1/35 Riesen-Panzer IV

[deafpanzer]

Perfect-o!!!

[mz3]

A base, an actual base...








I took a little time to figure out what to do. I haven't made a base in a number of years. I also had to figure out what to make, I didn't want to just slap something together.

The white part is Plaster of paris shaped with crumpled aluminum foil. I used wood filler to attach that to the base. Last night I went over it with the ak sandy dessert paste. I let it dry overnight, I'll get pics later today. I probably have to put another layer on. Once that is done, I'll prime and paint it in some "martian" tone. I still want to put some kind of sand on it, I just haven't figurednit out yet. I'm thinking about mixing plaster with pigment. I used to make mud for my armor kits with this. We'll see...

[handiabled]

Great to see this back again. I'm looking forward to watching how you transform the base

[mz3]

Pic...




There are some cracks in the ak product. Not surprising. I need to add another layer in spots anyway. This stuff comes out of the container with alot of volume, but dries pretty thin. There are areas on the rocks that I tried to build up a bit, but after it dried it contoured to the shape of the plaster. I might try to put a small bit of putty into some of those areas instead of trying to build up the ak paste. Once I get all that set, I'll tape off the base and prime it.

[kyledehart5]

That is Very cool. Do we like those AK products? I’ve been considering a base for an abandoned vehicle project but I have no idea how to create something like that. Have stumbled across the different AK terrain tubs and wondered how they worked.

[mz3]

I usually don't like to use premade product. I kinda feel like it's cheating. Having said that, it's nice and quick to use stuff like this. I have 2 of these ak terrains, this one and crackled mud. They dry nicely, so far they turn out the way the container says. I thinknfor simple bases like this they are pretty good. Easy to work with. I have one more base to make for my Grober Hund, I'll probably mix these 2 terrains together and see what I get.

[kyledehart5]

Aug 10, 2024 20:00:20 GMT -5 mz3 said:

I usually don't like to use premade product. I kinda feel like it's cheating. Having said that, it's nice and quick to use stuff like this. I have 2 of these ak terrains, this one and crackled mud. They dry nicely, so far they turn out the way the container says. I thinknfor simple bases like this they are pretty good. Easy to work with. I have one more base to make for my Grober Hund, I'll probably mix these 2 terrains together and see what I get.

I’ve never done a base or scene of any kind and I’m perfectly comfortable with cheating. 😂😂. Appreciate the info. Thank you!

[mz3]

Pics...




Started with mr surfacer 1500 black brushed on



Then sprayed german grey and flat earth (I just realized there's a joke there)



Then rust colored pigments





I haven't touched pigments in years. I'm glad to see pigment setter actually works now!

[handiabled]

Great transformation of the base with the different pigments

[kyledehart5]

Agreed!! Looking great.

[mz3]

Mars...




I put the last layer of rust on and it turned it a very off-putting bright orange. I tried to tone it down with the 2 darker rust pigments but they weren't working on some of the areas, mainly right in the middle. So I hit it with dark earth pigment and that fixed it. I then touched up the plaster. There were small chips the the paint on the sharp corners here and there. I slightly drybrushed the german grey on to some of the stone areas.

I covered my "fix" for the ankles...





Just a bit of styrene covering the crack and the cut I made. Painted german grey. I wasn't too concern about how they look, they are covered decently by the parts of the lower leg and they get dusted.

Then dusted the feet...





I used the new rust pigment and sprayed the pigment fixer at a very low psi over it. I didn't want to soak the parts with the fixer, I was worried about crazing the plastic and getting more cracks. So I sprayed it on in very light coats and use the airbrush to dry it faster. It took several layers of pigment. I was going to dust the entire model, but I found it was covering all the paint work too much.

Now I just have to attach the kit.

[kyledehart5]

Great update. That’s all looking awesome!!

[mz3]

Well, here it is almost done...




The feet are officially secured to the base. After all the nonsense with the ankles being too stiff, now they are too loose. Easy fix.






I'll mess with the pose a little bit then cement the ankles permanently.

[kyledehart5]

Looking great on the base.

[handiabled]

Great fixes with the ankles. The close up shots really show the texture of the base you created and it looks fantastic!

[Real G]

That turned out great MZ3!

I gotta get into bases! I have a WH40K friend who excels at such sorcery.