Dragon Elefant - Completed & Final Photos 3/9/13

[Hinksy]

Feb 2, 2013 17:52:07 GMT -5 wing_nut said:

Not that my say mean a thing but I am glad you took the plunge and chopped to get that barrel in there. So you could see you could do it and that barrel looks freakin' sweet.

Cheers Wingy,

I'm definately glad I did it - it's a major improvement. The kit barrel is obviously no different but the plastic muzzle brake that needs assembling is never going to touch a turned Brass piece.

Like I say - a year ago I'd have ran a mile from chopping off the main part of a gun assembly in the hope that it would work! I must be growing in confidence!

Cheers buddy,

Ben

[Hinksy]

Hurrah!

The basecoat is on. I got the workshop heaters up and running an hour before I went in there, dug my airbrush out, got the required paints from my general model storage cupboard upstairs and off I went.

Now then, I'm making the move from all Tamiya and Gunze Metalcolour paints to nearly all Vallejo paints (mainly model air for the airbrush and model colour for brush painting), Gunze Buffable Metal colour for detailing and the usual Oil paints.

I've been experimenting with a few colours to make a decent DY basecoat that looks like my Tamiya mix of Dark Yellow and Deck Tan (50/50 mix). I found that 2 parts Model Air Dark Yellow to one part Sand Yellow looks very good. I also found that adding a few drops of Sand which is lighter still helps when highlighing panel centres. Light Drown is also good mixed with Dark Yellow to give a much darker DY.

I did a black pre-shade and it's about visible in places but I took put on a tiny bit too much and covered most of it - I'm out of practice! That was when I added the Sand to highlight some of the panel centres.

Next weekend is all mine so I'll be adding the cammo next Saturday and hope to have the decals in place and some of the tools painted and glued on so I'll be able to start weathering pretty soon. I'll be using Model Air Olive Green and a shade I'm not sure of yet to make the tri-tonal scheme - this is what I'm hoping to produce as it's 'my' Elefant, right down to the number and markings:

postimage.org/image/qmmmov1ad/

Photos:















Thanks for looking guys - I hope you like her so far

I'm really happy with this DY shade but I'll keep playing around with it so no two builds ever have the same shade!

I'm really looking forward to getting this cammo scheme on!

Have a good week everyone and take care!

Ben

[spud]

/Looks great to me Ben, cant wait to see Camo on her

[danb.]

Nice job Ben on the basecoat as Spud says cant wait to see the next phase will there be some Colour Modding going down?

Dan B

[Hinksy]

Feb 3, 2013 14:20:06 GMT -5 danb. said:

Nice job Ben on the basecoat as Spud says cant wait to see the next phase will there be some Colour Modding going down?

Dan B

Cheers Dan,

I'm trying to get to grips with Modulation. I only took some basic photos today so they don't reflect the paintjob etc - it turned out very well in 'the flesh'!

I highlighted a few panels by adding 'Sand' to the mix which worked ok - I'll definately be attempting to do more Modulation work this year.

Ben

[wbill76]

Off and running in the paint department Ben, looking forward to seeing it with the camo on!

[deafpanzer]

Paint looking great on your baby!!!

[Hinksy]

Feb 3, 2013 23:07:40 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Paint looking great on your baby!!!

Cheers guys - I'm really getting into this build now. That magazine article I have will be a massive help. It's already given me ideas that are so obvious but I hadn't even thought about them!

Cammo should be fun!

Take care guys,

Ben

[Deleted]

Nice and clean coat of paint Ben !

[wing_nut]

(sniff sniff)

I thought I smelled paint.

[bbd468]

Great base coat Ben...love the color tone!

Gary

[Hinksy]

Feb 5, 2013 11:25:29 GMT -5 bbd468 said:

Great base coat Ben...love the color tone!

Gary

Cheers Gary,

I'm really pleased with it - particularly as this was my first attempt at making something from a Model Air mix to replicate a decent DY. It's a tad bright at the minute but I decided to go that way to compensate for what's to come when I start the weathering!

Ben

[Leon]

That is one good looking elephant.have two in braille scale

[Deleted]

very nice indeed

[Hinksy]

Hi guys,

Well I've had the most frustrating afternoon that I can remember but it all turned out well!

I had been looking at magazine articles - articles covering the painting of all types of AFV's. There's the usual freehand cammo lines, masking, whitewashing and something that a modeller had done that caught my eye where he'd laid down his cammo lines and gone back over them later on with a slightly darker shade than his original basecoat methods so they appeared like a 'cammo pre-shade' that looked really good. Basically, all sorts of stuff!

So, I went out to the pre-heated workshop with my AB and Elefant with the intention of laying down a simple thin line cammo scheme using Rotbraun and Olivgrun. I used Model Air thinned with water and used a mix of Hull Red and Mahogany for the Red Brown and Panzer Olive Green and cammo green for the Olive Green.

The lines started going down really well but then I'd overshoot it a bit and then it would happen again so I ended up with what I was after with several 'bad' patches that looked wrong and when you try to rectify these areas it just gets worse and worse and worse and

So, frustrated, I took some Model Air Light Brown and DY and completely covered this up. I added some heavier cammo lines but it still looked 'iffy' so I recalled the article where I had read about the pre-shaded cammo and misted the build with Model Air Sand Yellow.

The effect looked really good like, almost like a worn cammo and I'm definately going with it! I hope the photos show up the effects like it looks in the flesh as it does look excellent and it's definately something that looks a little different for the cabinet! If it doesn't turn out as well as I hope it will I'll using 'Plan B' - the Worn Whitewash! I did say I wanted to try different things!

You'll notice a mark on the front area in front of the Bow MG but I'm not worrying about that as It will be under spare tracks.

Tomorrow I'll be looking at decals and starting weathering.

Question: Should I add any AK filters to the top coat before I add the varnish for the decals. Also, would I be able to varnish this with Satin rather than gloss? Could Satin varnish be used to seat decals onto and to seal the decals in. Will my washes work well on top of a Satin Coat rather than a Gloss Coat?

Thanks for looking guys

I'd be interested in hearing your opinions on when to use filters and Satin Varnish compared to Gloss varnish for decals and washes. I've posted the question earlier in the post in bold.

I've just seen the news and they covered the snow in New York! I hope you are all ok and if you are in New York you are safe and well (and warm)!

Update tomorrow,

Ben

[Leon]

Ben the camo looks fine.It dose look like it's faded.

[deafpanzer]

Great work on subtle camo... often I see how camo has faded! I worry that they will disappear after dark washes so be careful when you apply those.

[wbill76]

Nice recovery on the camo pattern Ben! If you want to bring back the colors a bit so that they aren't too faded, you could dry brush some of the original camo color in the centers of the panels and leave more of a feathered edge around the borders. As Andy mentions, the use of washes and weathering will darken the finish depending on the choices you make, so go light in that department so you don't lose the pattern entirely in the process.

[Deleted]

Sometimes its best to step away and come back to it another day .

[Hinksy]

Cheers guys,

It's come out a lot better than the photos. I just took took some quick snaps last night - I reckon this should be okay. Like you say, my main concern was the cammo being washed out under weathering so I'll be taking it easy on the washes and keeping them VERY light and concentrate on darker pin washes. Dry bushes, bolt head highlights, dark dry brushing on the Fender tread pattern and a few streaks.

I just want to keep them slab-slides looking good - the rest will be pretty mucky around the running gear.

I'll see how it goes today.

Ben [Y]

[Mence]

Very neat paint Ben, looking good.

[Hinksy]

Hi guys,

Just a quick update for the day. Thanks btw Prof!

I've been working from home this afternoon so have done a bit and am in a position to get started on the detail painting next weekend.

I've got seven days straight off work starting 21st Feb so I'm hoping to get this all wrapped up in that time. I want it perfect for our show table in March!

Onto the build: I realise I need to be VERY VERY careful with this build as I don't want to darken it up to much and ruin that nice colour effect I've got going on. This afternoon I've applied all of the decals and have made a very thin light brown wash - nigh on a filter - that has tied everything together nicely. I've applied two layers. That will be all she'll be getting in the way of 'all-over' washes. I'll be doing the detail painting next weekend i.e. the MG Barrel, the Jack and Block and adding the tow cable. All further washes will be done 'pin-wash' style using Mig Dark and Brown washes straight from the bottle. I'll concentrate on all the usual hatches and panel lines etc.

I'm following this big magazine article that I previously mentioned and will be adding some light chipping and AK's Streaking effects. Drybrushing will be done with black oil paint in small areas like on the fender treadplate to show wear and the Graphite stick will see some action too!

I'm hoping for a nice tidy build finished off with a matt coat and dry pigments but if it goes South I have 'Plan B' ready to go which is an all-over chipped whitewash. This current base will be isead for a WW so hopefully I'm covered either way.

The decals look great and haven't silvered at-all They are individual numbers so getting them straight and level was tricky. The rear has numbers that go over the edge of the round back door so I had to cut them so it gave the impression of a split where the the door would open - it turned out ok

Photos:

So that's where I'm at and I'm really loving it. I wish I had a better camera (I'm saving up) as although my pictures look good (imo) the camera doesn't seem to capture the full b of the colours.

Oh well, like with my Tiger I Ausf E my Godfather Dave will be doing the completed build photos

Now it's time to make things go 'pop' - apart from chipping, streks and pigments, the colours won't be getting any darker now the wash is on so things are looking good. I'm happy I took this route now istead of the usual standard cammo. I really like the effect I've got right now.

Have a good week guys,

Ben

[deafpanzer]

Now you are talking!!! The camo still looks GREAT after dark washes... decals look great too! Can't wait to see your next update... try to go easy on chipping! I tend to go overboard... LOL

[afvfan]

Looking good! You did a really nice job keeping the decals lined up. I'd rather do individual numbers, too, but it is such a pain trying to get them to lay down right.

Wish I could help you on the pics. I know exactly what you're talking about when you say they are good, but not great. I've got the same problem.

[Hinksy]

Feb 10, 2013 17:09:46 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Now you are talking!!! The camo still looks GREAT after dark washes... decals look great too! Can't wait to see your next update... try to go easy on chipping! I tend to go overboard... LOL

Thanks guys,

I'll try and take it easy with the chipping - I'm the same as you when it comes to chipping, Andy!

I want to lighten up the roof a bit - this is supposed to be a faded cammo effect so how do I lighten the Casemate roof i.e. from exposure to the sun - at the minute it's too uniform in colour. I'm thinking about pigments?

The Decals were a PITA to get lined up Bob but I think I got them about right. These were excellent decals - the carrier film was almost non existent!

Cheers fellas,

Ben

[deafpanzer]

Another reason I won't go crazy on chipping... correct me if I am wrong... those Elefants were very short lived... didn't serve that long on the field either. Bet they didn't have much chipping or dents before they were damaged. That's my assumption... unless you want it blown up as in Scratchmod's style? LOL

[Hinksy]

Feb 10, 2013 18:54:17 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Another reason I won't go crazy on chipping... correct me if I am wrong... those Elefants were very short lived... didn't serve that long on the field either. Bet they didn't have much chipping or dents before they were damaged. That's my assumption... unless you want it blown up as in Scratchmod's style? LOL

Indeed they would have mostly been short lived so chipping will only be light and kept to areas of high use i.e. hatches, fender tread plates where the crew would have walked and I'll make a few scuffs where the travel lock would sit when engaged.

I'm not getting a great amount of very positive feedback on the paint scheme and am starting to think I should just screw it and go with the whitewash - but at the same time I really like it?

I've got the steel parts of the wheels to paint, pin washes to do, drybrushing, streaking and pigments to do yet so I'm thinking that if I'm to do a whitewash it should be now before I start any serious weathering?

I honestly can't decide - I'll make a decision during the week and get it sorted next weekend!

Any comments you guys can make would be greatly received.

Ben

[wing_nut]

Paint to me is like the club house turn... the end is in sight. And what an ending this will be too

[Hinksy]

Feb 11, 2013 8:33:00 GMT -5 wing_nut said:

Paint to me is like the club house turn... the end is in sight. And what an ending this will be too

Cheers Wingy,

This could be a very nice build - I'm going to take it easy and keep to dark pin washes and light streaking and chipping only.

Heavy weathering will be kept to the running gear and lower hull only.

A whitewash would be a kop out now. It took me ages to get this finish so I'm going with it!

Cheers buddy,

Ben

[deafpanzer]

Yeah I think you should move on... it still looks great! Go for it buddy!