Alpine Miniatures - 28th Jäger Division, East Prussia, 1945

I am very privileged to close the year 2020 by painting the box art of this 1/16 scale upcoming release from Alpine Miniatures sculpted by the acclaimed artist John Rosengrant. It has been a while since I painted a sculpture from John Rosengrant and this has been an absolutely delightful experience. Despite a couple of false starts for the Sumpfmunster 44 pattern, I managed to gradually get  the gist of recreating this elusive camouflage pattern using Vallejo acrylics. Evidently the trick is to meticulously stipple the hard edges of the shapes with very thin paint to achieve the diffused look - trademark to this pattern. 

Posing another challenge to this assignment are the markings on the Panzerfaust. My solution was to create my own decals on Photoshop and printing them from my trusty Canon Selphy photo/postcard printer.  Do check out this link for a full run down on my process of creating your very own DIY decals. 

Well, that is all for the year 2020. Despite the pandemic situation with all major scale modelling events called off, it was still a bountiful year with a couple of shelve queens cleared off. Here's looking forward to a better year ahead for everyone.

Cheers,

Calvin

Young Miniatures - Wardaddy, US 2nd Armored Division, 1944-45

Made some updates to this bust painted back in April this year. I realised that the colour temperature of the warm zone was too cold and desaturated. This lack of temperature contrast resulted in a colour scheme that is dull and thus lacking in visual appeal. The solution as I came to realise from studying cinematography lighting was to employ a complementary colour scheme which in this repainting the warm zone in an more orange hue. I think it looks significantly better and that is another lesson learnt in 2020.

Here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

Calvin

IDF 7th Armoured Brigade, Valley of Tears, Yom Kippur 1973

After a busy week I managed to squeeze some time to take some photos of the tank crew from the Yom Kippur War of 1973. The timing couldn't be more perfect as the Israeli TV series Valley of Tears is currently aired. It is really a magnificent series and possibly the best war drama series I have watched since Band of Brothers and The Pacific. For a scale modeller, there are a lot great references on the uniforms and field gear.  Highly recommended!

Cheers,

Calvin

IDF 7th Armoured Brigade, Valley of Tears, Yom Kippur 1973

 Took advantage of the Deepavali holiday weekend to continue work on the painting.

Cheers,

Calvin

IDF 7th Armoured Brigade, Valley of Tears, Yom Kippur 1973

I remembered back in the 1980's when Verlinden Productions first released their line of 54mm figures in white metal, one such figure that stood out was the Israeli tank commander 1970's sculpted by Roger Saunders. In recent years, this figure is quite hard to come by but fortunately for me, Roger has a spare casting of it and generously allowed me to have it. Truth be told,  I have always loved this figure for its simplicity. Though it was sculpted in the 1980's, the basic elements of pose, anatomy and drapery are very well done. Therefore taking some inspiration from the slew of T-55 released from MiniArt Models, I decided to use one of those to set off this timeless sculpt.

Cheers,

Calvin

TIE Fighter and TIE Advanced x1, Bandai 1/144 scale

Finally moved on to the dark side for my Bandai Star Wars collection. Hand painted with acrylics from Golden, Vallejo and AK Interactive over a flat clear undercoat. 

Cheers,

Calvin

On the Edge of the Precipice - Feldwebel, 389 Infantry Division, Stalingrad, 1942

I am going to call this done on this prescient narrative of a Landser perched precariously off the edge of a bombed out rubble during the early stages of the Battle of Stalingrad. I suppose it does reflect the hubris of the Army Group South during the summer of 1942 - and not realising the vulnerable situation they will soon find themselves in the coming months.

As a finishing touch, I decided to incorporate some building features like the street lamp and rain gutter from MiniArt Models. The painting was mainly done with acrylic paint from AK Interactive and Vallejo. For now this might be the closest I can get to making a diorama.  

Cheers,

Calvin

On the Edge of the Precipice - Feldwebel, 389 Infantry Division, Stalingrad, 1942

 Inching closer to getting this completed. 

Cheers, 

Calvin

On the Edge of the Precipice - Feldwebel, 389 Infantry Division, Stalingrad, 1942

More progress on the painting for the Splinter pattern helmet cover, uniform and rifle. I have also attached the gas mask canister to the figure at the back with a strap made from a strip of paper stiffen with super glue. 

I noticed that the details of the 1/35 scale gas canister was lacking in some areas due to the injection moulding process.

For instance, some rows of the recessed lines on the canister's body were missing. To engrave those lines, I first affixed the canister onto a plastic H-beam with Blue-Tac for easy handling. 

Next, I took the measurement of the space between two alternate rows with a pair of dividers. 

I proceeded to engrave the lines with needle of the dividers. One point was placed on an existing line as a guide  to maintain a straight path as a new line is engraved with the other.

The top and bottom of the canister are detailed by mounting it onto an improvised lathe in the form of a  14-V hand held drill. The body is cushioned with a layer of masking tape to prevent the drill's clamp from damaging the details of the canister. A broken off pen knife blade was used as a cutter to form the circular disc on the base and top lid.

Cheers,

Calvin

On the Edge of the Precipice - Feldwebel, 389 Infantry Division, Stalingrad, 1942

Some progress on the uniform,  insignia and helmet cover this evening. The collar tabs and breast eagle are from the decals that came with the kit. I also decided to remove the chin strap on the helmet cover and add a new one around his face to convey a more "in the field" look. 

Cheers,

Calvin

On the Edge of the Precipice - Feldwebel, 389 Infantry Division, Stalingrad, 1942

Putting behind the box art assignment from Alpine Miniatures, I resumed work on the Landser over the weekend. I also took the opportunity to try out the Field Grey tone from AK Gen 3 paint for the tunic. 

Cheers,

Calvin

Calvin

KV-122 by Dinesh Ned

After a long hiatus from armour modelling, my old friend Dinesh Ned has marked his return to the scene with his spectacular rendition of a KV-122 from Trumpeter Model. The timing could not be better as this was completed just in time for me to mount the new release of the Soviet tank crew from Alpine Miniatures onto this magnificent beast. Though Wikipedia says that only one prototype of this variant was built and never pressed into service, Dinesh just could not resist to imagine how this might have appeared in the battlefield. I hope you guys like this collaboration between Dinesh and myself.

A close up of the Soviet tank crews with two optional heads painted by me placed into the loader's hatch of the KV -122. 

Cheers,

Calvin