Zvezda's German Reconnaissance Team 1939-1942 (Part 1)

Good day everyone!

As this year is coming to its end, according to the diaries, the workload shows its size, and tortures me!

Unfortunately, my spare time to paint has been reduced to minimum - but I don't give up! :)

Last Saturday, I bought Zvezda's German Reconnaisance Team # 6153, and I managed to paint two of the prone figures.

These figures can be used either as reconnaisance soldiers, or artillery spotters.

The quality of these figures is up to the usual Zvezda's standards, and even though the figures come in seperate pieces, their assembly is very easy and the result is very very pleasing! 

The lovers of plastic figures take their revenge from all of those who still think that metal figures are better!! :-)

I'll try to finish the rest of the kits' figures the following days (one radio man and one who writes down orders or coordinates).

I hope you like them!
T.

Now, who took my parking space??????

Good day everyone!

First of all, I would like to thank you for your participation in this quiz! You guys are really something! :-)
Unfortunately, the answers given were not correct, but you must be excused, since I forgot to mention that besides the cd's and the wood skewers I would also use some gauze....
This is how I created some camouflaged ''Parking Spaces'' - you know lack of parking ''slots'' was giving a pain to guys back in the 40's also!
The pieces of gauze were cut into appropriate pieces (well, some basic rectangles to be exact), and were then soaked in some water-thinned PVA glue. They were then sprayed with a green colour, so as to blend with the rest of the landscape. A bit of PVA to glue them on the posts, and presto they are! :-)

Each ''Parking space'' may take two trucks, one AFV and loads of cans and barrels and ammo boxes and, and, and...

I hope you like them!

T.

P.S: I would like to add some foliage on top of the nets, any suggestions??

Zeros and Aces...what for? (W. I. P.)

Good day everyone!

Some W.I.P for me, a quiz for you...

Three old cd's and some wood skewers...

What do you think? What will come out of them?

T.

Fran (aka The Angry Lurker), you are the MAN!!!!!

Good day everyone!

Yesterday I received a package from UK, from Fran The Angry Lurker,  who was more than kind to send me 3 trucks, 2 tanks, 1 kubelwagen and 10 metal figures!!!! Now, tell me how cool a guy that doesn't know you, can be????? :-) Fran, you are the MAN mate! :-)

Further below are the photos of the stuff he sent me:

1. Kubelwagen

2. Pz.Kpfw IV Ausf. F1

3. Pz 38 - T (from Pegasus)

4.  Metal figures (I'am afraid I don't know the manufacturer - perhaps TQD, SHQ)??

5. Trucks!!!

And in full array:

How should I paint the trucks? Any suggestions or reference photos?

Fran, you are the MAN mate!!!! Thank you!!

T.

Now, where all these stains come from...?

Good day everyone!

Thanks for the feedback yesterday guys! It really helps me keep the tempo and paint much more than I used to do some months ago.

I received a couple of questions yesterday, regarding the shading effect I achieve on my figs, and today I took a couple of photos of the products I am using. 

The product I am using is called Aquaxyl and it is a water based wood preservative. It comes in many shades, and the ones I am using is one ''Dark Brown - ΚΑΦΕ (in Greek)'' and one ''Black - ΜΑΥΡΟ (in Greek)''. I bought it from a local DIY Store called ''Praktiker'' (a reference for the fellow Greeks). Each can consists 750ml and it costs around 11 euro. It WILL....last ages, as it doesn't dries in the can as the ARMY PAINTERS Dips do after a couple of months. Leave aside the fact that it is MUCH cheaper! (We live in gloomy times here in Greece, don't forget about that...) :-)

You apply it with the same way you do with the ARMY PAINTERS' Dip (either by using a brush or by dipping the figure in the can and then remove the excesses).

The best aspect of this product is that it dries out really quickly, so you don't have to wait 24-48 hours before spraying the AP Anti Shine Varnish (it can be used with terrific results)!

So instead of dedicating an hour per figure, use a Water Based wood Preservative (the brushes don't wear out)!!!!

Life is too short.... ;-)

Examples:

1. ''Black - ΜΑΥΡΟ (in Greek)''

2. ''Dark Brown - ΚΑΦΕ (in Greek)''

Good day lads!!!!!!

T.

Last weekend's work...

Good day to you all!

Last weekend was a rather busy weekend, in ''social'' terms, so I only managed to paint 8 figures (6 Germans - 2 Russians) for some ''urban'' fighting (grey bases).

I hope you like them!

T.

Italeri's #6133 US Infantry (Winter Uniform)

Good day everyone!

These past few days, while waiting for the winter to come, I've been painting some G'Is from Italeri's Set #6133 US Infantry (Winter Uniform) - (Plastic Soldier's review), based on some baking soda coins! :-) 

The detail of the figs of this set is of the usual Italeri's standards (meaning vey high) and the stature of these is very realistic. If you want to represent some late war battles (not only in snow terrain) with some ''away from home'' G.I's, I should recommend of buying this kit.

I hope you like them!

T.