Happy Tank Destroyers...I mean New Years

Been working on these guys all week.

5 SU-85's
4 SU-122's
4 PanzerJager I's

The PanzerJager I's were very interesting to research.  I wanted the fire extinguisher to stand out.  But I was pretty sure the Germans were smart enough not to paint them red like normal.  What I found out is that they painted them the vehicle colour if they were outside the vehicle, and they were red if they were inside the vehicle.  I found some pictures of examples and they were about as multi-coloured as German uniforms.  I ended up painting them German Camo dark Green the same as gas mask containers.  This made them stand out a bit more from the Panzer Grey.

The 2nd thing which I found very strange, was the placement of the radio antenna.  Battlefront made their model with 2 places for it.  And if you google pictures of the PanzerJager I, you can see that the antenna did in fact appear on both sides of the vehicle.  I have no idea why this is.  Might have to do a bit more looking into that.  But I ended up placing it in the front.

I also wanted to put a unit marker on them.  I couldn't find hardly a thing.  I found a few pictures with unit marks on them, but I couldn't make out what they were.  So, I ended up putting the 60th motorized division symbol on them.  They took part in the attack on Stalingrad.  They were bound to have a few attached during or some time before. 

The SU's I tried a different kind of green.  Before the wash they were REALLY bright green.  But after a wash they really darkened up.  I think I like them better then the old green I used.

With the SU-85's I tried a brown base colour for the tracks instead of my usual Cavalry Brown.  Don't think I like it.  You can barley tell.  The Cavalry brown really stands out.

The reason these vehicles are very clean is because I'm going to test out the new BF pigments.  They only problem is I have no idea how.  So, I goggled, and there is about as much useful information out there as I found when I was trying to figure out how to airbrush...and by that I mean there is F'all out there.

One guy actually made a video tutorial.  Pretty much all it says on how to apply pigments is to "apply the pigment to the vehicle".  Thanx a lot donk!  Very helpful tutorial.  Just like the sound of your own voice or what?

Another guy says to use paint thinner but doesn't explain how.  Do you mix it with the pigment, do you brush it on first, do you brush it on after?  Another helpful idiot who likes the sound of his own voice.

Where do these people come from?  I guess I'll have to put together some trials like I did with airbrushing.  When I know, you will know.  Unless someone already knows, and can give me some idea's.  I have a couple of test models all set up.

Anyway, that's it for now.  I will leave you with some of my favorite models from 2011.  Sorry if the pics don't look that good.  I'm trying some new photography stuff.  I may have to give my friend Randy Dickin a call, who is really into photography.  Maybe have him set me up a studio or something.

Happy new year everyone.