The most decals I've ever done!
Added 2024-07-23 08:31:09 +0000 UTCMy friends, the decals are done and I'm very happy about that! They were very easy to apply. The carrier film is very thin and it reacts beautifully to softening solutions! Luckily, VMS Decal Softener is pretty aggressive, so all I had to do was brush it over the decal and let it do its magic. No touching! The entire decal would nicely sink into the rough steel texture. Worst case scenario - I had to brush it twice. But no stippling or other brute force was required.
Some of the decals are truly massive, and it was the first time in many, many years that I made the most basic mistake - not pushing all of the air bubbles from under the decal! You can see that on the 8.5.43 decal on the left side. But I've got some interesting techniques planned that will completely hide that error.
Then I varnished the entire model. VMS flat on the primer, and satin on the Dunkelgelb parts. The varnish worked like magic again and the decals are beautifully integrated into the paint job.
In fact, I already started applying pin washes last night. I'll finish them today and then we'll turn the decals into dusty chalk marks!
Comments
If I remember correctly, you were concerned that the decals would be low quality, based on the problems you were having with the early build. It must have been a relief that they came out so well! My standard trick for carrier film that won't sit down, or has visible bubbles: poke it with a sharp blade or pin, then flood with more setting fluid. The holes completely disappear, and the film does too.
Mike A.
2024-08-05 11:04:48 +0000 UTCI like the cat's backside. They were surprisingly discreet. I wonder if the crew had adopted a stray cat for a mascot.
Mike A.
2024-08-05 10:49:37 +0000 UTCHa, Ha, you've obviously never built an F-4 Phantom!!! :-)
Rob Jansen
2024-08-01 02:47:46 +0000 UTCThanks
Charlie phillips
2024-07-25 15:07:56 +0000 UTCYeah, the whole kit is designed to represent this specific vehicle.
Night Shift
2024-07-25 11:49:40 +0000 UTCI suspect it was the last commissioned Ferdinand to be ever produced and they finished it before the night shift ended, so the workers were just messing around (guessing from the inscriptions on the tank!)
Night Shift
2024-07-25 11:48:57 +0000 UTCLol! I caught the one mentioning night shift, that was a funny revelation to me :D
Night Shift
2024-07-25 11:48:15 +0000 UTCThe Amusing Hobby kit is designed to replicate this vehicle specifically.
Night Shift
2024-07-25 11:47:46 +0000 UTCExactly! They transform the model completely and they're actually pretty easy to work with.
Night Shift
2024-07-25 11:47:23 +0000 UTCLooking very cool Mr ! Thank god you are human and make occasional errors ( decal bubbles ) gives us not as talented a bit of hope . β₯οΈππ»
John Ratcliff
2024-07-24 08:01:45 +0000 UTCLooks very cool, decals come in the kit??
Charlie phillips
2024-07-24 01:26:54 +0000 UTCI love the contrast of the yellow wheels and the oxide hull!
Joxar
2024-07-23 22:32:08 +0000 UTCThat thing looks awesome!! Very detailed and very cool choice! Canβt wait to see the final product!!
Quintin Paparella
2024-07-23 17:28:57 +0000 UTCTruly amazing man, glad you are finally building this beast!!
Christian Westin
2024-07-23 15:09:42 +0000 UTCI had no idea that they would actually make decals for this tank. What a truly wonderful/interesting/unique/amazing idea. It is so different and eye catching I can see why you would do this. Great job so far !! Very cool idea!!!
Bob Yack
2024-07-23 13:25:44 +0000 UTCI wonder why they did this. It looks crazy, but cool!
Solomon Hollowell
2024-07-23 12:05:09 +0000 UTCBest one is: Ferdinand so heiΓt er, wer ihn neckt, den beiΓt er. Basically: Ferdinand is his name, and who ever mocks him, he bites. But in German, it rimes obviously. And one fun as well, in a few days, it says the nightshift is over (at least fur this vehicle) π
Tim Malinowski
2024-07-23 10:21:52 +0000 UTCfunny fact: on the decal sheet I found, no sign of e cow on the front :-)
Laurens_From_The_Netherlands
2024-07-23 09:55:39 +0000 UTCnever mind, found them!
Laurens_From_The_Netherlands
2024-07-23 09:53:15 +0000 UTCLove this one, all primer and chalk markings, an awesome surprise Martin!
Christopher Obarski
2024-07-23 09:40:05 +0000 UTCThis looks really nice! Is there a decal sheet available? I have the regular ferdinand version, but I really like this one as well,
Laurens_From_The_Netherlands
2024-07-23 09:39:45 +0000 UTCThat was my favourite part of the build. Great fun and not as daunting as i imagined before I set off.
Den Howlett
2024-07-23 09:34:15 +0000 UTCI don't assume you understand German but the texts are really great. Also right in '43.
Arno IJsselstijn
2024-07-23 09:20:37 +0000 UTC"Wir werden Sieger - durch unsere Tiger" I like that decal, but obviously the workers were wrong π
Leon Weber
2024-07-23 08:55:18 +0000 UTCSo the tank will have the red primer color?
Mats Andersson
2024-07-23 08:37:14 +0000 UTC
