Sunday, October 24, 2004
|
0
comments
Posted by
Audi
Labels:
Scale Modeling
I just came back from a shopping spree. Was supposed to go for tuition but I didnt care less. This morning at about four my mum caught me playing with my...... computer. I mean, cant a guy taking his o levels destress by playing computer games in the morning???
Okay actually i havent been studying but rather playing games. Blitzkrieg and IL2 Sturmovik seems to be my favourite now. Tianyu is still stuck with Call of Duty: United Offensive. He gets killed two times more than what normal people would. So is with his number of saves and rate of ammo expenditure.
Anyways I tried to save money on my modelling and this shopping spree I'm yet to calculate how much i spent.
Awww.. how cute. Just so happens I named it Donald. It behaves like the real person too. I mean, which cat would just fall of the table and flat unto the floor while sleeping?
Anyways...
I read up somewhere that these alcohols can be used as a solvent for Tamiya paints and oil paints (for washes). I'm yet to try though. Price:$9.50
These are parsley (I think. Or maybe it's called garnishes). Mr. Francis showed me one day a package of what seemed to be like shredded styrofoam in an A4 paper sized bag. He said it's what modellers use for as grass in their dioramas. Being the arrogant person I am, I didnt take into consideration to what he just said and bluntly remarked,"It looks like shredded styrofoam"
He chuckled (like Ruth) but i know that deep inside he cant wait for me to leave the shop.
These garnishes/parsley/grass i found are much more convincing to look at. I saw diorama grasses and leaves sold in huge twelve-inches-tall containers going for twenty dollars by Woodlands Scenics (A reputable modelling company) and these things i bought look almost similar. Cheaper? Maybe not. I'd have to compare these two again.
Dill Weed, which looks like grass.
Marjoram Leaves, which look like... well... leaves.
Total Price:$6
So maybe i didnt save much money or any money at all. I've learnt my lesson. Next time I'll ask my parents for the income.
On the way home, I stopped by at this little hill in the neighbourhood. I saw some trees that look like pine and thought maybe i'd take some samples of its leaves home. So there i was, in the heavy downpour, all alone on top of the hill breaking twigs off the tree.
If Manas The Nerd were to see this, he'd say,"What the hell?!?!"
In conjunction with my biology subject, I went to a dicotyledon plant and plucked out a twig from it.
I'll study the network of veins and the leave stalk and all those little details that i cant really comprehend (being that it's a plant) like spongy mesophyll layer or cuticle or epidermis and stuff. Guard cells and stomata.... too small for me to understand.
Till then, here's Donald saying,"Haben Sie einen Guten Tag!"
Okay actually i havent been studying but rather playing games. Blitzkrieg and IL2 Sturmovik seems to be my favourite now. Tianyu is still stuck with Call of Duty: United Offensive. He gets killed two times more than what normal people would. So is with his number of saves and rate of ammo expenditure.
Anyways I tried to save money on my modelling and this shopping spree I'm yet to calculate how much i spent.
Awww.. how cute. Just so happens I named it Donald. It behaves like the real person too. I mean, which cat would just fall of the table and flat unto the floor while sleeping?
Anyways...
I read up somewhere that these alcohols can be used as a solvent for Tamiya paints and oil paints (for washes). I'm yet to try though. Price:$9.50
These are parsley (I think. Or maybe it's called garnishes). Mr. Francis showed me one day a package of what seemed to be like shredded styrofoam in an A4 paper sized bag. He said it's what modellers use for as grass in their dioramas. Being the arrogant person I am, I didnt take into consideration to what he just said and bluntly remarked,"It looks like shredded styrofoam"
He chuckled (like Ruth) but i know that deep inside he cant wait for me to leave the shop.
These garnishes/parsley/grass i found are much more convincing to look at. I saw diorama grasses and leaves sold in huge twelve-inches-tall containers going for twenty dollars by Woodlands Scenics (A reputable modelling company) and these things i bought look almost similar. Cheaper? Maybe not. I'd have to compare these two again.
Dill Weed, which looks like grass.
Marjoram Leaves, which look like... well... leaves.
Total Price:$6
So maybe i didnt save much money or any money at all. I've learnt my lesson. Next time I'll ask my parents for the income.
On the way home, I stopped by at this little hill in the neighbourhood. I saw some trees that look like pine and thought maybe i'd take some samples of its leaves home. So there i was, in the heavy downpour, all alone on top of the hill breaking twigs off the tree.
If Manas The Nerd were to see this, he'd say,"What the hell?!?!"
In conjunction with my biology subject, I went to a dicotyledon plant and plucked out a twig from it.
I'll study the network of veins and the leave stalk and all those little details that i cant really comprehend (being that it's a plant) like spongy mesophyll layer or cuticle or epidermis and stuff. Guard cells and stomata.... too small for me to understand.
Till then, here's Donald saying,"Haben Sie einen Guten Tag!"
Posted by
Audi
Labels:
Scale Modeling
Saturday, October 23, 2004
|
0
comments
My dad came back from overseas all of a sudden tonight. In fact, he just arrived here at home less than an hour ago. Normally i'd just go out, welcome him, then return back to my dark liar and continue staring at this box infornt of me. But no. Tonight was different.
I came out of my liar, my results slip in hand. I am such an A$$HOLE.
My dad looked at the results... mumbled a few words.... and took out a plastic bag with two heavy books in it. Slowly he turned to me and presented me the bag.
"'This is for you. It's sort of a reminder for you to study hard."
What was in the plastic bag really brought a smile to my face - the first time i smiled infront of my family unintentionally.
Two huge books containing precious informatiojn of almost all the tanks in WW2!! What joy!
Beautiful details!
Okay now i must study hard. I was writing my geography essay just now and completed it just when my dad came home. Tomorrow i'll be going to school to refer my paper to the teacher. Going to request her to mark it.
I've taken a styrofoam sheet and planned my Winter War dio already. here it is.
Till then, have a nice day. My little girl is havin one of her usual "I'm a useless girl" tantrums again. Gotta listen to her. See ya!
I came out of my liar, my results slip in hand. I am such an A$$HOLE.
My dad looked at the results... mumbled a few words.... and took out a plastic bag with two heavy books in it. Slowly he turned to me and presented me the bag.
"'This is for you. It's sort of a reminder for you to study hard."
What was in the plastic bag really brought a smile to my face - the first time i smiled infront of my family unintentionally.
Two huge books containing precious informatiojn of almost all the tanks in WW2!! What joy!
Beautiful details!
Okay now i must study hard. I was writing my geography essay just now and completed it just when my dad came home. Tomorrow i'll be going to school to refer my paper to the teacher. Going to request her to mark it.
I've taken a styrofoam sheet and planned my Winter War dio already. here it is.
Till then, have a nice day. My little girl is havin one of her usual "I'm a useless girl" tantrums again. Gotta listen to her. See ya!
Posted by
Audi
Friday, October 22, 2004
|
0
comments
In liew with the upcoming project "The Winter War", I needed materials and pointers on building barbed wires in 1/35 scale.
I found a relevant article on armorama.com and promptly, I listed down the materials i needed.
Today, after a trim at the barbers, I bought myself a coil of wire for fifty cents and another coil of brass wire for free. The brass wire was given by the father of a friend of mine. His father owns a hardware store, a rather big one in fact - two storeys high and two shop units big. Many of my modelling items came from there.
I followed the article rather closely, except for the wires: the article stated to use a size thirty-five gauge wire but i couldnt find any. The results?
Notice the size of that barbed wire! Totally out of proportions and practically useless in this scale.
I improvised and instead of using one type of metal wire in making barbed wires, I used the brass wire for the spikes. Now the barbed wire was lookin more life-like. However I'm still not satisfied in relation to the scale proportions.
I'll have to further improvise this method.
Till then, have a nice day!
I found a relevant article on armorama.com and promptly, I listed down the materials i needed.
Today, after a trim at the barbers, I bought myself a coil of wire for fifty cents and another coil of brass wire for free. The brass wire was given by the father of a friend of mine. His father owns a hardware store, a rather big one in fact - two storeys high and two shop units big. Many of my modelling items came from there.
I followed the article rather closely, except for the wires: the article stated to use a size thirty-five gauge wire but i couldnt find any. The results?
Notice the size of that barbed wire! Totally out of proportions and practically useless in this scale.
I improvised and instead of using one type of metal wire in making barbed wires, I used the brass wire for the spikes. Now the barbed wire was lookin more life-like. However I'm still not satisfied in relation to the scale proportions.
I'll have to further improvise this method.
Till then, have a nice day!
Posted by
Audi
Labels:
Scale Modeling
The focus model of this post is the Pak 37 of the Germans.
Upon closer inspection, the soldier on the lower left hand corner of this pic seems to be clutching.... ermm nevermind.
This model from Tamiya (again. I'm a loyal customer.) was easy to put together. Very few parts but i think, for me, the hardest to complete were the four figures included. I'm not a figure painter person i guess. too many colours on one tiny model.
Anyways here is the model so far.
Haha just joking. That's not mine. The ones below are.
I'm saving this for another diorama i'm planning with the PzKpfw Iv I have (it's still in its black coat)
Till then, have a nice day.
Upon closer inspection, the soldier on the lower left hand corner of this pic seems to be clutching.... ermm nevermind.
This model from Tamiya (again. I'm a loyal customer.) was easy to put together. Very few parts but i think, for me, the hardest to complete were the four figures included. I'm not a figure painter person i guess. too many colours on one tiny model.
Anyways here is the model so far.
Haha just joking. That's not mine. The ones below are.
I'm saving this for another diorama i'm planning with the PzKpfw Iv I have (it's still in its black coat)
Till then, have a nice day.
Posted by
Audi
Thursday, October 21, 2004
|
0
comments
...my entire computer-works (tables and all) have been transferred into my room!! It was hard work, considering that the table is huge, long and heavy. But MY muscles have not failed me so far... except for that time during NCC day parade this year... I collapsed on the SAFTI parade square. I was in the Guard of Honour contigent, front row, center.
Alas.. the computer table so happens to be my model workbench too and I am certain I don't want to carry out my modelling activities in my room: sleeping with thinner is not good you know.
However, now i can have the aircon switched on all day long!
So, modelling for me has halted, studies are next.
12 points for my L1R4.
God help me.
Before my prelims this year, my dad promised to buy me anything i want if the results are good. Well I've achieved 28 points for my L1R5 - HORRIBLE.
L1R4 was 22. Horrible too!
But Mdm Koh, my vice-principal, was kind. She asked if i wanted my grades to be decreased (The lesser points you have, the better it is). Of course I did!
So she did. I acquired 20 points for my L1R4 (L1R4 is for Poly and ITE. L1R5 is for JC)
I was called into her office one afternoon. She showed me that she had deducted the points and i was happy!
However, before she handed my the slip of paper, she remarked,"Now, you can enter Millenia Institute"
Err, so? I didnt want my points reduced to enter MI at all! I just wanted to make my parents happy and get them off my back.
"Hmm yeah. I'm thankful that I could.". And i walked out of the office.
I told my friend, Ruth, who had her points reduced to be eligible for MI, about my real intentions.
Her reaction was unexpected. She gawked - mouth wide open and all - and yelled,"YOU IDIOT!! You're such an A$$HOLE!!"
Then she gave out a small chuckle.
Just a few days ago, we all received our results slip. I checked my L1R4 points again and now it showed - 15 points!
They included the CCA points and omitted the lousier subjects.
Lucky me, my CCA points were A1.
And just a few hours ago, I sms-ed my dad who is overseas on business, my points, and boy, was he glad!
He kept to his promise and now, what should i ask him to buy?
A new graphics card for my computer?
A RC Sherman tank which costs a thousand dollars?
A handsome sum of money? (You buy money, ya?)
I could've asked for any one of those but i was in a humble mood then. So instead, i kindly asked for a new computer chair (otherwise i would have to keep stealing my sister's chair whenever she's away at the university hostel. Then when she comes back all of a sudden and finds her chair missing....).
Dad agreed and I'm a happy man now.
Tomorrow's Friday. I'll be going out shopping for my modelling stuff and maybe meet up with my cute little girl. She's been stressed up lately with school work and i think I should bring her out for lunch or bring her to the beach, just to calm her down. I find that many girls in my school love contemplating suicide under stress and she's no different. Stupid little bugger.
Till then, have a nice day!
Alas.. the computer table so happens to be my model workbench too and I am certain I don't want to carry out my modelling activities in my room: sleeping with thinner is not good you know.
However, now i can have the aircon switched on all day long!
So, modelling for me has halted, studies are next.
12 points for my L1R4.
God help me.
Before my prelims this year, my dad promised to buy me anything i want if the results are good. Well I've achieved 28 points for my L1R5 - HORRIBLE.
L1R4 was 22. Horrible too!
But Mdm Koh, my vice-principal, was kind. She asked if i wanted my grades to be decreased (The lesser points you have, the better it is). Of course I did!
So she did. I acquired 20 points for my L1R4 (L1R4 is for Poly and ITE. L1R5 is for JC)
I was called into her office one afternoon. She showed me that she had deducted the points and i was happy!
However, before she handed my the slip of paper, she remarked,"Now, you can enter Millenia Institute"
Err, so? I didnt want my points reduced to enter MI at all! I just wanted to make my parents happy and get them off my back.
"Hmm yeah. I'm thankful that I could.". And i walked out of the office.
I told my friend, Ruth, who had her points reduced to be eligible for MI, about my real intentions.
Her reaction was unexpected. She gawked - mouth wide open and all - and yelled,"YOU IDIOT!! You're such an A$$HOLE!!"
Then she gave out a small chuckle.
Just a few days ago, we all received our results slip. I checked my L1R4 points again and now it showed - 15 points!
They included the CCA points and omitted the lousier subjects.
Lucky me, my CCA points were A1.
And just a few hours ago, I sms-ed my dad who is overseas on business, my points, and boy, was he glad!
He kept to his promise and now, what should i ask him to buy?
A new graphics card for my computer?
A RC Sherman tank which costs a thousand dollars?
A handsome sum of money? (You buy money, ya?)
I could've asked for any one of those but i was in a humble mood then. So instead, i kindly asked for a new computer chair (otherwise i would have to keep stealing my sister's chair whenever she's away at the university hostel. Then when she comes back all of a sudden and finds her chair missing....).
Dad agreed and I'm a happy man now.
Tomorrow's Friday. I'll be going out shopping for my modelling stuff and maybe meet up with my cute little girl. She's been stressed up lately with school work and i think I should bring her out for lunch or bring her to the beach, just to calm her down. I find that many girls in my school love contemplating suicide under stress and she's no different. Stupid little bugger.
Till then, have a nice day!
Posted by
Audi
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
|
0
comments
Well I just finished tuition with Donald and Tianyu. Bloody tired. Seems like everyone is tired today. The teacher was dozing off, I slept on the table, Donald was shooting out his usual slapstick character and Tianyu was just talkin to himself and sharing jokes with himself. When human beings reach the point where they can't handle mental fatigue, they start making weird noises and behaving oddly.
You know, suddenly i just realised; I just graduated from North View. I'm no longer part of the school and this means i'm a free man now.... and I wont be seeing some of the guys for quite a bloody long time now. Sad if you think about it really. I mean, ever since i joined the school in 2002 and when all of us were in the one and only express class in sec 2 that time, I knew these people are different from all the other typical students i met. Yeah well whatever.
In sec 3 we were seperated into two classes. I got into the pure science stream.
Actually we werent supposed to be seperated but since the government had this bright idea of shoving expatriates abruptly into the schools.....
In any case, it's been a nice journey. I made friends with a nerd *HI MANAS!!!* and some of us here realised that the person whom we thought were our "brothers" or "comrades", werent really what we thought of initially. I'm not saying that happened to me - I have superb peers!. But it happened to some of us here.
That's all for this post. Have a nice day.
Part of the original batch of our class. We would've been together and more bonded together if...
The group of people I'm closest with. Frankly, we commanded the class and were the ones who thought of "bright ideas" and initiated original practical jokes on our classmates.
The bright young Singaporeans. ... ... ... I have something to add on but i think i'll just keep my mouth shut.
You know, suddenly i just realised; I just graduated from North View. I'm no longer part of the school and this means i'm a free man now.... and I wont be seeing some of the guys for quite a bloody long time now. Sad if you think about it really. I mean, ever since i joined the school in 2002 and when all of us were in the one and only express class in sec 2 that time, I knew these people are different from all the other typical students i met. Yeah well whatever.
In sec 3 we were seperated into two classes. I got into the pure science stream.
Actually we werent supposed to be seperated but since the government had this bright idea of shoving expatriates abruptly into the schools.....
In any case, it's been a nice journey. I made friends with a nerd *HI MANAS!!!* and some of us here realised that the person whom we thought were our "brothers" or "comrades", werent really what we thought of initially. I'm not saying that happened to me - I have superb peers!. But it happened to some of us here.
That's all for this post. Have a nice day.
Part of the original batch of our class. We would've been together and more bonded together if...
The group of people I'm closest with. Frankly, we commanded the class and were the ones who thought of "bright ideas" and initiated original practical jokes on our classmates.
The bright young Singaporeans. ... ... ... I have something to add on but i think i'll just keep my mouth shut.
Posted by
Audi
1941. The Winter War. Russian forces were fighting against the Finnish on the enemy's ground. Russian were at a loss, even with numerical superiority and better war equipment. Still, the Finnish were driving the Russians back. It was their homeland. It was Finland! It was their backyard!
The bitter cold bogged down the Russians. Their heavy tanks; Kv 1 and Kv 2, were constantly breaking down.
"Comrade, vat is the strength of our tanks?"
"Zero, Comrade General"
"Vat! Zero? How many destroyed?"
"None. They all broke down on the way to the front."
"Идиоты!! (Idiots! - Russian)"
Despite the KV 2's weakness, it had a very thick armour. German guns could not penetrate it armour. The only Deutsch gun i have read of that could confidently penetrate its armour was the Flak 88 gun. Scary considering the Flak 88 had, well, 88mm caliber rounds; artillery rounds. I think.
Theres this popular story about a broken down KV2 stranded alone on the opposite side of a river from where the Germans were. I think two battalions of the much distiguished Germans were held back from crossing the bridge for a long time (a couple of days. Or was it a couple of hours..) until the tank ran out of ammo (it was carrying a naval gun in its turret.) and the crew abandoned it. A few hours later the Germans were crawling all over it with astonishment on the single tank, without any support from artillery or infantry, that stalled the movement of the batallions.
I bought the model for a very simple reason actually. It was in the shelves of Northpoint's Popular bookstore for well over a year. When the bookstore started clearing up its scale model tank stock (now there are no more Tamiya model kits there) , the KV 2 was the only one there. No one wanted to buy it. Its plastic wrapping were torn, acts of a kid curious of what's in the box, and the packagaing had a slight yellow tint on it already, representing the age it was manufactured. The price tag showed $29.90. The cashier noticed the date the price tag was made and made some alterations - $24.90.
Personally, the tank was ugly.
Just like all Tamiya model kits, details were crisp. Thick plastic (sometimes too thick and not right to scale) and easily put together. This was my next big project.
Learning from my Chi Ha, i planned out the procedures i was going to make and even wrote down the theatre of operations it was in. I built the model and in an hour, it was done.
I tried to be creative and wanted to cut down on cost. Those huge spray cans sold at hardware shops seemed like the solution to my cost-saving plans. I bought a can of paint, sprayed my model.
"AAAHHHHH SH*T!!!!"
The paint melted the plastic somewhat, i had globs of paint on the KV2 and now the model resembled.. well... uh.. it looked like crap.
Immediately, I washed the casualty model in hot water and started scrubbing the paint off. Some did fall off like mud, but the scars of my mistake were still there; the sudden bulge on top of the turret - the most prominent place - was obvious!
Like the Chi Ha, i kept the model in a shoe box and placed it unto my shelve.
As for the paint? I threw it into a burning pile of garbage. BOOM!!!
Just recently i picked up the KV2 and started reworking the whole thing. I sanded down the buldge... still there but no so obvious. Next, a black coat was applied to get it ready for the pre-shading process.
I don't know why, but suddenly the black acrylic paint had a very strong sheen to it.
At the same time, i black-coated all my other unfinished models (Panzerkampfwagen IV, Flakpanzer Möbelwagen and Königstiger). Used up three bottles of black paint just for that. $12 dollars gone, 36ml used.
The following month, I started the real painting process. Firstly, Tamiya XF-61 was applied in and around the centre of every panel on the KV2. Leaving a thin shade of black at the edges.
That following night (2 am or so), i mixed up a lightened mixture of the paint. Thinned it properly and start spraying again from the centre of panels out. I did a bit of overspray otherwise the three different shades would have a very strong contrast with each other.
It does look interesting doesnt it? Sadly, it's not realistic. And i still have not learnt my lesson; TAKE GOOD PICTURES!!!
The lighting's all wrong and the background is distracting.
After that, I switched on my air-con, set the temperature at 16 degrees celsius, shut the windows (it was raining heavily), switched off the room light, tucked myself in my warm cosy bed, messaged my sweet little girl a silly message ("Why didnt u message me good night today???". I told her not to actually...) and then went to sleep.
The next day, i sat back down behind the workbench. Tamiya has a good selection of decals for the KV2. The had many slogans that were painted to the sides of the turret such as "Motherland Russia" or "For Stalin!". I opted for "Motherland Russia". Taking out a flat sable brush and dipping it into a bottle of Microscale's Micro Set solution (that thing stinks) and brushed it onto the area i was going to put the decals on. The solution is meant to provide a good base for decals to adhere to. Modellers usually gloss-coated their models prior to the decal applications but i didnt. I didnt think it was worth it....
After setting the solution on the model, i brushed Micro Set unto the decals and pressed down the decal with a cotton tissue to squeeze all air bubbles out and figuratively speaking, telling the decal,"THIS IS WHERE YOU BELONG! *squeeze*"
The next step would be to spray paint some earth colours unto the lower hull to depict mud and also to buy some Micro Sol to apply unto the decals. Micro Sol is a solution used to force the decals to fit snugly unto the surface of the model and since Tamiya decals are thick, i think Micro Sol is pretty much needed. Then i would gloss coat the model, apply some washes,seal everything with a flat coat and start drybrushing. Add some chipping and rust and then, the grand finale; WINTER WASH.
It'll make the tank look like this somewhat...
Then I'm going further into the art of modelling by building a DIORAMA. Background, The Winter War.
Till then, have a nice day. I'm tired and i've gotta sleep. Its been hectic in school.
The bitter cold bogged down the Russians. Their heavy tanks; Kv 1 and Kv 2, were constantly breaking down.
"Comrade, vat is the strength of our tanks?"
"Zero, Comrade General"
"Vat! Zero? How many destroyed?"
"None. They all broke down on the way to the front."
"Идиоты!! (Idiots! - Russian)"
Despite the KV 2's weakness, it had a very thick armour. German guns could not penetrate it armour. The only Deutsch gun i have read of that could confidently penetrate its armour was the Flak 88 gun. Scary considering the Flak 88 had, well, 88mm caliber rounds; artillery rounds. I think.
Theres this popular story about a broken down KV2 stranded alone on the opposite side of a river from where the Germans were. I think two battalions of the much distiguished Germans were held back from crossing the bridge for a long time (a couple of days. Or was it a couple of hours..) until the tank ran out of ammo (it was carrying a naval gun in its turret.) and the crew abandoned it. A few hours later the Germans were crawling all over it with astonishment on the single tank, without any support from artillery or infantry, that stalled the movement of the batallions.
I bought the model for a very simple reason actually. It was in the shelves of Northpoint's Popular bookstore for well over a year. When the bookstore started clearing up its scale model tank stock (now there are no more Tamiya model kits there) , the KV 2 was the only one there. No one wanted to buy it. Its plastic wrapping were torn, acts of a kid curious of what's in the box, and the packagaing had a slight yellow tint on it already, representing the age it was manufactured. The price tag showed $29.90. The cashier noticed the date the price tag was made and made some alterations - $24.90.
Personally, the tank was ugly.
Just like all Tamiya model kits, details were crisp. Thick plastic (sometimes too thick and not right to scale) and easily put together. This was my next big project.
Learning from my Chi Ha, i planned out the procedures i was going to make and even wrote down the theatre of operations it was in. I built the model and in an hour, it was done.
I tried to be creative and wanted to cut down on cost. Those huge spray cans sold at hardware shops seemed like the solution to my cost-saving plans. I bought a can of paint, sprayed my model.
"AAAHHHHH SH*T!!!!"
The paint melted the plastic somewhat, i had globs of paint on the KV2 and now the model resembled.. well... uh.. it looked like crap.
Immediately, I washed the casualty model in hot water and started scrubbing the paint off. Some did fall off like mud, but the scars of my mistake were still there; the sudden bulge on top of the turret - the most prominent place - was obvious!
Like the Chi Ha, i kept the model in a shoe box and placed it unto my shelve.
As for the paint? I threw it into a burning pile of garbage. BOOM!!!
Just recently i picked up the KV2 and started reworking the whole thing. I sanded down the buldge... still there but no so obvious. Next, a black coat was applied to get it ready for the pre-shading process.
I don't know why, but suddenly the black acrylic paint had a very strong sheen to it.
At the same time, i black-coated all my other unfinished models (Panzerkampfwagen IV, Flakpanzer Möbelwagen and Königstiger). Used up three bottles of black paint just for that. $12 dollars gone, 36ml used.
The following month, I started the real painting process. Firstly, Tamiya XF-61 was applied in and around the centre of every panel on the KV2. Leaving a thin shade of black at the edges.
That following night (2 am or so), i mixed up a lightened mixture of the paint. Thinned it properly and start spraying again from the centre of panels out. I did a bit of overspray otherwise the three different shades would have a very strong contrast with each other.
It does look interesting doesnt it? Sadly, it's not realistic. And i still have not learnt my lesson; TAKE GOOD PICTURES!!!
The lighting's all wrong and the background is distracting.
After that, I switched on my air-con, set the temperature at 16 degrees celsius, shut the windows (it was raining heavily), switched off the room light, tucked myself in my warm cosy bed, messaged my sweet little girl a silly message ("Why didnt u message me good night today???". I told her not to actually...) and then went to sleep.
The next day, i sat back down behind the workbench. Tamiya has a good selection of decals for the KV2. The had many slogans that were painted to the sides of the turret such as "Motherland Russia" or "For Stalin!". I opted for "Motherland Russia". Taking out a flat sable brush and dipping it into a bottle of Microscale's Micro Set solution (that thing stinks) and brushed it onto the area i was going to put the decals on. The solution is meant to provide a good base for decals to adhere to. Modellers usually gloss-coated their models prior to the decal applications but i didnt. I didnt think it was worth it....
After setting the solution on the model, i brushed Micro Set unto the decals and pressed down the decal with a cotton tissue to squeeze all air bubbles out and figuratively speaking, telling the decal,"THIS IS WHERE YOU BELONG! *squeeze*"
The next step would be to spray paint some earth colours unto the lower hull to depict mud and also to buy some Micro Sol to apply unto the decals. Micro Sol is a solution used to force the decals to fit snugly unto the surface of the model and since Tamiya decals are thick, i think Micro Sol is pretty much needed. Then i would gloss coat the model, apply some washes,seal everything with a flat coat and start drybrushing. Add some chipping and rust and then, the grand finale; WINTER WASH.
It'll make the tank look like this somewhat...
Then I'm going further into the art of modelling by building a DIORAMA. Background, The Winter War.
Till then, have a nice day. I'm tired and i've gotta sleep. Its been hectic in school.
Posted by
Audi
Labels:
Scale Modeling
My parents asked me,"Where do you want to go after O levels?"
I didnt say a thing and continued playing Battlefield 1942 on my computer.
Then the next time i was that question, it was from a respectable uncle of mine. Seated in my favourite lounge chair, I nonchalantly said,"Filming school"
He chuckled a bit and asked me the same question again.
What? Was that a joke?
I sat forward in my chair, peered into his eyes and in the most monotonous voice I could make, I slowly reaffirmed my previous answer,"Fi-lem Skuol", and sat back in the chair again.
Apparently, another one of my favourite hobby is making videos. I plan to land myself a spot in Ngee Ann Poly's Film and Media Studies Course and finally improve the whole godforsaken film industry in Singapore. It's very obvious that this country picks looks over talent in their cast. We can have a very handsome young man on screen but his acting skills are atrocious! The way he moves, speaks and behaves makes him look more like a sissy than the confident man he is supposed to play.
A problem we Singaporeans have is tone in our spoken language. We emphasize wrong words all the time.... and use old and overused cliches.
"Hey, watssap?" (and they start making odd swaying motions that is supposed to make them look cool and relaxed)
"Have you seen dat ger/gurl?"(actors start giving silly sissy grins or try to be funny by memorizing jokes. Otherwise they all start turning to something off-camera - which is supposed to be the girl, but all their eyes are looking all over the place - with a goony look in their eyes.
"BIlif in yoself and everything is possible..." (and they do this in a tone that clearly shows they are just regurgitating the line rather than really saying it)
But there's this new local-made drama on Channel 5 called "Like My Own" and i think... i think... it would be a great show. The recent introduction of overseas Asian talent like Utt have made local television more interesting and also adds integrity to the shows. Shows like "Daddy's Girls" are mundane. So are some episodes of "Life" on Channel I. (Actually, Channel I has most of the local-made shows. Many are good, really. But sometimes our ugly side shows)
I've made a few short films before. Some are boring - slides and slides and slides of people chattering, and some are too corny - German tanks and the Wehrmacht in school (ripped off directly from Band of Brothers. Sorry.)
These are some pictures from that movie.
I've been behind the camera ever since My father bought a video cam when i was seven. Initially it was meant to record things we did during our usual end-of-year trips. We went to Australia, New Zealand, Istanbul, Saudi Arabia, China and stuff.
In 2002, I managed to get a hold onto my father's $3000 digi-cam. It was a Sony DCR PC5E bought a few years before. He always told me,"Don't bring it to school or anywhere without me around, okay?"
"Yes, daddy...."
I wonder how i managed to record over 20 tapes of my classmates and NCC camps over the years. I went up Mount Kinabalu with that camera and the unit's flag around my neck. I also brought it with me at times when my friends and i went "ghost hunting" in school. I went through Malaysian jungles with it along me and also to Taman Negara. I even lent it to my friends when they had an expedition to Mount Ophir last year.
This camera has been almost everywhere with me, literally, until it died after a big filming shoot of my Aikido class this year. It's now placed in my display cabinet - where all my prized pocessions, achievments certs and trophies are. The tape containing the footage of the Aikido demonstration is still in there.
Isn't it lucky that both of the things i like to do are related to the course i want to do in poly? Scale modelling and filming can tie up together very well.
Ameteur pictures, but I believe, with patience and support (and the peace), all these can be turned into something huge.
Scale modelling has this area called Diorama.
The modeller has to sculpt the ground, put his tank on it, beautify it a bit and finally, a slice of history and his imagination. (Okay i think my english is not in top form today...)
Obviously, these are not my pictures. They were taken from the galleries of Missing-Lynx.
Beautiful isn't it?
I didnt say a thing and continued playing Battlefield 1942 on my computer.
Then the next time i was that question, it was from a respectable uncle of mine. Seated in my favourite lounge chair, I nonchalantly said,"Filming school"
He chuckled a bit and asked me the same question again.
What? Was that a joke?
I sat forward in my chair, peered into his eyes and in the most monotonous voice I could make, I slowly reaffirmed my previous answer,"Fi-lem Skuol", and sat back in the chair again.
Apparently, another one of my favourite hobby is making videos. I plan to land myself a spot in Ngee Ann Poly's Film and Media Studies Course and finally improve the whole godforsaken film industry in Singapore. It's very obvious that this country picks looks over talent in their cast. We can have a very handsome young man on screen but his acting skills are atrocious! The way he moves, speaks and behaves makes him look more like a sissy than the confident man he is supposed to play.
A problem we Singaporeans have is tone in our spoken language. We emphasize wrong words all the time.... and use old and overused cliches.
"Hey, watssap?" (and they start making odd swaying motions that is supposed to make them look cool and relaxed)
"Have you seen dat ger/gurl?"(actors start giving silly sissy grins or try to be funny by memorizing jokes. Otherwise they all start turning to something off-camera - which is supposed to be the girl, but all their eyes are looking all over the place - with a goony look in their eyes.
"BIlif in yoself and everything is possible..." (and they do this in a tone that clearly shows they are just regurgitating the line rather than really saying it)
But there's this new local-made drama on Channel 5 called "Like My Own" and i think... i think... it would be a great show. The recent introduction of overseas Asian talent like Utt have made local television more interesting and also adds integrity to the shows. Shows like "Daddy's Girls" are mundane. So are some episodes of "Life" on Channel I. (Actually, Channel I has most of the local-made shows. Many are good, really. But sometimes our ugly side shows)
I've made a few short films before. Some are boring - slides and slides and slides of people chattering, and some are too corny - German tanks and the Wehrmacht in school (ripped off directly from Band of Brothers. Sorry.)
These are some pictures from that movie.
I've been behind the camera ever since My father bought a video cam when i was seven. Initially it was meant to record things we did during our usual end-of-year trips. We went to Australia, New Zealand, Istanbul, Saudi Arabia, China and stuff.
In 2002, I managed to get a hold onto my father's $3000 digi-cam. It was a Sony DCR PC5E bought a few years before. He always told me,"Don't bring it to school or anywhere without me around, okay?"
"Yes, daddy...."
I wonder how i managed to record over 20 tapes of my classmates and NCC camps over the years. I went up Mount Kinabalu with that camera and the unit's flag around my neck. I also brought it with me at times when my friends and i went "ghost hunting" in school. I went through Malaysian jungles with it along me and also to Taman Negara. I even lent it to my friends when they had an expedition to Mount Ophir last year.
This camera has been almost everywhere with me, literally, until it died after a big filming shoot of my Aikido class this year. It's now placed in my display cabinet - where all my prized pocessions, achievments certs and trophies are. The tape containing the footage of the Aikido demonstration is still in there.
Isn't it lucky that both of the things i like to do are related to the course i want to do in poly? Scale modelling and filming can tie up together very well.
Ameteur pictures, but I believe, with patience and support (and the peace), all these can be turned into something huge.
Scale modelling has this area called Diorama.
The modeller has to sculpt the ground, put his tank on it, beautify it a bit and finally, a slice of history and his imagination. (Okay i think my english is not in top form today...)
Obviously, these are not my pictures. They were taken from the galleries of Missing-Lynx.
Beautiful isn't it?
Posted by
Audi
Labels:
My Life
