Topic about tank crew figures

[dai phan]

Finished the King Tiger crew. I ordered some, hopefully better, flat varnish as they are still too shiny to my liking.

When painting these it was really noticeable that these are recast figures. Some of the details are just terribly cast. Especially the head on the driver just looks... strange. So strange that I wonder about the quality of the original.

Also, I decided painting pea dot camo is not my hobby.

Better pictures from an actual camera will follow later when they're hopefully varnished better.

I would like to know the originals. I hate Chinese knockoffs. Dai

[dai phan]

I spent the afternoon mixing up the resin figures I got off Aliexpress. It's turning out a lot better than I hoped. Most of the figures that I though would be too big actually work quite well with some cutting and swapping of heads.

Still need to make the driver, didn't have time for him yet. After that it's time to fill seams and then onto painting them.

I need to order this from AE. Do you have a link to these products? Dai

[Vaseline]

I use bright orange pastels for rust and streaking, white and gray in combination with powdered graphite for cordite stains on muzzlebrakes. You can also get colorless acrylic paint "base" to mix pigments like that, ive even seen a tutorial that used household spices like cinnamon or paprika to mix a paste to brush on for various effects. I havnt quite got into using any of these methods for figure painting tho.

[UltraVargen]

Nice to see someone still using pastel chalks for this kind of stuff. I used to use them many years ago for vehicle weathering.

Yeah, I bought a box of them a couple years ago and find they have many purposes in various hobby projects. They are easy to work with, very forgiving and dry in an instant if applied wet.

[oldwolf]

OW, I have missed welcoming you, so "Welcome to the Squawk, Sir." Glad to have you onboard. Best, LB

Thanks, I am enjoying being here.

[Elbee]

Nice to see someone still using pastel chalks for this kind of stuff. I used to use them many years ago for vehicle weathering.

OW, I have missed welcoming you, so "Welcome to the Squawk, Sir." Glad to have you onboard. Best, LB

[oldwolf]

Thanks so much guys!

SoCalBobS No oils on these. I used soft pastels instead. After your basic skintone paint of choice I used a wash of watered down Armypainter Quickshade soft tone (the bottled ink style, not the big cans used for dipping complete miniatures). Then highlight again with a slightly lighter skintone. The fun part came in adding some color to the faces: I used Faber-Castell soft pastels. you can crush them to a powder, mix them, thin them with water or use them dry. They're basically like weathering pigments, but in a wider variety of color! I mostly used dark pink mixed with medium brown to tint their faces. just dab it on slightly wet with a small brush in logical places like the cheeks, lips, etc. Then rub it in with a small q-tip or even just your finger. Don't forget to seal with a spray or airbrush varnish just like you'd do with weathering pigments.

Nice to see someone still using pastel chalks for this kind of stuff. I used to use them many years ago for vehicle weathering.

[UltraVargen]

Thanks so much guys!

SoCalBobS No oils on these. I used soft pastels instead. After your basic skintone paint of choice I used a wash of watered down Armypainter Quickshade soft tone (the bottled ink style, not the big cans used for dipping complete miniatures). Then highlight again with a slightly lighter skintone. The fun part came in adding some color to the faces: I used Faber-Castell soft pastels. you can crush them to a powder, mix them, thin them with water or use them dry. They're basically like weathering pigments, but in a wider variety of color! I mostly used dark pink mixed with medium brown to tint their faces. just dab it on slightly wet with a small brush in logical places like the cheeks, lips, etc. Then rub it in with a small q-tip or even just your finger. Don't forget to seal with a spray or airbrush varnish just like you'd do with weathering pigments.

[SoCalBobS]

Love your faces, did you use oils or? Also good job on hair, using the castings to their best advantage.

[Elbee]

UV, the matte finish changes the figures' appearance greatly. Very nicely done. Best, LB

[UltraVargen]

I did the last 1% of work that remained for these figures. I found a nice flat varnish: Humbrol nr. 39 "flat" spray, which is really very flat and also is a bear to spray. The cans have very little pressure so need constant shaking. I also picked out some details in gloss like eyes, metal buttons and metal insignia. All in all I'm content with these figures. But every time I look at them I keep wondering what it could have been if they weren't recasts. Maybe I'll replace these guys sometime when I'm ready to splurge 50 bucks on single figures.

Another detail I couldn't help adding (to the tank itself) is some details to the inside of the loader hatch. The last final detail is still on its way here: a 2m aerial for on the back of the tank. And then I promised myself this thing really is cosmetically done.

Couple more pictures, leisurely riding their King Tiger:

[UltraVargen]

Thanks Elbee !

[Elbee]

Finished the King Tiger crew.]

UV, I think you did a nice job with your tank crew. If the castings were sub-par, then you did great work. Agree that a bit of matte finish will enhance the figures. Well done. Best, LB

[UltraVargen]

Finished the King Tiger crew. I ordered some, hopefully better, flat varnish as they are still too shiny to my liking.

When painting these it was really noticeable that these are recast figures. Some of the details are just terribly cast. Especially the head on the driver just looks... strange. So strange that I wonder about the quality of the original.

Also, I decided painting pea dot camo is not my hobby.

Better pictures from an actual camera will follow later when they're hopefully varnished better.

[dai phan]

Hi Guys,
I think that in an "enclosed" tank you can have 1 to 4 figures, a single commander or most of the crew like in the SOL sherman pic.👍
But in an "open" vehicle I think it is essential to have the correct number of figures in view. ( Space and size requirements governing )
For example, I don't think my wirbelwind would look complete without the crew. As an open top vehicle without a crew it would look as if it was abandoned.😞
Cheers
Afrikakorps

Damnation ! That is hardcore high quality figures paint job. I knee to you. Dai

[UltraVargen]

I totally agree Afrikakorps ! Those are some excellent figures you did there. Very inspiring!

[Afrikakorps]

Hi Guys,
I think that in an "enclosed" tank you can have 1 to 4 figures, a single commander or most of the crew like in the SOL sherman pic.👍
But in an "open" vehicle I think it is essential to have the correct number of figures in view. ( Space and size requirements governing )
For example, I don't think my wirbelwind would look complete without the crew. As an open top vehicle without a crew it would look as if it was abandoned.😞
Cheers
Afrikakorps

[UltraVargen]

Thanks Elbee !

[Elbee]

I spent the afternoon mixing up the resin figures...

UV, Those look outstanding, Sir. Not too large at all and bigger is better IMHO. Nothing makes a model look more like a model more than figures/pilots that are too small. Best, LB

[UltraVargen]

I spent the afternoon mixing up the resin figures I got off Aliexpress. It's turning out a lot better than I hoped. Most of the figures that I though would be too big actually work quite well with some cutting and swapping of heads.

Still need to make the driver, didn't have time for him yet. After that it's time to fill seams and then onto painting them.