KV1s by Kunihito

[Whiterook]

I too love what I'm seeing, but for some reason the shell hit by the MG doesn't look quite right to me for some reason...can't put my finger on why, though.

[Geek44]

I think the metal is way too bright in those two impacts near the MG. They make it look like the tank is made of aluminium or even silver.

[McCoy]

I agree with the shell impacts on the front glacis. I think that the angle is too steep, have the KV beed down in a valley while bein' shot at from above? Where's the blackblue hue on the impacts? Metal changes colour pretty fast when heated.

[Whiterook]

Exactly....thanks Mates. Glad to see I'm not the only one that felt a little uncomfortable with that. You've taught me well!

[Geek44]

Just like art mate...if it looks odd, it probably is.
But having said everything I've said, I still like it quite a lot. I'm fascinated by this guy's pallette. His choice of colours is excellent and there's a 'unity' of chromatic value in his dioramas...nothing sticks out like a sore thumb for being too green for example. His figures 'fit' with the vehicles he models colour-wise too and it's got me thinking. There's been debate elsewhere about the models we see in magazines. Often, there's a photo of the whole model complete including tools and stowage...even figures, but without a drop of paint to be seen anywhere. Do they dismantle it and paint or do they paint everything in situ? I personally don't know the answer...I suppose 'both' is the best answer I could posit. I can see benefits for both routes after working on my Pz. IV. My point is that I think it would be far easier to attain a level of unity if everything was painted and weathered together. After all, a diorama usually depicts a focal point with some accessories composed to compliment it in a setting. One supposes all these things have been in and been affected by this 'setting' for a period of time. Stands to reason that all the dirt on everything would be a similar shade, tone, value etc.
I've wondered about casting numbers too. I understand how to apply them, but how does a guy know what numbers and/or symbols to use? I can't recall many photos with these numbers visible...maybe I've just got bad references.

[razorboy]

I agree, he blends his colours well. It all 'belongs'. That's the best dedscroption I can give.....it all belongs.

[Geek44]

Yeah...that's what I should have said instead of all the blathering.

[Whiterook]

Actually, that really can't be classified as "blathering", Mate, as you made very very good points; and you touch on an interesting line of thought: paint as you go, or en masse. I personally think I'll paint in a completed groiping more often than not, though there are times when painting and then applying makes perfect sense....you can always "adjust and blend" later, if not on final coats, then on weathering. I think weathering is also a modeller's "last chance" to camouflage those points that maybe didn't work out so well. For instance on this latter point, on a Panther I built "elsewhere", my first decal I had applied since the '70s! broke in half between the decal sheet and the model. I paniced! By the time I tried to "rescue" it, I totally obliterated the sucker!!! Solution: Paint in "weather damaged" section of the numbers, and adjust the rest. Damned if it didn't look better that what just the clean decal would have looked like.

[Geek44]

It's great how that happens sometimes...how disaster turns into opportunity. It's also one of the great beauties of armour modelling.
Nothing sticks out for me like some stowage or an item 'added' to a tank or vehicle that has been weathered differently to the rest. The procedure I'm messing with requires many coats of different coloured filters...it occurred to me while I was applying maybe the seventh layer to the tank, that all my jerry cans were still pristine in their base coats and I couldn't remember the order of colours I'd used. One can is grey and the other two are sand. I guess it's okay if they stand out a little, they may have been procured from 'elsewhere'.

[Whiterook]

That actually makes sense, as I think it adds depth in not having the Jerry cans match the tank weathering. Those puppies tended to come off and on, and from all over the place.