144 replies to this topic

[Peter M. Skaar]

Here is a picture of my GHQ 1/285th scale German Light Armored Car Platoon.  I painted it as part of my German North Africa army.

[Peter M. Skaar]

Here are some pictures of my recently completed Panthers by GHQ

[mp44dude]

Pete,  Is that by brush and/or are you using an airbrush?   Can you run down the rig you use... Thanks and beautiful work!

[Peter M. Skaar]

Hi mp44dude!

Thank you very much!

I basecoat my miniatures with an airbrush.  I have been using an old Binks Wren airbrush with A head for about 50 years now.  It is not fancy but does get a good basecoat on.

The details and camo is all done by hand.  I use Humbrol enamels and have been for years now.  I like how they work. 

The camo on the Panthers is applied in several very thin layers of paint.  I am almost doing a controlled stain rather than painting per se.  It takes 3 or 4 layers to build it up.  It gives me better control with better results than trying to spray it on.  I did used to do that but have been hand brushing for about 10 years now.

[healey36]

Lovely work. Presume you use a clear matte overspray to protect them while handling for games?

[Peter M. Skaar]

Hi Healey

 

I give my minis a good shot of Dullcoat when I am done.  It does help protect them.

 

[Peter M. Skaar]

Here is a picture of some of my just completed stuff for North Africa.  This includes 3 Horches, 3 Marder IIIGs, and 2 FAMO recovery vehicles.  The models are by GHQ and 1/285th scale.

 

[Peter M. Skaar]

Here is a company of Panzer IIIs and IIs for my Afrika Korps plus a platoon of Panzer IVs.  My main emphasis is 1942 for my Germans in North Africa.

[healey36]

Brilliant gear, Peter...you need to give us an online seminar on technique. I've been at this for a very long time and, unlike you, have never mastered "the wash".

[Peter M. Skaar]

Hi Healey

Thanks very much!  I use Humbrol enamels and use a turpentine based black wash or dark brown wash.  The turpentine, although it smells, has certain properties which make it a good agent for the wash.  I apply my wash all over the model initially and let it set for a bit, usually an hour or two.  I then go back and use clear turpentine over the model to get the wash off the raised areas and more down in the recesses where it belongs.  I do some "pinwashing" by selecting areas that may need more attention using the procedure outlined above.

The nice thing about the turpentine is that it takes a very long time to set so you can go back the next day to see if there is anything that needs attention.  Once I am happy with the wash, I will bake the miniature in the oven for about 20-25 minutes at around 225 degrees F.  This will generally set the wash and burn off any turpentine residue.  I have my own toaster oven for this purpose as the wife doesn't want me using the regular oven to do this.

[Peter M. Skaar]

Here are a few more pictures of my German North Africa forces.

[healey36]

Again, incredible work on some very small bits, Peter.

 

Humbrol paints in the little tins...brings back a lot of memories. Here I've been trying (for ten years) to make the transition to acrylic paints. Definitely a challenge as compared to oil-based. I find the quality to be erratic between manufacturers...Vallejo pretty good, MSP and Tamiya okay, but many others not so great. I'm continuing to experiment. The dearth of commercially available enamels following the Testors debacle has added to the challenge, as I had found the Model Master line to be quite good if thinned properly.

 

Baking the finish is a good step, one not often used by the home hobbyist. I have found laying painted bits out on a tray in the hot summer sun will do the trick. I have done a bit of restoration work on old tin toys, and baking the finish is a critical step.

 

Anyway, brilliant stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[Peter M. Skaar]

Thanks very much, Healey!  I will continue to post pictures here.  I would like to see more traffic here on the ODGW Forum.  I like the Mein Panzer rules and would like to see them get more love.  I don't think there are too many out there that really know about them.  I have had pretty good luck in recruiting new players over the years.

 

Here are a few pictures.  The second picture shows one of my Mein Panzer games at Imperial Outpost Games here in the greater Phoenix area.  I am the guy at the end of the table.

[healey36]

...and a handsome young man you are too!

 

Table looks great...I hope those guys appreciate the work that went into it, the game, and the models.

[Peter M. Skaar]

Hi Healey

Thanks very much!  They did appreciate the effort.  We had a pretty good group of Mein Panzer players for a while but some guys have dropped out, moved, etc.  I am doing a lot of painting now with the idea of getting some games in the Fall and Winter.  We shall see.

Here are a couple more game pictures.

 

[Kenny Noe]

Peter,

 

Your paint jobs on those 6mm vehicles is super.   Thanks for sharing.

[Peter M. Skaar]

Hi Kenny

Thanks very much!  I like the 1/285th scale as there are lots of great looking models out there.  Almost all mine is GHQ but there are some other good manufacturers.  Here are my StuG IIIGs by GHQ.

[Peter M. Skaar]

In addition to working on more Germans, I am working on getting my American forces for Mein Panzer up to speed.  I actually have an infantry company and some Shermans but need more Shermans.  Here are some WIP pictures of some my latest GHQ Shermans.  These are the later M4A1s with the 2 types of M34A1 turrets that are now offered.

 

 

 

 

 

[healey36]

Most impressive is the painting of road-wheels. At this point, I think my eyesight would prevent a credible effort at this. For the game-table, I've degenerated into block-painting and a dip, dry-brush, then decals and a clear matte over-spray.

 

Fantastic work, Pete.

[Peter M. Skaar]

Thanks very much, Healey!  I appreciate it.

Here is a question for the Mein Panzer players out there.  Who uses trucks in their games and how do you use them?  I do love painting trucks and have a fair number for my British North Africa forces and my Germans including Europe and North Africa.  I have lesser numbers for my Russians and Americans so far.

Here are my British Morris trucks by GHQ for North Africa.  I have 10 right now but really need more.