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Dioramas
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Counterattack, Normandy-1/35
Venko555
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Bulgaria
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Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2014 - 05:11 PM UTC
Hello!
I'm starting my another diorama (DAK is near the finish), that of German counterattack in Normandy. I will use my recently finished Tiger I Late, build is here:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/218129&page=1

Also I will use Tamiya Kubelwagen, Alpine figures and scratch for the terrain.

I'm considering to use some static summer grass and other stuff, but how long should be the average grass for 1/35?
Think a mixture of 6mm and 10mm should be a good for a bit variety, is this right? For longer sticks of wild grass will use cheap brush from construction stores, painted with green acrylic.

Cheers!
1stjaeger
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Posted: Monday, March 31, 2014 - 08:01 AM UTC
Hi Venelin,

sounds like an interesting project!!

As for the length of grass....measure it!! High grass can easily be 15-20cm high, i.e. 150-200mm.
Your scale is 1/35, so ....6mm would be OK. Some of this will disappear into the ground, so I would buy 10-12mm high static grass together with some 8mm.
Mix them when "planting" and add some weeds and the odd small bush....et voilą!!
Incidentally, you can also buy rough grassy terrain as a commercial product. It looks very convincing!!

Good luck with the scene!!

Cheers

Romain

Venko555
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Posted: Monday, March 31, 2014 - 08:17 AM UTC
Many thanks, Romain!

Seems range of 8-10mm would be good, also some weeds from cheap brush will do the work for higher grass. I will use also natural products

Soon will post some photos

Cheers!
dioman13
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Posted: Monday, March 31, 2014 - 02:54 PM UTC
Hey Venelin, if you can find it, Hudson and Allen makes tall grass in 2 shades of green and 2 sets in brown/gold. I usually mix the 2 greens together and fold in half to cut to size. As I cut my sizes I add the small cut off ends to give it a varioty of lengths. Just dip it in some thick tacky glue and place it as needed. Then I take a blade and slip it in the middle of the batch and simply work it outwards to give it that clumpish look. As to the height, wild grass can get very high. Anything from the waiste down works for it. Just take a walk through any undeveloped area or abandonded lot and you'll see what we mean.
Venko555
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Posted: Monday, March 31, 2014 - 05:13 PM UTC
Thank you very much for the advices!

I've already purchased a bag of 10mm summer mix static grass and will make homemade applicator. Some other scratch and natural products will be included.
Also I'm considering making 2 apple trees, which were very common in Normandy fields and farms (think so ). But is very hard to find apple foliage for the trees (the trunks I will scratch), acceptable for 1/35.
I will search more, hope to find something.

Regards
Venko555
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Posted: Monday, March 31, 2014 - 06:41 PM UTC
I've found that Mininatur makes different foliage for trees, but no apple. But this beech foliage seems close enough to use also as apple, and is for 1/45+ scale:



What do you think, seems acceptable

Cheers!
jhoenig
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Posted: Monday, March 31, 2014 - 08:37 PM UTC
Venelin

Your on the right track but if your not familiar with static grass a homemade applicator (i.e. made from flyswatter)is not powerful enough to use for 6mm and taller grass. It won't make the grass "stand" up it will just fall over. For 10mm and 12mm you need the most powerful commercial applicator to make it work.
- John
Venko555
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Posted: Wednesday, April 09, 2014 - 04:50 AM UTC
John, thanks for advice, but I think will solve that issue with the applicator

Anyway, I will use Kubelwagen from Tamiya, old but very nice little model of that car . Moulding is clean and the driver figure is nice.
But I have some complain of the packaging from Hobbyeasy. First time buying from them, but the box wasn't in very good condition as you see. Luckily every part is OK
Will use some PE from Eduard also.









Cheers!
Venko555
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Posted: Thursday, April 10, 2014 - 07:45 PM UTC
My birthday present arrived yesterday (just in time ), Waffen SS crew for the Tiger. Very nice details, clean cast and two different heads for each figure. These are my first resin figures, hope will start painting them soon













Regards!

1stjaeger
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Posted: Thursday, April 10, 2014 - 10:33 PM UTC

Capital choices for the components Venelin!!

Alpine figures are top quality indeed!!

Eager to see progress!!

Good luck

Cheers

Romain

jrutman
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Posted: Friday, April 11, 2014 - 02:06 AM UTC
You can't go wrong with Alpine figures. They are so good they almost paint themselves.
J
Venko555
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Posted: Sunday, April 27, 2014 - 12:26 AM UTC
Hi,
along with Hohenstaufen soldier, I've started those guys. Initial painting of the faces with highlights and shadows. Paints are Vallejo Panzer aces, mixed in different tones, not straight from the bottle.

















Thanks!
1stjaeger
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Posted: Sunday, April 27, 2014 - 06:20 PM UTC

Hej Venelin,

those heads look fine!!

Be careful with contrasts!! They are necessary and "productive" for effects, but they are also dangerous!
What are you using for the white of the eyes???

Could the last head have disparate white-dark proportions in the eyes? (or is it just a big highlight??)

If in doubt, you can always reduce the white in one corner (usually towards the outside) and thus reduce the fixed "robot eye".

And don't use "white" for the "white" ...but I'm sure you know that already!!

Otherwise, I'm impressed!!! Well done Sir!!!

Cheers

Romain

Venko555
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Posted: Sunday, April 27, 2014 - 06:43 PM UTC
Hi, Romain
You're right about the left eye of the second figure, I will reduce the white area towards the outside corner.
Highlights are subtle and because of cloudy weather, I've adjusted the photo camera a bit, so the pictures are maybe brighter.
The "white" is 345 Splinter base and is off-white or dark white, it's not pure white.



Cheers!
1stjaeger
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Posted: Sunday, April 27, 2014 - 09:56 PM UTC

Thanks for the info Venelin,

maybe you should tone the "white" down even a little more into the highlight flesh colour (or reduce the white field on one side )

Still, well done!!!!

Cheers

Romain

Venko555
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Posted: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 - 02:45 AM UTC
By the way, anyone experienced bubbles on Alpine figures?
I just found one unpleasant hole on the nose of one of the spare heads, I think is from bubble. There are some 1-2 tiny ones on the back of one of the hands, although I filled them with putty, no real problem. But on the faces it will be harder to fix, maybe I will try later.
I'm really start to love those figures, and considering buying other sets, but I wonder if this is a common issue or maybe I had bad luck

jrutman
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Posted: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 - 02:59 AM UTC
I have collected and used quite a few Alpine figs and never had one bubble. They will probably replace it for you if you ask.
J
Venko555
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Posted: Thursday, May 01, 2014 - 07:19 PM UTC
Progress also with those figures, main painting is almost done, some corrections, shading, dust etc. will follow. I was impatient to see how they look with the Tiger, well I like it very much



















Thanks for watching!
1stjaeger
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Posted: Thursday, May 01, 2014 - 09:32 PM UTC


Looking great m8!! Paintjob is top notch!!

Photos shaw clearly how big that cat is!!! Awesome!

Cheers

Romain

Venko555
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Posted: Thursday, May 01, 2014 - 10:51 PM UTC
Thanks!
Yes, when compared to the figures, the Tiger looks different and shows it's size .
Now I'm making a little improvements on the crew's uniforms, soon will post images

Regards
r101stairborne
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Posted: Friday, May 02, 2014 - 03:36 AM UTC
Beautiful Tiger and great figures! Well done!
kurnuy
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Posted: Friday, May 02, 2014 - 09:27 AM UTC
Hello Venelin ,

a lot of congratulations for the way you've painted the figures. They look just fine !

The Tiger looks very well too.

Great job !

Greets

Kurt
dioman13
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Posted: Friday, May 02, 2014 - 05:14 PM UTC
Hey Venelin, Very nice progress so far. You did a splended job on the uniforms cammo, better than my attempts. I was at my L.H.S. the other day and as usual went to the R/R section to check out the terrain and foliage stuff and came across a bag of apples in HO scale. These HO scale foliage stuff works very well for 1/35th stuff. I use alot of them either plastic or paper. I will be there in another day or so and get the manufactures name, e-mail and product info so you can check it out on the web for yourself. Also for tall clumps of wild grass, Hudson and Allen ( harvest gold is #FG172 ) make some greens and browns about 2 3/4" tall. Just cut to size and dip in a thick tacky glue. Place where needed and a minute or so latter I insert a #11 blade and twist side ways to fluff it out. By mixing the 2 greens or browns together you can come up with shades from spring to winter. Hope this helps you out. Will let you know about the apples in a day or 2. Bob D.
Venko555
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Posted: Friday, May 02, 2014 - 05:54 PM UTC
Thanks, Bob, for the information!
I've found that Mininatur/Silhouette makes very nice apple foliage with apples, but for 1/87 scale and don't know if this will be appropriate for 1/35. I'm intending to make 1, maybe 2 apple trees from scratch, need only the foliage. There will be some structure like small farm or shed, not decided yet . I have green grass already in different sizes, will collect other colors-dry, brown etc.

Cheers!
Venko555
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Posted: Friday, May 02, 2014 - 07:25 PM UTC
Small improvements on the uniforms- more camo blotches











Thanks!
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