WIP Stalingrad Winter 1943, Street By Street

[JasonB]

Couple of things to throw out there. First and foremost its looking really good. Things I would consider making changes to. I would give the guy looking around the corner some gloves and a toque. The other 2 guys are in great coats and winter gear, he's got nothing on for extra warmth. I think that makes him look a little odd and out of place. Also, I would move the dead guys helmet to make it off kilter, either a bit down over his eyes, or thrown back a bit. Thats an old trick I think Shep Paine covered in one of his books. Makes them look more dead, and not just a figure that was meant to be upright lying on the ground. If he fell over backwards, his head is going to snap back and likely push the helmet down on his forehead a bit. I think the big open spot in the wall in the back would be a good place for a busted out window frame. Just little things, overall it coming together really well.

 

[Dr Force]

Couple of things to throw out there. First and foremost its looking really good. Things I would consider making changes to. I would give the guy looking around the corner some gloves and a toque. The other 2 guys are in great coats and winter gear, he's got nothing on for extra warmth. I think that makes him look a little odd and out of place. Also, I would move the dead guys helmet to make it off kilter, either a bit down over his eyes, or thrown back a bit. Thats an old trick I think Shep Paine covered in one of his books. Makes them look more dead, and not just a figure that was meant to be upright lying on the ground. If he fell over backwards, his head is going to snap back and likely push the helmet down on his forehead a bit. I think the big open spot in the wall in the back would be a good place for a busted out window frame. Just little things, overall it coming together really well.

Hi Jason

I see exactly what you mean in respect of the guy chucking the grenade, I suppose a bit of craft around the face for the toque and a pair of gloves will not make any difference to the overall detail, so I will have look at sculpting this in later.

I think I may go for the heavier type mittens they wore rather than the thinner finger gloves to help bring it together better with the other two figures?

Busted out window will also help close it in and given the fact it will be battle damaged there is no need to make it perfect so should be straight forward to do ( any tips on broken glass, like a thin bit of cut plastic?)

Also a good observation in respect of the helmet and a good idea to aid the illusion, this will take a bit of working out so I'll play about and see what looks better (bearing in mind the helmet forms part of the head so will need cutting off for any adjustments)

Thanks
Dave

 

[Dr Force]

Something like this with the additional curtain blown up and caught on splintered wood would like good?

 

[JasonB]

Yep, thats good on the window. You can use pretty much any clear plastic for the glass. I frequently use discarded packaging from items I buy for clear plastic. I figure its free, can't beat the price!
For the guys gloves, I would go with the wool gloves. To me, without a greatcoat or lots of other cold weather clothing, having simple gloves instead of warmer mittens reinforces the idea of how badly prepared the German were for the Russian winter. The mittens might make you wonder why, if he has nice warm mittens, he doesn't have a coat. A little retentive I know, but thats just my take on it. If moving the guys helmet is going to be a huge hassle, I might not bother. Its just an extra little detail to reinforce the fact that he is dead, dead, dead!
A mangled downspout on the outside corner or in that inside corner would be a nice detail. Styrene tube, or maybe even a large drinking straw, would fit the bill.
I look forward to seeing the next update, its inspiring me to get working on my Tarawa vignette/diorama
Cheers
Jason

 

[1969]

Dave your new changes have made a very nice change to the scene and I think the option of the blown out window on the rear wall will work well for the scene.

Keep going mate you are doing well.

I have uploaded the images of the Cable layer to the Reference library of this site for everyone's benefit.

heres the link, just copy the images from here mate.

http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showthread.php?p=393331&posted=1#post393331


Cheers

Steve

 

[billyturnip]

A very good thread Dave, very interesting, informative and entertaining and that goes for Jasons input too. Good stuff fella's
I really look forward to each installment now.

Roger.

 

[Dr Force]

A very good thread Dave, very interesting, informative and entertaining and that goes for Jasons input too. Good stuff fella's
I really look forward to each installment now.

Roger.

Hi Roger

Thank you for your comments and I am glad you are actually getting something from it.

Jason has been a massive help, it's great having someone else's view and critique because it helps you improve and also makes sure you are producing a bit of quality.

I have made the window out of sculpey but it needs primeing and completing with bits of broken glass, but it certainly sits nicely in that hole so a great idea.

I'll be able to post some pics of it tomorrow along with the other (torn ) curtain.

@ Steve, thanks for your help with the pics mate, it looks difficult to make but I'll give it a shot.....................I just keep thinking about the many hours left to paint it all lol as this will be the time consuming bit.

Thanks
Dave

 

[billyturnip]

Dave, if the cable reel proves too difficult to make you could always make a broken or parts of a broken one.

Roger.

 

[1969]

Good point Dave about having to paint all this once complete, its easy to get carried away and then leave yourself a mountain of a paint job to complete.

Steve

 

[Dr Force]

Good point Dave about having to paint all this once complete, its easy to get carried away and then leave yourself a mountain of a paint job to complete.

Steve

Exactly Steve

The figures will take a long time let alone the walls, wood, groundwork etc, so got to be careful of letting it run away in to the biggest project the site has ever seen lol.

I have primed the window and torn curtain, currently making a wooden chair to help with the residential feel.

Can I have some help please with the following:-

-A good base at relatively low cost
-Good snow effects

Thanks for your support

Dave

 

[1969]

what size base do you require ? Dominoes on the High street in town sell some wooden bases in the art and craft department but they only go up to about 6" or so.

As for snow I have used baking soda for 1/35 but not for 1/16, just apply white glue then sprinkle powder over and let dry. this works well if you are creating a dusting of snow but not for the deep looking snow, better of using maybe pollyfilla mixed a bit watery and poured on.

others might have some better ideas though mate.

Steve

 

[Dr Force]

what size base do you require ? Dominoes on the High street in town sell some wooden bases in the art and craft department but they only go up to about 6" or so.

As for snow I have used baking soda for 1/35 but not for 1/16, just apply white glue then sprinkle powder over and let dry. this works well if you are creating a dusting of snow but not for the deep looking snow, better of using maybe pollyfilla mixed a bit watery and poured on.

others might have some better ideas though mate.

Steve

Thanks Steve

Baking soda tends to yellow over time?? so not sure, I may do a bit more research on this. As for the base well 6" too small I need about another 6" so looks like a picture frame is the best option?

Dominoes is pretty good for the paints etc eh mate.

I have a bit of green stuff and also 1kg pots of Magic sculp from Elgreco ready for future sculpting.

Will post up progress pics tonight

Thanks
Dave

 

[JasonB]

I would go with the baking soda for the snow, I think it will be OK. I have had a box of it under the sink for years and its still white. For deeper snow, you could use Magic Sculp to build up the shape/depth you want, then sprinkle on a coating of snow. Celluclay can also be used for this as well. Just gotta keep in mind at all times how snow lays and acts when blown by the wind or how it settles in corners, etc...
My 2 cents on the length of time it may take to paint. I look at it this way. I would rather have it just the way I want it before I got everything painted, as opposed to finishing it up, then thinking that it was lacking something or could have been just that much better. After I get done painting, I hate backtracking to repeating steps that I thought I was done with. I hate going over a figure for mold seams, thinking I got them all, then finding that glaring one running right down the front of a pant leg just as I am admiring how well the painting turned out! Most times I will either just live with it ("its a seam in the clothing, not a mold seam") or gently set the figure in the "to be done later" box and move on.

 

[BarrieHynd]

Dave sent you a pm.

Barrie.

 

[Dr Force]

Hi guys

Quck progress pic.

Lots of tdying up to do and try to imagine the ground work with rubble sloping up the corners etc.

Rifle is only in a temporary position at the moment, the position needs to be spot on to carry that sense of weight and movement.

Window and torn curtain in position with the plastic glass to add once painted, this will be in the opener and to the left which is fixed.

@ Jason, I'm constantly looking for area's to fill , amend etc so I'm confident by the time I hit the paint there will be no need to go back.

@Barrie

Thanks for the PM, I'll respond so have a check when you have some time.

 

[Dr Force]

Thought I might share this with you.

As you know, bricks are not smooth and frost damaged bricks are particularly rough so I took a bit of very fine kiln sand gave another light coat of primer and then carefully sprinkled on while it was still wet and then primed again to give a rough surface:-

 

[BarrieHynd]

Great work Dave, wish i had thought of that, keeep up the good work.

Barrie.

 

[Dr Force]

Great work Dave, wish i had thought of that, keeep up the good work.

Barrie.

Thanks Barry

Simplistic but quite effective, which is often the case in this hooby!!

Thanks for your help with the snow mate it's appreciated, I am going for a scattering of snow rather than loads of the stuff because I do not want to lose the detail.

I have been busy completing the basic groundwork, I'll add more bricks and other items once its primed and painted, otherwise it becomes too fiddly reaching some area's to paint and there is also a drain pipe to be added.

I decided on a good photo frame filled with wood and shaped using good quality polyfilla. I then added cat litter, some stones and cork, along with the bricks, pressed in to the surface.

It needs to be left overnight to dry before adding 2-3 coats of primer and this is where I will start painting.

The reasons I start painting with the ground work is that it needs as much attention to detail as the figures to create an illusion of a living scene. I tend to be far keener in doing the figures, but I do not want to complete the figures and then lose enthusiasm for the laborious bit.

It also helps set the scene and of course its far more difficult to paint with other things in position.

:-

 

[Dr Force]

Sorry, Just could not resist!!!

Polyfilla was rock hard so I primed it witha couple of coats and decided to place the figures etc in the scene.

To be honest I think the balance looks pretty good now without going over the top on more bricks etc.

The colour of the frame is not showing up in that light, it's more of a dark chrome effect to help create the illusion of the cold.

I'll add the odd balanced brick on the beam, add the gloves and toque to the 1st figure, drainpipe, get the two verlinden figures seated properly and you know what...............I think I am finally ready to start painting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[1969]

well done mate you persevered and created a very nice looking scene, really looking forward to seeing this one painted up so dont hang around

Steve