Test Job - GHQ Micro Armour 1/285 Israeli Merkava Mk IV

Just finished a Merkava but it looks completely bland. Not sure what else to do to it to make it more exciting to look at.

Spetsnaz Unfinished

Nearing finals time and still preoccupied with several games and debates so I'm just going to post what I DO have done with the Spetsnaz so far.

Setup

Primed in flat khaki spray paint from Walmart.

Inked 2 parts brown 1 part black 1 part water.

Khaki Grey applied to raised parts of uniform.

Some details (but not all) such as guns, flesh and bags picked out.

Since these are my first 15mm figs I've gotten this far what I've learned so far is to pick these details out after priming but BEFORE inking. Because I inked so early I have to go back and ink the flesh and guns with the same ink tone anyway. I'm used to doing things in meticulous steps. Everything I paint is painted by hand. All thats left to do now is ink guns and flesh, pick the colors of those out again, give everything a single light hilight, paint the remaining gear and helmets, paint the amoeba pattern on which I think I'll do in a dark red, then base em and they're ready to go! It's just taking me so long due to distractions so I figured i'd offer up a little teaser. Hope you guys think they're coming along ok.

Later!

IS Hulls on the Block

Five IS-2s and four ISU-122/152s are currently getting built. I just got my first Dremel tool and I must say that it is a close tie with my brushes as the most important tool in my arsenal. It cuts, sands, drills, polishes, buffs, grinds, and performs fellatio. I am absolutely in love with it and this is just the $20 two speed cordless model from Wal-Mart.

I don't have a pin vise or anything like that but despite this I decided it was time to try my hand at drilling out the barrels anyway. I loaded up a 3/64" bit and tested it out on one of the IS-3 barrels I will not be using with my force due to scale desparities. I butchered it. Theres one $10 tank ruined and destined to be an objective marker some day. I steadied my hand and went for the ISU barrels first since they don't have muzzle breaks. Mission accomplished and they look good. I attempted one of my IS-2 barrels and I think it turned out alright. Wish I had a file set tiny enough to square it up but I think at such a small scale it will look fine once painted.

I have some people who know nothing of the hobby so am including a picture of one of my built IS-2 tanks next to a nickle for size reference.

Finally, the only completed models I have so far are a couple of casualty markers I got with my Russians. When I started painting them, I assumed they were dead Russians since they came in Russian boxes. These are in fact German models as can easily be seen by the lip on the helmet and the various German gear on their backs. I think they still look ok. Seen here with a nickle for size reference. I would like to note that everything I paint is done so with a very shakey hand, inadequate lighting, by hand, and by brush. I do not own an airbrush which is going to be a problem for the Germans I have on the way (new box of the Panther G inbound). I think they will end up being painted in basic German Grey.

Until next time!

Camo Pattern Testing

I am still in the testing phase of what camo pattern I will be using on my AFVs and possibly my larger artillery and AA pieces. I first did a standard Russian Green camo scheme to see how easy it was and so far that is hands down the easiest to paint. It goes so quickly and the dark green is very easy to work with. I posted a thread on Battlefront's forums a couple of months ago with my prototype camo scheme and receieved some criticism that the tan was too bright and that the red was too bright and too red. I agreed. The scheme I am trying to replicate is the tri color Caucasus scheme of tan, dark red, and dark green. I first found out about this camo in World of Tanks and use it on all of my Russian tanks in that game.

Since creating that thread on Battlefront's forums, two other people have posted pics of their completed miniatures in this exact same camo so I am obviously not the only one in love with it. Unfortunately for me, I am still TESTING the camo since this is my first time working with models that are so tiny and I am still trying to get the colors just right. So far the comments on their threads are "nice to see Russians in a color other than green for once". I feel I have missed my shot at glory because by the time I get my stuff done in this scheme it will have become the new "ho-hum green".

At any rate, I have completed the 2nd prototype a few minutes ago so here are the pics I've got. I have painted no details. I am just trying to get the camo right. Prototype One is on the right and uses Vallejo Bone White, Vallejo Gore Red, and Vallejo Russian Green. The right side of Prototype One is washed in black and the left side is washed in brown. At the suggestions of people on the forums, I opted for the black wash as can be seen on the entirety of Prototype Two. Also at the suggestion of people in the forums, I have selected a darker and more yellowish tan and a darker but less red red in the form of Vallejo Beige and Vallejo Hull Red. The model on the left is my newest approximation of the camo scheme above. Hope I got it right.