Fortunately the crappy old Tamiya tanker can be found for around $12 these days, but with some rework and a new head, whad'ya think?

Still needs a good wash before paint, but I spent a little time digging out the undercuts to make the uniform have more depth.

I also had to eliminate the tie since Karl looks like he wore a sweater underneath the Panzer wrap.

I included a comparison of the kit head, I don't know what the heck they were thinking with that nose...

You didn't get the memo on the nose? Bill Maher posed for that one.

Karl looks great, and I can't wait to see him after paint. Then, as soon as I get to it, I'll do my best to flagrantly copy your work. I already have that figure, but I'll probably pick up another for this project. I think I also want to do a half figure to put in the tank.

Then I need a couple of 1/16 boxes of gold bars. Wouldn't real gold be cool for that? Yeah, maybe after I cash in this powerball ticket, but till then, I'm thinking gold bare metal foil.

The uniform drapery on the Tamiya figure really isn't bad, if you deepen the undercuts and drill a few holes you can get it up to resin figure standards.

I just got a new paint line in, primed a bunch of heads and will mess around this week. When I get a good method going I'll do a step by step.

Is that the Tamiya Whittman 1/16 body? Nice work Jeff!!!

Thanks Rudy.

I don't think it's supposed to be Wittmann, it's titled Wehrmacht tank crewman, but it's obviously a TC in the box art.

The DML SS Officer is pretty close to Wittman in terms of the face (the best injection molded head I've come across), but isn't a panzer uniform. I guess you could combine the two kits.

I have your Brad Pitt head, I haven't painted it yet, and now I'm looking at the Heng Long American TC figure in a new light.

You mean this guy, Paco?



I always thought he wasn't too bad, as long as you get him unpainted. Once they turn him into Ol' Googly Eyes the jig is up .

Of course, now he has eyes like Jack Elam, but what the hell, eh? He also looks good with the other Taigen TC, but I think I should have painted the uniforms to match, eh?



I always thought the Pitt head would be good on the Mato TC, in the Sherman above.

And it's good to see you posting again, Paco. Does this mean you fixed the problem that was keeping you off the site? We've missed ya, Gomer. Of course, that don't mean we'll be takin' warm showers together, so don't get yer hopes up.

It seems to be fixed. It is nice to be able to post again.

I want to get both Otto and Oddball and do them like Jeff did, that's cool. I have two of the US dudes like in your pix. For the Brad Pitt one I could redo the arms so he is holding a sturmgraveer (sp) like in the movie. Oddball could be waving at something we can't see, like the HL dude is.

I did a painting test before trying the full figure.

Still messing around. There's a lot more color and shadows than the photo detects, I need to work on the settings.

The face looks really great, Jeff, but the hair is still too dark. In the movie his hair was almost white.

Thanks Gary, My plan is to dry brush white over it.

There's much more tone to in than shows. I built a photo booth years ago but took it apart because I never used it. I'll have to set something up again.

I setup a booth, this is closer to what I have so far.

Once you dry brush the white he should be perfect. I only hope I can get mine to look half that good.

Just to give you fair warning, Jeff, a friend of mine and I want to build 1/6 scale tanks and when we do you're drafted to provide advice on waterproofing. With all that sub experience you should be the perfect guy to advise us.

No problem there, MicroMark has everything you need. You can make a Tauchpanzer.

Whoa, I think I just figured out my next tank project. HL Pz III on the lakebed anyone?

Tauchpanzer? Hmm ...



But it took some effort to get the exhaust to come out those tiny pipes!

I pulled another out to work on painting eyes. I know his left is not round, but couldn't tell until the photo.

This is just the eyes, the face isn't even really started yet.

Wow, painting faces is what I need to practice on. Eyes are the toughest part to get right.