M10 Tank Destroyer (1:35) from Airfix in front of an abstract background with LED lighting and mirrors

[MatiasLuge]

My new model for 2024: My M10 Wolverine tank destroyer in 1:35 (kit: Airfix) in an abstract environment (acrylic mirrors and LEDs).







The M10 was the first US tank destroyer to be used in the Second World War. However, the armament proved to be too weak against the German Tiger and Panther tanks. The overall design was also problematic: the commander, gunner and loader were all located in the turret, which was open at the top and could therefore easily be attacked by mortars or shrapnel. For this reason, the M10 was replaced in the European theater of war a few months before the end of the war by the better-designed M36 Jackson.
(Wiki),

The M10 also gained notoriety through a battle on January 26, 1945 in France: US soldier Audie Murphy climbed onto an M10 that had been set on fire and single-handedly withstood German attacks for about an hour with only the machine gun mounted on it. He received the Medal of Honor for this and was the most decorated soldier in US history at the end of the war. In the film "To Hell an Back", in which Murphy plays himself, a Sherman tank is mistakenly shown.

(As usual you can find these and more images of mine on my pexels channel: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/collection ... s-namo0un/)

[Tomcat64]

Nice kit and interesting display.

If I'm totally honest I'm not sure the uplighting effect from below shows the vehicle off to its best potential but I guess it may work better to the eye than with the camera.

[MatiasLuge]

Nice kit and interesting display.

If I'm totally honest I'm not sure the uplighting effect from below shows the vehicle off to its best potential but I guess it may work better to the eye than with the camera.

Thanks for your comment I have often received different reactions to the way my models are presented.

I come from a film background (I've been working in advertising film production for 10 years) and it's always important to me to present my models with a certain aesthetic/originality. I've only been building models for about 3 years, whereas film and photography go back to my childhood. When I build a model, I always do it with the idea of how I'm going to photograph or film it after-wards (I've also filmed models in front of blue screens and tracked them in 3D blender landscapes etc.). I am also gradually applying my experience in product photography - some of my images are flashy, the others more abstract etc.

Of course you can criticize this and the type of background aesthetically, that's of course subjective and completely fine - but a primary focus on the model and its details ... that may work on many scale modelling enthusiasts, but it would take a lot of the fun out of the work for me ^^

(However, I am planning to use this model in the future to stage a historical scene that is as “pho-torealistic” as possible. So maybe there will be something in the future that isn't so “abstaract” )

But that's all subjective, of course. Or, as a wise man once said: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWdd6_ZxX8c
^^

[devil0hunter]

Your M10 Wolverine is incredible, especially with the unique approach you’re taking. Using acrylic mirrors and LEDs to create an abstract environment is such a creative way to make the model stand out – definitely adds an artistic edge that feels almost cinematic. Your film background def shines through in your work and it’s refreshing to see someone bring in a different perspective to the world of scale modeling.

And the story of Audie Murphy on the M10 is such an iconic moment; it’s fantastic that you’re connecting the historical impact of the M10 with a modern, stylized presentation. I can’t wait to see how your product photography experience transforms this model into something that feels both historical and visually striking. Looking forward to the that scene you’re planning down the line. Keep up the awesome work

[MatiasLuge]

Your M10 Wolverine is incredible, especially with the unique approach you’re taking. Using acrylic mirrors and LEDs to create an abstract environment is such a creative way to make the model stand out – definitely adds an artistic edge that feels almost cinematic. Your film background def shines through in your work and it’s refreshing to see someone bring in a different perspective to the world of scale modeling.

And the story of Audie Murphy on the M10 is such an iconic moment; it’s fantastic that you’re connecting the historical impact of the M10 with a modern, stylized presentation. I can’t wait to see how your product photography experience transforms this model into something that feels both historical and visually striking. Looking forward to the that scene you’re planning down the line. Keep up the awesome work

Thank you very much for your kind reply I often get criticism in the model making community that the details of the model are the most important thing. It's nice that there is also encouragement for alternative presentation methods. And yes, I'm always interested in the story behind the vehicles depicted

Unfortunately, I didn't get too far with the photorealistic video - after a few tests, I let it rest for now. If anything, it will probably end up being a short film about the air battles in World War 2 - but with model airplanes, of course.