Kursk Diorama - Work in progress (7 Viewers)

[razorboy]

Razorboy...nice job with the RPG-40...also your Celluclay and stick work looks really good...keep putting up more photos please...very nice work.

Thanks Mike! As soon as it's good and dry I'll add some wear on that "Flooring" in the trench bottom. I am also considering eliminating "Grenade Guy 2 (standing)" as he doesn't quite seem to work in the scene.
rb

 

[razorboy]

I didn't care for the way that "Fire Step" log looked so after researching a few more photos, it was removed and a handmade ladder added - I think it "Fits" better:

As you can see, the log roof is completed - eventually it will be covered with a scale canvas, then dirt and sod, leaving only the log ends on the front side visible:

razorboy

 

[mikemiller1955]

Razorboy...I think it's beautiful...I love hand made dioramas...great work...keep the pics coming...

 

[The Lt.]

As in the past Razorboy it's a pleasure and treat watching the progress of your work and playtime and looking forward to seeing it progressing and finished.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Dave...I looked at your website...

your barbed wire techinique is brilliant...and very realistic looking too...great idea...I wish they had some in the French Indian War so I could make some.

 

[razorboy]

Michael and Lt., thank you for your kind comments. Michael, I wish I could claim the barbed wire technique as being mine but I can't. It is by a fellow named "Tinweasel" and he has done well with it... unfortunately I cannot apply his method to 1/35 scale.
After much deliberation, I will be using this:

- with a little work this should replicate lend-lease barbed wire nicely.
rb

 

[razorboy]

I finished the Stug construction today(except the tracks) and now she's ready for some paint - dunkelgreb oversprayed lightly with rotes braun:

I also added the loaders MG 42 with ammo belt stowed and visible:

rb

 

[gi546]

can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[razorboy]

I got two of the grenadiers "Kitted-Out" with all of their gear today. There is still a bit of filling and seam removal to be done on these fellas and the others but it is fast approaching paint time. The standing figure will be MG 42 ammo carrier #2 and the kneeling figure in this set of pics is flammenwerfer guy's assistant and I thought that title justified a fixed bayonette.

I will do this for all of the infantry figures prior to painting then paint all of them assembly line style, doing all of the smocks and helmet covers at the same time. This will insure greater continuity in colour and pattern as I usually mix my own paint.
rb

 

[razorboy]

I realized today that "Flammenwerfer's Guy's" assistant had not only a bayonette fixed on his KaR 98k but one also "Fixed" in his bayonette scabbard.

I have since altered his scabbard to appear "Bayonetteless"........
Sorry!
rb

 

[razorboy]

I worked on the "Squad Leader" last night and got all of his equipment attached (except for his binoculars and MP40) and today will give him the once-over for any needed filling and additional seam removal. I will work on the "Grip" appearance of his hands prior to permanently affixing the binoculars and MP40. The kit shows him with a stick grenade in his belt and I have forgone that and substituted a signal (flare) gun instead.

I am almost ready to shoot some paint on the Stug. -

but at this point I am undecided as to wether I will use a canvas cover on the gun mantlet or not. If I do, it needs to be done prior to spraying. I'll decided on that sometime today.

razorboy

 

[razorboy]

I got the base coat down on the Stug and inside of the road wheels last night.

Some touch up here and there on the hull and rear, paint the other side of the wheels, paint the fighting compartment roof section, then shoot some camo..

rb

 

[The Lt.]

Progressing nicel razorboy

 

[Leadmen]

Watching your progress with the stug and Dragon figures. Great work and thanks for pics. Leadmen

 

[razorboy]

Thanks for following .....
I've applied my camo pattern to the Stug. and have the ladeschutz about 75% finished:

rb

 

[Nick Nasta]

Very, very impressive my friend.
Nick

 

[razorboy]

Thanks Nick, that means a lot coming from you.
I'm going to try and complete both crewmen today and place them permanently in fighting compartment. I think I'll leave that MG 42 out of the interior and replace with some smaller crew item like a holster or water bottle. As far as the Stug goes, I have her painted and decals on, now comes the 'fun' wheel painting and weathering of the lower hull, then the tracks, then the overall final weathering.
I'll finish the figure construction this weekend and hopefully have them painted completely (except the fleshy areas) with a base coat on the smocks and helmet covers before I finish the camo patterns (all in one session to better insure continuity). I'll finish the groundwork as soon as the figures and Stug are completed and although I'll be using celluclay as my groundwork base, I am trying a different "approach" this time ... we'll see how it works out.

Thanks for following,
razorboy

 

[gi546]

looks like its coming along smoothly. i want to see this bad boy finished

 

[razorboy]

I finished the StuG. crew today - the headphone wires are made from copper wire.

rb

 

[Nick Nasta]

I finished the StuG. crew today - the headphone wires are made from copper wire.

rb

The figures look fantastic! I also like the headset and wires. Great job. I have a difficult time when it comes to painting figures. You make it look natural.
Nick