Presenting...DML Hetzer--FINISHED PICS!

Modeling Subjects Armor
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Well, here it is, completed! The 1:35 DML early Hetzer depicted as a Befehlspanzer with Verlinden interior and engine, R&J Products wheels, Aber PE, Tasca Antennae, and additional scratchbuilding…I’ll be posting a painting/weathering tutorial soon after this, but I figured I’d post the finished model first–enjoy!

Here you can see how the top looks on…I just realized that I didn’t press it down into place well enough; there’s really no gap…I’ll fix that in the tutorial pix…

The tow rope is shipbuilder’s scale rope with plastic ends from the spares box…I was lucky to find two of these correct-style ends!

The spare antenna behind the tool box is a guitar string.

And here’s the whole mess put together! There is a slight bit of space under the Hetzer where it sits on the base because I have not secured it down onto the base yet; the reason being that if the base disqualifies it as an “Armor” entry in October’s IPMS SYRCON Regional Contest in October, I will portray it as a stand-alone model. I have to make inquiries![:-^] Anybody have any ideas about that?

The tanker’s belt is made of lead foil with a plastic buckle…

Well, apologies to those with dial-up connections for all the photos! Like I said, I’ll be posting a tutorial on the paint/weathering in the next few days, so I’ll fill in a lot of the details then…but feel free to let me know what YOU want to know…questions and comments are well-appreciated and always welcomed!

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Bout friggin time! Hahaha just teasing. Looks good man. Interesting way you displayed the top. I like it. Your work looks great as always. You know your weathering is heavier than I prefer but your skill at it is awesome. Again great lookin model!

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I think that is a fantastic model. I’ve read a number of your posts and I think your weathering is really artistic and not too technical. I built my way through the Tamiya panzer catalogue in the early eighties where the goal was Verlinden; drybrush, drybrush, drybrush, which I make no claim to have mastered, but was more eyewash than real. And, if you are not starting with a beautifully engineered kit to begin with, ain’t gonna work. Or to put it another way, not very creative, IMHO.

I like this effect very much. Like I say I’ve read through your threads and understand that this is a combination of all the techniques that make sense.

I’ll bet you could scratch build something convincing of this subject at say 1:12.

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Man doog, what can I say? This is a beauty! A real piece of art there! I don’t like heavily weathered vehicles unless they’re on a base so the last few pics really did if for me! Great great job dude! I love the faded paint job underneath all that dust, dirt & mud! Excellent way you incorporated the removed top panel into the dio! Just what the heck is the green liquid seeping out of the drum?? Looks like anti-freeze! hehe!

Photo # 11 does something for me! Its just that little bit if shine on the coiled antenna base…for some reason that little detail is killer! Awesome work Mr. doog!! [tup] [tup]

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Doog, you’ve raised the bar even higher for yourself with this outstanding dio. I always enjoy your attention to detail and you do great work. Really like alll you’ve done to the Hetzer, just amazing weathering. Worth the wait.

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Although the Dio looks great, [tup] this is an absolutely beautiful model. [:P] The weathering is “DEAD-ON” in my personal opinion. It looks well used without being a wreck. [BH] This really massages my eyeballs. [:D] Every time I look at it I see something else.
[%-)] The tow cable seems to me to be a little too plump and the track section aft of the second roadwheel in the second picture seems to be in a [:slight_smile:] slight distress, however since you’ll be putting this on a diorama it will probably not matter anyway.
Otherwise, [:D] I just love everything about it…………. Everything! The streaking, chipping and the scratch marks are outstanding! The composition and merging of effects are just [:-^] pure music.

Rule of thumb regarding model display……… if it’s on a base and it tells a story, then it qualifies as a dio. In my opinion, this (Hetzer) tells a story when combined with the base you have made. The figure is what does it. He is displaying action. Without him it would be a considered a glorified base and the judges are not supposed to consider the base when they are judging a model on it’s own merit. It could actually detract attention from your Hetzer. There is sometimes some conflict on this point but that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
Put yourself a simple dab of cell/clay down on a small plaque with some trackmarks and that should be just fine. You don’t want to detract attention from the model if you want it to stand alone on it’s own merits. That figure should be considered as a model (figurine) in itself and entered in the proper category.

[tup] This is a through and through solid “10”. [:O] I haven’t seen anything that looks so good, and that I like so much, in a very long time.
Too bad there is only a five star rating.
“Way to go!”
Steve

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Hey Doog,

I’m a fan of the heavily weathered combat vehicle and you’ve really done a fantastic job. On a scale of 1 to 5 I’d go [tup][tup][tup][tup][tup]. Just excellent work. I am flabergasted. Everything just fits together so well.

Joe [:D][:D]

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*Astonished gasp

That’s amazing. You’ve given me a picture of what I want my end result of my Tiger I with interior to be.

I love the whole thing. Looks well used certainly!

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doog, i have no words. there are no words that can explain how great this one turned out. i would have to say that this is one the the best builds i have ever seen!!! everything falls together very nicely. amazing. i’m speechless.

about the dio, i’m not 100% positive, but i heard that its not considered a dio unless there are more than two figures and that it tells a story. making a model and putting it on a nice display might not be considered a “dio” but it could take away from the model (not in this casr with the hetzer!). and vise versa. i would say check with the local contest you are entering it in to. i would think that contest have different set of rules depending on where that are.

again on the hetzer…[:O] speechless. absolutly beautiful doog

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sweet lord… you have got to be the best painter i’ve ever seen!

(i’m on my knees when asking) Can we please have that Weathering tut!

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doog~

Dude, what this build needs is some weathering…sorry, couldn’t resist

But seriously, I’m completely awed. I think MontanaCowboy’s “astonished gasp” is a good way to express it. Honestly, this is what I want my kits to look like someday. Your Hetzer is what my Pz IV wants to be when it grows up.

Very much looking forward to the tutorial.

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Hello

Wao…the way I like… the weathering is just the righ amount. The model looks so real… You inspired me to look for my old Tamiya model somewhere in my Bunker…

Greetings

TDC

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Top Notch work here, doog…I have always loved that “tortoise shell” scheme on the Hetzer and you nailed it…the weathering is a little heavy for my taste (of course–lol) but I must say that when it comes to weathered vehicles, yours (and Biffa’s) are some of the best I’ve seen anywhere…GOOD SHOW! Keep us updated on your success at the show. The tankers cap on the fender is a cool touch…the devil’s in the details…

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Wow! I can’t really say much that hasn’t already been said. At first glance, this is quite possiblity the best Hetzer, of any type, I’ve seen in a long, long time. The weathering is extremely well done and fits in with the base you’ve built. Exceptionally, well done all the way around!

As for your question…

The base “may” exceed the spirit of the IPMS description of allowable “simple” bases. Generally, the inclusion of anything beyond the groundwork, simple, small foliage, and any figures included in the kit (usually on the vehicle only), could bump the model out of the Armor categories and into the Diorama categories (small). For example, when Tamiya released the “Frontline Breakthrough” Sherman with 5 or 6 dismounted infantry running, most contest head judges stated that including the figures on a base - even though they were in the kit - would constitute a Diorama. It’s really up to the local contest personnel and you should contact them for guidance.

Once again, thanks for sharing this outstanding model!

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Great stuff all around!!

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Absolutely incredible weathering! I’ve always loved heavy weathering. I can’t wait for that tutorial, especially for the rust/streaking and chipping. Great work, looks amazing!

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Hi guys–Gosh! I’m overwhelmed by all the positive praise![:I] I sincerely appreciate it though, each and every comment–THANK YOU!

Of course. you know that, as the builder, you always see your own faults and are somewhat “relieved” at the “good” that turns out! So here is the case, so it’s a relief to see that you all 99% only “good”![;)]

disastermaster read my mind with the tow cable–I’m not 100% happy with it, but I tried to put a Karaya cable on it and it just wouldn’t hold in the delicate little PE straps all coiled up like that, so I had to use some scale rope to simulate it…AAARGH! FAILURE!!! [(-D] That’s the major bummer on this build for me. I see the anomoly in the photo concerning the track, Steve, but if you look on the other photos you can see that it’s just some camera trick; the track is fine…I think it’s just a tiny spot bare of “mud”, so the light hits it differently. Thanks for your sharp eyes though! Now where’s that “disaster tutorial”???[:P][:D]

kcmat, bondoman, Tigerman(Eric), Panther44(Joe), MontanaCowboy, jthurston, Thomas,StuG61, Ian–thanks so much for all the superlatives and affirmation! I have to say that, truthfully, I’ve become a better modeler in just a few months because of the inspiration that I’ve recieved from ALL of you over and over again–and that’s no lie![swg]

bufflehead, that liquid is probably antifreeze; I didn’t think about it too much, I just figured it looked appropriately sinister! And the little shine off of the antenna base there is real steel–it’s a guitar string (LOTS of them laying about here!LOL!) that has been stripped of its winding, and that winding is the “coil”…I painted it black, and then just swiped it immediately with my finger to show the “wear”. Thanks for your comment!

Roo(Chris)–thanks Buddy! Now git off the couch git yer’s done! LOL! Seriously, I’m dying to see your’s done too! You, me, and biffa (Hellooooo Ron???) are gonna have a “Hetzer shootout” in the forum when all is done! [(-D] Thanks for the compliments!!!

“still-learning”–aww, I’m blushing!![:I] I won’t take that title anytime soon, but thank you for the sentiment. BTW, stick with this site; you’ll be churning out amazing finishes in no time. I’ve seen many of the members here make remarkable progress in a very short time; there’s so much to be learned here! Thank you for your flattering comment!

Manny–thank you, sincerely! I know that the heavily weathered-thing isn’t exactly your style, but it doesn’t have to be; your dio’s are some of the best I’VE seen, and your figures were an inspiration for the painting of THIS one; your PLANES, on the other hand, are, without doubt, the BEST I’ve ever seen! (Seriously, check Manny’s planes out, guys! WOW!) Thank you again!

Foster, Roo, Steve–yeah I was sfraid of that, with the base kicking this into “dio’s” at the contest…I have a couple of 1:72 dio’s (the E-100 dio and the Muas test-bed prototype) that I want to enter in dios (I wish they’d do a “1:48 and smaller” category!) so I guess I’ll just have to make a small, plain base for it…thanks for he info and the suggestions!

Well, many thanks again, for all the comments and the inspiration you all have given me! Look at this model as a tribute to all that YOU have taught me over the last 8 months on this site! I SALUTE YOU! [bow]

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Wow, excellent work Doog! The paint, weathering… everything are top notch! [8D] [tup] [tup]

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Back for more–I just love this thing! One thing I noticed on the second pass—maybe it’s intentional or a trick of the lighting/photography, but the Dunkelgelb looks very faded and not very yellowish. It has a heavy “tan/sand” color to it. Seems kinda of light and not too yellow-eyish. Just thought I’d send it out there as brain food. Fantastic build.

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Ian, I always lighten my Dunklegelb this way. Judging from colorphotos I have seen of the real thing, and taking into account the effect of “scale distortion of light” (where light hits a smaller object differently than a large object) I think that this is more accurate IN SCALE than Dk Yellow straight out of the can. I also think that it aesthetically lends itself to the “old-n-faded” look.

THis is really a matter of taste and preferences; some guys like their yellow “yellow”; I prefer the “old tan” look![:D] Thanks for your input though–I’ll cover this more in the weathering/finishing tutorial soon!