00027

9 771886 446008
 19€
New monographic dedicated to the Afrika Korps. 88 pages in which you can find the latest
techniques employed by the authors showed step by step. A perfect reference to learn how to paint
those effects produced in desert conditions. Techniques that will inspire you to build your desert
models.

ACCION PRESS
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HISTOREX AGENTS
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www.historexagents.com
 This is a rather old kit in which the author invested a considerable effort in doing a
hyper-realistic paintjob. This review also includes six color profiles and a
photographic report.

! -& + ' ,#
$# )( # #( ' ( $# $"" # &
This is the first 120mm figure ever reviewed in our Panzer Aces/Armor Models
magazine pages. The figure represents a member of the multinational U.N. forces on
a humanitarian mission in Lebanon. The four colored camouflage uniform along with
the BMR armored vehicle –partly made from scratch- is particularly interesting

)(' ' & $&%'

An interesting scene taking place in northern Africa were we can see two interesting
vehicles with a few assorted elements and figures. At 1/72 scale we can depict a
moment in time in a reduced scenario.

) ' + *
A high quality vignette which includes a small German armored vehicle and three
figures dressed with three different uniforms.

#( # '( ()
A step by step photographic report that shows the most efficient way to paint a statue that needs a bronze finish.
2
 B +?3/; #/.98.9 37H8/C n January 1943, A Tiger I was
Photographs by the author captured by the Soviet army on
Figures by: Diego J. Jiménez Molina the Leningrad front, and was
Color Profiles: Carlos de Diego Vaquerizo subsequently used on a number of
tests. The results were quite revealing:
%+73B+
The only existing guns that could harm
it were the 85 mm anti aerial gun piece
%2/ D<+79529.8+B+ &<=+89?5+F $& and the 122 mm A-19. A new and pow-
$>,:;9:/66/. +<</7,6B $& @+< ./?/69:/. erful enough gun was developed under
+< +8 +8<@/; =9 =2/ %31/; =2/8 +-=3?/ 38 =2/ the leadership of General F.F. Petrov.
The 85mm D-5S-85 that was assigned
9;3/8=+6 0;98= @29</ +;79;381 @+< <=;>;.B to the self propelled SU-122 wich used
/89>12 =9 +?93. :/8/=;+=398 ,B +8B /A3<=381 the T-34 frame was the result of this
$9?3/= +;79;/. ?/23-6/ 90 =2/ :/;39. %2/ effort. The tests lead to the following
1>8< 98 =2/ % +8. =2/ * $ 98 =2/ ' conclusions: This vehicle wasn’t
equipped with a telescopic sight for
,9=2 77 @/;/ +6=91/=2/; :9@/;6/<< direct fire, and this made it inadequate
@2/8 .3;/-=/. =9@+;.< =2/ 7312=B /;7+8 for the gun.
7+-238/ %2/ <3=>+=398 @+< ;+=2/; ./<:/;+=/ A ball joint was designed for the
<9 +8 +;79;/. ?/23-6/ -+:+,6/ 90 ./<=;9B381 3= weapon which allowed for a 20 degree
turn to each side and a +20 degree ele-
2+. =9 ,/ -;/+=/. vation plus a -3 degree lowering
equipped with a brand new telescopic
sight (TSh-15). The weapon was now
housed on a redesigned casemate
placed on an old SU-122. Engineers
Makonin, Gorlick and Troyanov lead the
team that carried out the works. The
final prototype was presented to a state
commission on the summer of 1943.
The vehicle was immediately green
lighted for service and mass production
began on august the seventh of the
same year. Its manufacture was trusted
to the Zavod number 9 (Factory num-
ber 9) on Uralmarsh (UZTM) in
Sverdlovsk.
Two versions of the SU-85 were man-
ufactured: The model with a hatch for
the commander and three fixed
periscopes and a fourth rotating one was
made in greater numbers. The SU-85M,
was an improved version with the same
hatch and a sight system that matched
the one found on the T-34/85.
Towards the end of 1944, 2.050 units
were manufactured when production
ceased. This is a small amount consid-
ering the production numbers on other
models. Even if the vehicle was com-
pact and not very vulnerable the reason
for its demise was the little maneuver-
ability that a model without a turret pro-
vided. The vehicle had to be turned
around when they needed to aim. The
vehicle was not designed to defend
itself against close infantr y attack
because it lacked the machine guns nor-
3
mally provided for this purpose, making
 it vulnerable. The final deathblow to the
model came when the necessary SU-85
gun was assigned to the improved ver-
sion of the T-34: The T/34/85.
In January 1945, production began
on the self propelled armored vehicle
SU-100 with a 100mm D-10 gun. This
vehicle remained in active service until
1957.

ASSEMBL Y
We’ve used the old Tamiya kit which
is still quite correct in its details. In spite
of its age, the kit has the quality stan-
dards that other brands strive to keep in
the present.
The frame has some holes in the bot-
tom, reminiscence from the period
where people used to place motors on
hobby kits. After carefully filling these

%2/ +A3+6 :9<3=398 90 =2/ =/8<9;

@2//6 98 =2/ 0;98= 2+< ,//8
79?/. 09;@+;. %2/ 9./65+<=/8
-2+38 6385< 7+./ 90 384/-=/.
:6+<=3- 38-6>./ =2/ -9;;/-= +A3<

#381< +8. 2+8.6/< 7+./ 9>= 90 -9::/; @3;/ 2+?/ ,//8 :6+-/. 98 =2/ <3./< 90 =2/ 2>66 77 ?/;1;//8 <=;3: 2+<
4 ,//8 :6+-/. 98 =2/ +8=3 7>. 0/8./;<
 +13- $->6:= :>==B 2+< ,//8 ></. =9
79./6 =2/ -+8?+<

KIT USED
Kit:
- SU-85 Russian Tank Destroyer,
Tamiya ref. 35072, 1/35 scale.

Photo etched sheet:

- SU-85, Eduard ref. 35370.

Gun:
-Soviet 85 mm D-57, Jordi Rubio
ref. TG-09

Caterpillar chain links:

-T34 Model 42, Modelkasten ref. %2;// 2+8.6/< 2+?/ ,//8 modify the way that the frontal planks
Sk-34. :6+-/. 38 =2/ 1>8 < 7+8=/6/= are fitted together. These planks are
!8/ 38 =2/ -/8=/; +8. =@9 98 rounded in shape and should look a lit-
Accessories: =2/ <3./< tle more angular. We will also have to
-Spotlight lens, MV ref. 4036. remove one hinge (There’s three) on the
-Floor tiles, Verlinden Productions rear porthole that gives access to the
ref. 1447. transmission in the center.
we’ve under taken a few upgrading The remaining modifications are pret-
Figures: labors in order to faithfully reproduce ty much routine: changing the plastic
-Russian Army Tank Crew at Rest, the SU-85. When the kit was designed, gun for an aluminum one, and removing
Tamiya ref. 35214. Tamiya used the frame of the T-34 from the tracks and placing individual links
-Russian Tanker 1943-45, Alpine 1942. Only a few early units used this instead. A few photo etched pieces such
ref. 35012. frame, most SU-85’s were built on the as the grille on the ventilation area and
-Figure heads, Hornet ref. HRH05. frame of the T-34/85. This can be cor- the periscopes on the casemate’s roof
rected by using a few Evergreen strips to have been added as well. 5
 %2/ 79=9; < -9?/; 2+< + 73A=>;/
90 %+73B+ < ) +8. ) #><= COLOUR CHART (SU-85)
+8. .3;= 2+?/ ,//8 -98?/B/.
><381 "317/8=< " +8. "
+8. 1;/+</ 3< .98/ @3=2 936 :+38= TAMIYA (acrylics) 14 cadmium yellow medium
%3=+8 XF-3 flat yellow 20 cadmium red light
XF-9 hull red 80 bitumen
XF-49 khaki 84 lamp black
XF-58 olive green
XF-60 dark yellow HUMBROL (enamels)
XF-61 dark green 29 matt dark earth
72 matt khaki drill
PELIKAN (temperas) 81 matt pale yellow
White
THE FILTER (enamels)
MODEL COLOR (acrylics) P241 brown
894 Russian green P242 burnt

PANZER ACES (acrylics) MIG PRODUCTIONS

301 light rust (pigments)
313 stencil P023 black smoke
P024 light rust
VAN GOGH (oils) P025 standard rust
227 yellow ochre P027 light dust
409 burnt umber P028 Europe dust
411 burnt Sienna P030 beach sand
623 sap green P034 Russian earth

TITAN (oils) MARABU (varnish)

1 titanium white 1106 gloss varnish

PAINT WORK This is due to the fact that these vehicles find attractive and elaborate camouflage
had pretty strict paint patterns. However schemes specially in the later years of the
Soviet armored vehicles –pretty much if we do a little research on the ample war. Nevertheless, all SU-85’s came out
like the American Shermans– have a rep- documentation available on the armored of the factory painted only in the “4BO”
utation of being rather boring to paint. vehicles of the USSR, we’ll be able to dark green reference color without any
additional camouflage paint. The only
exception to this was the winter camou-
flage Matt white “B” paint used in the
snow.
I decided to portray a vehicle belong-
ing to the 1st Polish Armored Corps,
in Pomerania during the
month of March
of the final year of
the war. Historical
reference pictures
show us the vehi-
cle sporting much
battered remains of

%/7:/;+ 2+< ,//8 @+=/; .36>=/.

+8. =2/8 +::63/. =9 =2/ <>;0+-/ 90
=2/ 53= 0=/; 3= .;3/< >: 3= 3< =2/8
:+;=3+66B ;/79?/. ><381 + 06+=
6 ,;><2 <95/. @3=2 @+=/;
$=;+312= 9>= 90 =2/ =>,/ >8.36>=/.
+8. +::63/. 2+60 .;B =/7:/;+ -+8
13?/ >< <97/ <>;:;3<381 -969; /00/-=<
995 += =2/ -3;->6+; 2+=-2 =2+= 13?/<
+--/<< =9 =2/ =;+8<73<<398

white paint altogether worn in many

places. While I planned the way to con-
vey this, I painted the vehicle in the
original factory green color.
I applied the 4BO green base color
using Tamiya acrylics XF-61, XF-58 and
XF-49 in the following proportions:
70%, 20%, and 10%. My airbrush kit
was the tool obviously used for this
task and also for the application of a
few well spread highlights in XF-60.
Then I began to age the kit using a
hand held brush and a few Humbrol
enamels. I used H 81, 29, and 72, 90%
diluted on the brand’s own thinner. I
allowed more than enough time to dry to my memory: Some old school days therefore play the part. I also had the
between the different paint layers. Once tempera color tubes that were home possibility to simulate wear by removing
the enamel “filters” were completely dry, somewhere. Soviet crews used the ref B paint with a water soaked mild brush.
I melted a few oil paint colors in the usu- white paint which was available in a After having performed a few tests on
al way, I worked on small areas and powdered form. Paint was later on dilut- an old kit I took this kit, and recreated
mixed the colors until I got a subtle veil. ed and was gun sprayed. Once paint on its surface similar effects to those
Oil Paint employed is as follows: 227, dried up it could easily be removed seen on the period pictures.
409, 411, and 623. I finished the job by using water soaked cloths. Tempera has Then I took a good thin brush and a
creating a few shadows on all corners ver y similar characteristics and can color stencil from Panzer Aces and I
and crevices around the hatches and all
other openings using a highly diluted
mixture of oil paints 409 and black.
Then, using the Micro products I pro-
ceeded to apply all decals.
Even at this point I didn’t know
ver y well how to create the
winter camouflage in a fine
realistic way. Then
something came

%2/ +79>8= 90 @+=/; +8.

29@ 7+8B =37/< B9> :+<<
=2/ ,;><2 @366 ./=/;738/
=2/ ./1;// 90 =;+8<:+;/8-B
"+38= -23::/. +8. <-;+=-2/.
+;/+< 2+?/ ,//8 :+38=/.
7
1;//8
 (38=/; -+79>06+1/ 2+< ,//8 <=+38/. @3=2 +
-9>:6/ 90 -969; 036=/;< ><381 ,;9@8 -969;
=98/< "963<2/. 7/=+6 98 =2/ @2//6< 3< 4><=
:/8-36 =2+= 2+< ,//8 <7>.1/. @3=2 =2/
:;9:/; =996

mapped out the areas irregularly painted easily with daily use. Then I applied a acrylic 301, some areas received a rust
in white. Then I used Model Color’s few final filtered shadows using The Fil- trail conveyed with Van Gogh oil paint
Russian Green and did a number of paint ter enamels P241 and P242. I allowed 411 and Titan oil paints 14 and 20. I
scratches a little randomly, but following then enough drying time between both used enamel thinner to blur away the
certain logic. I naturally performed bigger filters. Then I did a few paint chipped brush strokes. Mud and dirt were placed
paint chips in those areas that are worn areas with rust inside using Panzer Aces in the vehicle using Mig Productions’
pigments. Some pigments were placed
by themselves, and some were mixed
together.
Then finally I took a pencil with a
thin lead and a pencil softener and pol-
ished the areas that should look like pol-
ished metal. Then I did a few grease
stains using Titan number 80 oil paint,
Marabu gloss varnish and Humbrol thin-
ner.

BACKGROUND
I decided to set the action on an
urban environment on the heart of the
German Pomerania region right after it
fell to the allied forces. My only inten-
tions were to provide a simple setting
for the kit, so I decided not to include
buildings.
I started with a polyfoam base with
two levels where I stuck a floor tile
>. -6>7:< 98 <97/ +;/+< 98 =2/ ;990 2+?/ ,//8 7+./ ><381 :9@./;/. sheet (those commonly used for train
:317/8=< -6><=/;/. =91/=2/; @3=2 :6+38 @+=/; "+38= -23::/. +;/+< 98 =2/ miniatures).The manufacturer of the
8 2+=-2/< 2+?/ ,//8 :+38=/. .+;5 ;><= -969; +-;B63- tiles didn’t leave any sort of trademark
%2/ 69@/; +;/+< 2+?/ ,//8 ./+6= @3=2 ><381 + 73A=>;/ 90 -969; :317/8=< +8. =/A=>;3</. 1/<<9 +::63/. @3=2 + 2+;. ,;><2 =9
-98?/B 7>.

#/:6+-/7/8= -2+38 6385< 2+?/ ,//8 =;/+=/. 38 =2/ <+7/ @+B +8. 2+?/ +6<9 ;/-/3?/. ;><= -969;/. :317/8=<
 ;/+</ +8. 0>/6 =;+36< 2+?/ ,//8 -98?/B/. @3=2 + 73A=>;/ 90 %3=+8 936 :+38= 8G +;+,> 169<< ?+;83<2 +8. >7,;96
/8+7/6 =2388/;
%2/ 1;9>8. 3< + "96B09+7 :3/-/ =2+= so I ignore who made this. I got more
2+< + 0/@ <=9;/ 199.< 0;97 ?/;1;//8 height by including a statue, which was
+8. <>-2 =9 -98?/B 0699; =36/< basically a figure on a plaster base. I
<=;//=-+; ;+36< /=- %2/ <=+3;< +8. =2/ used Evergreen’s plastic sheet for the
<7+66 @+66 2+?/ ,//8 7+./ @3=2 6312=
floor tiles (These are engraved to look
<+8.@3=-2/. -+;.,9+;. =/A=>;/.
@3=2 + 6+B/; 90 :>==B
like such). I also employed other prod-
%2/ 0699; =36/< 2+?/ ,//8 :+38=/. 38 ucts of the same brand to make the
</?/;+6 .300/;/8= 1;+B 1;+.+=398< +8. sidewalks and the streetcar tracks. I also
?+;3/. :9@./;/. :317/8=< #><= 2+< used a photo etched fence made by
,//8 ></. 38 ./ ;3/6< E38 .300/;/8= Tech Star and a rather nice resin traffic
1;+.+=398< +< @/66 +8. =2/8 :963<2/. light by Royal model which included a
@3=2 1;+:23=/ :/8-36 photo etched sheet and decals.
I painted the base with acrylic paint
(Tamiya, Model Color,
and Panzer Aces) and
the ever so necessary

11
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

- ZALOGA, Steve and SARSON,

Peter. “T-34/76 medium tank
1941-45”, in New Vanguard nº 9,
Osprey Military, London, 1994.
- VV.AA. “Soviet Tanks in
combat 1941-45”, in Armor at
war series nº 7011, Concord
Publications CO. Hong Kong,
1997.
- SKOTNICKI, Mariusz. “Vehicles
of the Polish Armed Forces.
Eastern Front 1943-45, Ajaks
Warsaw, 2004.
-LEDWOCH, Janusz.
“SU 85/100/122”, in Militaria
nº 240, Wydawnictwo Militaria,
Warsaw, 2006.
-KOLOMYJEC, Maksym and
MAKAROV, Michail. “Sowiecka
artyleria Samobiezna 1941-45”,
in Militaria nº 171, Wydawnictwo
Militaria, Warsaw, 2003.
-LEDWOCH, Janusz. “I Korpus
Pancerny 1944-45”, in Militaria
nº 132, Wydawnictwo Militaria,
Warsaw, 2001.
12
%2/ 9?/;+66 98 =2/ Mig pigments. I didn’t use enamels or
-;/@7+8 =2+= 3< thinner, because they may have harmed
=>;8/. +;9>8. 2+< + the Styrofoam base. Paint washes and
,+</ -969; =2+=
all light effects were done only using
-98=+38< ,6+-5
+8. 3126312=<
water as a thinner.
38-6>./ +8. Tamiya and Alpine manufactured the
<2+.9@< +8. figures I used, and in turn these figures
,6+-5 were modified with a few Russian
armored vehicle crewmen heads from
Hornet I painted them with the help of
my friend Diego Jiménez Molina.

13
 %2/ <538 98 =2/ 031>;/< 2+< ,//8 +</ -969; 98 =2/ 9?/;+66< -98=+38<
:+38=/. ><381 + 73A=>;/ 90 +8. =2/ 09669@381 73A=>;/ +8.
3126312=< 2+?/ +8. 3126312=< 98 =2/ <>3=< 2+?/
+8. <2+.9@< +8. +8. @23=/ +8. <2+.9@< +8.
,6+-5 %2/ 6/+=2/; -969;/.
2/+. :;9=/-=398 2+< ,//8 6312=/. >:
><381 +8. 13?/8 <2+.9@< @3=2
,6+-5

%23< :3/-/ 90 -69=2381 2+< ,//8

7+./ @3=2 ,6+-5 +8.
=2/8 3= 2+< ,//8 23126312=/. @3=2
+8. <2+./. @3=2 ,6+-5 98 =2/
.+;5 +;/+<

COLOUR CHART
(Figures)
MODEL COLOR (acrylics)
808 blue green
809 royal blue
815 basic skintone
845 sunny skin tone
858 ice yellow
862 black grey
868 dark seagreen
874 USA-tan earth
885 pastel green
898 dark sea blue
928 light flesh
940 dark blue
950 black
951 white
955 flat flesh
959 purple
966 turquesa
976 buff
981 orange brown
982 cavalry brown

CITADEL (acrylics)
176 tanned flesh
 $& ;. "963<2 $/60 ";9:/66/. ;=366/;B +==+6398
/-/7,/;

$& ;. &-;+83+8 ;98= +-+> #97+83+

>1><=

15
16
$& <= C/-2 ;79>;/. ;31+./
>81+;B !-=9,/;

$& =2 $/60 ";9:/66/. ;=366/;B #/137/8=

;. +6=3- ;98= 9;=2/;8 ;98= !-=9,/;
 />=/:+8C/; $& ; >8589@8 >83=
+<=/;8 ;98=

$& ;. "963<2 $/60 ";9:/66/. ;=366/;B #/137/8=

/;638 +B

17
 Photographs by Luis Fuster Aisa taken in Warsaw’s Technical Museum.

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 By: Carlos de Diego Vaquerizo
Picture credits: Raúl Fernández Ruiz

Al-By 1/72

In order to save the critical situation created by the Italian Army in Northern
Africa, Hitler decided to send a part of the German Army commanded by
“Generalmajor” Erwin Rommel. The first contingent of this unit, named
“Afrikakorps”, landed in Tripoli between February and March 1941, and quickly
began the thunderbolt offense that culminated by the conquering of the
Cyrenaica in about two weeks.

he Axis’ contingents reached all

the way to the Egyptian border,
but the crucial port of Tobruk
remained in the hands of the Common-
wealth. In November the British began
the “Crusader” operation, liberated
Tobruk and forced the German-Italian
troops into the Tripolitan area, behind
the El Aghelia line.
In January 1942, taking advantage
from the well spread British forces, Rom-
mel launched a surprise attack. The
British retreated all the way to Gazala.
This town saw some crude fighting, and
in the month of June the British were
forced to abandon it. As a consequence
Tobruk quickly fell to the Axis. The Ger-
mans gained a significant amount of
loot and Rommel was promoted to
“Generalfeldmarschall”. The exhausted
“Afrikacorps” were finally stopped in El
Alamein (Egypt) on July 1942: There,
their fortunes changed.

THE SCENE
This is a pretty small scene in terms
of size, set in the torrid Libyan territory.
I portrayed a small resting moment dur-
ing the advance that took place in 1942.
We can see two German vehicles; on
one hand an Opel Omnibus from Rom-
mel’s own entourage and on the other
hand an Sd.Kfz. 253 from the 21st
Panzerdivision.
The half-track Sd.Kfz. 253 vehicle
was initially designed as an armored
reconnaissance and command vehicle
for the StuG. Batterien (Gun Assault Bat-
teries). 285 units of this vehicle were
26
made between March 1940 and June
27
 The inside contains a mixture of XF-63 (65%), XF-50
(30%) and mat white (5%).

Base color for the seats is obtained by mixing 875,

987 and 921. After shading the wooden parts with an oil
wash (Van Gogh 78), the floor is given a dust layer with
washes on 977 and 884.

The wipers and

windows are cut
on top of a
transparent
plastic piece
about 1mm
thick.

Interior (driver’s
post). The
steering wheel
has been
replaced by a
better make, and
the fire
extinguisher is
plastic rod that
has been painted
red.
tary use between 1939 and 1944, in
addition the Wehrmacht also put to ser-
vice the 2880 buses manufactured by the
1941. The vehicle had a front armoring The windows Ludwig company destined fro exclusive
18mm thick but the sides and roof only are glued using military use. They were basically a sim-
were 8mm thick. It was equipped with carpenter’s plified version of the Opel civil buses
two radio sets: a FuG 15 and a FuG 16 white glue with an elongated chassis borrowed from
and was powered by a six cylindered diluted on 50%
the Opel Blitz truck which had a stan-
water. Glue is
Maybach HL 42 TRKM motor with 100 dard army frame. Just like with trucks
also good to seal
hp that went 2.800 rpm. the joints. they also carried a 3626cc motor and six
In March 1941, a StuG. III was entrust-
ed to every Battery Commander, and then
the leftover Sd.Kfz. 253’s were assigned to
the Artillery units inside the “Panzerdivi-
sionen”. They saw service on all fronts,
and an MG 34 machine gun was placed in
front of the circular hatch on the roof on
most units to protect the vehicle against
enemy infantry. Many of the vehicles sent
to Africa were also equipped with an
frame antenna designed to improve com-
munications (Rahmenantenne).
About the buses, many non military
28 buses were confiscated and put to mili-
 The truck’s
headlights and the
VEHICLES
Notek combat
headlight have been Assembly:
taken from an
injected plastic kit.
The upper part of The two 1/72th scale resin kits are
the sides of the hood manufactured by the Al-By French com-
has a line (to pany. Overall they are well made, how-
strengthen the area) ever the surface of the kits, specially the
that I made using a half-track was quite porous and I had to
heat stretched strip spend some time using putty.
of plastic.

The luggage storage on the roof has Transparent

been made out of steel rods (0,4mm). plastic pieces
are protected
using masking
tape that has
been cut to
size. Opaque
“glass” pieces
are made
thicker using
0,4mm thick
plastic sheet.

cylinders that developed a power of 68

hp at 2800 rpm on a straight road. The
buses had 30 seats and a 280 km. range.
The buses not only moved troops around
quickly, they were also used as moveable The figures were mat varnished in
order to get rid of the unnatural gloss
Command posts, ambulance/medical
that sometimes acrylics give. Mat
vehicles, repair shops, and even propa- varnish also reduces the contrast
ganda vehicles. between different colors helping
realism.
The small ladder and the rear
view mirror are glued
towards the end when the
vehicle has been painted in
its entirety.
 The pores on the resin are sealed with putty. The handles
of the different tools are styrene plastic rods detailed with
thin aluminum strips and 0,15mm metal wire.

The support for the machine gun has been made out of
0,3mm copper wire. Up on the roof there’s eight small
metal hooks; they are leftover photo etched pieces from
other kits. The protection for the antenna is made out of
two small Evergreen strips.

The wheels are

painted
separately to do
so comfortably.

The frontal fenders and the lower

area of the vehicle’s frame paint
wear is much more intense. Dark
translucent gray layers of paint
have been airbrushed on top of the
original brown colored base paint
to achieve this effect.

Accumulated dust effects have

been achieved with some paint
washes done with Humbrol
enamel 121 mixed with Titan
oil ref. 10.
 When assembling the bus’ frame Painting:
KIT USED with the chassis I found out that they
did not fit together. I came out with a I chose the following colors for my
Kits: solution: I placed the lower part of the kits: Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 (dark grey)
-Opel Omnibus, Al-By ref. 72908, frame in boiling water until it softened. and Braun 8020 (brown), The second
1/72 scale. About a minute later it did finally soften color reference was introduced on spring
-Sd.Kfz. 253, Al-By ref. 72839. to the point of being able to slightly 1942. I decided that base color should
1/72 scale. shape it with my fingers and fit it in however be dark grey, camouflaged using
place. Before gluing the two halves great brown spots for the half-track.
Accesories: together I painted the inside of the vehi- Brown was however used to cover the
-Fuel cans and an MG 34 taken from cle in a Dunkelgrau color, as we can see entire surface of the bus, and this
an Sd.Kfz. 234/2 Puma, Italeri in the pictures. allowed me to recreate some interesting
ref. 7029. The small details on both kits were effects where we could see grey paint
-Headlights taken from an Opel Blitz, created in the usual manner: Using Alu- underneath some worn areas on the
Airfix ref. 2315. minum foil and metal wire (0,15mm frame.
-Boxes, Mig Prods. ref. 72069 and thick) I created the handles for the tools I began with the lightest color;
Preiser ref. 18350. on the half-track, used steel rods (0,4mm brown. I airbrushed Tamiya’s XF-59 using
-Skull taken from a Pz.Kpfw. III thick) for the bus’ luggage tray. I also a pressure of 1,00 bar and covered the
Ausf. L Matchbox ref. PK-74. used a few scrap pieces from other kits two vehicles. I then took some more of
such as headlights, hooks, fuel cans a this color and added XF-57 and mat
Figures: machine gun, etc. I will only add that I white and did a few basic highlights.
-Preiser ref. 72505. used Cyanocrilate glue for the small Then I did a highly diluted mixture of
-Mig Prods. ref. 72058, 72072 and pieces and two components glue for the XF-63 (40%) XF-50 (40%) and XF-2
72350. larger pieces. (20%) and using a pressure of 0,5 bar I

The harmony between the different colors on the vehicles, the

accessories and the ground has been achieved by
using oil 10 and powdered color pigments P234
and P030 throughout.
The skull (painted white) has been
dirtied using acrylic washes on
987 and oil washes on
74.
 After matt varnishing both vehicles with the airbrush kit I
put some more dust using a smooth #3 brush and
powdered color pigments P030 and P234. Pigment sticks to
the surface when you press it with your brush, excess
pigment can be blown away with low pressure air blown
from the airbrush kit.

Al-By kits don’t include decals. The crosses and other

emblems have been taken from Mirage Hobby’s Pz.kpfw.
IV Ausf. E ref. 72856. The license plates are leftover
decals from other kits.

painted the lower areas of both vehicles Base paint for

and the grey camouflage spots and the the machine gun
tracks on the half-track. Using an even is Tamiya
more diluted version of this mixture but enamel X-10,
using the same pressure I did the worn and details have
areas on the Opel by superposing several been enhanced
almost transparent layers of paint. by doing a
couple of black
Then I applied the decals, and set-
acrylic paint
tled those in place using a smooth
washes.
brush and the Micro Sol product. In
order to conceal the transparent film of white paint diluted on 90% thinner. rather diluted layer of XF-64 and obtained
the decals (these decals were not too These highlights are useful for integrat- a rust like effect.
shiny) I covered them with gloss varnish ing the decals and to smooth out the Then I took the paintbrushes and
and then mat varnished them on top. contrast between the dark grey and began aging the kit. I first however did
The varnish used was the Gunze brown surfaces. the rubber parts on the wheels using
Sangyo gloss and matt varnish refer- Before I cleansed my airbrush kit and black paint toned down with Model Col-
ences. I always did apply it with the put the Tamiya paint to rest I did a subtle ors’ 987, because I wanted to age
help of my airbrush kit. Then I did some shading job mixing XF-49 and XF-1dilut- later on everything together. I began with
more highlights using again the same ed on 90% thinner. I also worked on the a layer of dust and small stains applied
mixture with a greater dose of matt tracks of the Sd.Kfz. 253 applying a with a number 2 brush using specific

COLOUR CHART (Vehicles)

TAMIYA (acrylics) GUNZE SANGYO 950 black HUMBROL (enamels)
XF-1 flat black (acrylics) 964 field blue 121 matt pale stone
XF-2 flat white H-20 flat clear 977 desert yellown
XF-49 khaki H-30 clear 987 medium grey TAMIYA (enamels)
XF-50 field blue 988 khaki X-10 gun metal
XF-57 buff MODEL COLOR
XF-59 desert yellow (acrylics) TITAN (oils) MIG PRODUCTIONS
XF-63 German grey 818 red leather 1 titanium white (pigments)
XF-64 red brown 847 dark sand 10 Naples yellow reddisch P030 beach sand
XF-65 field grey 875 beige brown 74 raw umber P234 rubble dust
884 stone grey 78 burnt umber
900 French mirage blue 94 gold ochre transparent
32 921 English uniform 98 pink earth transparent
 The ground is an oval piece of cork carved
with a carving tool. The rocky area is made
of resin and it is a copy of a piece of slate
obtained with a latex mold.

Some parts of the rock have been remodeled

with Putty (the one you mix two
components). The texture is obtained by
simultaneously doing small cuts on the
product with a spatula and the tip of a knife.
Then I also used some steel wool and gently
pressed it against the ground.

paint washes on 988, 847, and 884.

While doing this it is convenient to
dilute well paint and slightly dry up
your brush if you don’t want those ugly
and out of scale circular paint stains
which look a lot like coffee stains on a
table.
Then I went and did the paint
chipped and scratched areas. In order to
make the deepest ones –those that let
you see the steel underneath- I used
950 and 818. Superficial scratches were
done using 900 and 964 with a hint of
977. I also did some scratches with a
mixture of 977 and 884. I always used
for doing these a No 1 brush and Model
Color paints because they are water sol-
uble and can be spread rather nicely.
I wanted to further accentuate wear moderation and always respecting the powdered pigments on the surface of
on the painted surfaces so I “melted” scale of the vehicle. both kits and used pigments P030 and
on enamel thinner small tidbits of oil A couple of days later I returned to P234 on both kits as well, but insisting
paint (94, 1, 10, and also 98 and 74 but the kit and worked on the final phase; on the lower and horizontal areas, such
on even smaller amounts). After allow- dust. I began with a few Humbrol enam- as the hood the flat areas on the mud
ing a few days for the oil colors to settle el washes on 121 mixed with Titan oil fenders, and roof because dust tends to
I prepared a mixture of oil paints 74 ref. 10 applied on certain areas in order accumulate in these places.
slightly “grayed” with a little white and to control drying time and if needed to
a little black and used it for defining the remove or diffuse excess paint. This
creviced areas and enhancing the pro- helped me simulate dust on all places.
files of the kit. I however did this with Then I used a smooth brush to apply GROUND
I did not want a straight flat surface,
because I wanted to place the vehicles in
two separate areas to create the composi-
tion of the whole scene.

In order to have the wheels of

the bus sit well on the ground,
you need a good amount of putty.
A wash made out of “Green Putty”
thinned out using acetone will
allow you to check out if
there are pores to fill. It also
helps paint to adhere to the
surface. 33
 I used a thick cork surface as a base,
and glued on the back of it a resin copy
of a fairly large piece of slate, which was
perfect for portraying a large rock. I used
putty (the one you get by mixing two
components) to mold the lower part of
the ground. I also remodeled the edges
of the rock. Before putty settled com-
pletely I did some wheel prints, I placed
the half-track vehicle on the ground and
I carefully exerted some pressure to
leave the prints. I also did a few foot-
prints with the boot of a figure.
I painted it in three stages. First I air-
brushed some Tamiya acrylics: XF-20 on
the rocks and XF-59 on the sand. Then I
applied some highlights lighting up the
first color with XF-55 and the second

After applying all base colors, a few

highlights and a few shadows, and
some airbrush overtones, the texture
is slightly enhanced with the dry
brush technique.

A few well placed oil washes can give

you some nuances and help darken
the bas relief areas. The final
appearance is pretty much achieved
with a moderate application of
powdered pigments.

one with XF-57, insisting on the areas almost transparent layers of XF-59 and
that should get more sunlight. Then I XF-64.
did some shadows using XF-51 and On the second stage I used a flat
added a few nuances on the rocks with number 6 brush; a cylinder tipped num-

COLOUR CHART (Terrain)

TAMIYA (acrylics) TITAN (oils)
XF-20 medium grey 1 titanium white
XF-51 khaki drab 10 Naples yellow reddish
XF-55 deck tan 47 Prussian blue
XF-57 buff 74 raw umber
XF-59 desert yellow 94 gold ochre transparent
XF-64 red brown 98 pink earth transparent

GUNZE SANGYO (acrylics)

H-20 flat clear MIG PRODUCTIONS
(pigments)
REVELL (enamels) P030 beach sand
34 47 mouse grey P234 rubble dust
ber 4 brush oil and enamel paint. I subtly 74, 94, 98, and 47 all extremely diluted to
lighted some features on the rock using darken the bas relief areas and tell them
the dry brush technique, and applied on apart from the rest of the ground.
the grayish areas a mixture of Revell The final stage called for the air-
enamel 47 with Titan oils 1 and 10. The brush kit and varnish on one hand and
yellow colored areas were treated with oil a number 4 brush on the other. First I
ref. 94, and I kept using my number 6 got rid of a few glossy areas with some
brush. Before paint dried up completely I airbrushed matt varnish, which made
“swept” those areas using a number 4 the ground look very realistic. Then I
brush slightly soaked on enamel thinner, used my brush to place a few powdered
for further blending those colors in a nat- color pigments P030 and P234. Varnish
ural effect. Then I used the same brush made the surface porous, so pigments
and applied paint veils on Titan oil refs. adhered just by simple brush pressure.

Just like the vehicles, the ground has been lightly dusted
using powdered color pigments. Pigments are fixed in place
by simply placing them with a brush and “padding” it in
place. Leftover powder can be blown away with air from
your airbrush kit using a low air (1/2 bars) pressure.
The fuel cans (XF-65) have several rusty paint chipped
areas done using black and 818. Dust has been made
35
following the same procedures employed on the vehicles.
 Infantry men from Mig Productions
FIGURES with a modified arm pose. Both his
The three soldiers are four different hands and weapon are Preiser
references from different brands. I did not makes, which are better for this
scale. The head will later on be
have to modify the figures considerably,
switched for another one from
because I actually chose them on pur- Preiser.
pose for the scene. Modifying figures in
this scale is really delightful; you won’t
spend much time and it’s actually easier The figure originally wore a thick winter pant, I turned it into
than with the larger scales. an Afrikakorps item of clothing by trimming it down using
I took three resin references from Mig both knife and sandpaper. Both the pant creases, and the
Productions: a motorcycle rider a length of the jacket have been remodeled.

Injected plastic officer Some creases have been altered

from Preiser with Mig using wet 500 gr. sandpaper.
Productions’ resin
legs. The eagle on the
cap has been modeled
with putty and a #1 The motorcycle rider needs very
brush. The arm that is little work: The boots are sanded
holding the piece of down; the shoelaces and the lower
paper will only be part of his pants are molded with
glued when the figure putty. The wavy part of his jacket is
has been painted. excised with a knife and the sleeves
are modified using tinfoil strips.

grenadier with a winter uniform (that I The right arm on this

had to transform) and the legs of a figure has been
tanker. I took a Preiser box of plastic fig- modified to rest on an
ures and used an officer’s torso and sev- MP 40. The strap for
this weapon is a paper
eral heads, hands, helmets, caps and
strip. The belt is also
equipment. too thick so I’ve
I painted them using Model Color concealed it using
acrylics because they are easy to use equipment from the
and are good for doing highlights and Preiser Brand.
shadows by doing a few paint veils. I
first primed them using Tamiya’s XF-59
to help paint adhere well.

COLOUR CHART (Figures) The ground has two

well established
TAMIYA (acrylics) 884 stone grey heights
XF-59 desert yellow 886 green grey communicated by a
ramp on the right
893 US dark green
side. This helps the
MODEL COLOR 921 English uniform
composition by giving
(acrylics) 940 saddle brown us the outlined
596 glaze medium 941 burnt umber silhouette of the bus
814 burnt cad. red 950 black while the half-track is
830 German fieldgrey WWII 951 white well integrated in the
845 sunny skin tone 968 flat green rocky structure.
847 dark sand 975 military green
860 medium fleshtone 976 buff
868 dark seagreen 988 khaki
879 green brown
880 khaki grey TAMIYA (enamels)
36 883 silver grey X-10 gun metal
 The color of his face is a 50% mixture The equipment is
of 860 and 845. The highlights are painted using
made by increasing the amount of 845 different color
and white on the base mixture, while mixtures that have
shadows include 814 and a few drops been previously used
of 596. for painting the
uniforms. This
provides certain
chromatic harmony
throughout. 976 is
always used for the
highlights.

Base color on the greatcoat is a mixture The caps appear usually well
of 90% 988 and 10% 975. Adding more worn and faded in all reference
and more 976 we do six or seven black and white pictures. In
progressive highlights concentrated on order to convey this you start
the crest of each crease in the clothing by a 988 base color that you
and the shoulders. The deep areas on can light up with white on all
each cloth crease are shadowed using the subsequent highlights.
the base color mixture plus 921, black
and a couple of drops of 596.
 Basically the colors used for the uni- Base color for his pants is
forms were 988 and 880 mixed in vary- 879 with a hint 968.
ing proportions with 968 and 975. I did Highlights include 845, and
the lights by mixing these with 976 or shadows 921, black and 595.
The weapon’s strap (black)
845, and for the shadows I used a mix-
is highlighted using 941;
ture of 921, 950 and 596 that I kept metal parts of the weapon
adding to the base color on each uni- are painted with Tamiya’s
form. The picture captions describe the X-10.
mixtures that I used in every step of the
process.
I must say that it took more time to
paint the figures than the vehicles,

The jacket’s base color The canvas elements on boots and

contains 80% 988 and 20% equipment (988) are highlighted
975. Highlights are applied using 976. The strengthening
by progressively adding elements on the footwear are
976 in successive painted 940, and are highlighted
applications. The outline with 845.
on the lapels, pockets and
other features is obtained
by darkening the base
color using black and 921. The helmet (XF-59), is
highlighted using 847 and
darkened with 921. The paint
chipped areas are painted 830.

even though there were only three in The shirt is painted with a
number! It has always been harder for mixture containing 893 and
me to do the figures, but I consider 886 which is highlighted by
that it is absolutely necessary to do increasing the amount of 886
them if you want to surround a kit with and adding 884. Shadows
a story in a scenario. I truly encourage include base color and black.
people to try it.

The jacket gets a few 988 is the color used on

BIBLIOGRAPHY successive highlights his pants, later on it is
using our base mixture highlighted using 884
- CULVER, Bruce and FEIST, Uwe. with a progressive and shadowed with a
Schützenpanzer, Ryton Publications, addition of 845. mixture of black, 988
Bellingham, USA, 1996. Shadows are done using and 596. Base color for
a highly diluted mixture his jacket is a 50%
- BARTELS, Eckhart. “Opel at war”,
of 921 and black. mixture of 879 and 968.
in German trucks & cars in World
War II vol. III, Schiffer Publishing,
Pennsylvania, 1991.
- THOMAS, Nigel and ANDREW,
Stephen. “German Army 1939-1945
(II)”, in Carros de Combate nº 48,
Osprey Military/RBA, Barcelona,
1999.
- DE LANNOY, François. “Tobrouk, The broad officer’s cap (830) is
défaites et victoire”, in 39-45 highlighted using 886. The insignia
Magazine No 188 (March 2000), have a mixture of 868 and 883.
Editions Heimdal, Bayeux, Increasing progressively the amount
pg. 18-36. of the last color mentioned will give
38
us the light effects we need.
Kradschütze (Motorcycle man) wearing a military green The M 1942 steel helmet can be identified because its
cotton cloak identical to the one employed on the edges aren’t folded inwards. Soldiers usually camouflaged
continent. Canvas belt with an aluminum buckle, three light it using sand colored paint or by putting on top some sand
brown leather cartridge holders, M 1940 high tropical boots bag cloth. The canteen employed on tropical climates has
and an M 1935 map case in black leather. been fastened to the khaki canvas bread bag. 39
 By: Agustín Pacheco Fernández
Pictures by the author and by Fernando Cañellas Planchuelo

Verlinden Productions 1/15

Presently there are about 1100 men

from the Spanish Army in the
Southern area of Lebanon, doing their
labor under UN command. Their
main directives are (Set by the 1701
UN resolution dated on August 11
2006 by the UN Security Counsel) to
survey the cease of hostilities
between the Lebanese and the Israeli
Armies in all the south, and make
sure that humanitarian help gets to
the civilians.

he Multinational Brigade on
the Eastern Sector (BMN-E),
which serves within the Unit-
ed Nations Internal Force in Lebanon
(UNIFIL), has its headquarters on the
town of Blat, close to the vicinity of
Marjayun and very close to the frontiers
with both Israel and Siria.
The principal base called “Miguel de
Cervantes” accommodates the larger
part of the Brigade under Spanish com-
mand organized under the General Com-
The base for the figure is part of the roof and the left side of a BMR vehicle. mand, a Service Company for this com-
40 mand, four infantr y battalions, a
The vehicle has been built using plastic sheet on a Styrofoam base.
 ,24. %.@7; 3,> -009 @>0/ ?: 8:/07
?30 -=,.070? ,9/ ?30 /0?,47> ,=0
8,/0 :@? :1 ?491:47

$:/> ,9/ 84.=:;3:90 .:990.?4:9> &30 ;,?.3 :9 34> .30>? 4> ,7>: 8,/0 :@?
3,A0 -009 8,/0 @>492 .:;;0= B4=0 49 :1 ?491:47 ,9/ ?30 -@??:9> 3,A0 -009
?3=0,/> A,=D492 49 ?34.690>> :-?,490/ B4?3 :1 , 3:70 ;@9.3492

Protection Company, a Mounted Squad,

Engineer units (Sapper Company, Explo-
sive Deactivation Unit and a Command
Unit), Transmissions, Reconnaissance,
Helicopter, an NBQ cell, Civilian-Military
Cooperation Cell (CIMIC) and Logistic
Backup including a Medical Unit made
up of three stable cells, a Medical Post,
Pharmaceutical and Veterinarian teams
plus a Campaign Hospital. All of these
units are manned by Spanish personnel
with the exception of three battalions –A
Hindu one, plus an Indonesian and a
Nepali one-, and a Polish Company
inside a Spanish Battalion, plus the
Malaysian Protection Company. Also the
Hospital we’ve mentioned belongs to the
Chinese Army.
There’s also a small Spanish group on
a mission in the General Headquarters of
the city of Naquora (an in house force).
This group coordinates this huge UN
Operative Force that has 15.000 service-
men from thirty different countries.

KIT USED

42@=0
- US Tanker Desert Storm,
Verlinden Productions ref. 0659
1/15 scale.

..0>:=40>
-Tow Cable, M4 Models ref.
35001.

41
 &30 -,>0 1:= ?30 &30 ?:B -,= 4> 8,/0 :@? :1 .:;;0=
,9?099, 4> , 7,?30 B4=0 ,9/ ,9 A0=2=009 =:/ &30
>3,;0/ ;40.0 :1 1,>?09492 4> , ?491:47 >?=4; /0.:=,?0/
,7@849@8 &30 B4?3 ;7,>?4. ;40.0> ,9/ , >8,77 .3,49
,9?099, 4> , 30,? 8,/0 :@? :1 ?=0>>0> :1 .:;;0=
>?=0?.30/ ;40.0 :1
;7,>?4. B4?3 ,
.:;;0= B4=0
B=,;;0/ ,=:@9/ 4?

&30 :/07>
.,-70 B4?3 >:80
?491:47 >?=4;0> ,9/
.:;;0= B4=0

&30 >.=0B> .:80 :@? :1 , "@9.3

40 3:70 ;@9.30= &30 >4/0> :1 ?30
80?,7 3,9/70 3,A0 -009 49>0=?0/ 49
?B: >74?> :;090/ 49 ?30 ;7,>?4. >@=1,.0
@>492 , /=477 (in one color) is an old one that has
been recently substituted by a new stan-
dard one that follows the color pattern
(mimetic) of the rest of the uniform, and
is thus less visible.
He is sporting an emblem in his lapel
affectionately known as “bollycao” (A
&491:47 4> , 8,770,-70 8,?0=4,7 2::/ Spanish chocolate spongy sweet) which
1:= 8,6492 8,9D ;40.0> >@.3 ,> ?30 is the emblem of the BRIPAC. On top of
1,>?09492 :1 ?30 -:C the emblem we can see a golden star
with six points that indicates his rank. A

THE SCENE boots, an anti-fragmented bullet proof

vest and black leather combat gloves.
I tried to portray in this small vignette He has a DH-132A communicator
some members of the Lebanon II Brigade headset, with additional protection
in the mentioned area from March to July (painted UN sky blue). He protects his
2007; members that belong –most of eyes and face with plastic frame daylight
them at any rate- to the BRIPAC (Para- driving glasses. The glasses are made of
chute Brigade). smoke colored polycarbonate that looks
The star of the scene, the Second like regular glass, but is 200 times more &30 @;;0= .:A0= ,9 ,7@849@8 7,?30
Lieutenant of the Section, placed on top shock resistant and only weighs about >3,;0/ ;40.0 3,> -009 /0.:=,?0/
of the BMR (mid-sized armored vehicle half as much. @>492 ;7,>?4. =4A0?>
on wheels) is relaxed while the patrolling The “Llama” M-82 gun standard in
mission is underway. He is dressed in the the Spanish Army is inside a holster that small name plate should be found under-
mimetic uniform called “boscoso” (for- is not standard, but is commonly used neath the star, but this is not usually
est-like), that is standard in the Spanish by the commanding officers because its respected. He has the following elements
Army. He also wears black shoelace simplicity and the ease of use. The belt in his bracelet in the following order: A
Spanish flag a blue round patch with the
&30 ;7,96 ?3,? word “ESPAÑA” (Spain) in white letter-
;=:?0.?> ?30 ing, and the blue circular shield of the
3,?.3 3,> -009 UN (A white on blue earth globe in a
:-?,490/ -D laurel wreath with the words “UNITED
.@??492 4? 1=:8 NATIONS” on the upper area.).
, 88
A0=2=009
;7,>?4. >300? ASSEMBLY
Verlinden Productions offers this fig-
ure in its catalogue. It is an excellent
42 resin product measuring 120mm approx.
 &30 142@=0 > >649 .:7:= 4> ,
.:8;70C 84C?@=0 :1
,9/
&34> 84C?@=0 B,> 7,?0= :9 7423?0/
@; -D 49.=0,>492 ,9/ ,9/
?309 4? B,> /,=6090/ -D ,//492
,9/ -7,.6

obtained using a mixture of Tamiya’s

XF-64, XF-49, and mat black. Adding
more black to this mixture I did a few
initial shadows throughout the surface.
1?0= @>492 ?30 >,80 2=009 The boots, gloves and ear covers on the
?:90 @>0/ :9 ?30 helmet were painted using Tamiya’s
.,8:@17,20 >;:?> :9 ?30 satin black paint.
@941:=8 ?30 30780? B,>
;,49?0/ @>492 , 84C?@=0 :1
,9/ B34?0

&30 142@=0 > 27:A0> 3,A0 -009

;,49?0/ @>492 ?30 >,80 84C?@=0
08;7:D0/ 1:= ?30 -7,.6 >;:?> :9
?30 @941:=8

4=-=@>30/ /,=6 -=:B9 ;=48492 B,> this kit. I also took direct measurements
?30 -,>0 1:= ,//492 7,?0= :9 ?30 3,9/ of some elements on the actual vehicle
-=@>30/ .,8:@17,20 >;:?> that would eventually help me recreate
them later on. When creating the kit, I
that has been slightly modified to look took a block of Styrofoam and actually
like a Spanish army man. covered it with Evergreen plasticard
The Lower pockets on the figure’s (0,5mm). After cementing the armored
shirt have been knifed and then sanded planks, I made accessories such as: han-
away using 500gr. sandpaper. The but- dles, moorings, antennas, etc. These ele-
tons on the sleeves and the extra stitch- ments were made using plastic, tinfoil,
ing on them have also been eliminated. copper wire, heat stretched plastic and
The lateral stitching on his pants has also two aluminum pieces (The base for the
been cleaned. Putty has also been used antenna, and the top cover). The tow
to cover the vertical sow line on the back cable is a ready made M4 Models refer-
of his shirt and to make one on the front ence.
part of the shirt all the way to the vest.
Putty has also been used to create the
left arm bracelet. Copper wire and plastic P A I N T I N G
cable insulation have been used to con-
nect the helmet’s microphone and create &30 42@=0
the intercom cables that are used to I primed with my airbrush kit the fig-
speak through and to the vehicle’s radio. ure’s surface using a color very similar
I took pictures of a real BMR vehicle to the chocolate brown color on the
and used them as reference for making camouflage pattern. This color was
 ' > >6D -7@0 .:7:= 3,> -009
=0.=0,?0/ -D 84C492 B4?3
,9/ B34?0

I allowed it to dry for at least 24

hours before I began using Model Color
acrylics and Andrea Color acrylics to
accomplish the job. I took advantage of
the priming I had applied and on top of
it I put a mixture of 889, 828, AC-02,
and 950. This mixture masked somewhat
the cold airbrush finish and was useful to
create a first statement of highlights and &:B,=/> ?30 09/ :1 ?30
shadows. The highlights were obtained 5:- ;7,.0/ , 10B 7423?>
by adding AC-02 to the mixture, and the 49 ?30 >:B 8,=6> ,9/
shadows used instead a greater amount .=0,>0> :1 ?30 @941:=8
of black paint. I lighted everything fol- @>492 >8,77 ;,49? A047492
?:@.30> 49 , 90@?=,7
lowing the upper light source technique.
.:7:=
&30 .:7:= :1 -:?3 ?30 3:7>?0= ,9/ ?30
-07? B,> :-?,490/ -D 84C492
,9/ 8,? -7,.6 ;,49?

COLOUR CHART
& + ,.=D74.> 945 magenta
X-18 semi gloss BLK 950 black
X-22 clear 951 white
XF-1 flat black 953 dlat yellow
XF-2 flat white 967 olive green
XF-49 khaki 978 dark yellow
XF-64 red brown
$ ! !$ ,.=D74.>
! ! !$ ,.=D74.> AC-02 English khaki
815 basic skintone AC-34 Napoleonic blue
823 Luftwaffe Cam. Green
828 wookgrain ' $! 09,807>
851 bright orange 103 matt cream
858 ice yellow
860 medium fleshtone "$! ' & ! %
881 yellow green ;42809?>
889 USA olive drab P030 beach sand
917 beige P038 African earth
918 ivory
,.3 .,8:@17,20 >;:? 3,> -009 920 German uniform
7423?7D 7423?0/ @; ,9/ >3,/0/
44 49/4A4/@,77D
 Once I had the first camouflage color 9 ?30 149,7 8:809?> :1 ?30 >3,/492
of the pattern I kept adding irregular ;=:.0>> ,;;740/ ;,49? A047>
shapes. I began with the darker green .:9?,49492 -7,.6 ;,49? 84C0/ B4?3
ones, and mixed 823, AC-02 and black.
By adding greater amounts of 967 I
obtained the highlights, and adding more
black paint I got the shadows. The spots it to settle. Then I picked up my brush
in light green ochre were done by mixing and did a general wash using Humbrol’s
953, 978, AC-02 and 858. I obtained 103 well diluted in the brand’s own thin-
highlights by increasing the amount of ner. That is how I “wore” and “aged” the
978 and 858 in the mixture; and shadows vehicle’s immaculate white color, giving
by adding black paint. And finally I it a slight dusty appearance.
obtained my black mixture by mixing Then I used a brand new number 2
black paint, AC-02 and 828. For the high- brush to paint the different scratched,
lights I used 860, and black was added worn and paint chipped places. I recre-
for the subsequent shadows. ated the NATO green using a mixture of
I finished the job by doing a few 967, AC-02 and black, and for the rusty
strategically placed veiling effects in a places I used black and 851. I also used
neutral color tone obtained by mixing pencil lead to do a few metal effects but
AC-02 and 917 that were used to simu- in a very subtle manner. I worked spe-
late wear and dust in the figure’s clothes. cially on the upper edges of the armored
I worked specially in the boots and the planks.
bullet proof vest.

&30 A034.70
We have to bear in mind that &30 ,=8:=492 3,> -009 >?,490/ B4?3
although we’re dealing with green col- @8-=:7 09,807 ;,49? B,>30> :9
ored NATO vehicles repainted white, the &30 A0=?4.,7 >?,49 8,=6> 3,A0
good quality of the white paint -009 /:90 -D /:492 @; ,9/ /:B9
employed and the relatively short time -=@>3 >?=:60> @>492 , -=@>3 >:,60/
they’ve spent in Lebanon make it basi- :9 09,807 ?34990= &30 >?007 .,-70
3,> -009 /0.:=,?0/ B4?3 -7,.6 ;,49?
cally impossible for green paint or rust to
,9/ B,>30> ?: 20? >:80 >:=? :1
be seen underneath. This checked out in =@>? 7460 0110.? &34> 0110.? 3,> -009
the numerous photographs that I had 1@=?30= 093,9.0/ -D ,//492 ;42809?
access to. So I just basically did a light "
I finished the job by doing dust
aging effect with almost imperceptible &30 ,=8:=0/ 27,>> >@=1,.0 3,> -009 effects using Mig Productions’ pigments
scratches in the obvious places and a ;,49?0/ @>492 , 84C?@=0 ,9/ (P030 P038) on a few local areas. I
general dust layer on top. -7,.6 &30 09/ =0>@7? 3,> -009 spread these pigments using a smooth
I airbrushed Tamiya’s mat white all :-?,490/ -D ,//492 , 7,D0= :1 27:>> brush.
over the surface, and waited 24 hours for A,=94>3

RESEARCH MATERIAL

- PELAEZ, Manuel, Bueno, José Ma.

and GUERRERO, Antonio G.
“Uniformes, guiones y divisas de la
Brigada Paracaidista”, Grunoel,
Málaga, 2000.
- VV. AA. “Boletín Informativo del
Ejército Español”, in Tierra nº 142,
146, and 149 (January, April and
July 2007), Ministerio de Defensa,
Madrid.
- www.ejercito.mde.es
 )0 .,9 >00 :9 ?30
@;;0= ,=0, ?30
,=8:=0/ ;40.0 ?3,?
.,9 -0 /4>,>>08-70/
49 .3,=20 :1
;=:?0.?492 ?30
.=0B809 B309
?30D ;00; ?3=:@23
?30 3,?.3

0?,47 ?3,? >3:B>

?30 ,??,.3809? :1
?30 :@?0= -:C ?34>
-:C .:9?,49> ?30
>;,=0 >8:60
2=09,/0>

&30 1:=08:>? ;,=? :9 ?30 701? >4/0

.:9?,49> ?30 >4C 1=,2809?,?4:9 >8:60
7,@9.30= 2=09,/0>

0?,47 ?3,?
>3:B> ?30
>423? > :;09492
>D>?08

46
 0?,47 >3:B492 ?30 -,>0 1:= ?30
,9?099,

'9/0= ?30 >8,77 B49/:B ?30=0 4> ,9 :;09492 1:= 14=492 1=:8
?30 49>4/0 :1 ?30 A034.70

0?,47 >3:B492 3:B ?30

-,= 4> 14C0/ 49 ;7,.0

!9 ?:; :1 ?30
?:B -,= B0 .,9
>00 ?30 .,>0 1:=
3:7/492 ?30
=:/> :1 ?30
/4>,>>08-70/
,9?099,

47
 !114.0= B0,=492 ,9 49?0=;3:90 30780?
,9/ /=4A492 27,>>0> '9/0= ?30 ,9?4
1=,2809?492 -@770? ;=::1 A0>? 30 >
B0,=492 , ;,//0/ B49?0= 5,.60?

(40B :1 ?30 =423? >4/0 :1 ?30

30780? B30=0 B0 .,9
.70,=7D >00 ?30 F,9?4 7@8;G 10,?@=0
:9 ?30 49>4/0 &30 0,= .:A0=> :9 ?34>
8:/07 ,=0 8,/0 :1 -7,.6 ;7,>?4.
?30=0 4> 9:B , 90B :90 8,/0 :1
2=009 8,47

0=0 B0 .,9 >00 >:80

=@>? :9 ?30 ?:B .,-70
8::=492

&30 84.=:;3:90 49 /0?,47

&30 ?:B .,-70 4> B=,;;0/

48 ,=:@9/ ?30 >8:60 .:9?,490=>
&30 $ 4> , >4C B3007 7423? ,=8:=0/ A034.70 ?3,? -0.,80 ,A,47,-70 49 ?30 > :1 ?30 **?3 .09?@=D :1
.:@=>0J @80=:@> ,/A,9.0> 3,A0 -009 49.:=;:=,?0/ >49.0 ?30 8:>? 9:?:=4:@> :90 -0492 ?30 90B %.,94, .A
3:=>0 ;:B0=0/ 8:?:= ,//4?4:9,7 ,=8:=0/ 4=:9 ;7,96> 1=:8 ?: 88 ?34.6 ,9 # /0109>0 >D>?08 ,9/ ,9 ,9?4
14=0 0C;7:>4:9 >D>?08 L.P.C.

=80/ B4?3 88
8,.3490 2@9 ?34>
,=8:=0/ A034.70 4>
8,990/ -D ?B:
.=0B809 ,9/ .,9 .,==D
>0A09 := 0423? 8:=0 ?
.,9 =0,.3 68 3 49
?30 :;09 =:,/ ,9/
3,A0 , =,920 :1 ,-:@?
68 &34> @94? >,B
>0=A4.0 49 =,< 49
L.P.C.

49
50
 D :>H !,9@07 7:=0> $H=0E
Pictures by: Jordi Escarré González y Raúl Fernández Ruiz

',>.,

$7,.0/ ,8:92 ?30 F$,9E0=,@167K=@92>,-?047@209G

=8:=0/ %0.:99,4>>,9.0 $,=?40> ?34> 7423? B0423?
=0.:99,4>>,9.0 ,=8:=0/ A034.70 69:B9 ,> F @.3>G D9C >,B
>0=A4.0 ,77 ?3=:@23:@? ?30 B,= 49 ?30 ,>?0=9 =:9? ,9/ 49 ?30
)0>?0=9 =:9?

t seems that only 104 units were On the front part of the hull many of
made altogether, although some these vehicles had an additional armored
sources point to 131 and 133 plank that also provided extra room for
units. The only armored divisions that storage. The “Luchs” vehicles of the 4th
had exclusively units of this vehicle were Pz Div, were known for having on top of
the 4th Panzerdivision and the 9th Panz- the driver’s and radio-operator’s sights
erdivision. The remaining vehicles were some spare chain links that also provided
distributed and kept by other units. additional and welcome armoring. Some
Towards the end of October of 1943, the were also covered with a rubber band.
4th PzDiv reported having 27 “Luchs”
available for service attached to the 2.
Kompanie/Pz.Aufkl.Abt.4. A S S E M B L Y
The vehicles under the section, squad
and commanders of the company, were The Tasca kit is very well made, and
equipped with FuG12 radio sets and a includes a photo etched sheet contain-
star antenna type. The remaining vehicles ing the ventilation grilles. The pieces fit
were equipped with FuG.Spr.Ger.f, that together extremely well, the details are
recently (1943) had replaced the great, and the tracks have torsion bars
FuG.Spr.Ger.a. just like real vehicles. These actually

KIT USED

4? ..0>:=40>
- Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. L “Luchs” Tasca ref. - German Antenna base, M4 Models ref.
35006 , 1/35 scale. 35018.
- Telegraph-pillar set for 4 insulators,
$3:?: 0?.30/ >300? Aber ref. D-07.
- Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. L “Luchs”, Aber ref.
35062. 42@=0>
- German tanker with a glare gun, Alpine
'=,.6> Miniatures ref. 35001.
- Panzer II Luchs, Modelkasten ref. SK-51. - Winter panzer crew set, Alpine Minia-
tures ref. 35038.
@9 -Heads, Hornet refs. HGH 18 and HGH
-German 2cm Flak 38, Jordi Rubio ref. 19.
TG-23.
 #9 0A0=D =,/4,?:= ,4= 49?,60 2=4770
;7,.0/ :9 ?30 >4/0> :1 ?30 8:?:= >
.:A0= >4C ;3:?: 0?.30/ >.=0B> 3,A0
-009 27@0/

'30 7:920>? ;,=? :1 ?30 @8-=077,

>3,;0/ ,9?099, 4> , ;40.0 :1 30,?
>?=0?.30/ ;7,>?4. '30 ?0C?@=0/ ,=0,
:9 ?30 @;;0= ;,=? 4> 49.7@/0/ 49 ?30
-0= ;3:?: 0?.30/ >300?

work and can tense or release the

chain links at will.
I closely followed the assembly
procedures on the instruction sheet:
The kit also includes additional
instructions to build the 4th Pz Div
version with the modifications per-
formed to the vehicle while on cam-
paign. As a reference for the added
details I used to great advantage the
photographic report made on the
Saumur Museum published on Panz-
er Aces/Armor Models number 15. I
also improved some details on some
pieces from an Aber photo etched
sheet, and used copper wire to wire
the headlights. I substituted the gun
for aluminum Jordi Rubio reference
and used instead the wonderful
Modelkasten tracks each molded
52 separately on injected plastic.
 On the front areas there are a few spare chain links that give extra armoring.
The pieces that hold them in place have been made with small photo etched
pieces and copper wire.

The metal part of

the shovel is
done using 302
and 304. Metal
effects are done
using graphite
(pencil lead).

XF-57 thinned out using alcohol (the ones include white. Camouflage pat-
P A I N T I N G one used for burning) and thoroughly terns are made with XF-58 and were air-
airbrushed on the kit’s surface. The ini- brushed on as well.
Base color for this kit is basically a tial highlights include a greater amount Then I left the airbrush aside and did
50% mixture of Tamiya’s XF-60 and of XF-57 in the mixture and the final the bands on the wheels using a mixture

Base color on the exhaust is

basically a mixture of 301 and
302. Different color tones have
been created by doing little nibs
with the tip of a thin brush using
colors 303 and 304.

53
 COLOUR CHART (Luchs)

' ! * ,.=D74.> 304 track’s ptimer ' 'I" :47>

XF-2 flat white 305 light rubber 1 titanium white
XF-57 buff 306 dark rubber 56 ultramarine deep
XF-58 olive green 307 red tail light 74 raw umber
XF-60 dark yellow 308 green tail light 78 burnt umber
310 weathered wood 88 yellow ochre
("+ & " *# ,.=D74.> 311 new wood 96 burnt Sienna
211 chrome silber
213 stahl steel !# % ,.=D74.> (! %# 09,807>
059 matt varnish 71 satin oak
$ "+ % & ,.=D74.>
301 light rust ! $%# ( ' #"& ;42809?>
302 dark rust P028 Europed dust
303 yellowish rust P034 Russan earth

of Vallejo acrylics 305 and 306 and by doing all the paint chippings and er Aces’ specific colors I mat varnished
afterwards began to age the kit. I first scratches painted throughout the kit the kit, I gave a metal finish to some
did an oil paint wash (Titan 78) and using different rust colors. areas using pencil lead, “dusted” the kit
allowed it to dry, and then I worked on After going through all the additional and placed some mud using several pig-
some areas doing a veiling with oil details and doing the tracks using Panz- ments.
paints 96, 88, 1, and 56. I allowed 24
hours to pass for the whole thing to dry
up, and then went back to mark the
details using oil paint 74 highly diluted
in turpentine insisting on all cracks and '30 2@9 ,9/ ?30 .:,C4,7 8,.3490
2@9 3,A0 -009 ;,49?0/ >?007 '30
crevices.
7423? 0110.? :9 ?30 @;;0= ;,=? :1
Then I did some dry brushing on all ?30 2@9 4> /:90 @>492 .3=:80
the features that stick out using enamel >47A0= ;,49?
71 to create a few highlights. After this
treatment I finished the aging process

54
!4.=: &0? ,9/ !4.=: >:7 /0.,7 convey a fur cover. Texture on the putty
14C492 74<@4/> 3,A0 -009 @>0/ :9 was made with a hard brush used
?30 /0.,7> '30 9@8-0=> 3,A0 -009 before the whole thing dried up. I also
3,9/ ;,49?0/ =0/ @>492 , -=@>3 placed on the figure’s hand a headset
that was manufactured with a spare
Aber photo etched piece from an old
Verlinden kit and a piece of heat
stretched plastic (see hobby kit class-
F I G U R E S room on Panzer Aces/Armor Models
number 22.).
On top of the hatch we can see the
The figures are all wonderfully man- radio-operator, this figure is basically
ufactured and are highly detailed in just a plastic torso from my discarded
hard resin by the “alpine” brand. The pieces box and a Hornet head with its
two figures included in the set “Winter ears removed in order to be able to place
panzer crew set” needed no modifica- the headset on.
tions whatsoever, but the figure “Ger-
man tanker with a glare gun” needed
modifications on his arm and right
hand in order to get the figure’s arm to
adequately rest on the roof of the '30 ),11091,=-0 :7:= :1 ?30
,=8D -=,9.3 :1 ?30 $,9E0= ;496
armored vehicle. This figure also got a
.,9 -0 >009 49 ?30 90.6 ;,?.3 ,=0,
new head, and I used a Hornet German ,9/ ?30 >?=4;0 :1 ?30 07/8J?E0
head with an M43 cap. I followed the .,8;,429 .,; ?3,? ?34> #114.0= >
advice of a friend and transformed the B0,=492 '30 .:7:= :1 ?30 .,; 3,>
cap into a winter cap using putty to 55
-:?3 B34?0 ,9/
 '30 107? ,=0, :9 ?30 B49?0=
-::?> .:9?,49> , 84C?@=0 :1
,9/ '309 ?34>
.:7:= B,> 7423?090/ @; @>492
2=0,?0= ,8:@9?> :1 ?30 7,??0=
.:7:= ,9/ 0,?30= 3,> ,
84C?@=0 :1 ,9/ -7,.6
4237423?> .:9?,49 , 34230=
;=:;:=?4:9 :1 ,9/ >:80

,>0 .:7:= 1:= ?34> :A0=?@=90/ 70,?30= ,>0 .:7:= :9 ?34> ;,4= :1 ;,9?>
5,.60? 3,> , 84C?@=0 :1 B4?3 B,> 1:=80/ B4?3 ,9/
8,? -7,.6 '30 34237423?> ,9/ -7,.6 #97D ,
49.7@/0 14=>? ,9/ >:80 B34?0 .:@;70 :1 34237423?> B0=0 ,;;740/
7,?0= :9 &3,/:B> 3,A0 -009 ,;;740/ @>492 '30 &;74??0=8@>?0=
B4?3 A047> ?3,? .:9?,49 -,>0 .:7:= .,8:@17,20 ;,??0=9> B34.3 ,=0
/,=6090/ B4?3 -7,.6 '30 >:B492> :9 -,>4.,77D F>;749?0=0/ >;:?>G 3,A0
?30 70,?30= .:9?,49 ,9/ 1:= ?30 -009 ;=0??D 8@.3 ;,49?0/ 5@>? 7460
7423?0= ,=0,> ?34> =010=09.0 B,> ?30 :?30= 142@=0
84C0/ B4?3

I did the roof lighting technique on all brush to apply it. The mixtures I used and Then I mat varnished all figures and I
figures and used water soluble acrylic how I applied them on the clothes are went back to the leather areas (Belts,
paint. I used a number 1 and 2 sable clearly specified in the picture captions. boots…) and satin varnished them.

COLOUR CHART (Figures)

!# # #% ,.=D74.> 951 white 334 Germ. tkr I Feldgrau

510 glossy varnish 952 lemon yellow 335 Germ. tkr. I Feldgrau
522 satins varnish 975 military green 341 flesh base
821 Ger, Cam beige WWII 976 buff 342 highlights flesh
823 Luftwaffe Cam. green 981 orange brown 343 shadows flesh
830 german feldgrey WWII 984 flat brown
856 ochre maroon 986 deck tan ("+ & " *# ,.=D74.>
861 glossy black 988 khaki 211 chrome silber
862 black grey
883 silver grey $ "+ % & ,.=D74.> !# % ,.=D74.>
941 burnt umber 307 red yail light 059 matt varnish
950 black 312 leather belt
56
 ,>0 .:7:= :9 ?34> " # .,8:@17,20
@941:=8 .:9?,49> , 84C?@=0 :1
,9/ 34237423?> 49.7@/0 , 2=0,?0=
,8:@9? :1 ?30 >0.:9/ .:7:= '30
-=:B9 .,8:@17,20 >;:?> ,=0 /:90
84C492 B4?3 , 349? :1 -7,.6 '30
2=009 >;:?> .:9?,49 ,9/ '30
>8,77 2=009 >?=4;0> .:9?,49 '30
149,7 34237423?> :9 ?30 .,8:@17,20
.:7:=> 3,A0 -009 ?:90/ /:B9 B4?3
'30 2090=,7 >3,/:B0/ ,=0,>
3,A0 -009 /0,7? B4?3 -D ,;;7D492
,9/ -7,.6 49 >@-?70 A047>

'30 49>4/0 :1 ?30 B49?0= 5,.60? >3:@7/

-0 B34?0 -@? ;@=0 B34?0 ;,49? B,>
90A0= @>0/ )34?0 B,> >?,490/ B4?3 ,
-4? :1 -7,.6 ,9/ 4237423?>
49.7@/0 ;@=0 ,8:@9?> :1 B34?0
 '30 49304?>107/8J?E0 090=,7
.,8;,429 .,; 3,> 2:? ,9/ -7,.6
-0.,@>0 -7,.6 4?08> :1 .7:?3492
>3:@7/ 90A0= @>0 ?30 .:7:= 49 4?> ;@=0
1:=8 4237423?> 49.7@/0 2=0,?0=
,8:@9?> :1 ,9/ >3,/:B> @>0
B,?0= /47@?0/ -7,.6 ;,49? '30 0,270
B,> ;,49?0/ B4?3 B4?3 >:80
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58
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>09>,?4:9

G R O U N D

The landscape was modeled using

Das Pronto paste on top of a Styrofoam
base, before the paste dried I glued thin
sand and small pebbles using highly
diluted carpenters glue. I decided to por-
tray a wet landscape with some mud (I
didn’t intend to make it all muddy
though) on the Eastern front somewhere
in the fall of 1944. While the paste was
still fresh I stamped several footsteps
and wheel marks from different vehicles
using vinyl caterpillars and the boots of a number of real fallen leaves. I painted did some wet footprints and wheel
a figure. I used for the same reason sev- these using different green and brown prints using gloss varnish applied with a
eral different dark brown color tones. colors. Some leaves got a few dark color brush.
I completed the base placing a tele- washes with the colors used earlier on I thank here Jordi Escarré for his
graph post, fake grass, a few bushes and for the ground. Then as a final detail I invaluable help and kind collaboration.

59
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

- OGAWA, Kogi. “Tiger II, Luchs, Panzer

IV L70 (A)ZL”, in Panzers in Saumur nº 1,
Dainippon Kaiga, Japan, 1989.
- LEDWOCH, Janusz. “Pz.Kpfw. II Luchs,
Aufkläungspanzer 38(t)”, in Militaria
nº109, Wydawnictwo Militaria, Warsaw,
2000.
- MICHULEC, Robert. “4. Panzer-Division
on the Eastern Front (1) 1941-43”, in
Armor at War Series nº 7025, Concord
Publications, Hong Kong, 1999.
- PETERSON, Daniel, “Wehrmacht Camou-
flage Uniforms & Post War Derivatives”, in
Europa Militaria nº17, Histoire & Collec-
tions, Paris, 1995.
- DE LAGARDE, Jean. German soldiers of
WWII, Histoire & Collections, Paris, 1995.
- DE PAOLIS, Stefano. “Panzerspaehwagen
II Luchs”, in Panzer Aces/Armor Models nº
3, Acción Press (April-May 2004), Madrid,
pp48-56.
'30 ?0702=,;3 ;:70 ,=0 ,A,47,-70 ?3=:@23 ?30 -0= 7,-07 ,9/ ?30 - VEGA MARTÍN, Enrique. “Pz.Kpfw. II
.,-70> 3,A0 -009 /:90 @>492 .:;;0= B4=0> ;,49?0/ -7,.6
Ausf. L Luchs”, in Panzer Aces/Armor
'30 70,A0> :9 ?30 2=:@9/ ,A,47,-70 ?3=:@23 ?30 @/>:9 7709
Models nº 15, Acción Press (April-May
.:8;,9D 3,A0 -009 27@0/ B4?3 ;7,49 .,=;09?0=> B34?0 27@0 9 :=/0= 2006), Madrid, pp 2-15.
?: 24A0 ?308 , 74??70 .:7:= ,;;740/ /4110=09? .:7:= A047>

60
 '/ . !$ $
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Nº 2
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JU 8 8 A -4 , GERBINI
(SICILY) 1942
JU N K E R S

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4 , ( 1 +, ( (*' ++ / ! 0($ !&+ . *!'-+ ,*! #+ &
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, $# & * -2 (($1!& + !$ ( !&, /'*#

ACCION PRESS, S.A.

C/Ezequiel Solana, 16 bajo, 28017 MADRID - SPAIN
Tel. (+34) 913 675 708 – Fax + (34) 914 085 841
www.euromodelismo.com
e-mail: web@euromodelismo.com
 By: Javier Redondo Jiménez
MODELLING LESSONS Pictures by the author.

Amati 75 mm

When you include a

statue (a vertical
element) in a diorama or
a vignette you will
improve the looks of the
whole assembly and will
also break the flatness
of the landscape. You
will also draw the
attention of the people,
be able to organize the
setting space and dress
up any urban scene.

COLOUR CHART
A photographic reference is certainly your best guide when trying to reproduce
these effects. HUMBROL (enamels)
19 bright red
54 brass
his is a much easier job than Out there you can find an ample sup- 105 matt Marine green
you imagine. You can use any ply of figures in the 75 to 90 mm range 119 matt light earth
white metal figure, and make that will suit your needs, and if we have a MODEL MASTER (enamels)
sure that this figure represents somebody friend that enjoys painting historical fig- 1716 pale green
wearing clothes dating earlier than the ures, we can ask him for advice, and he’ll MODEL COLOR (acrylics)
XXth century and that the figure is made be able single out the figure that will best 917 beige
in a scale of 1/35 or larger. Respecting the suit our needs. 976 buff
scale is really necessary because this will We have chosen for the review an 987 medium grey
give us the proportions of the “monu- Amati figure that portrays and “Italian PANZER ACES (acrylics)
mental scale” that will give us credibility. man bearing arms from the XVth Centu- 313 stencil
The pedestal of the statue can be built ry”, but perfectly suitable for any country 315 light mud
with plaster as in this case or any other in Europe. After comparing different stat- TITAN (oils)
materials such as plastic, metacrylate, put- ues in pictures I decided to use enamel 78 burnt umber
62 ty, etc. paint to decorate the figure.
A number of different colors are employed for the job; a nº 6 and a nº 2 brush,
thinner and putty.

The figure is adhered to the pedestal

by introducing a metal rod between
the statue and the base, and gluing
both. Putty is thinned out using
acetone and the result is used as an
excellent paint primer.

Bronze color can be achieved by

The green rusty areas typical of
mixing Humbrol enamels 19, 105, 54
bronze can be done with a layer of
and 119 applied in not too thorough
Model Master’s 1716 applied with a
layers.
brush. Some of the paint is removed in
specific areas using Humbrol thinner.
We’re going to let through some
original color in the figure’s head, and
KIT USED shoulders and leave rust on the deep
and creviced areas.
Figure:
- Amati ref. 8601, 75 mm.

The pedestal is painted using a mixture of acrylics from Model Color (917, 976
and 987) and Panzer Aces (313). The surface texture is livened with 315 applied
with the dry brush technique. The aged look can be done with oil paint washes
on Titan 78. The lettering has been hand made using a brand new nº 2 brush. 63
 Publishing Manager
Rodrigo Hernández Cabos
Editor in Chief
Carlos de Diego Vaquerizo
Translated by
Ándres Sánchez González
Edited by
Ian Parsons
Have collaborated in this issue:
Javier Redondo Jiménez
Diego J. Jiménez Molina
Luis Fuster Aisa
Agustín Pacheco Fernández
EDITORIAL José Manuel Flores Pérez
Jordi Escarré González
Photographers
Rodrigo Hernández Cabos
Versatility is the main feature of some armored vehicles, mainly Fernando Cañellas Planchuelo
because you can choose different and extremely interesting versions Raúl Fernández Ruiz
when assembling the kits. This certainly applies on Javier Redondo Illustrations
SU-85 that achieves an unprecedented level detail care and realism. Carlos de Diego Vaquerizo
Lay Out
KOMMAD S.L.
Continuing with the 1/72 scale kit feature, Carlos de Diego
Printed by
combines an all original Opel Omnibus with the classic Sd.Kfz. 253, IBERGRAPHIC 2002
on the barren features of the North African desert.
Scanning & Filmsetting
ACCIÓN PRESS, S.A.
José Ignacio Pérez Lozano
It is definitely not regular for this magazine to feature figures an Raúl Fernández Ruiz
settings dealing with current events and that particularly applies to the
Computer Graphics
Spanish Army. However it’s also good to make an exception every José Ignacio Pérez Lozano
now and then especially when we consider the risk that the troops are
Editorial and Technical Staff,
running on a not welcoming Afghanistan and in Lebanon. Agustín Administration and Advertising
Pacheco does a more than outstanding job on this customized figure. ACCIÓN PRESS, S.A.
c/Ezequiel Solana, 16
28017 Madrid
The German Luchs is another extremely interesting vehicle that in Tel.: 913 675 708
914 086 135
spite of the few units manufactured, has a wide range of variations Fax: 914 085 841
that can be portrayed on all the different versions. José Manuel Flores accionpress@euromodelismo.com
shows the results obtained when this vehicle is accompanied by three Subscriptions
figures of the highest quality. North American Subscription6

MMD-Squadron
The painting techniques deal on this issue with how to achieve 1115 Crowley Drive
realistic effects of rust on a bronze statue good for any historical Carrollton, Texas 75011-5010
USA
period.
In Spain:
Valentín García Báez
Tel. +34 913 675 708
Published by
ACCIÓN PRESS, S.A
Rodrigo Hernández Cabos
ISSN: 1886-4457
The reproduction of the images and
texts is prohibited, using any current or
future technical medium without
written consent of the author. ACCION
PRESS, S.A. does not necessarily
support its collaborators’ opinions.
64