German Machine Gunner, Tamiya 120mm

[Stelios Demiras]

Dear Friends,
I have just finished a project that took quite some time. Here is the Tamiya Figure of Machine Gunner 120mm. The only addition to the kit is the rivets, the ventilation rivets on the helmet as well as the insignia (all from Aber range for 120mm figures) and the machine gun strap (scratch). As you can see the overall quality of the kit is excellent and all it needs is careful assembly and of course detailed painting. For the uniform I used the Andrea Field Grey Set applied with an airbrush. The face was painted with the Panzer Aces System, the machine gun was painted with Humbrol Metalcotes. All the other pieces were painted with Vallejo Acrylics. The base was constructed from toilet paper, white glue, sand, some small stones and artificial grass. The wooden base is from Modelbases company (Onyx shade). I hope that you like it!

 

[Gellso]

Very nice, great leathers, great metallics and really great tones overall.
Gells

 

[Karlosfandango]

This is fantastic considering the kit.
I've done this one myself as one of my first figures after coming from a armour back ground.
I love it, think I might have to re do my leathers after looking at yours. Nice!

 

[John Bowery]

Very nicely done and excellent colours.
Cheers
John

 

[Ilias Chalkidis (Kiddo)]

Wonderful painting! From helmet, machine gun, down to boots, everything looks great! Lovely airbrushing in uniform! Waiting for a great review in next Model Scale Handbooks

All the best!

Ilias

 

[kaz6120]

You did a great painting on this injection plastic kit, which is harder than highly detailed metal and resin kits to make it look better.
I love this result a lot!

 

[Sturm Grenadier]

Great painting Stelios. The MG42 is excellent, what colors did you use? It looks very realistic. Regards, SG

 

[housecarl]

Excellent piece Stelios.
Love the leather,
Carl.

 

[tonydawe]

Excellent painting Stelios. You've shown that you don't need to spend a fortune on a resin or metal figure kit to get a great looking figure.

 

[HIKARU_REMOVED]

It is very clean and polite paint.
Professional work!
Congratulations completed.
Mitsutaka

 

[Funky50]

Just goes to show what can be done with these plastic kits..... Excellent

 

[gendegaia]

such a memories with this figure, it was my first attemp painting figure, obviously it was a realy mess.but you did a nice work, congrats Estelios

Orlando

 

[Lew J]

Nice work, really like the work you've done on his boots, seems like most people cut their teeth on this one including me.

Lew J.

 

[tiberius57]

Awesome work, Stelios! Leather is fantastic. Fieldgrey tones, outstanding! Maybe some weathering will place him better in the field.
Great figure!
Cheers,
Zeno

 

[gregmarm]

love this figure,stelio,special the mg 42!!!θα την δω και απο κοντα!συνεχισε!!!!!

 

[Stelios Demiras]

Dear friends,
Thank you very much for your comments. Due to a lot of obligations I didn't have the time to do my hobby, but now I have more time for my personal things. I will try to take under consideration all of your comments and improve my techniques.

 

[Stelios Demiras]

@sturm Grenadier:
I started with a grey primer ( Vallejo) sprayed with airbrush. Then I painted all the metal areas with diluted black Vallejo which it is a little satin (that it is good for the next steps). I left it to dry for 2 days. Then I painted it like "dry brush", leaving the engraved details black with a sable brush using Gun Metal Metalcote Humbrol. After 30 minutes I polished with a dry soft brush to check it out. In the biggest areas I used a q-tip to have the most highlight. I continued with Polished Steel Metalcote Humbrol making drybrushing in the raised areas, rivets etc. So in the same time you start having the high highlights and the right metal impression. I hope that this helps.

 

[Sturm Grenadier]

Thanks for the tips on the MG42 Stelios, I'll give them a try. Regards, SG

 

[ChaosCossack]

Nice work. I really like the worn leather effect you did.
Could I trouble you to explain how you achieved this effect?

Colin

 

[Stelios Demiras]

@Colin
I start painting the base coat using Black Vallejo 950 With a little English Uniform to break it a little. Using different proportions of English Uniform , Base flesh from Panzer aces I painted some highlights where the most warned areas is visible. If the effect is too harsh I passed again with diluted base color. When the desired effect is succeed I polished the leather painted areas with soft cloth to give them a satin finish. I hope that this helps. Do you think that some series of articles dedicated to such techniques will be welcome to the modellers? such us leathers, metals, wood, tree, guns, mail, etc. so I will include to the books?