Just finished this one up for a 190 GB that our illustrious Herr Daywalker is hosting. Pretty much OOB, only after market items were Master Model turned brass gun barrels and Verlinden PE seatbelts. This was my first ever complete rivet job, really doesn’t show in the photos, but that’s good because I was looking for a subtle effect, they look just about perfect indoors without the sunlight washing them out as it is in the photos. Most of the markings were painted on using Montex masks, another first for me. Good results but I ignored some good advice and wound up doing a lot of touch up. Next go-around should be a bit easier. Figures are by Verlinden, first time I’ve done 1/35 figures since my teenage years, I thought they came out pretty good.
The plane depicts a “Sturmbock” R2 190 variant of 11./JG 3 flown by Unteroffizer Willi Maximowitz in June of 1944. This plane was photographed in Normandy while IV./JG 3 was deployed there in a Jabo (fighter/bomber) role, typical of the chaotic German chain of command since this was a specialist anti-bomber unit. I elected to portary it as it would have appeared when the Gruppe was deployed back to Eisenstadt, Austria for it’s return to Reich defense duties.
Great choice, the paint scheme is really quite cool. It looks fantastic, every time I see a quality build like this in 1/32 it makes me want to do one. Very, very nicely done.
For a fellow Yes fan I’ll divulge my trade secrets, lol. The background is just something I pulled off the web doing a Google search for “German Landscape”. Took it to Staples and had it printed in 11x17 format for about $1. Specify large images in your search so you don’t get a lot of pixelation when you size it up to 11x17.
You want to have a base large enough so the model is a least a few inches away from the background, the further the better, but the further you get the bigger your background has to be. If you’re too close you really don’t get a good forced perspective. Being 1/32 this one is tougher too due to the size of the model 1/48 and 1/72 are obviously easier to deal with. Photos that have the background far off in the distance are the most convincing, if there are large items in the foreground it kind of spoils the effect because your eyes are not fooling your brain any more.
I am not a real accomplished photographer so I use all auto settings with macro turned on, these pics were taken with my trusty old Nikon Coolpix 5400 ( 5 mega pixel) and a Fuji S90 (12 mega pixel). Having a tripod is just about mandatory for taking good photos as well. I started taking photos outside becasue I was too cheap to invest in decent lighting. It has it’s pros and cons. In the summer the light is lot more intense and washes things out more, I prefer pictures taken during the other seasons but I do most of modeling the summer it seems.
If you play around a little you’ll see what works and what doesn’t fairly quickly, if I can do it, anyone can!
A fellow Yes fan?! You’re giving away your age[;)] Thanks for sharing your techinque. I’m with you, not an accomplished photographer but I do have a good digital camera and a tripod. I seem to have the most trouble with lighting. So maybe going outdoors would help. I really like the idea for the backround.
