I decided to focus my attention on one subject, the IDF, which I thought would help simplify my stash, which it did. But it has taken a lot of research and scratchbuilding to represent the IDF. The main reason why I don't have a large reference library on non-IDF subjects. But those WWII German airplanes, they have just snuck in there over the years.
Front left. I used a dental tool to chisel away at the hull and turret to imply that they are cast items. Then I removed the burrs with steel wool. Emergency fire extinguisher handle was cast, as were all of the triangular tie down rings, and nuts and bolts. I started small with this build. The most difficult part of this build was making the .50cal mg mount. It had to be perfectly symmetrical.
Rear Left. I lowered the suspension a couple of millimeter's. I cut grooves in the rubber track pads and dinged the rubber on the road wheels. Lead foil for the flag bolted to the rear deck.
Rear. I wanted to protect my six, so I came up with this. Artistic license.
Rear Right. Lots of work on the gun lock and zenon light.
Front Right. Scratchbuilt the commanders mg scissor mount. I 'designed' the base so the main gun would, at its current elevation, be parallel to the ground. It made for a very dynamic look.
Turret close-up. I located a mirror in the Urdan Cupola hatch to keep prying eyes from seeing into the empty turret. The knife is supposed to keep the folded map from flying away. The commanders mg ammo box must have fallen off.
From the front. I threw some Graphic Design concepts into the build. One is direction. The turret and 3 guns go into the same direction. The commanders gun, hull, and zenon light go in an intersecting direction. The placement of stuff on the left fender reinforces the front to back direction and continues the movement forward with the in-line placement of additional track, while the circle on the right front fender terminates the movement by being a dissimilar object. The front hanging chain repeats the front hull curve. Stuff like that.
From the Rear. Thinned the kit supplied bustle supports and made the bustle.
Thanks for looking.
Sincerely,
Mark
