International Scale Modeller

Hi folks.

This will be my build log thread for the Eye Spy SIG. I've chosen to depict the Long Range Desert Group on operations in North Africa.



Here's some of the bits I'll be using (1/72):



My plan is to have the dio depict the LRDG taking the Ausf. C. There's probably going to be a fair bit of custom figure work as I'm struggling to find a good mix of figures...

nice choice mate

That is a heftig project Rich. Good luck

A productive night on the hangout last night.

Built the patrol car, but can't decide between the cannon or stowage on the back... leaning towards stowage....













Got a start on the Ausf. C too...



Decided to build the wheels and tracks in one piece as i'd probably have to touch up everything after assembly if I pre-painted it...

Off to a great start Rich

nice build rich, going to be great when its done ,

Awesome subject best of luck to you fella

Nice choice ! And a great start for a great build !

Productive day yesterday.

Built the Sd. Fkz. This is a Revell kit which, traditionally, I've not had much luck with so I took my time and dry fitted everything.









This was my first time with fixed tracks like these. Can't say I'm a fan. Could have done with a few spare links...





I used milled aluminium blocks to make sure stuff stays true.







Primed and ready for painting...



I undercoated the Patrol car at the same time and while I was waiting for the primer to fully dry (great weather for painting!) I put the Kubelwagen together. Very simple kit...





Now the primer had dried, I started putting some colour on the Long Range Desert Group patrol car:

Dark brown undercoat/preshade



Sand base colour:



Light sand highlights and pink camo. A mix of light grey and red:



Green finishes off the camo:



One all the parts were base painting, I stuck them together using CA:



And gave a shot of gloss ready for decals, chipping and an oil wash...



Oh, and this morning, reinforcements arrived!



Some of them are pretty poor so I'm hoping I can swap the heads out onto some airfix 8th army bodies...

Well your not wasting any time
Great progres so far Rich and good luck with the rest of the build

Wow rich not hanging about then .
nice work on the truck .

Another good day at the bench

Patrol car finished and weathered ready for putting on the dio, a basic idea of the scene I'm going to build and some paint on the Kubelwagon...

Here's the patrol car. First a lot of chipping. I want this thing to look like it's been in the desert for weeks...







Still undecided about the cannon in the back.. still think it'll look better with stowage...



Next a thick black+burned sienna oil wash:







And let it dry in the sun...



While it dried, I started thinking about the dio. I use sketchup to mock ideas out...



A quick mockup to get an eye for the scale of the buildings...



That gave the Patrol Car time to dry, now to dust it up. A light spray of tamiya sand and a dusting of pigments and it's ready to drop into the dio...















Didn't feel ready to tackle the Sd. Fkz 251 yet so I put some colour on the Kubelwagon. This won't be as heavily weathered as the patrol car...



Hand for scale (didn't have any bananas)



A light drybrush on the edges and the base colours blocked in, time for assembly:



Not sure how I'm going to cover the hole in the floor...



Top tip from Paul: Use a toothpick to remove paint from clear parts:




Oil wash...



And I'm done for the day

Coming on rich , that patrol car does look like it was left for a long time in the open ,
Nice work like it a lot

Loving this thread mate. Great work. Going to be an epic build.

Kubelwagon progress:

Cleaned up the oil wash and lightly chipped:



Attached the windscreen and a little dust and it's ready for the dio

Liked the touch of the new-Zealand decals by dragon in the LRDG patrol car kit

Put a bit of paint down on the Sd. Kfz 251:

Base coats:




Then some chipping:




Once it was chipped inside and out. I assembled it using CA. Was a bit of a panic getting the doors to fit before the superglue set!


Wheels and tracks attached (a bit of chipping to do underneath):


And assembled ready for a pin wash:






Glad I didn't spend too long on the dashboard!

Looks good Can't wait to see it finished.

Looking great, like it a lot

A minor update:

Decals on and wash applied...

Managed to grab a few minutes this morning to wipe of most of the wash...







Left to do: Attach the rockets and doors (Bonus points for noticing I originally put them on upside down >.<), light sand dusting and then a pigment dusting.

Next up: Finishing off the jeep build and starting work on the dio...

wow!!
Rich, that Half-track is sweet buddy, well done mate..
You'd never guess it was a 1/72. The quality and paint skill shown here along wth superb weathering gives the sense of a much larger build.
Awesome stuff!..

Keep up the good work.. All the best...

Everything now attached to the 1/2 track. Will need a final wash to tie the last few bits together and then a light dusting...











I've started work on the buildings for the dio. These go along the back so are only going to be build at facades.

very very nice work there mate

Excellent work there on those paint jobs.
Very nice chipping effects and the final dusting really makes them come to life!
Looking forward to the finishing of those buildings. Looking good!

cheers

Surpurb work Rich, your detailing on that scale is awesome buddie.

Love the chipping, great job mate

Love it!

Took some time to come here and see the wonderfull and detailed job you have done , and in 1/72 !!! Very nice , like a lot all the diorama idea , everything, the chipping and building in the vehicles ...this is looking very nice !

The finish (spackle) on the buildings I tried doesn't look right. The nice thing about scratchbuilding from foamcard is it's cheap enough to throw the lot in the bin and start again I used a new spackle/filler which dried to a rubbery constituency - won't be using that again.



and after a bit of paint...



What did work was the exposed brickwork under the spackle (right of the right most window. I'll definitely be including that in the next version...

Got some bench time this weekend and had another go at the buildings. Ditched the 5mm foam core and used 2mm cardboard and paper.

I use 5mm graph paper to lay out my plans and transfer them to the card using pins stuck into every joint.













Base model complete


Now to add some texture...



Texture is refined as the the filler dries




Now to try some paint out... I went through a couple of processes till I got the look I was after...











Patches of mud wash to break up the space:


Drybrush to tie it all together




I've got another building ready painting too...


A few more buildings to make then it's onto the base...

Excellent progress Rich, buildings look fantastic mate...
You definitely build along the same wavelengths as i do! I too enjoy the modelling card and scratch building ways...
Keep up the superb work mate..
All the best.

2nd building stonework is almost there...

Awe inspiring work as always rich, you really are a scratch build master

Cheers Paul Really enjoying this build.

2nd building finished and ready for final weathering once it's on the base.







and the parts for the next one cut out...

That is insane Rich
If i could do that in 1:35 scale i would be happy this is twice as small
Hats off to you sir , great work

This is real nice ! I praise your beautiful work ..I was just seeing some resin buildings and let me tell you that yours are just as perfect as resin ones , and with more value as it is your own work !

I'm really amazed with this ...

Congratulations , you did a superb work here , I really eager to see the final diorama.Splendid !

Decided to downscale my original idea as it should be about the vehicle.

Got the groundwork finished today. Came together quickly.

Carved roughly from pink extruded foam


Roughed out the rocks


Detailed the rocks and textured the ground with an old stone.


Painting begins with a dark base for the rocks


Then mottled highlight colours


Fine sand and rock scatter


Didn't have any desert grass tuffs or trees so sprayed some up to match the dusty terrain


Figures getting fitted


Finally a few pigments down to bring things together

OMG!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't took the time to come on this thread...what a mistake! It's insane .

Wonderful work mate.

Absolutely superb!!! from beginning to end!

Congrats, go on that way, you'll get an award winner!

goose

Amazing work! I would never even thought it was in 1/72 !!

Thanks for the kind comments folks. Having a lot of fun with this build even though I've had a few false starts.

Figures to do now, starting with a couple of camels...







And done

Final reveal is up! http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 05&t=14782