Zvezda 1/35 KV-2 Heavy Tank

Svenne009 · Post by **Svenne009** » Sat Feb 20, 2016 6:58 pm

Stunning job, the white-wash looks spot on, complimented with great weathering

.

Those Fruil tracks do add a lot of realism to the kit.

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sat Feb 20, 2016 10:43 pm

Svenne009 wrote:Stunning job, the white-wash looks spot on, complimented with great weathering .

Those Fruil tracks do add a lot of realism to the kit.

Thanks!
Yeah, the metal track links and the burnishing effect is awesome.

Ok. Last update for tonight.

Primer on the dudes and misc stuff.

20160220_200108 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Painted the boxes and pallets with XF-60 and XF-67, not exactly according ot the paint callout - but I'm more happy with this.

20160220_231919 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Tommy

TomasGould · Post by **TomasGould** » Sun Feb 21, 2016 3:21 pm

Its really an amazing build and with some figures and some equipment it will be outstanding!!! Great work so far and keep it up Tommy!!

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sun Feb 21, 2016 3:54 pm

TomasGould wrote:Its really an amazing build and with some figures and some equipment it will be outstanding!!! Great work so far and keep it up Tommy!!

Thank you, Tomas!
I'm eager to complete this build and get on with my other builds, because I'm not very good at have multiple build going at the same time. I really "zone-in" on the subject I'm building so everything else on the bench has to sit back and wait...

OK... I have contiued with the base, which is a scrap-piece of oak wood benchtop I salvaged from being incinerated

Now it can live on as a presentation for the KV-2.

First I had to saw the edges clean to get 90 degree angles.

20160221_135302 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I used an oscillating sander and a 180 grit paper to get rid of the sawmarks and to dull the edges, after that I switched to 400 grit paper to get a smooth surface

20160221_141933 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

The raw sanded oak before surface treatment

20160221_151701 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

"Dryfitting" the tank to check the size of the base. I think this will work just fine with two figures and some material at the front

20160221_153414 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Tommy

NonProlificModeler · Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Sun Feb 21, 2016 4:03 pm

That's really looking great, Tommy!

Jens

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 9:43 pm

NonProlificModeler wrote:That's really looking great, Tommy! Jens

Thanks, I hope that I do something nice out of it

Quick-update:

After examining the ammo-boxes and their content I soon came to the conclusion that I shouldn't even try to brushpaint it...

So instead I have spent the whole evening masking, mixing 1 ml paint, airbrushing tiny details, clean the airbrush and do it all over again many times

20160222_214009 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

But I'm happy with the end result - it's not perfect but it's far better than I could do with a hairy stick

20160222_220807 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Sorry for the bad image quality, I had to put kids to bed so I had little time to spend of photos... I will take better photos later

Tommy

NonProlificModeler · Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 10:23 pm

Thanks, I hope that I do something nice out of it

You most certainly will, Tommy!

The work you did on ammo and boxes is simply amazing!

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 6:52 am

NonProlificModeler wrote:
You most certainly will, Tommy!

The work you did on ammo and boxes is simply amazing!

Thanks! I have glossed them preparing for decals, I'll start painting the figures tomorrow I think.

Tommy

Tiger131 · Post by **Tiger131** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 8:02 am

just gone through your thread and wow great build thread and some great real pictures of the beast really like your scratch building and great figure work im in for the rest of the ride

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 6:03 pm

Tiger131 wrote:just gone through your thread and wow great build thread and some great real pictures of the beast really like your scratch building and great figure work im in for the rest of the ride

Thanks Tiger131, you are most welcome to join!

Cheers!

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 9:34 pm

Hey guys!

Short update today; I have placed the decals on the shells and the boxes.

Unfortunately I managed to destroy one of the decals on the boxes; I first placed it upside down and I discovered the error after it had been thoroughly soaked in Micro Sol, I tried to move it around, but I couldn't save it

20160224_220826 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I discovered that the HEAC (anti-concrete) G-530 shells should have a blue band, that I missed to paint

....since I never throw away excess parts or decals from built a kit I managed to reuse a blue missile marking from an EE Lightning

Tommy

NonProlificModeler · Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 9:38 pm

That was really worth the effort, Tommy. I like the way the stuff turned out!

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 9:12 pm

NonProlificModeler wrote:That was really worth the effort, Tommy. I like the way the stuff turned out!

Cheers, Jens. I haven't done much today - just sprayed on some gloss coat and satin varnish.

My oldest son is building a 1/72 Spitfire so I helped him with the masking, selecting the right colors for it and setting up the airbrush. And cleaning the airbrush afterwards of course

Tomorrow I will start with the oil-washes for the boxes and pallets. Inside of the boxes and the ammo itself will be clean - should look brand new from the factory, I believe.

Tommy

NonProlificModeler · Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 9:19 pm

Sounds good to me. Tommy! Today I've painted my scratch built drill press and factory wall, but I'm in the middle of nowhere! Hell, what plan did I make up? I must be stupid! Good to see yours coming along nicely, my friend!

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 8:20 am

NonProlificModeler wrote:Sounds good to me. Tommy! Today I've painted my scratch built drill press and factory wall, but I'm in the middle of nowhere! Hell, what plan did I make up? I must be stupid! Good to see yours coming along nicely, my friend!

I recognise that feeling; I always ask myself the same thing when I'm in the middle of a big build that have escalated out of control

When that happens I ursually take a short break, list all work that has to be done and make a (honest) time-estimation of it. Then I can start prioritize the things that I think are essential for the completed build and the ones where I can "cut corners" if I run short of time.

You're doing fantastic stuff - your diorama will be epic when it's completed and I'm sure that you will make it happen.

Take care my friend!

Tommy

NonProlificModeler · Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 8:25 am

Well, Tommy, that sounds like a good idea to me! Can't wait to see yours finished! That will be something special and I'm really looking forward too seeing it completed! Take care.

Jens

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 7:50 pm

Hey Guys!

I've spent a couple of days doing weathering of the boxes and pallets and finally it's time to assemble everything. The wetahering of the boxes have been done with 1:1 Black and Dark Umber oils diluted with odourless turps into a wash.
The boxes where them matte coated using Micro Flat thinned with IPA (isopropyl alcohol) and the ammo and trackslinks where satin-coated (same method using Micro Satin).

20160227_192948 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Before I burnished the tracklinks I took out a couple of links and saved them as new replacement links. I painted them black to give the impression that they where new from warehouse.
My idea is that the brand new tracklinks had a rough ride from the factory to the end customer; being dented along the supply chain and left out in the rain to collect some light surface-rust. Atleast that's my idea with this..

20160227_201221 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Next up is figure painting, which is a little bit out of my comfort zone

Stay tuned for more

Tommy

NonProlificModeler · Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 8:11 pm

Yeah, that was really worth the effort, Tommy! The stuff looks the business! Great!

Jens

TomasGould · Post by **TomasGould** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 10:15 pm

Great idea with the replacement tracks!!
Keep it up

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 10:54 pm

NonProlificModeler wrote:Yeah, that was really worth the effort, Tommy! The stuff looks the business! Great! Jens

TomasGould wrote:Great idea with the replacement tracks!!
Keep it up

Thanks guys!

Tommy

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 8:12 pm

Hey Guys!

Okey... I have worked on the figures today... I watched a lot of YT-tutorials, but soon lost track of all the Dos and Don'ts, so I decided to do a bit of classic YOLO instead and just get on with it...

After airbrushing the base color of the uniform I detailed painted and drybrushed the rest of the colors.

20160228_104933 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

20160228_193839 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

20160228_193930 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

As a total n00b in terms of figure-painting I'm happy with that... For the next project I will invest in a Vallejo skin-tones kit, since I think that Tamiya paints are not ideal for this type of work.

I will seal it with Aqua Gloss and continue with the washes tomorrow.

Tommy

NonProlificModeler · Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 8:16 pm

Well done, Tommy! The baldy soldier looks rude, hehehe!

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 8:31 pm

NonProlificModeler wrote:Well done, Tommy! The baldy soldier looks rude, hehehe!

Haha, yeah he looks like a villain...

Tommy

wappynutter · Post by **wappynutter** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 8:44 pm

Just gotta say Tommy that for a n00b you did a real sweet job on the figures mate... Well done.
I like Baldy man, he's got character. Maybe give him a barcode on the back of his head... instant "Hitman".. lol..

Well done again bud, Continued success..

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 6:39 pm

wappynutter wrote:Just gotta say Tommy that for a n00b you did a real sweet job on the figures mate... Well done.
I like Baldy man, he's got character. Maybe give him a barcode on the back of his head... instant "Hitman".. lol..

Well done again bud, Continued success..

Thanks Andy, that's very kind of you!

Tommy

panzerjager · Post by **panzerjager** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 7:04 pm

Figures are looking very nice so far

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 7:51 pm

panzerjager wrote:Figures are looking very nice so far

Thanks, panzerjager!

BTW. I noticed the Lansen in your signature, check out my inbox review of the kit (if you haven't done it already)...
http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 52&t=16727

Cheers!

Tommy

panzerjager · Post by **panzerjager** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 9:30 pm

Ok i am going to check it out

TheTroyster · Post by **TheTroyster** » Tue Mar 01, 2016 12:17 am

The guy with the shaved head looks like a total bad ass!

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:23 pm

TheTroyster wrote:The guy with the shaved head looks like a total bad ass!

Yeah! I wouldn't like to meet him (and his crowbar) in a dark alley at night....

Alright!

I have started with base now and started to play around the configuration a bit; I will place the ammo-boxes, links and both of the figures at the front and make a small scrapyard at the back, behind the tank. So first step is to collect some scrap material that I can use.... I will dump a couple of tracklinks that I didn't need as well... The new ones are on the pallet.

20160301_201011 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Some of you might have noticed that one of the shackles where missing at the back, I will do something with this one - so it will not go on the scrapyard...

20160301_224800 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Cheers

Tommy

NonProlificModeler · Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:30 pm

Now it's all coming together, Tommy! Can't wait to see your layout for the dio and of course built of the dio.

Jens

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:43 am

Hey Guys,

This is slightly OT, but this video clip by The Mighty Jingles includes some hilarious KV-2 moments and a quick history lesson about the Mannheimer line as well

This concludes why I build this tank in a very good way..

[youtube]acY8H79ykcw[/youtube]

Cheers

Tommy

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:30 pm

Ok, guys. Back to the build after a hectic week at work.

I have started with the base now, selecting a thin styrofoam board to start with.

20160302_192122 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I will use one extra layer to add some height the the scrapyard.

20160302_192110 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

The board have been covered with a thin layer of plaster. After that I sprinkled plaster powder over the wet surface and left it to dry. Hopefully it will look like a rough gravelyard. I also made some trackmarks using some of the plastic trackslinks that came with the kit; the only thing they where good for actually

20160303_202644 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I have cleaned up the edges and also leveled the areas where the tank and various other stuff will be placed. The surface where quite rough and the tank where "hovering" over the ground, so it didn't look realistic - a near 60 ton tank should sit firmly on the ground

20160304_211654 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Black Vallejo Primer on.

20160304_215511 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Tomorrow I will continue with placing out the scrapyard and paint the base colors.

Cheers!

Tommy

NonProlificModeler · Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:38 pm

Looking very good so far, Tommy! You're damned right on the natural sit of a heavy tank on loose or wet ground. The tracks sink into it. Everything else looks weird! You made the best use of the vinyl tracks I could imagine! I've got a strong feeling this will become one hell of a dio! Kutgw, mate!

Jens

PS.: Thanks for subscribing to my YT channel! I re-subbed although you haven't put up any vids yet, but if you do, I'll be the first to know and watch them!

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sat Mar 05, 2016 12:36 pm

NonProlificModeler wrote:Looking very good so far, Tommy! You're damned right on the natural sit of a heavy tank on loose or wet ground. The tracks sink into it. Everything else looks weird! You made the best use of the vinyl tracks I could imagine! I've got a strong feeling this will become one hell of a dio! Kutgw, mate! Jens

PS.: Thanks for subscribing to my YT channel! I re-subbed although you haven't put up any vids yet, but if you do, I'll be the first to know and watch them!

Thanks, Jens!

Wohoo, I got a subscriber!

It's not very likely that I put up any content at the moment... I don't have a mancave yet so all my stuff are in a common area in our house where I have my computer/workbench. With 3 kids (boys) and a dog running around, those videos would be very chaotic

Tommy

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sat Mar 05, 2016 12:42 pm

Hey guys!

I have continued to work with the scrapyard corner - my idea is to go totally OTT with rust-weathering here

...and even the most sorry heap of scrapmetal needs some attention to details:

20160305_120106 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

That's how we like it - a random pile of stuff left to slowly rust away.

20160305_121431 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Back in Black...

20160305_130017 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I'll give the primer a couple of hours to cure and then I'll continue with the base colors.

Tommy

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sat Mar 05, 2016 8:53 pm

Hello again!

I have painted the base now with three different earth/sand colors. The idea is to paint the tracks and the flat areas with the darker tone and the areas with more gravel/stones in a lighter color. I will weather this more with washes and pigments later.

20160305_205435 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I have also started to think more about how to apply the rust-effects; I will probably airbrush the darker tones between the rubble and the ground and then stipple paint the other rust tones using a sponge (same method used for chipping). The lighter tones will be painted or drybrushed.

20160305_211312 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I also tempted to add some flakes in green color (XF-65 Field Grey)

I found this KV-1 on primeportal; Great stuff to get the inspiration going...

Time for a beer (or 2)

Tommy

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Tue Mar 08, 2016 12:35 pm

Hey Guys!

I'm in the middle of the rust-treatment of the scrapyard right now... This is more difficult than it seems - there is a very small diffenence between somthing that looks convincing and somthing that looks like shite...

I started with airbrushing the darkest tones.

20160307_091308 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

After that I used the spongetechnique to get a random pattern of rust-tones

20160307_094103 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I go from darker to lighter tones, and uses finer and finer "chips", for each pass

20160307_095236 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

20160307_100338 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

After that I put on some rust colour washes

20160307_104317 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

The rest of the base gets some dark wash around the stones and sand wash on the gravel areas

20160307_110250 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

This looks kind of wierd right now

... but it will get sorted out later I guess

Next step will be to matte coat and apply pigments to tone down the lighter areas and get a smoother surface

Tommy

NonProlificModeler · Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Tue Mar 08, 2016 12:48 pm

Rolling along nicely, Tommy! Rust is all but simple to paint. I think your on the best way. Keep it up, mate! Take care!

Jens

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Tue Mar 08, 2016 8:45 pm

NonProlificModeler wrote:Rolling along nicely, Tommy! Rust is all but simple to paint. I think your on the best way. Keep it up, mate! Take care! Jens

Thanks, Jens!

Yeah, it also difficult to take a picture in bad light condition with a mobile camera

However, I have added rust pigments to the pile now and I will leave it for a while. I cant make up my mind if I should have a go at adding flakes of paint and darker areas. I need to sleep on that decision...

20160308_091755 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

But I have done som more work on the base. I'm using a furniture oil for the oak rubbing it in and removing any excess oil using a papertowel.

20160308_095154 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I'm using a double-sided adhesive to fixate the painted base to the woodplate.

20160308_101938 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Done... I added some felt-pads as feet for the base

20160308_102222 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I have also made some packing slips for the new tracks and towing shackle. The wire comes from a broken down CPU-fan.

When something with a DC-motor (like the kids toys) break down I always tear them apart and save the coils if the wires has a useful gauge...

20160307_225510 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

20160307_231343 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Finally the lads are off to the makup-booth....

20160308_203118 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

That actually concludes all the details that I will use so I will start putting everything together soon

Tommy

EricM · Post by **EricM** » Tue Mar 08, 2016 11:41 pm

Lookin like an awesome build!

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Wed Mar 09, 2016 5:21 pm

EricM wrote:Lookin like an awesome build!

Thanks Eric

I sure hope that I manage to put everything together the way I have planned

Cheers

Tommy

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:33 pm

Hey Guys!

I did a quick setup and managed to shoot some photos of the finished base today, but I came home late from work and when I got everything setup and figured out how my brand new camera worked, I was quite tired...

I will take better photos this weekend, when I'm not exhaused and have more time and I will post the Final Reveal shots shortly after that.

So these photos are just a teaser

EDIT: I'm really sorry. The pictures above were not possible to recover from Photobucket and I didn't have a local copy. But there are better photos in the Reveal post

Tommy

rodrant · Post by **rodrant** » Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:41 pm

this is very nice !!!

Love all small details ! The figures are great ! those spares ...everything looks great !

Congratulations , you have here a great diorama !

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Thu Mar 10, 2016 6:42 am

rodrant wrote: this is very nice !!!

Love all small details ! The figures are great ! those spares ...everything looks great !

Congratulations , you have here a great diorama !

Thank you, António

Sorry about the picture quality, but I will take better photos in the upcoming weekend. I need a quite complicated photo setup to catch some of the details...

Tommy

panzerjager · Post by **panzerjager** » Sun Mar 13, 2016 2:02 pm

Astoneshing work Tommy!

you have done a suberb job on bringing all the elements of this build together

NonProlificModeler · Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Sun Mar 13, 2016 2:07 pm

Really beautiful, Tommy! It turned out the way I imagined! Will you post the link for the final reveal, please?

Jens

Icemannique · Post by **Icemannique** » Sun Mar 13, 2016 2:17 pm

Weathering of the tank look wonderful, details are very nice. Nice diorama overall !

Always48 · Post by **Always48** » Sun Mar 13, 2016 7:24 pm

I can imagine the scene for real this is so good. awesome dio

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sun Mar 13, 2016 9:05 pm

panzerjager wrote:Astoneshing work Tommy! you have done a suberb job on bringing all the elements of this build together

Thank you panzerjager!

NonProlificModeler wrote:Really beautiful, Tommy! It turned out the way I imagined! Will you post the link for the final reveal, please? Jens

Many thanks Jens, I will hopefully post the reveal photos tonight - my old slow computer is working like crazy to process all the pictures

Icemannique wrote:Weathering of the tank look wonderful, details are very nice. Nice diorama overall !

Thank you Icemannique!

Always48 wrote:I can imagine the scene for real this is so good. awesome dio

Thank you Always48!

BRB

Tommy