Tamiya Hetzer 1:35 'Mid Production'

DWW · January 15, 2009, 6:30pm

Here’s my recently finished Tam Hetzer. There is one thing I must emphasise…this was a for fun only project, entirely based on turning Tamiya’s 2-D paint guide into a 3-D rendition of the same thing.

I was not therefore turning towards any photographs of the vehicle for hysterical accuracy. It sure was fun!

First, the guide:

…and the finished result…

Best regards

Steve

tigerman · January 15, 2009, 6:42pm

I say you’ve hit a homerun for emulating your inspiration. That a bangup paint job. Some might scream for it to be a bit dirtier, but I like that look. The only thing that kind of jumps out on me is the sprocket teeth needing some silver and perhaps a bit more on the tops of the tracks. Well done.

Oh yeah, great looking fig too.

the_doog · January 15, 2009, 6:52pm

Very, very nice, Steve!

My first impression is of a gorgeous little tank in a very nice paint job! But you could pay a little more attention to some details that would seriously put it beyond any reproach–such as what tigerman said.

Put some silver on the sprocket teeth; also, there should be drybrushed silver on the track guides. In a whitewashed finish like thsi, you should also drybrush base color “dark Yellow” around the projections and lines, to bring out the lines of the tank. You’ll be surprised at how much it brings out the shape and character of the tank!

This is a superb effort, but on your next build, go for the little details as well that really will move your build into the next level!

Anonymous · January 15, 2009, 7:09pm

I like this…your work is very “stylistic” and that is a good thing…you nailed the scheme…figgie is outstanding…if you want to tilt the scale a bit towards more realism, some of the aforementioned tips will get you there…[tup]

panzer88 · January 15, 2009, 7:17pm

That thing looks sweet!!! You did a great job matching the paint job to the painting guide. How did you do it, did you use a mask of some sort? And the exhaust looks awesome, how did you achieve that? Oh yeah , your figure is great, I wish my figgies could look half as good as yours.

dahut · January 15, 2009, 7:40pm

I remember that little job when you displayed it on BM. I liked it then, too.

Great technique and Ill bet you had fun with it.

doc-hm3 · January 15, 2009, 7:59pm

Very unique! I love it, never have seen this scheme before. [tup]

USArmyFAO · January 15, 2009, 8:03pm

Steve,

This is too awesome… I would have weathered the running gear and under-carriage a little bit more, but I sure as heck couldn’t do the scheme you selected. That is a phenomenal job!

wbill76 · January 15, 2009, 8:42pm

Pretty sharp looking with clean lines all around. Reminds me of the models that used to be displayed on the sides of boxes as enticement (before the advent of the CAD drawings) to get people to buy the kits under the illusion that they, too, could produce something like that. Very eye-catching and I’d say you’d nailed the representation pretty good. [tup]

model_geek · January 15, 2009, 10:05pm

Very interesting camo. It’s a wonder how you painted it. Very very well done.

wing_nut · January 15, 2009, 10:33pm

Nice piece of work. Like that scheme a lot.

DWW · January 16, 2009, 5:53am

Hi T-man:

Thanks for this.

You’re absolutely right to pick up on the sprocket teeth. I commented on the same ommission when I posted the pics elsewhere during the WIP I ran on www.agapemodels.com and it was a bit of a doh! moment…lol. It will be sorted.

The degree of weathering was kept in check because of the basis for the project, mentioned in the original post.

I’m no figure painter as such, I had a go at Verlinden’s 1:16 Viking Raider but that’s about it. The Tam figure was in the box so I thought I’d have a go at something in 35th. Some details like the hands are soft on detail but all told it was good fun and does give that scale factor stood next to the Hetzer.

Thanks again.

Steve [:)]

DWW · January 16, 2009, 5:56am

All good stuff mate, thanks for taking time out to post it. The hobby’s a constant learning opportunity and it’s great to have so much good advice to sift through going forwards.

Best regards

Steve [:)]

panzerguy · January 16, 2009, 3:21pm

From one Steve to another well done capturing the look that you were going for[tup].

The figure is a very nice touch and you’ve done a very good job considering that you don’t do many of them. I think I see some natural talent there[:D].

DWW · January 16, 2009, 4:20pm

Thanks Steve - much appreciated.

Steve [:)]

DWW · January 16, 2009, 4:22pm

Thanks Marc - I’m grateful to you.

Steve [:)]

DWW · January 16, 2009, 4:41pm

Hi:

Thanks for this.

A cut down version of the paint process goes -

Prime whole vehicle (tracks / wheels separately off vehicle) with Tamiya Red Brown thinned with cellulose (a kind of very hot lacquer thinner - some US lacquers work in the same way, MM for instance).

2.Patchy overspray of Tamiya Desert Yellow, again thinned with cellulose.

Patchy overspray of Tamiya flat white.
Humbrol enamels selected to approximate Dark Yellow, Green and brown. Enamels hand brushed over white. Thin streaks / lines applied by snipping a single course bristle from a thick kid’s art brush and adding paint via that.
Acrylic clear barrier coats applied to protect enamels from spirit washes.
Various washes applied, Raw Umber, Burnt Sienna, Lamp Black etc.

The exhaust went as follows -

Undercoat with Tamiya Red Brown.
Apply dense washes via a piece of course sponge held in square nosed tweezers. The washes are various rusty tones, working in the darkest first, lightest last, all force dried via a hairdrier. Dabbing at the washes with the sponge gives random applications seen in the photos.

Hope that makes the thing a bit clearer for all those who queried the methodology.

Best regards

Steve [:)]