pzrwest, wonderful military figure art, all.

Just my opinion and we have all seen your cool panzers.

One point is that in offering a critique: offer the positive before going for the negative. Just a suggestion. I see a lot of hard work, some great, and work on a learning curve (sometimes me), being displayed and that should be respected.

And yes, I have read the accounts of what the Early American Migrants, the US Government and the Western Plains US Army did to the Native American People of this content and of course vice-versa.

What happened in the America's during the 18th and 19th century's though, by no means is rational justification for what happened in the 20th Century, ie, WWII at the hands of the Axis Powers. Just won't wash and don't under rate your country, Canada is pretty clean compared to the USA's history.

And I am not attacking you and I am dismayed you think that.

Your avatar image was an issue though, as some suggested my favorite Tiger IE model in my past avatar was an issue for them.

I am strongly suggesting you will gain greater respect in the modeling community by stating that it is a poor idea to post your Nazi avatar as a public image, without a standing explanation caption, of why you are dressed in Nazi gear. As in what's up with this?

Sure, for a movie or historical re-enactment, or airshow, or whatever event, that may be a different story.

Ones political convictions may not be questioned in those arenas.

Though, a good and brave soldier prince in the UK, showed up for one Halloween Party in a Nazi shirt and world public opinion condemned him soundly for wearing that shirt.

So, it is easy to get tagged, unfairly, regardless of your true beliefs, just like Prince Harry.

If interested and as a starting place and to go deeper to understanding the issues, past your individual right to dress as you please, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_chic

Anyway, you aren't really some California surfer dude with an iron cross decal'd on his board, are you?

Take care, John

thanks for that
i will give him a try, sometimes you see these figures advertised but you are not sure how well they will turn out.
as regards criticism of peoples work. i am new at the tank scene and when i posted the pictures of my tanks, from what i have seen on the forums i just waited for pattoncommander to comment on my pershing he cannot help himself.
instead of saying nice tank but if you wanted to make it correct, oh no he is straight in there i would like to point out a few glaring errors, like your machine guns are too big etc,etc.
why can they not be a bit more subtle in their approach instead of coming over as being all superior.
it does not bother me as i am thick skinned, in my job as a prisoner officer you are insulted and threatened on a daily basis but others might not be and shy away from showing their cteations for fear of public ridicule. which would be a shame for all concerned.
so please think before to comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YHR,
For what it's worth, your figures look awesome. Are they are they cast resin, or injection molded plastic? What type of paint did you use acrylic? enamel? Lacquer?

Keep up the great work, your skills and artistic eye are well beyond your experience level if you've only been modeling for a year. I too am relatively new to RC modeling, but have been doing small scale armor for a long time.

I also appreciate criticism, as long as it remains constructive and useful in educating the recipient, or is at least tactful pointing out areas that can be improved. I don't care how long you have been doing this there is always an opportunity to improve. People who possess knowledge like pzwest become valuable tools for the rest of us to gleen information from. I know both you and pccommander had a replies in my recent posting on painting figures so I won't add any images here, but I feel comfortable that I have enough experience to say you did great! Keep it up, and never stop learning.

Not everything pertaining to WWII Germans is "Nazi". Some of folks are still pretty upset by Confederate Flags -- but I don't think that tooling around in a 1:1 replica of the "General Lee" automatically makes you a member of the KKK ... !

Harold--I'm just starting to learn about the Soviets in WWII. I really wish there was someone out there with as much in-depth and detailed info on the 4th Tank Army of the Ist Ukrainian Front

Dan --Be glad you aren't modelling "Napoleonics" ! A military artist we knew, who specialized in thst Era, told Anna and me that he once was asked just how many Uniform Variants there were in "La Grande Armee". He admitted he didn't really know, but, curious, he contacted a colleague in New York and asked him the same question.

The reply? "We're still not sure, ---but so far we've found Fifteen Thousand..!"


"Ourah Pa'byeda" !!

P.S. --The only time I've REALLY felt "offended" is when NOBODY replies to one of my Posts!

I have been tank modeling for a little over a year, but have been modeling my whole life. I put my first Hawker Hunter together when I was five. There is a lot to learn about all the different armor and uniforms. I guy can only absorb so much.

Some of the stuff I am doing now is new to me. I am learning a lot on this forum, and think everyone here is very helpful. A couple of guys dive right in with what might be wrong, but they are quick to back it up with useful information to make it right. I hope this little dust-up helps "clear the air" on criticism. Be aware that some people take it well and others don't for various reasons. IMO people that go to the effort to post and contribute should be at least granted a gracious response. Especially the new guys. We don't want to scare anyone off and make them feel unwelcome. Once guys get active here I am sure most would appreciate the constructive criticism to improve their results. However not all modelers care about the same things, and the degree to which they follow the doctrine presented will vary.

For example. German uniforms. I will probably never get them right. IMO there were just too many darn variations and styles. On my priority list of things to do in this life spending hours researching them is not on there. I am just happy they were recognized as Germans!!!!!!! Hopefully I can absorb enough from pzrwest, and get lucky 25% of the time I am very grateful for his comments as it saves me the time of researching it for myself.

So to answer a couple of questions. These are resin cast models. I prime them first and then paint with acrylics after that. I could spray these with windex, let then sit for five minutes, run them under warm water and have them back to their primed base in less then a minute, allowing me to start again. One day that might happen.

Here is some more background on this crew and how I modified them as well as the stock Heng long commander.

First the resin figures come with 4 upper half and one set of legs. I used a razor saw and cut all the torso's just below the belt line. This allowed them all to share the same pair of pants I then added a small metal nut to all the top halves, by drilling a hole and setting in the nut.

The legs have a powerful magnet countersunk into the waist.

This set up allows me to pose these figures with a little more variety.

You can also see how I have added different heads to the Heng Long commanders to give some variety to my crew. One of them has had his torso cut just at the pec level. He sits in my the PZIII with the DBU built into the cupola.

Hmmmm. Looking at the pictures it seems I need to trim a couple of torso's down some more. I couple of guys are looking pretty long when matched with the legs.

Also, I tried to capture goggle lines on a couple of them., where their faces have been tanned except for where the goggles ride.

Hi,

Check this link out. You might think this is expensive but its not, because if you bought these seperatley they would cost you a lot more.
I have bought these myself, but I just have not got enough time as yet to get them assembled. They come with photo etched parts.
The detail is amazing. Im new to the Forum so Im not sure how to upload pictures. I could have posted pics of the model parts/contents.

http://www.historexagents.com/shop/h...oductCode=2374

Also these are based in the UK

Here is a further link to figure painting http://www.acrylicosvallejo.com/ Click on model colour on the left of the page. When it loads scroll down to 1, Introduction.

When I buy a Verlinden figure before I assemble and paint them I make silicone molds of the parts. Then I can pour urethane resin copies that I can customize. The DAK figure was made this way. I used the head from one figure the upper torso from another and legs and arms from another.
And yes as been said we all can learn from others. At no time were my comments about any of the figures intended to be a put down but as help. I appreciate it when someone points out an error or mistake on any of my tanks for without them letting me know I would continue to make the mistakes over and over again.

Hi PZRWEST

Thats very interesting with regards to making silicone molds. Can you send further details on how you carry this procedure out as it seems like a great idea.
Also can I say as a new guy to RC Tanks and this forum I enjoy your imput and comment on everything about RC Tanking and that includes figures!! I recently used your antenna mod to great affect. (I did have some teething trouble though) but thats part of the fun!!

May be it is because I am not thick skinned that I did not like the comments leveled at you and in my personal opinion they were out of order. There again people would argue they have their opinion and that I have to concede to.

Cheers.

TheSungoesdown.

Thank you thesungoesdown if there is enough interest I will write up a How To on making silicone molds. I used to work for a wildlife sculpture company and my job was makeing the silicone molds for the sculptures. I was luucky that I had experience making these types of molds with my modeling so it was easy to adapt it over to the sculpture

YHR, you did a fantastic job and as for tall and skinny.... He looks ok, we have seen people look like that. I don't know if he would have been assigned to a tank crew. Tanks have small compartments! I love the magnet and nut idea.

A note to guys: Don't put high powered neo magnets near your laptop! A slot car racer bud learned the hard way, he had them in his pocket and then placed the laptop on lap, and $1000.00 later he could again surf porn. He is a dirty old man! lol

pcomm1, you ride pzrwest too hard! I don't know what he has said to you in the past to make you point fingers at his other hobby. As far as I remember, his uniform in his avatar is WW I. WW I Germans soldiers were not Nazi's! Yet.......! Give pzrwest a chance, he seems like a nice person! [8D]

Hey Pzrwest... when you have some free time I'd love to see how you do this.

Thanks for the offer

Not to rob Pzrwest of a job writing up article, but how is this site for a How To? I've got the stuff, just haven't made a mold yet.

http://www.hobbycast.net/video.htm

Confederate Battle Flags are a symbol of southern heritage not slavery as the left continues to portray it. Harold, we appreciate the work you do and share. I haven't had the courage to paint any figures yet, keep buying those 21st Century ones!

Right you are, Swathy! I was just trying to reply to the "concern" about Harold's avatar--which I personally think is kind of cool

Thanks ksoc that link is great for showing how to make molds useing silicone molding compound. I use Dow Corning silicone molding compound but any brand will do. That link saved me alot of typeing lol thanks for the link and no you didn't rob me of the of doing the How-To lol
I use their method and what I call the skin mold type as well. Rather than pouring a solid block I apply several thin layers of the silicone to the item. Skin molds are better for intricate detailed items but is basically the same procedure. Dow Corning makes several types of molding compound. I usually use the J type. One thing about silicone molds is that they do have a shelf life. The molds will become brittle, not that they become hard like the resin but will tear and crumble. Heat and time is the killer with these molds. NEVER use the silicone in the tubes from the hardware store because if you don't use a good mold release the part you are molding will be ruined by the silicone sticking to it.