SS-Sturmbannführer, KG-LSSAH, Kamenets–Podolsky Pocket, 1944

Here is another piece completed for this month of January. What started out as a side quest got completed ahead of my box art assignment. This is the first time I experimented with AK Quick Gen paints to render the U-Boat leather jacket. I found it relatively quicker and easier to replicate the black leather effects as compared to using artist inks. Employing AK's Ultra Matt Varnish as a painting medium has been a game changer for me to achieve smooth tonal transitions without struggling with watermarks.

The groundwork consists of sandbags from MiniArt Models (skinned with Super Fine Milliput). The frost is recreated with glass powder secured with AK Ultra Matt Varnish. Tellermine and containers are from HD Models. 

Cheers,

Calvin

Groundwork Time

Working on the groundwork for a new 1/16 figure from MiniArt Building Accessories (35005). The bricks are made from DAS Terracotta fitted through a scratch-built styrene gig.  

Cheers,

Calvin

Lieutenant, US 45th Infantry Division, Bavaria, 1945

All done for this piece.

Cheers,

Calvin

Lieutenant, US 45th Infantry Division, Bavaria, 1945

This weekend I managed to get most of the painting done for the figure, with the exception of the boots and the grease gun. Some parts of the groundwork remain quite raw and will need some attention once I complete the painting of the figure. 

Cheers,

Calvin

Lieutenant, US 45th Infantry Division, Bavaria, 1945

A little more progress on the groundwork before I resume work on the figure.

Cheers,

Calvin

Lieutenant, US 45th Infantry Division, Bavaria, 1945

 A little more progress on this compositional exercise. The main takeaway for such a project is to engage as much play as possible with the available material and improvise the layout and composition according to one's intuition and design knowledge. The scene is rather busy at this stage, and I will probably need to figure out how to harmonise all the elements to sustain the viewing interest of the audience.

Cheers,

Calvin

US 104th Infantry Division, Germany 1945

I finally placed the finishing touches on this weeklong project. It has been quite enjoyable toying with the composition, utilising some of the diorama accessories from Miniart from my stash.

For the first time, I used the RC markers from AK Interactive to lay in the base colours for the accessories. I find them incredibly convenient to use and, if I might add, virtually idiot-proof. The paint flows smoothly from the felt tip and dries to a very even finish. I was pleasantly surprised that it cures stubbornly strong (scratch proof when fully cured for a day). This product has definitely saved me a lot of time agitating paint, uncapping bottles and washing brushes. I do hope that they expand the offering of colours from this range of products.

Cheers,

Calvin

Unteroffizier - Holland 1940

First one down for the month of December. I have painted a lot of Alpine figures and this is probably the most fun I ever had painting. Everything about this sculpt is exceptionally well done and I would go as far to say that this is Taesung's best sculpt to date. I highly recommend this piece and from what I know it even comes with detailed painting instructions and complimentary paints too!

Cheers,

Calvin

Unteroffizier - Holland 1940

A little more progress on the figure last evening. The MP40 sling is made from thinly rolled out Milliput applied with a moist brush and secured with PVA glue. The luggage and bottles are from MiniArt. The postcards and photos scattered on the ground are printed from my Canon Selphy printer. 

Cheers,

Calvin

Alpine Miniatures - US Infantry, ETO, 1944-45.

Here are some images of the box art from Alpine Miniatures US Infantry Set 35305. The groundwork is embellished with MiniArt accessories, Gardening Tools 35641 and Wooden Barrels 35632. All painted with AK Interactive Gen 3 and ABT 502 acrylics.

Cheers,

Calvin

Ukrainian Tan Crew At Rest

Here is a sneak peak of my contribution to the publication Models for Ukraine Vol.2.It is from the Ukrainian Tank Crew at Rest from MiniArt Models and I must admit it does paint up quite nicely. It is mainly an OOTB build and I did try to craft out a scene using the accessories provided. The selection of cold cuts and bread are scratch built using epoxy putty and painted with AK Gen 3 Acrylics. And now the hard part of the project, writing the article. Sigh.......

Cheers,

Calvin

Sack Time

Time to hit the sack for the vignette. The printing on the sack is sourced from the internet, scaled down in Photoshop and printed out from my Canon Selphy photo printer. It was soaked in water for about two hours to separate the plastic film from the paper and applied onto the sack from MiniArt Models like regular water slide decals.

Cheers,

Calvin

Hitting the Bottles Tonight!

Spent the better half of this evening after work to indulge in some "small" beverages from Miniart. I felt that the wood grain on the crates were a tad over done for that scale and thus decided to fill them with some water based modelling putty from AK Interactive. The painting was done with Gen 3 acrylics and weathering pencils also from AK Interactive.

 Cheers,

Calvin