PERSPECTIVES IN MINIATURE: Dynamo Models - SS-s Pz.Abt., 101 Normandy, 1944

ARTIST STATEMENT

In the words of Wilbur Smith "War is the game played by old men with the lives of the young". The pawn in this game is the combat soldier, represented by the miniature toy soldier; an insignificant being on the battlefield. Combat is the most intense moment of war, where life and death balances on a knife's edge. The results are terrifying and reveal the worst part of our human nature. Conversely, there are moments when it exudes the best of our human spirit. Most of the miniatures you see here are diligently researched from historical sources and handcrafted between scales of 1/35 to 1/16 (approx 50mm to 120mm). The intricate rendition of human expression and fine details not only demonstrates the level of craftsmanship but also serves as a reminder of the fragile nature of human life. I represent no political bias though my miniature creations. My aim is to portray humanity through the chronicles of military history and thus it is my pleasure that I present to you my weblog Perspectives in Miniature.

Calvin Tan

WWII GERMAN UNIFORMS - PERSONAL MIXES BY CALVIN TAN

In conjunction with AK Interactive, this exclusive Gen 3 acrylic paint set is specially composed with the essential colours that I use to render WWII German Uniforms. It contains 18 colours and a small pamphlet with my personal colour mixes. If you are keen to acquire all the colours on my palette to paint a field grey tunic, a splinter pattern zeltbahn, an oak-leaf pattern smock or the Kharkov anorak, look no further, this is the set for you to get started.

CALVIN TAN'S BASIC GUIDE TO FIGURE PAINTING

I developed this instructional DVD with Model Art magazine to help beginner armor and diorama modelers master the art of the 1/35 scale figure. In this video, I demonstrate easy-to-follow techniques for painting injection-molded plastics—from choosing the right brushes to the 'little tricks' I use for fine details. This is a complete showcase of my personal methods, and I’m confident it will help any modeler take their work to the next level. For your convenience, the DVD is available in both English and Japanese."

CALVIN TAN'S GUIDE TO CONVERTING AND PAINTING FIGURES

In this third instalment, I will share my techniques and materials to customize and detail an inexpensive stock plastic figure. Watch as I take you through the steps on how I modify a pose, model details such as hands, belts and webbing and insignias. Learn about working effectively with epoxy putty as well as plastic styrene and paper. As a continuation from my first two DVDs, I will demonstrate how to model and paint a simple groundwork as well as an alternate approach using a monochromatic underpainting to render both a field grey tunic and the World War 2 German Splinter Camouflage pattern on a helmet cover. If you have enjoyed and benefitted from those previous titles, this edition will be a welcome addition to your journey in scale figure modelling – regardless of your current skill level. It is my sincere hope that this could inspire you to embark on your own creative adventure in this fantastic hobby.

Tuesday, 6 January 2026

Dynamo Models - SS-s Pz.Abt., 101 Normandy, 1944

Labels: AK Interactive, AK Interactive Calvin Tan Signature Set, Dynamo Models Posted by Calvin Tan at 23:55

I am starting on a new 1/35 scale box art assignment on Dynamo Model's #35DM108 WSS-Tiger "222" Crew Normandy 1944 (Big Set).

This set has been around since October 2024 and was previewed in The Modelling News. I suppose 'box art pending' refers to my involvement. Let's see if this project can lead to some fruitful collaborations in the future ;-).

The figures in this set are 3D printed. The details are very sharp, fine and extremely delicate. I do warn everyone to pay careful attention to handling them – especially the shoulder boards, which are moulded separately. This figure is undercoated with AK RC-801 Flat Varnish. I added some Tamiya Flat Base to the mix to increase the porosity of the base so that it can improve the absorption of paint.

Below is the result from three evening painting sessions. Unlike in the past, I painted the base colour (AK 11419 Waffen Red Brown + AK 1108 Grimy Grey + AK 11328 RAL 8012 Rottbraun) alongside the patterns. This ensures that the paint remains evenly levelled. Painting over the base colour often results in "bumps"—especially with heavy-body paints like acrylics and enamels.