Darius Miniatures

[ScaleModelMadman]

I received one of these really cool Darius Miniatures 'wedgies' to play with today and couldn't help but dive right in. There are only a few parts that make up the scene but they are superbly cast and they consist of very cool subjects.









After assembling the few parts of this particular wedgie I gave it a primer coat of black, set it aside and dug out an old Verlinden figure to set the scene. It's a German soldier in winter gear so that means dead, brown plant life, frozen ground and snow and some chipped up white wash on the half track.

More to come.

 

[Junkie]

Looks like a great project. I really dig the idea of this product...a quick build and get straight to the paint job.

I should try that sometime.

 

[Leighbo]

Looks a really cool vignette, I like the idea of keeping it compact. Look forward to seeing it painted

 

[spud]

sweet, looking forward to seeing this painted. ive seen the Tiger wedge done in some mag in a winter scene and it looks amazing. defo somthing to add to a colection.

 

[ScaleModelMadman]

I've done some painting this morning and have been taking photos as I go. My main objective for this project here, is to showcase the Darius product, some new AK products and while I'm at it I figured I would attempt to paint as much as I can using Badgers Model Flex paint sets that I won in the contest.


First up was painting the half track. Being an almost strict builder of mainly olive drab subjects, I've grown accustom to my own personal preference of what I think the color should look like. I wasn't too keen on the Model Flex Olive Drab right out of the bottle as it seemed too green for my taste, but I mixed it with some of their Field Drab and arrived at something I could accept. For some highlights, I simply added a bit of their Antique White to the mix. All this was done with my Renegade Velocity






While that dried, I used a photo etch mask and some blue painters tape and made a stencil in my usual way. These usually last me a few models but they get pretty beat up after a few uses. The trick in painting for me is very, very thin coats, as flooding the surface will only cause a ridge when the mask is removed. I sprayed a very fine mist using my trusty old 100SG and when I peeled the tape there wasn't any ridge to be seen and I set that aside to dry for a bit.





Lastly for now I began mixing up various colors using Model Flex Olive Drab, Field Drab and Earth to get a few different shades for the canvas items. These paints are bright and dry with a bit of a sheen when brush painted, (which by the way took at least four coats due to their airbrush ready thinned state) but this will all be knocked down later with a dull coat and the subsequent weathering.






For now I'll go mess with the figure while this sets up over night. My next update will hopefully start the weathering process.

 

[Junkie]

Cool update. Those colors look really good IMO. It's nice to see this paint being used on this project.

 

[collin26]

Ken,
The Model Flex colors are looking real nice so far...realy pegged another beutiful O.D. Green my friend!

 

[spud]

oh nice one ken the od looks great, looking forward to the next instalment

 

[Quaralane]

Looking really nice

 

[TRM]

Somehow missed this one buddy!! That is looking freaking awesome!!! Can't wait to see you tackle that fig!!

 

[ScaleModelMadman]

Thanks all.

T, Figs make me :-X ... wait, wrong type of fig. ;D

Moving right along this morning I started with some sponge 'chipping' using Model Flex Weathered Black and once it was dry went over it all with one light pass of AK Interactive filter to darken the star a bit and tie the whole surface together. The filter bottle says 'NATO tanks' but as with all products, these labels are guides to where they are best used but it doesn't mean you can apply them elsewhere. Olive drab is very similar to the green in NATO camouflage and this filter works very well for my taste.







Then I used some of AK's new chipping effects, poured straight into the airbrush and misted on in two coats, the second after the first had dried completely. This seemed to behave quite nicely in the airbrush and sprayed rather smooth and trouble free. Much easier than decanting the wife's hairspray after sneaking it out of the bathroom cupboard.







I followed this up with a random coat of Model Flex Antique White, I sprayed it heavier into the nooks and crannies where it would receive the least amount of wear and made sure to remain random in the larger areas. I tried to let some of the surface color below bleed through over the whole model, heavier in some areas, less in others. This will help to gauge the thickness of paint and where it will chip off easier than other spots when I begin chipping.







Using ordinary tap water, I began slowly picking my way around the vehicle with a small brush and a toothpick. Just as I had planned, the paint came off easiest where it was thinnest, and required more work where it was heaviest.







Next up I will do some 'mapping' with various shades of white to add further to the worn look but I don't want to get too far ahead at this point and will explain that more in the next update.

Thanks for looking. 8)

 

[TRM]

Outstanding my friend!! The white wash stills scares me a bit...I'll get over it at some point! Looking forward to the "mapping"!! Can I assume the bent paint brush is something you did on purpose??? Remember.....No angry chipping now!! ;D

Great stuff here buddy!!

 

[Chris S]

Ken , great piece of work 'mate' ;D...Seriously tho' I like what you're doing with this one . I picked up the same one at Euro and can vouch for the quality of the cast ,I think I'll be getting a few more ...Whitewash is coming on sweet .

Chris.

 

[ScaleModelMadman]

T, the brush was bent at the factory and marketed as something special. Bought it many moons ago from MicroMark when I was a youngster and still fell for that sort of thing.

;D

Chris mate, aren't these Darius miniatures just the dogs' danglers fella'? I was right chuffed when I opened her up but was a wee bit too knackered to do any work on it, put the kettle on and got that sorted right quick,

cheers!



*how'd I do? ;D I've spent enough time on the ol interwebs to get a feel for it, I'm sure you could "be all dude like no way... awesome bro" if'n you wanted to eh?

LOLS!!

back to bench!

 

[spud]

is there any smelly oder from the chipping stuff Ken, i will defo be ordering some now ive seen what it can do

 

[Quaralane]

Excellent work there.
interesting way to achieve the effect

 

[Chris S]

Ken ...(((lol))).....spotty dog me ole China Stickin the pot on for a brew ...always helps ;D

Chris.

 

[Leighbo]

Awesome paint job, wish I was so brave with the whitewash! looks really good

 

[ScaleModelMadman]

Thanks guys. 8)

Spud, there is no order to my nose from this stuff, it's acrylic and totally water soluble.

 

[Junkie]

I ordered a new nose just the other day. Canada Post is so slow though.

I'm a jerk.