WW1 Diorama- Title TBD

Sweet-Chuck

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Joined
Dec 30, 2024
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While I'm waiting for more favorable weather to continue (painting) the space shuttle orbiter build, I got a wild hair to build a diorama after seeing some Tamiya WW1 dudes a couple weeks ago. Seeing the kit, and having recently read about various Europen battles in the 15th and 16th centuries, caused a spark. I'm not entirely certain of the direction this will go, but it's beginning to take shape in my mind..

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....and 5 more soldiers from the Master Box kit. These pieces have a lot of flash and the fit is not as clean as the Tamiya and Meng. I will probably not be using the trench pieces from this kit. I am leaning towards making my own.

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While I'm waiting for more favorable weather to continue (painting) the space shuttle orbiter build, I got a wild hair to build a diorama after seeing some Tamiya WW1 dudes a couple weeks ago. Seeing the kit, and having recently read about various Europen battles in the 15th and 16th centuries, caused a spark. I'm not entirely certain of the direction this will go, but it's beginning to take shape in my mind..

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With photos taken in your car with some of the kits, makes me think that this will be great diorama. Enthusiasm is a great outlet for success.

Please continue.

Be well. Model on.

Eric
 
When there is flash, especially on legs and arms, how do you deal with it without flattening the detail, like folds and leggings?
Great observation BB, and I am not sure just yet. I have tried a little bit of sanding with some micro files from harbor freight, in addition to some gently cutting with a blade, as well as scraping the back of the blade along the high spots. With paint on them I can say that some areas look ok, and other areas will clearly need more attention. While a lot of flash, or flash that is obviously noticeable is not ideal, I'm less concerned with it than I am how the painting is going. I began painting with the thought that I would add the shadows in at the end, but am wondering if starting off with the figures primed/painted black would have been the way to go. I have no real experience with paint to guide me, so I'm literally winging it.
 
I'm literally winging it
Looking pretty good so far!

Sounds like you do pretty much the same as me for the flash, though I have added some more specialized scrapers to my toolset, along with a cycle or crescent shaped surgical blade which I find is great for scraping convex shapes, and getting right under arm pits and inseams.

I've tried a neutral grey, and black as primer, as well as tan and green, depending on eventual uniform colour. I have to say black has worked out the best, even with sun bleached cloth of my desert rats, DAK and Italians.

I've watched YT, checked out books and mags, and there is a lot of variation in technique! Most of these guys are demonstrating painting one figure at a time, not like you and I, possibly working on 6 to 12 in one go!

One of the best pieces of advice that I've tried encorporating, is mixing ahead of time, the base colour, then a lighter and darker version.
After painting the all over base, paint upwards on 'under' surfaces with darker, then downwards on 'upper' surfaces with lighter. To finish, a darkest pin wash for detail crevices, with a few extra light highlights.

For a group, I also will tweak the base a bit, either adjusting the hue (greener or more olive) and the shade (lighter or darker) between figures, just to add some variety... choose a couple as new recruits, and a few to be old dogs. The same goes for gear and webbing, and helmets!

Of course, this is my experience, so take of it what you will, and find what works for you!
Cheers
 
Most how-to vids I've seen start out by painting the figures black, then a coat of base color, then highlight out from there.
I am just starting to look at painting figures but haven't really done any yet. (except a couple of pilots that you can't really see in the cockpit)
 
just starting to look at painting figures

Ya, I quickly realized that my vehicle skills quickly outpaced my figures... so if you have any inkling that you will need to include a figure in that special build, get a box of interesting figures, just to practice!

Think of it like playing the piano, you can get really good at playing with the right hand, but sooner or later, the left hand is going to slow you down!
 

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