Dioramas
Do you love dioramas & vignettes? We sure do.
Ramckes' Iron Men
panzerconor
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Posted: Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - 01:31 PM UTC

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Here is the real deal again. Nice to see a reenactor that is not middle aged and well fed.][/URL]




Hahaha that's true, I totally forgot you posted that picture. There were quite a few guys like him at the reenactment I saw, but unfortunately none were paras



Ah well,I suppose us fat guys like to have some fun as well as the next guy!! What can I say,I do love my groceries! Hahahahahah,
J



Hahaha that's true. In the middle of reenacting they fatter guys don't look fat...until I look at pictures after lol. I'm pretty ticked that I didn't get a good pic of any FJs. Would have made a good reference as there were some in good shape.

This guy is more like the one in your pic. A bit too clean IMO though:
IMG_1533

Good WH reference for me though. Also, I'm not sure if you'd be interested, but I got to take a bunch of shots of this Sd.Kfz. 10 at the reenactment.
http://www.modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/6142/sd-kfz-10-walkaround
It's a restored Afrika Korps one, used by none other than the Ramcke Brigade. Thought of this build the second I found out it was from that brigade.

And, before I forget, the khaki and painting is off the great start. Love the different shades and the beige-type colors as well. I'm definitley coming back to this thread when I build an AK dio.

Sorry, seems I've rambled on a bit lol...

-Conor
SdAufKla
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Posted: Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - 02:41 PM UTC
These guys are starting to come together now, Jerry.

I also like the "group" photo. It's nice to see them all together finally. It's hard to get the variations in tones and colors, especially in this lighter color pallet. The faded khaki and skin tones are all very close together. Hard to find visible variety without resorting to extremes. You're doing a good job of it, though.

BTW: I forgot to post over on your other thread, but I love that tree you have on the GI .50 cal vignette. That's a real piece of work, my friend!
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, October 17, 2013 - 02:00 AM UTC
[quote]
Hu Jerry,

thanks for posting this pic! Finally we see the group as a whole.

Colour-wise I find the trousers on the ammo bearer the best. It looks quite bleached out without losing a "colour" touch.

Please look at the NCO again. Compare his cap and the way it is seated on his head with the gunner's, Don't you think it sits too far up (interval ear lobe to cap bottom)???

I like the gunner a lot better!

What is the ammo bearer to get for a headgear?? If cap, he might have the same problem as the NCO.

You know I don't want to be picky, don't you!

Cheers

Romain[/quote


The NCO does look off from this side. The thing is,his hat is tilted a lot to the side,as guys were doing that a lot back then,so it doesn't look right because of that. All of the hats are tacked on so I can take them away to make face painting easier when I get to it. The ammo guy never did get the final shaving off the top of his head. He was molded without a hat originally and I just didn't get around to finishing that.
This is what you get when modelers' add happens and you have too many figs and other things going similtaneously.
J
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, October 17, 2013 - 02:06 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Here is the real deal again. Nice to see a reenactor that is not middle aged and well fed.][/URL]




Hahaha that's true, I totally forgot you posted that picture. There were quite a few guys like him at the reenactment I saw, but unfortunately none were paras



Ah well,I suppose us fat guys like to have some fun as well as the next guy!! What can I say,I do love my groceries! Hahahahahah,
J



Hahaha that's true. In the middle of reenacting they fatter guys don't look fat...until I look at pictures after lol. I'm pretty ticked that I didn't get a good pic of any FJs. Would have made a good reference as there were some in good shape.

This guy is more like the one in your pic. A bit too clean IMO though:
IMG_1533

Good WH reference for me though. Also, I'm not sure if you'd be interested, but I got to take a bunch of shots of this Sd.Kfz. 10 at the reenactment.
http://www.modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/6142/sd-kfz-10-walkaround
It's a restored Afrika Korps one, used by none other than the Ramcke Brigade. Thought of this build the second I found out it was from that brigade.

And, before I forget, the khaki and painting is off the great start. Love the different shades and the beige-type colors as well. I'm definitley coming back to this thread when I build an AK dio.

Sorry, seems I've rambled on a bit lol...

-Conor




No worries,doesn't seem rambly to me. Yes,that guy looks a bit clean but officers do look pretty clean usually. I have a nice clear pic of a Hauptsturmfuhrer from Wiking right after they got surrounded at Korsun. He is standing in a trench and looks surprisingly clean. This was during the still normal field ops. Maybe 3 weeks later when they were scrambling for their lives out of the pocket he looked a bit different?
Thanks for the ref pix of the -10 track. I have some good ones of the vehicle in the museum at Coblenz,Germany.
I really doubt that an airborne unit had tracks though. Never heard of it,except for kettenkrads or the HG Pz Div?
I think someone just liked this emblem and stuck it on there.
J
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, October 17, 2013 - 02:09 AM UTC

Quoted Text

These guys are starting to come together now, Jerry.

I also like the "group" photo. It's nice to see them all together finally. It's hard to get the variations in tones and colors, especially in this lighter color pallet. The faded khaki and skin tones are all very close together. Hard to find visible variety without resorting to extremes. You're doing a good job of it, though.

BTW: I forgot to post over on your other thread, but I love that tree you have on the GI .50 cal vignette. That's a real piece of work, my friend!




Thanks for the kind words again buddy! Your build is now not only very cool and inspiring for me to watch and learn and take notes from but now I just have to follow your lead on fig painting concerning khaki!
The tree got improved last night. I finally got on a roll as my eyes are not so distracting as they were.
J
panzerconor
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Posted: Thursday, October 17, 2013 - 04:09 AM UTC

Quoted Text


No worries,doesn't seem rambly to me. Yes,that guy looks a bit clean but officers do look pretty clean usually. I have a nice clear pic of a Hauptsturmfuhrer from Wiking right after they got surrounded at Korsun. He is standing in a trench and looks surprisingly clean. This was during the still normal field ops. Maybe 3 weeks later when they were scrambling for their lives out of the pocket he looked a bit different?
Thanks for the ref pix of the -10 track. I have some good ones of the vehicle in the museum at Coblenz,Germany.
I really doubt that an airborne unit had tracks though. Never heard of it,except for kettenkrads or the HG Pz Div?
I think someone just liked this emblem and stuck it on there.
J



Yeah that's true too. Most of the landser at the reenectment were pretty messy looking though. Can you put up a pic of the Wiking officer? I'm always interested in anything to due with the Korsun Pocket. And yes, it would be rather impressive if he kept a clean uniform through the whole battle. It wouldn't surprise me if that halftrack isn't actually from Ramcke. I couldn't find anything else about it there though. Gotta wait til next year!

-Conor
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, October 17, 2013 - 06:38 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


No worries,doesn't seem rambly to me. Yes,that guy looks a bit clean but officers do look pretty clean usually. I have a nice clear pic of a Hauptsturmfuhrer from Wiking right after they got surrounded at Korsun. He is standing in a trench and looks surprisingly clean. This was during the still normal field ops. Maybe 3 weeks later when they were scrambling for their lives out of the pocket he looked a bit different?
Thanks for the ref pix of the -10 track. I have some good ones of the vehicle in the museum at Coblenz,Germany.
I really doubt that an airborne unit had tracks though. Never heard of it,except for kettenkrads or the HG Pz Div?
I think someone just liked this emblem and stuck it on there.
J



Yeah that's true too. Most of the landser at the reenectment were pretty messy looking though. Can you put up a pic of the Wiking officer? I'm always interested in anything to due with the Korsun Pocket. And yes, it would be rather impressive if he kept a clean uniform through the whole battle. It wouldn't surprise me if that halftrack isn't actually from Ramcke. I couldn't find anything else about it there though. Gotta wait til next year!

-Conor



There were no armoured units in the Ramcke Bd so this is kinda fishy.
As far as the Korsun affair goes I highly recommend the book "Hells' Gate". Lots of excellent pics of Wiking in there taken by aKriegsberichter that made it out. Excellently written,it dispels quite a few myths about the battle,specially from the Soviet side. Good first hand accounts from both sides.
J
panzerconor
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Posted: Thursday, October 17, 2013 - 07:13 AM UTC

Quoted Text

There were no armoured units in the Ramcke Bd so this is kinda fishy.
As far as the Korsun affair goes I highly recommend the book "Hells' Gate". Lots of excellent pics of Wiking in there taken by aKriegsberichter that made it out. Excellently written,it dispels quite a few myths about the battle,specially from the Soviet side. Good first hand accounts from both sides.
J



Hell's Gate?



It really is a great book, but I got it a couple years ago and still haven't finished it hahaha. Every so often I binge read it, then set it down for months. I think I know the photograph of the Wiking officer if it's one in the book.

I'm sure you're right about the Ramcke halftrack too. If it's there next year I'll ask someone.

-Conor
jrutman
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Posted: Friday, October 18, 2013 - 02:29 AM UTC
Hey man,you need to read that thing as it gives a wealth of info about the daily lives of German and Soviet troops fighting the biggest modern war in history...the Ostfront.
Interesting point that illustrates what us old soldiers all know. The German wandering pocket,when breaking out,had very little problem breaking through the Russian inner and outer defense rings with their lead assault units and their rear guard combat elements. The big problems were with the vast group of rear area support troops,civilian workers,hiwis and Ukrainian refugees that were in the middle. These instantly became a huge leaderless panicked mob when attacked by the Red Army and this group suffered the highest in terms of killed wounded and taken captive.
The author continuingly brings up the fact that even after several"ruthless combing outs" of clerks,truck drivers and Hq workers into the combat units there was still a large amount of people with their unauthorized transport clogging all the villages and roads. So much for the iron control of the German Army.
J
panzerconor
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Posted: Friday, October 18, 2013 - 04:40 AM UTC
Right now I'm about 3/4 of the way through it, the start of the breakout & fighting around Novo Buda. I really love the way Nash writes the book, with top brass discussion and arguments, then the story of this or that soldier freezing his a$$ of, soaked, in the field. I've really got to get back into that book hahaha.

-Conor
jrutman
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Posted: Saturday, October 19, 2013 - 08:30 AM UTC
My eyes are bit better so I took a chance. The camera is at the limit of its' close-up ability I think.
Got the cockade,sartouche and desert eagle on a nice bleached by gasoline softcap.
1stjaeger
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Posted: Monday, October 21, 2013 - 02:22 AM UTC

unfortunately, the photo does not allow for much detail to be seen clearly!!!

Both lighting ans focus are not perfect.
And that's me saying stuff like that!! I'd better improve on my (poor) skills instead of nagging!!

Looking forward to a better view!

Cheers m8!

Romain

jrutman
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Posted: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 - 03:06 AM UTC
How's this one?


I am happy with the circle patch and the branch of service stripe but not the eagle.
J
1stjaeger
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Posted: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 - 05:52 AM UTC

Hi m8,


the photo is much better and I see your point with the eagle. Might I suggest you define it better by putting a slightly darker outline on the low edge. After all, the eagle is a raised item and not "painted" on!!
That then should do the trick!

Glad you are "back". Hopefully your eyesight will remain OK!

Cheers

Romain
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, October 31, 2013 - 02:04 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Hi m8,


the photo is much better and I see your point with the eagle. Might I suggest you define it better by putting a slightly darker outline on the low edge. After all, the eagle is a raised item and not "painted" on!!
That then should do the trick!

Glad you are "back". Hopefully your eyesight will remain OK!

Cheers

Romain


I concur. I also think I will do better if I sand off the residual molded on eagle patch so I have a smooth surface to start with. I think I can improve the sartouche as well by adding an inner line of dark to highlite the yellow stripe,as right now the single dark line makes it look like it was just one large patch that included the cockade as well.
Man o man,lots of detail in a small area....not so good for this old man.
J
jrutman
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Posted: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 - 06:29 AM UTC
How is this for a base coat for a well tanned guy? No shading has been done yet.


I am back to oil paint for the flesh parts.
J
1stjaeger
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Posted: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 - 07:54 AM UTC


oil paint or other...it's good you're back!!!

Have fun!

Cheers

Romain
jrutman
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Posted: Wednesday, December 04, 2013 - 03:42 AM UTC

Quoted Text



oil paint or other...it's good you're back!!!

Have fun!

Cheers

Romain




Good to be back. But now I am happy with the color but not with the way the arms look. Not enough definition. Hard to see the face as well because of the shiny wet paint.
J
jrutman
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Posted: Saturday, June 21, 2014 - 08:31 AM UTC
Well it has warmed up here...and then some! So....back to warm weather stuff.
Got some painting done on this dude. He isn't done yet around the hat and goggles. I just attached his hand with the binos and so that isn't nearly done either. Anyway,lots isn't done so be gentle.










I am still using my new Life Colors paints and mixing them with a little Vallejo. Very happy.
J
1stjaeger
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Posted: Saturday, June 21, 2014 - 07:48 PM UTC


Hej Jerry,

good to see you back on the task here!!!

Skin tone is super!! Shading on the uniform is great! I agree that there is still some work to do on this fellow, but it's looking fine already so far!!

Cheers

Romain

kurnuy
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Posted: Saturday, June 21, 2014 - 10:03 PM UTC
Hi Jerry ,

your right to put the popcorn aside and to continue because your work is never boring !

Nice progress and i'll stay tuned .

Cheers

Kurt
jrutman
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Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2014 - 02:15 AM UTC
Romain and Kurt,


Thanks for checking in ol' buddies.

It's nice to get a bit of something from the "underway" pile worked on a little bit.
I really like these news paints. They are much easier to work with. But I think I need to add a dash of reddish tones in the tan skin areas. I want to show prolonged exposure as these little dudes are in the middle of a cross-desert E & E movement.
J
panzerconor
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Posted: Monday, June 23, 2014 - 01:55 PM UTC
Mr Rutman you've done very well for yourself it seems. Makes me want to get back to my workbench but I fear I've fallen into my summer slump The paras look great and I'm glad to see them back. The folds in the shirt on the officer really makes him pop.

Looking forward to the next update, as always

-Conor
jrutman
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Posted: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 03:45 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Mr Rutman you've done very well for yourself it seems. Makes me want to get back to my workbench but I fear I've fallen into my summer slump The paras look great and I'm glad to see them back. The folds in the shirt on the officer really makes him pop.

Looking forward to the next update, as always

-Conor





Thanks for looking in buddy. I am also in the summer mode and only got to paint this new stuff when the weather turned steamy and rainy. The spring was so nice I just wanted to sit outside and breath it in.
J
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, June 26, 2014 - 08:32 AM UTC
I'm calling this little dude fini. There are still tiny things that bother me but I must move on or I will loose my op tempo.
Blended in hi right hand,Added the straps for the binos,the 2LT shoulder straps,the wristwatch and the last bits for the lensatic compass.
I wanted to show this guy walking along with the file,in the midst of shooting an azimuth he notices....on the horizon...what is that? Worth a look-see.
J



When I get to the part of building the groundwork I will add some dust to his boots,etc. Moving along.
J