International Scale Modeller

Hi,

I have long struggled to post my "work"s to show it to the "World" as they're neither good nor even decent. But... hell, if I don't do that I won't learn what I'm doing wrong
So, please be understanding, but if you see something overdone or maybe, simply, screwed let me know

I won't show my first two builds after I returned after all these years as I messed them up totally (these were SdKfz 222 from Tamiya and Pzkpfw I from Dragon).
So my first model I could call finished was 1:35 Dragon StuG III Ausf. B kit. It was an old one, very, very challenging for the beginner and made me almost crazy with some twisted parts not fitting anything (and those not-so magic tracks weren't the worst ones ). It made me swearing so badly that even some veteran sailors could feel ashamed
But it was also a good test for some new techniques I learned. I even created small base to practice grass planting and I also managed to try creating some ... bushes. They're far from OK, but that was quite a good experience at the end. So here's three pics of this "piece of art"





Regards,
Radek

Next came the 1:35 Italeri's Pzkpfw V Panther D.

I decided to try some dry mud effects on it and paint the 3 colour german camo. Well it was better than this StuG thingy, nothing that fancy in building, but I almost ruined everything when I accidentialy sprayed airbrush cleaner over almost whole model... Fortunately I decided to leave it to dry instead of attempting some cleanings...

I also tried using pigments to finish the exhausts but effects weren't satisfactory.

Lesson learned: check aibrush'es cup before spraying air






Radek

And as for Today (it's 15/06/2013) my last "finished model" was Tamiya's Pzkpfw II Ausf. C - Polish Campaign kit.
This time I tried to apply dust effect in different style (wet dust pigments), but it turned out too unpredictable and almost costed me model when I tried to dry some areas with hairdryer (hmm, I'm bald so it wasn't easy to find a dryer ).
I also tried two colour chips made with brush, which seem to be very promising and with practice will give the very good results.

Before practice some ... best practices I learned from these "study models":
1) Be patient - standard one, but I cannot express nothing more important - don't rush around the model, don't put to much paint at once and so on... It won't bring you any closer to the finish, but will cost you a lot of stress and nerves (and some messed kits as well);
2) Don't overdo! The weathering effects should be subtle, yet visible and should compose into one harmonous picture of built kit or diorama... Otherwise you end up with some too many pigments like on my first tries - it wasn't by purpose, but these models now look like if I wanted to cover some mistakes with dirt...
3) Have fun and take a break! Yeah, although I have only started maybe 7 kits, 3 finished, 2 messed up and two being built, but I already was quitting hobby again for thousand times... If you get stuck, have problems... stop, take a break, go do something else. Calm down and restart .

What I have to learn (among tons of other things )... It seems the biggest problems I have are:
1) airbrushing... still these pressures, valves, buttons, needles are too unpredictable to me, but yet I started doing less errors
2) decals - who could believe my worst nightmare would be decals - look at pics of this tamiya kit... these side R03 numbers are so crappy... In fact I don't know how to deal with decals when they're put on the uneven surface. I use Micro Sol and set, but each time they seem to wrinkle very unpredictably and get crooked... I don't know... may I should cut them or trim somehow? Any help guys?

Now the pics (sorry for this yellowish "style"):





Ok, enough of wall text for now Next SHerman and P-39 (but they're still on the bench )

Some nice stuff their I'm really liking the last one. Dust effects came out really nice from the pics.Something I'm still battling with.

I think they all look terrific! Excellent work Radzy

Radzy, I hate to tell you this but you're actually not too bad as a modeller.
No where near as bad as you think you are. These are great pieces.
You've got a lot in the way skill and it seems to be working.
If I had any constructive criticism for you it would be to pick up a few books that have a few "tricks of the trade" in them.
If that's not in the budget, we're all free as a resource. Ask anyone here anything and you'll probably get an answer or 6.
There are folks here that are good at one or many of the skills in modelling.

Thanks guys for great words of courage I really appreciate that and thanks to this forum and community I really love building those "reproductions" (not replicas!! ) even more I did before I joined ISM

Small update as my M4A3 1/35 Tamiya is up and ready for constructive criticism





Regards,
Radek

like your work real natural weathering on all your tanks look forward to seeing more of your work

Tiger131 wrote:like your work real natural weathering on all your tanks look forward to seeing more of your work

Thanks Tiger! I really appreciate your good words Now I can finally start thinking about joining WWII GB

fantastic stuff i love the weathering

michael

Looks like you did a phenomenal job Radzy.
Excellent work.
As for constructive criticism, the only thing that I can see that I'd tweak (if it were me) is the stowage is a little shiny.
I'd give it a quick spray with some flat clear.
That's it though. I love the rain streaks, they came out awesome.
It's great work!

Thanks Bullgill & Coen!

Yeah this stowage costed me some hair...wait ... I'm bald, so maybe it wasn't hair...
In fact it was covered with at least two layers of matt varnish (last one I applied before mudding was really thick... still it's shining like...hell). Well next time I'll definitely paint stowage separately and maybe this will give me better opportunity to control the effects.

Kind regards,
Radek

If you don't mind me asking, what varnish did you use? Did you brush paint it on or spray it?

Coen wrote:If you don't mind me asking, what varnish did you use? Did you brush paint it on or spray it?

Of course I don't mind

Generally I used 3 types of varnishes:

1) Micro Gloss (around decals);
2) Micro Satin (just after first layer of filters);
3) Vallejo Matt (2 times in various stages of weathering).

I used them dilluted 50:50 with water with airbrush (2-3 passes / layers with 1-2 minutes delay between layers).

Very good stuff !
Thanks for sharing...

Markus

Radzy,

that's some lovely work mate, I love your Stug !

New addendum to my portfolio - ISU-152 finished for first ISM group build

wow lovely good !

love the rain streaks mate


great work !


Shane.

Hi,

just a quick build of Hobby Boss 1/72 MiG-15. Built for testing of wash techniques (oil based)... Nothing fancy, not particularily happy with final effects, but... well it's the first plane I've finished since 1990






Regards,
Radek

Nice work Radzy. For a test bed she sure is pretty

Not Bad Collection Friend...ISU 152 is Super .

P.S.

Chcialbym zobaczyć te modele na fotkach w swietle naturalnym (wydaje się ,że w sztucznym zrobiłeś?) ..Szczególnie to ISU 152 - wrzucaj fotki nie ociągaj się ). I want see them in natural light

Excellent portfolio Radze

Cheers and thanks.

Mi-4 added to collection.



PS.
Eryk, jak znajdę dobre miejsce i jakiś słoneczny dzień, kiedy będę w domu, to może coś ... docyknę
Eryk, if I find good spot and sunny day (and I'll be at home) maybe I'll make some daily photos of my ISU

Radzy... Buddy... that is a wonderful job Dude!!!
She's an ugly bird, but you made here dressed for the grand ball with style dude.
Well Done. Love the blade droop, they look very realistic.

Coen wrote:Radzy... Buddy... that is a wonderful job Dude!!!
She's an ugly bird, but you made here dressed for the grand ball with style dude.
Well Done. Love the blade droop, they look very realistic.

Thank you Sir for kind words.

Ugly she is I think the pilots of these Mi-4's, Westland Wessex'es and Chocktaws never ever acknowledged they flew these things

Radek really nice that helicopter

Update to my portfolio... All the kits I managed to finish in meantime

S-Model & Wrzesien1939.pl 1:72 Pz.Kpfw II C + Polish TKS tankette for "Holy Toledo! It's panzer II !"



Hobby Boss 1:72 Mil Mi-2URP Hoplite antitank version for ISM SiG "Whirly Birds"



Hobby Boss 1:72 Bf-109 trop - for training



Special Hobby 1:72 Digby Mk. I "Bolos in Canadian service" for Honour Our Heroes Canadian GB hosted by Norm Lajoie & Storm22tpt



Hobby Boss 1:72 UH-1C Huey gunship for Cold War Era GB@ISM



Cheers,
Radek

Wonderful pieces Radek!!!
I really really like those pz IIs.. that's a sweet piece

Good work, all of it Radzy . I really like your tank dio, and that ugly Sikorski chopper - that one is very well done! I look forward to seeing your hellcat done too

Coen wrote:Wonderful pieces Radek!!!
I really really like those pz IIs.. that's a sweet piece

Thanks, my friend this dio is little ridiculous with the TKS hiding in the small bushes, but I like it ... it makes me closer to create some more serious base for one of next project. Lots of lessons learned with this one

ludicrusmaximus wrote: Good work, all of it Radzy . I really like your tank dio, and that ugly Sikorski chopper - that one is very well done! I look forward to seeing your hellcat done too

Thank you I can't wait to make the hellcat too It's so much different with those blue navy colours
Sorry, but I have to correct you - it's not Sikorsky, in fact this is Soviet Mil Mi-4A Hound... huuge beast... it's twice as big as Huey...

Cheers,
Radek

Radzy wrote: Sorry, but I have to correct you - it's not Sikorsky, in fact this is Soviet Mil Mi-4A Hound... huuge beast... it's twice as big as Huey...

Oh, whoops, I keep thinking Sikorski is a Soviet company. I forget, because of the name, that it is in fact American It is an impressive beast nonetheless.

Enjoy building your Hellcat

Great portfolio, Radzy....all great builds!

Radek! Good stuff. You need to add some more pieces to this wonderful gallery.

I like the last model too. Good work Radek ! Where is a Wespe and Hellcat ?????? ...

Darn... Haven't updated this topic for soooo loong time... So it's time to get it fixed ... in random order

Tamiya 1:35 Wespe



Eduard 1:72 F6F Hellcat



TBC

CTD...

Tamiya 1:72 Aichi M6A1 Seiran



Eduard 1:48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXc



TBC

CTD...

Tamiya 1:35 Tiger I Early



Tamiya 1:72 Mitsubishi A6M5 Zeke(Zero)



To be continued (I hope )

Sterling models mate. My favourite is the early version of the Tiger. Reminds me of my first tank build, but yours being far better.

Bissyboat wrote:Sterling models mate. My favourite is the early version of the Tiger. Reminds me of my first tank build, but yours being far better.

Thanks, mate