All by “Art Instructor”
For more pics please try my latest page:
http://www.falconbbs.com/model43d.htm
Comments and suggestions are welcome!
Realy beautiful builds; the only thing that strikes me as a bit “off” is the tracks on the Dicker Max; the color of the rust (?) over the sprocket there looks a bit weird.
I like the dirt/weathering effects on all of them! These may be some of the best yet I’ve seen from your builder, MM!
Looking good MM…I like the conservative weathering that AI put on these ones. My only critiques would be that the tires look pretty shiny on the BTR-70…but that could be easily addressed…and the other is there appears to be a pretty significant seam on the Armstrong 6-ton’s barrel.
But overall, these are nice looking builds…thanks for showing 'em.
Cheers
Same as usual…From a distance they look great, not so up close. Visible seam lines on barrels, silvered decals, shiny tires, inconsistent weathering…
Basic modeling skills and techniques that have been neglected, most likely due to being rushed to finish them.
Some more pretty ordinary efforts.
Never yet seen an APC with gloss black tyres and join lines down the middle of them.
NATO 3-colour camo has hard - or at least very tightly feathered - camo:
http://www.usmilitaryvehicles.com/film_3d_M977_Oshkosh.jpg
that’s what makes it difficult to do accurately, and well. Like this:
The mould seam (not join line - I’ve built two of these kits) on the main gun on the Vickers 6-ton tank has been mentioned. But note also the monochrome road wheels (should have steel centres and rubber tyres), and if a kit comes with such very obviously rubber band tracks, you should really replace them. It’s not as if there’s a world shortage of suitable 1/35 tracks for the Vickers 6-tonner and its derivatives:
http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=MSK3538
http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=FO3545
Likewise, and even more so, the Sherman.
And what’s going on with the Dicker Max? Aside from the rather wonky tracks, how come it’s only rusty at the weld seams? And given that it’s a well-looked-after, semi-experimental tank, that had a relatively short service life, how come it’s that rusty in the first place?
To be honest, If I was paying someone else to make models for me, I’d have changed to another modeller if that’s the best he can do.
Cheers,
Chris.
And where the track ends have been glued together on the Sherman, kinda jumps out at ya…
Chris, I think MM helped out AI with a housing loan, and building the kits is part of the repayment scheme, so he won’t be changing builders any time soon…[:-^]
Nice work on your paint jobs, Do tell how you do it [;)] please please please…
Sure to be far more interesting, esp the Leo Bergepanzer (please please please…)
Fairly straigntforward, Jon. fist, the kit’s the Revell Germany 1/72 Bruckenlegepanzer Biber, and the colours are Tamiya acrylic NATO black, brown and green.
Over a base-coat of Humbrol matt black enamel, I first sprayed the NATO black, since this colour could act as pre-shading for the other two. I then masked the areas I wanted to stay black with Bostik White Stick’n’Fix (like Blu-tac, but less sticky, less greasy, and, er, white, not blue). I then sprayed the brown, keeping the airbrush perpendicular to the surface of the model to prevent irregular edges, masked that when it was dry, and finally sprayed the green. I removed the masking (which is re-usable), and the result is what you see.
Later, I post-shaded the model with Conte Crayon dust, being careful to keep the lighter shades away from the sharp deliniations. Here’s teh finished article, with the bridge:
and without:
Cheers,
Chris.
Ok, I have a “newbie” question… in the BTR, I see the 'shiny" and “seam” on the tires…but arent the threads supposed to also be pointing the same way? Or does it vary?
Gino - which one is the “silvered” decal? No (of course) I am not questioning your eye, I am just learning how to spot flaws on builds to help my own rookie efforts…
You are correct. With these builds, it becomes an exercise in frustration to point out all the errors, especially when the builder, not the poster, never seems to get the feedback. IIRC, there was at least one other build where the tires were incorrectly mounted. As someone who has directional tires on my car, I know if they were mounted backwards, handling would suffer.
Look at the “Flammable” decal on the HMMTT tanker. You can see where the film is. You’ll also note the colors of the decal don’t match the camo pattern. The decal comes precolored so that you have contrast between the lettering and the background color. In reality, these would be stenciled on so that you would not have black letters on a black background.
Funny thing, I actually like reading these threads. All the critiques help me out immensly. Especially when I am usually tricked into judging at the local IPMs contests.
That can be used against you in a court of law…[:D]
It seems like all of “AI’s” builds are done OOB, w/o basic research and w/o much in the way of parts prep. The painting is usually good, IMO.
Yup, AJ caught it too. The decals on the tank of the M978 tanker are silvered and don’t match the camo pattern.
Is the marking on the side of the Armstrong’s turret also silvered?
Yes, it appears to be as well.
Gino, Al and (Chris) - Thanks for the info and mini-lessons (decal silvering, tires, hard camo).
Sounds weird, but I actually learn from the critiques of MM postings, helps to SEE the flaws so I can compare and (hopefully!) avoid them on my own builds
cheers
I’m not defending MM or AI by any means and yes there are some basics overlooked… the yellowed decals on the BTR for instance and those tires suk and will end up spiltting anyway BUT, I like the paint job on it, I happen to be a big fan of the BTR series and on the tanker and some of the others.
Perhaps MM or AI are young/youngsters/beginners (I haven’t followed MM’s postings all that much over the years) and perhaps don’t have access to piles of reference materials? Where do they live in Thailand, and under what circumstances are they living/building in? I don’t know those answers, perhaps some one else does? Not all of us have decent areas/lighting to work in. Maybe not all have decals setting solution on hand.
Just like everyone elses postings on this site as well as others. Critique constructively and learn from what you’re seeing of other’s works/talents. Not all of us, me included are 100% accurate nor could I (for one) ever please all of the masses… even on my own website. I may have missed a seam or two in my ‘career’. Give MM and AI credit for seemingly (and continously) enjoying the hobby and having the 'nads to post their ‘mistakes’ here for all to see. Some may learn from and some may really enjoy their postings by getting better ideas and developing better techniques etc. Perhaps being a little more positive might induce MM/AI to improve some providing that they choose to read through all the trash that is usually related to their postings.
It’s a f#$&*^g hobby! Take a chill pill and do what you can to improve (and worry about) your own skills/talents!
I probably won’t progress any further than MM/AI’s original postings from point on. (I’m surprising myself here by adding this!) No sense of continously reading about the constant trashing of them.
My two-bits and I’m out.
Fair comment, Kevin, and yes, it’s a hobby, and supposed to be fun, but the thing is that MM and AI seem to make no effort to improve. I’ve made plentyy of models in my time which I’m not especially proud of, but at least I try to learn from my, and othe people’s critiques, and try to learn from my mistakes and other people’s successes.
Here are just a few of my less wonderful efforts:
But at least I’ve put more effort into ensuring that my roundels don’t have white casts, and that my eyes look more realistic (though I’ve still a way to go there):
Cheers,
Chris.
Manny needs to do a dio featuring the last subject…