WIP Stalingrad Winter 1943, Street By Street

[unknown01]

Cool progress.
It seems to be the real world.
Indeed it's wonderful.

Mitsutaka.

 

[Dr Force]

Hi to both Ken and Mitsutaka

Thank you for your kind comments, it means alot to hear positive feedback from other Vbench members, it just inspires me to try and reach new heights.

I do beleive that it is the little bits that count and if you can add those little bits it all helps to bring it all together.

As previously mentioned my intention is to open up a WW2 historical website with the whole story of 1939-1945 and the key moments to be told through various scenes I will model from this period.

With a bit of photographic skills with lighting you can help capture the feel for the moment.

A few washes and it's on to the curtains, followed by the sprinkle of snow and then to the figures.

Thanks for your support guys

Dave

 

[JasonB]

YES! Thats much better than I was envisioning. Much more natural, and it really looks like that wall is crumbling and could fall at any minute. Having less brick showing, and all the crumbly stuff in between the large patches, really make its realistic. I love how that window is just hanging on a by a thread. Like the downspout almost standing by itself, its one of those odd things that seems impossible, but you see whenever a large structure is destroyed. I'm diggin' it.
Cheers
Jason

 

[gordy]

Great info David

I wonder if plastering it with real plaster of paris like one would in real world but in a smaller scale and flicking off chunks...

 

[Dr Force]

Great info David

I wonder if plastering it with real plaster of paris like one would in real world but in a smaller scale and flicking off chunks...

Hi Gordy

I actually considered that but it seemed to be a more time consuming effort, but I have no doubt it would yeild good, if not better results. I may have a goo on a bit of scrap board etc to see what it's like.

For any one who is after a quick way, the super sculpey method is the way to go.

@ Jason

Thanks for your help again matey, it's great to hear your thoughts and guidance along the way, it's making me look at it from a different angle at every step. The wall now looks like it's about to collapse which fits in wonderfully well with the window, so problem solved.

As stated previously, I just need to add bits of plaster to the ground work to bring the area together.

Thanks for your help fella's and I'll post up further progress soon.

Dave

 

[Dr Force]

Ok, apart from a few finishing touches I am ready to put on the snow. I have dropped the curtains, after lots of experimenting with colours, it just did not look right, the whole colour balance just seemed off when I painted them and the curtains should not detract the eye.

I have added the down pipe and also a broken water pipe with a touch of frozen water coming out. The snow will not be heavy as they are effectively inside and I do not want to hide all the ground work detail, so it will be strategically placed but not over the top.

The snow I am using is the wet & shiny from reality in scale which has good reviews and looks very realistic.

I think I can actually start to paint the figures whilst I await delivery of the snow.

 

[JasonB]

I like it. So even a dirty, plain, off white curtain wouldn't work? Thought that was a nice touch. I do however think that the shelf /hutch that you have added is a bit on the large side...

 

[housecarl]

Superb work,, my only criticism would be that the window looks a little "staged". With all the destruction around it, I think it would be a lot more damaged. The snow in a pot is good stuff, and you can always bulk it out with microballoons.
Looking forwards to the next installment,
Carl.

 

[Dr Force]

Hi all

thanks for your comments.

@Jason
It took me ages to build that book case
The curtain looked ok but it was kind of distracting and the key area is the the figures so this is why I dropped it.

@Carl
thanks for your help Carl, the window is hanging on by a thread and it looks less staged when the figures are in, however I may just add some more bricks to the top left to give a more secure feel.

Thanks
Dave

 

[Dr Force]

So started the figures.

The dead guy is the first to get a lick of paint. I have done the majority of the shading with some light tones to be added, the eyebrows and a hint of eyelash on the closed eye.

All the figures will have a worn, dirty look to the faces as I am trying to represent the grim conditions of the battle.

I am waiting for it to be around 2/3rds dry before carefully smoothing out the effects of stippling (oils), the open eye has a brown pupil and I have added two hints of light to give a slight sparkle, this (once dry) will be finished with a tiny dab of gloss varnish :-

 

[JasonB]

Love the one eye open, like he might not be quite dead yet. Its a nice touch. Did you change the mouth between the 2 pics, it looks open in the left pic, but not the right. I guess it could just be the angle.Good start, can't wait to see more.

 

[Dr Force]

Hi Jason

I'm happy that I decided with the one eye shut as this was to help bring the viewer in to the story and let them decide his condition, which just adds that little something you need in these scenes..

The mouth is slightly more open toward the end nearer the floor as this was to give the effect of a slight droop but the angle of the photo makes it look different, it sort of goes from slightly open to open, if you get what I mean.

Will post more pics soon once I have allowed the face to dry and I will get on with the clothing (I only like to do one figure at a time)

Thanks
Dave

 

[1969]

Nice Dave, very nice !!!

Steve

 

[Dr Force]

Nice Dave, very nice !!!

Steve

Hi Steve

Thanks for your encouragement, I really feel I am getting there now. The face is my own oil mix made up of titanium White, red, yellow & green!! I always mix my own colours and never use out of the tube mixes like you get with Vallejo acrylics for example.

The eyes are done in acrylics but will benefit from a gloss varnish finish so will have that fleshy look they need. I will always use oils for my flesh work because it allows so many "on the go" variables of shade, rather than layering, I find the stippling and merging of oils easier and it gives a slightly more glossy finish that flesh needs.

The only problem is the drying time but there are always many other things to paint inbetween time.

I'm already thinking of my next project lol, this will not be finished by the end of Feb but it will motor on now.

Thanks
Dave

 

[housecarl]

The flesh tones look well Dave, and the open eye is a nice touch.
Carl.

 

[ryall]

The scene looks great, really like the building and ground work.

Ryally
http://www.brisbanemodelbuilder.com/

 

[Dr Force]

Thanks for your comments, as I said before, it means alot when talented people like yourselves pay compliments.

Cheers
Dave

 

[1969]

Same here mate I prefer to use oils for the flesh areas and also use acrylic for the actual eyes, more control for that small area.
I do find acrylics better for fabric etc.

looking forward to seeing more on this.

Steve

 

[Dr Force]

Update fella's

It has taken me ages to paint the first figure, working full time and fitting in painting sessions around familly life is a big challenge, but I can see the finish line, it's just that I need a pair of binoculars to see it lol.

Anyway, fallen figure is about done apart from a tad of tdying up and a coat of matt varnish. He kind of stands out at the moment due to his white smock/sheet but remember there is a scattering of snow to be added, I have tried to create a dirty/grimey atmosphere to reflect the awful conditions in this battle :-

 

[JasonB]

Coming along nicely, I was starting to have withdraw symptoms!
Hey, wouldn't that new Jeff Shiu figure have fit in to this scene perfectly???!!!
Cheers
Jason