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

[Hinksy]

Feb 11, 2013 20:08:57 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

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

Yes, I will Andy.

I've got that W/Wash Pz. IV coming up so I'll keep plugging away at this. It's looking better in my eyes now

Cheers buddy,

Ben

[modelfreak72]

Man I did miss alot! Just getting caught up! Great things going on here, New barrels, friul tracks and a sweet camo job! Looking good!!

[reserve]

A bang up job on the camo

Regards,
Mark

[406 Silverado]

Nice to see the camo on this one Ben. All fun now with the rest of the weathering.

Tip, get a piece of cheap poster board for the background. Will make the images a lot better with one solid color. Gray works good too for the paint stages, and black for light color styrene like Dragon kits.

[deafpanzer]

Feb 12, 2013 12:11:14 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Tip, get a piece of cheap poster board for the background. Will make the images a lot better with one solid color. Gray works good too for the paint stages, and black for light color styrene like Dragon kits.

Agree with Rob... I am sure you have many posters of those nice looking ladies... just flip it around and use the back. Easy! I have black, light blue, and white posters because one color doesn't always work well for certain builds.

[bbd468]

Hey Ben, I think the subtle camo looks nice...i like the faded look. She's gonna be a treat come the finish line buddy!!

Gary

[Hinksy]

Nice one guys - cheers!

Funny you should mention backgrounds for photos. I popped into town at the weekend and found a new art place that sells DECENT light blue/white/dark blue etc thin card for backgrounds.

I've been after some for a while - I'm going to pick some up on Saturday as I didn't have cash with me.

She's coming on good now that filters settled her down. I'm really pleased with it now so will definately be sticking with this scheme.

Thanks again fellas,

Ben

[Hinksy]

Hi chaps,

I'm still plugging away at her - sorry I didn't post the usual 'Saturday update' but I was working from home yesterday and as it was pretty busy I only had a chance to get the steel wheel rims painted and buffed (I used Gunze Dark Iron Buffable Metalizer which looks killer now it's been buffed up).

As for the build itself it still had it's Gloss surface on it so I had enough time to get the Mig Dark Wash flowed around all the grooves and gubbins to make things go 'pop'!

Today I decided to add some light chipping and tried some AK 'Chipping Colour' Sounds like a kop-out but it was a perfect colour - it's ideal for DY basecoated vehicles. I kept it pretty light and concentrated on areas where the crew would have been clambering aboard, around and on hatches and lifting eyes and hooks. I used some Games Workshop 'Boltgun Metal' to highlight the rivet heads and to show some bare metal on areas of higher wear. I also added some tiny little slices of Boltgun to the slab sides that I could show some mucky Streaking AK Effects coming from. I've kept the Streaking to a minimum at present.

At the end of todays session it looked real good so decided to leave things where they were and add a couple of layers of Airbrushed Vallejo Matt Varnish. When I get back to the bench I'll be treating the Friuls and getting the spare links ready too then I'll be focussing on the lower hull - getting some nice layers of AK Mud Effects and Mig Pigments applied followed by fitting of the wheels and Friuls and carrying on with more detail painting. I've painted the Jack now but the MG still needs to be done as does the Sledgehammer.

I'm only working for three days this week and then have the next seven days off including next weekend - I'm hoping to get this completely finished in that time

















My Friuls and tools/tow cables ready to go along with the buffed steel wheels. The I also had a nicely moulded clear Periscope in the spares tub so I'll be using that instead of the kit monstrosity!



Still quite a bit to do but it's starting to take shape. I really need to sort a better camera out as I tried some white/cream background cards out today but the build seemed very dark. I only have a standard digital Camera (6 megapixel) but it has a lot of adjustments and settings so I might need to try practicing and sorting a light box. I definately don't have the money to spend on anything top-notch! Luckily I have Godfather Dave for the final completion photos!

I hope you like her guys - remember there's still a lot to do you yet and now there's the flat coat on I'll be adding some thinned Mig oil/grease to the front engine deck and rainmarks and more streaking grimes - after the running gear is on!

I hope you like her so far fellas,

Have a great week,

Ben

[wbill76]

Making good progress on this one Ben! The weathering and other effects are bringing this one to life in a big way. Keep at it!

[hasenpfeffer]

Yeah, Ben.. I have to agree. It's looking pretty sweet! The washes, chips and streaks are really startin' to dress her up.

[Hinksy]

Thanks Bill and Dave,

She's starting to look the part now - I can't wait to get some shoes on her to finish the look!

Cheers fellas,

Ben

[wing_nut]

The weathering is really starting to pull it all together. Looks good.

[Leon]

Fine weathering Ben.Have to agree with everybody above.

[deafpanzer]

NO NO NO! I am not going to let you make me start building Elefant kit... not yet! Looking great!!!

[Hinksy]

Feb 17, 2013 22:11:18 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

NO NO NO! I am not going to let you make me start building Elefant kit... not yet! Looking great!!!

LOL! Cheers guys!

[bish]

Looking good Ben. You don't often see that insignia used, when i saw it with my Panther kit i thoguht it was something Dragon had made up.

I'll be interested to see how that Metal Burnishing works.

[ceresvesta.]

Always loved elefants, always will, and seeing yours I wonder why the heck i never bougth one...Maybe waitting for my elefant soul mate kit ...Maybe the new Tamiya kit!? Anyway, You have done a superb build followed by a stuning paintjob. This id bookmarked for Future refs. Thanks for sharing this Hinksy.

Phil.

[sollie]

Nice AB work on the camo. Love the weathering work. I Need to pull myself together and work on those tracks to. You say they were nice to work with. I find I need to drill and clean almost all of them.

[Hinksy]

Thanks guys,

Really kind words - much appreciated!

Moving forward I'll be getting the rear mounted Sledgehammer mounted up (it's still to be painted along with the mounting brackets) and then I'll be concentrating on the running gear.

Friuls to be treated with AK's Friul Blemishing Solution then the raised tread will be gently filed exposing bare metal finall followed by AK track wash to take the edge of the bare metal. Then the lower hull wall behing the wheels will be muddied up, wheels fitted and spare links track links fitted up front and on the back.

The lower hull will be showing some dry mud spatter but nothing heavy Not decided on using an antenna yet!

I'm off work on holiday starting this Thursday and am not back until the following Thursday so I'll have plenty of time to get this done - no rush either!

Cheers guys,

Ben

[bbd468]

Feb 17, 2013 18:31:22 GMT -5 wing_nut said:

The weathering is really starting to pull it all together. Looks good.

AGREED!!! Ben, i really thinks its all blending beautifully Fella....Great job!

Gary

[Hinksy]

Feb 18, 2013 19:31:57 GMT -5 bbd468 said:

Feb 17, 2013 18:31:22 GMT -5 wing_nut said:

The weathering is really starting to pull it all together. Looks good.

AGREED!!! Ben, i really thinks its all blending beautifully Fella....Great job!

Gary

Thanks Gary,

This is the second time I've screwed up a cammo job on a build and had to do a quick rethink and it's come out better than planned!

Ben

[wing_nut]

never admit to rethinking a screw up. It is always a well thought out and executed plan.

[Hinksy]

Feb 19, 2013 11:03:33 GMT -5 wing_nut said:

never admit to rethinking a screw up. It is always a well thought out and executed plan.

Yep - that is EXACTLY what I meant to say

[Deleted]

great weathering like it alot

[Hinksy]

Hi fellas,

Ahhh man, I've kicked butt on this build this afternoon!

The tracks are on, I've added a lot of weathering to the lower hull. Mig Pigments and AK Mud and Earth effects used on hull walls behind wheels and on the wheel rims.

I've applied some oil and fuel stains to the engine deck - very effective.

Tracks have been treated with AK's Blemishing Solution and look great. Following treatment I used a simple flat file to expose some worn metal then added AK Track Wash to tone it all down.

Tomorrow I'll be thinking about wrapping this up as I just need to put the spare tracks on the front (I'm not sure about using the ones on the rear yet), paint and fit the rear sledge hammer and sort out the tow cable. I'm undecided about using the Periscope yet.

I'm sorry about the quick update but I'm working from home tonight covering the 10pm-6am emergency phone and want to chill for a bit before work. It should be very quiet but you never know!

I promise I'll get a better update done tomorrow - I'm planning to have her TOTALLY completed on Tuesday as I'm on holiday and have that day totally free.

One thing I noticed - with the tracks fitted this thing is HEAVY!









Engine deck - note the Mig oil/fuel stains on the deck:







I hope you like her - she's looking good so I apologise for the mediocre photos.

Godfather Dave will be doing the proper photos next weekend!

Cheers fellas,

Ben

[danb.]

Great work buddy great sbs too not much to say im speechless carry on with the soon to be stunning finish

Dan B

[Hinksy]

Feb 23, 2013 15:42:35 GMT -5 danb. said:

Great work buddy great sbs too not much to say im speechless carry on with the soon to be stunning finish

Dan B

Thanks Dan - that's really appreciated buddy!

I've loved this build so far. Highly recommended!

Ben

[wbill76]

I can easily see why the tracks would add some heft to this bad boy Ben, almost finished with her!

[Leon]

Ben that is a fine job all around.

[Hinksy]

Thanks Leon and Bill,

A great comment and coming from you Bill this a very welcome seal of approval for which I'm mega greatful!

To think when I very first took my airbrush to this thing I had to stop my eyes wandering towards the bin.

So, onto the build and what's to come to get her finished- if anyone can add their own input/suggestions/comments on what I suggest here that would really benefit me

Now the Friuls are done and the lower hull has been weathered along with the wheels I just need to look at the final parts so I need to:

*Add the 6 spare links (3 links and 3 links side-by-side) onto the flat part of the front armour below the Bow MG. Magic Tracks are supplied for this but I might as well use Friuls?

*Consider making up the run of 5 or 6 links that hang on the rear hooks- again I can use some of the supplied Magics or Friuls? Would YOU add these rear hanging links, I'm not convinced the build needs these other links but cannot decide. What do you guys reckon[;

*I'm going to have to do some light DRY pigment work i.e. along fenders and on running gear. Perhaps some Light sand pigment loosely added around hatches and set with a drop of thinner. I definately want to add some very light black soot pigments around the engine deck and on the front of the Casemate under the Mantlet like some smoke has puffed up from the engine kicking into action.


IMPORTANT QUESTION: Where is the darn exaust outlet - it's not obvious? I'm thinking that it is the piece at the rear above where the Jack is stowed? It's a curved part that is shielded by a PE mesh pice? I want to show some black soot pigment near the outlet.


Thanks guys - I'll be getting these little jobs done this week and will be arranging a photo session with Godfather Dave next weekend so I'll be able to post a proper, final 'completion' update next weekend!

Any comments or suggestions re what to do on the final touch-ups please let me know. I'd definately love to hear what your thoughts are re displaying a damaged, frayed tow-cable?

Take care guys,

Ben