejo 73602 black primer:


The cargo bed painted (weathered) greyish wood and rust:


The salt technique, except using real finely seived crusher dust mixed in a little water, placed with a fine brush then allowed to dry:


Airbrushed Tamiya XF-60, then the dust removed with a wet brush.


The cab painted Vallejo Panzer Aces 301 light rust (a thin coat so it stays dark.)


Then 3 or 4 thin coats of AK Interactive Worn Effects Fluid, thinned with about 30% soapy water.
(no photo as the fluid is a clear satin)

Airbrushed Tamiya XF-60:


Immediately the surface is wet and scratches are made using a toothpick and wet paint brush.


The Howitzer is painted and chipped in the same way as the cab. I really love the effect of this chipping, I have to stop myself doing too much. Thanks for following!

Cheers
JT

[tonylee]

Nice JT,you've got a good eye.

Tony

[tonylee]

It's not a SPG so why do I keep coming back to look at it again and again?

JT did you put a spell on me? ;D

Tony

[wbill76]

Ditto to the comments on the scratching JT, looking nice.

[wouter]

JT, you are doin' it again mate, some fine scratching...some really nice style you got!

And OMG, you lost Tony to the 'Good' Side of the Force? Darn you!!!! ;D ;D ;D

Cheers

[tonylee]

Now Wout like I tell the wife "It Don't Hurt To Look" ;D

Tony

[rm6239]

JT, brilliant work mate, can't believe I missed this earlier.

cheers
Rossco

[spud]

Wow jt that tarp is Killer, and teh whole thing is Sweet

[danb]

Looking awesome John thanks for the SBS its a real help for future projects.

Dan B

[johnt]

Hi Tony, I guess it is a big gun on the move – not quite self propelled…But no, if I could put a spell on you, you would have sent me your stash by now!! ;D ;D ;D

Hi Chriss, great to have you along for the ride!

Thanks Dicky, no it’s not CGI! LOL! I was trying to get the scratches in the right places only, glad you like it mate!

Hi Bill, thanks mate!

Hi Wouter, I thought I was on the bad side… ;D

Hi Rossco, thanks matey! No worries, I’m afraid I’ve probably missed lots of stuff on this forum.

Hi Spud, I’m hoping the tarp will look good painted, guess I’ll find out soon.

No problem, Dan! I like to read build blogs that show the techniques and products used, so I tried to do the same.


Hi guys, remember the tree? I figured out a way to do the bark, here is what I did:
I should have used epoxy putty, but I tried mixing Mr Surfacer 500 with talc and put it round the wire trunk. It was hard to control and ended up bumpy, so when dry I sanded it down.


Then I brush on 2 coats of Vallejo Model Color, which formed a thick rubbery coat. When dry I peeled some of it off with my hobby knife, like peeling bark.


So here it is painted and complete..I think.


Looks artificial now, I think it will look better in the dio. Thanks for following, cheers!
JT

[spud]

Wow that Epic, has to be teh best tree ive ever seen

[eastrock]

the tree looks great, John!

taking notes

[TRM]

Another tree-tastic showing JT!! Thanks for the tree techniques!!! This looks absolutely tops!!!

[bullardino]

It doesn't look artificial, it looks real. Thanks for the SBS, truly inspirational

[tonylee]

JT, Johnny Apple Seed reincarnated WOW

Tony

[armorguy]

Amazing moves ! Great pics and explanation on the chipping part and now a stunning tree build ! Thanks johnt !

[danb]

Loving the tree John well done

Dan B

[johnt]

Hi fellas, thanks for the great comments and motivation!!

Cheers
JT

[johnt]

Hi fellas, here is an update on the HT weathering. It's not finished yet, but getting there.

The dust effect is something I haven't done before. To do this it's important to add ENAMEL matt varnish first. After 2 good coats and a day or two of cure time, I airbrushed the dust on, Tamiya Deck Tan. Then I removed some of it as wear from hands and boots etc, using Tamiya Lacquer Thinner on a fine brush. Without the enamel varnish the thinner would ruin the underlying paint.




The gun recieved the same dust effect.




More weathering to do, plus work on the base. Thanks for looking

Cheers
JT