Marder II D_16 Inf Mot Div_Rasputitsa_Kalmykiya

Rui S
To begin with, some reference stuff.😎

EnsignExpendabl
I built this kit, you're going to have one hell of a time getting it to conform to those drawings.

Fabian D.
Pic 10-12 are from the early Marder III (that 38(t) engine deck has a hard time renouncing it's origins.), but 15 is new to me. Well, it would make sense. Curious to see what you make of it.

Rui S
Hi EnsignExpendabl Thank you for your comments. As said in the Project, I'm not concerned about the interior deck. I'm not going to tackle it.
@Fabian, Yes I know, but I've posted them only because of the gun details.😉
I think Photo 15, is just another speculation about the interior. Just as the Bronco or the Alan ones. Its a pity that there isn't a walk around somewhere? Well I've not come across one until now but I'm still in the beginning of the research...😎

Fabian D.
Concerning the walk around: Less than 250 were build/converted from the D, E and F model. It seems they were mainly used in the Russia and also lost there... I haven't found any pics of one in a Russian museum, best result was this: [img1]
But judging by the missing pattern on the road wheels and the undersized sprocket wheel it seems to be either a well made replica or an pretty bad restoration. 😉

But some text from here: panzer-archiv.de/jag..arderii/marderii.htm
Translation of the important part:
"The turret and the remainder of the upper hull of the Panzer II were removed to create space for the [...] cannon." Sadly they don't name source for their claim.

Rui S
Hi Fabian,
Thank you for your research and help.
I've also seen this photo and I agree with you.
Yes they where manly deployed in Russia, but also in Poland France and Italy.
Interesting is that the early models didn't have muzzle brake.😎

Philipp Groß
Very interesting project - Good luck with that old thing! 😄

Rui S
Thank you Philipp.
Your incentive is most important to me 👍

Rui S
Some progress photos.
I'm hopping that some mates find them interesting.😎
Next the gun build...

gorby
Interesting reference photos Rui and excellent work so far. I also like finding holes that I can drill - it's amazing how much it can add to a model for not much effort.

Rui S
Hi gorbygould,
Thank you for your comments and nice words. Much appreciated. 👍
I fully agree with you about drilling. I'm doing the gun now and the optics and support, needed that treatment also.
I will post some new photos soon.

Rui S
Now, the work on the 76.2mm gun.
Some reference stuff in MT4: MT4 | Album by mig (1:35)

Holger Kranich
What the f is that?😢

Rui S
Hehehe it's a bathtub 😄.
Tank Hunter, Sd.kfz. 132. A Panzer II D1 or D2 E, chassis with a captured Russian 76,2mm gun, Pak 36 (r) on it.
201 examples built by Alkett, Wegmann.
It Appeared in 1942.

EnsignExpendabl
Easiest way to make a tank destroyer out of an old light tank: take off the turret, weld the turret ring shut, put up a big box around a big gun. Not the greatest from a usability perspective, but they had to do something with all those PzII D and E chassis.

Rui S
The problem with Pz II, by that time was that they where quite obsolete against the KV or T34 tanks, and with the large amount of 76,2mm Russians guns capture and available by that time it was the easiest and fast way to upgrade them. Nevertheless this Panzerjagers were very high (2,60m) and so an easy target.

Rui S
Some progress done.
Next, add some more missing shield fixings/supports.😎

EnsignExpendabl
You can buy PE bottoms of shell casings, throwing some on there would go a long way towards making those ammo racks more realistic.

Rui S
Hi mates,
@James, thank you for your nice words and encouragement, much appreciated. 🙂
@ EnsignExpendabl, I know what you mean.
Don't mind me saying but that will be the day that I spend my money in aftermarket PE, mate.
I normally do my kits OOB with personal scratch and improvement's. I'm counting on the paint job for that.😉

Wim van der Luijt
Making somehting nice out of an old kit! Count me in for the rest...

EnsignExpendabl
Hm, then maybe drill a tiny indentation for the primer hole just so it's not a featureless disk.

Rui S
Hi Wim,
Thank you for your Kind words and encouragement. much appreciated, Mate 👍
@ EnsignExpendabl I agree, something else should be done. If I find a leather punch for example. I have one but in the form of circular pliers so it does not work, or maybe Hm,,,Will see.

Rui S
Upper structure completed.
Next, the individual track links.😎

Rui S
The individual track links. Nice surprise.

EnsignExpendabl
Putting on tracks before painting? I see you like to live dangerously 😛

Rui S
Hi EnsignExpendabl,
hehehe, I didn't have a choice.
The idler and sprocket were to lose to get a nice positioning of the tracks and respective sag. The problem was amplified because once I've glued those it was almost impossible to put and take out the tracks without breaking the links apart.
I manage not to glue the road wheels so that I can paint the tires more easily.
As I'm planning a winter setup, I think I can do it this way. We will see.😎

Rui S
I have to add the exhaust PE, and is ready to prime.

Rui S
Thank you for your nice words James. Much appreciated.
I'm starting with the dio. layout😉

Rui S
The dio prep.
Maybee an ambush scene...

Martin Oostrom
Looking good

Rui S
Thank you for your comment Martin.
Very welcome 🙂
Latest progress...

Gauge1TrainsDK
Nice model 🙂

Rui S
Thank you for your words, Gauge1TrainsDK .
I'm very glad you like it. 🙂

Rui S
Some progress made in the Marder II D, Winter diorama base.

Patrick Hagelstein
Lovely! I like the use of natural materials, that always gives a better feel than plastic stuff.

Rui S
Hi Patrick,
Thank you for your kind words and comment, much appreciated.
I'm mixing natural materials and plastic, but yes, I also prefer the wood in the fences and barn than for ex. the telegraph pole that is in plastic, (they are also cheaper and easy to find at home).
I also intended not to be perfect in the way they are put together (like we can see in photos from Russia villages in WW II). They also look more natural like that, IMO😉

Moritz Fentzahn
How could I have missed this build? Good job on the Marder and Diorama so far 👍, especially the roof looks excellent. What material did you use for the straw?

Rui S
Hi mates, thank you for your nice words, Much appreciated.

@ Moritz, The project has been around for a wile, but with a different Teaser (photo nr. 3).
I used a large brush with synthetic hair that is used to apply lime. But for the next "Datcha" that I intend to do, I will use brushes with non-plastic hairs, that are thinner (and I will cut them with a shorter length. I think this ones are a bit to long, but anyway it's an old Russian barn, so... We know they weren't perfect).

@ Spanjaard, Nice to have you aboard 🙂

Rui S
Now, this one is also "primed" in black.😎

Andrea Morris
I somehow managed to miss this 🙁 You have gone to a lot of trouble but soooo worth it 🙂

Kim Branders
Following. Nice kit??

Rui S
Nice to have you both aboard, Mates.
@ Dave, Yes this kit takes a lot of time and work to improve it to a nice worthy level. Thx, for your nice words and comment, much appreciated.
@Kim, Yes I can say it was for me a nice surprise. It's not a Bronco, it has mistakes and a bit soft detail in some parts that I've tried to fix as you can see in the album.
The front upper hull inside the "bath tube" is completely different from the Bronco kit and the Bronco has it also completely different from a blue print I found in a Russian book (photo 15).
There is not a lot of information about this model so I don't know which one represent better the real thing😎
The instructions are just horrible with lot's of mistakes and miss leadings.

Holger Kranich
Uh, an Alan kit😎! Good luck and fun with it!😉

Rui S
Hi Holger,
Thx. Yap, had lot's of fun building such a strange WWII Alan model.
I like to make my best, improving old kits.
Now the second part of the fun begins. Painting the kit.😉

EnsignExpendabl
Looking great so far! How did you get the wheels to come off without snapping the tracks?

Rui S
Hi EnsignExpendabl,
The track in he right side is snapped just before the sprocket, the left track is snapped just ahead of the idler😉

Dave Flitton
This is going into my research folder - excellent work

Rui S
Thank you very much for your nice words, Dave.
Glad to know that it interested you in that way.
Much appreciated, believe me.

Rui S
After a long break, today I manage to weather the barn and fences.😎

Peter Hardy
Another modelling lesson from the master of WWII armour! Thank you Rui! Please look after yourself over there.

coporado
Superb built mate, your drilling addiction brings that model to life and excellent work on that base! Take care!

Xerxes
Great Build. Love the dio and the composition and overall look. Well done 👍

Rui S
Thank you Mates for your Nice words. Very much apreciated. Take all the care please.
@ Peter, I don't consider my self as a master, far from it, but Thanks again, your words sure motivate me.
@ coporado, I see that you took your time too read my coments. Thank you.
@ Xerxes, I still have a long way ahead. Paint and weathering the Marder II, choose the figures and Start working on them, you know I'm a slow modeler, so...(not near as fast as you have done your Hummel dio)

coporado
Just smiled when I read about your Drilling addiction as
it seems most of the modelers have some sort of addiction giving that models a kind of signature 🙂

Rui S
Hehe. So may i ask Whats yours?
I've another addiction. Total irradiction of all the seam lines 😄. But I'm in a process of self cure this One with the argument that some welding in metal pieces also get that lines.😉

coporado
To be honest there's more than one with me 🙂 I can't resist detailing parts of Kits which may not be visible in the final stage. Its just soothing to know its in place 😄 another one is trying to tell a Story in the dio, which mostly results in long lasting builds. Some mates created a synonym for such addictions, called AMS - Advanced Modeler Syndrome. As I see there's also more than one with you, so you may also got cought by AMS 🙂

Rui S
AMS is an addiction that we can live with. It helps many times to relax.😉 If it's lack of detail inside a closed hull in a old Tamiya kit for example i don't Waist time with that, I prefer to takle details that can be seen even If you have to manipulate/rotate the kit to see them.😎

coporado
You nailed it - relaxation and turning off daily life for some time is where all that addictions feed in 🙂 Particularly in that challenging times a soul feeding task 🙂 Take care mate!

Chris Greathouse
Very nice!!!!

Xerxes
Guess i am also infected with the AMS virus 🙂

Matthew Stec
Incredible!! You did a great job

Rui S
Thank you mates. I'm very glad you like the work. Much apreciated.
Now I've the mojo but also the responsability not to mess things up with the tank and figures. I look for perfection but that's not my levei, and I'm always worried not to desapoint my Mates. So lot's of pressure and wise decisions to take.
@ Xerxes, we all are in some degree😉

Rafael Lang
wow! estupendo! adorei

Rui S
Obrigado Rafael. Fico muito feliz por ter gostado.

Rui S
Ready for decals and washes😎

Tim Heimer
Beautiful work on this!

Rafael Lang
estupendo weathering, acho eu que esses kits da Allan são muito bons e têm bons preços!

Rui S
Thank you mates. Very glad to receive your coments.
@Rafael, Eu errei ao não utilizar a lupa quando fiz o chipping. Na minha opinião ficaram grandes de mais. Ainda preciso de praticar muito esta técnica, pois exagero sempre.
Se vir o album todo, vai ver que este kit não é muito bom. Tem n problemas. Falta de precisão, e intruções com erros e omissões, mas tudo se consegue com um pouco de mais empenho, o que faz parte do hobby😉

Rafael Lang
Chipping costumo deixar pra fazer antes do wash, faço com a esponja e depois de aplicado venho com um palito de dentes bem afiado e vou retirando algumas partes aleatoriamente, aí sim começo o wash!

quanto a qualidade do kit, realmente não são 100%, afinal o produtor tem que pensar em produção antes de precisão, mas digo que são bons pois tinham certa qualidade a mais em alguns detalhes do que os mesmos do mercado em sua época (era quase a dragon dos anos 80! hehehehe) manuais sempre são complicados quando se tem muitas peças!

Rafael Lang
mas mesmo assim não achei seus shippings grandes demais não! achei-os na medida certa! estão de meu agrado! mas quem têm que ficar feliz és tu! 😄

Rui S
Sim, também usei esponja e depois pincel 000, mas como utilizei tamiyas não consegui reduzir o tamanho com o palito pois arrancava-me tudo até ao plastico. (Também como não uso verdadeiro primário é o que dá).
Sim, também fiz o wash depois senão o chiping ainda era mais proeminente.
Mas Obrigado pelo seu apoio. 👍

Neuling
Good weathering and metalizing!

Rui S
Thank you Neuling. I'm glad you like it and your comment is much appreciated.

Wim van der Luijt
Looking good Rui! The breech looks especially nice and I love the overal weathering you applied

Rui S
Hello Wim. Thank you for your comments. I'm glad you stop by and like it. I've chose to keep the gun breach and the interior almost clean, because it was the crew life insurance.
I'm still working on the dio. The tank is now almost ready, but I will do some more detailing and choose position for the figures.
Still lot of work but I'm enjoying a lot.

Eugene PanzerBabay
Excellent. You did a great job on Alan's kit.

Tim Heimer
Nice work as usual! I like it!

Rui S
Hi Eugene and Tim.
Thank you for your encoraging words. Very much apreciated.

coporado
Really like the painting and weathing of the Marder, coming along very nicely!

Rui S
Thank for the nice suport coment Coporado. Much apreciated

Rui S
Starting with figures. First 5. As usual lots of brands and pieces mixed to find the right poses.
One lying down for the roof, 2 or 3 on their knees for the Marder, and the officer for the ground. More to come.

Rafael Lang
essa é a etapa que corro longe! as figuras! 😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄

Rui S
Pois Rafael, eu percebo. Limpá-las e montá-las é demorado mas facil. Pintar as faces é que é o busilis.😉

Rafael Lang
é exatamente onde me pegam! as faces! não tenho muita paciência (na verdade visão e mãos firmes) para coisas tão diminutas! 😄😄😄😄

Rui S
A quetão da visão é facil, basta uma boa lupa com luz forte e já dá.
As mãos firmes, é mais difícil, às vezes tenho de suster a respiração, como os snipers hehehe 😄

Rafael Lang
😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄

Rafael Lang
as minhas (duas já feitas) costumo só pintar a cor base do rosto que me agrada, envernizo e depois passo um wash marrom da Vallejo

Rui S
Sei que usar bons óleos ajuda, mas é preciso uma boa base/primário e bons pinceis.
Tenho tido problemas com todos. a base a não aguenta. os óleos começam a ficar expessos e os pinceis não são os melhores. 🙁
Vamos lá ver como corre desta vez.

Rafael Lang
vais conseguir! estamos a torcer por ti!😉

Rui S
heehehe, obrigado pelo apoio Rafael, é muito bem vindo 👍

coporado
Wow Rui, those mini´s are bringing that scene to life! They suit perfectly into the dio telling a story. Even unpainted it looks great. Really looking forward to the paint job!

Rui S
Hi Mate. Thank you very much for your support. Much appreciated. I managed to call another lancer to secure the perimeter 😄 Positinig him remind my very young (6 to 8 yaers old) war games with Airfix 1/72 or 1/32. It bring back lots of memories and having a lot of fun😉

coporado
Also the additional Mini fits perfectly into the scene! And great that your project bringing back old memories, this is what makes it a very special one. The helmet is indeed a bit out of size for his head. This is another Nice detail from my point of view. I'm Sure there were lots of issues like the helmet, even this brings life into the scene.

Rui S
Thx Coporado, for your nice comment and sharing your thoughts . I think you are right, the hobby brings with it lot's of nice memories. I will see how the helmet gets when painted, and decide the way to go. added another lancer, and I think maybe a couple more and switch to the paint job.😉

coporado
Just flapped through the pics, didn´t found any of how you did that beautiful fence. Is it scratch built? The arrangement of the figures is great. Just saw you changed poses on almost any figure, really impressive work!

Rui S
Hello Mate.
They where scratch built. from tooth picks, sushi sticks and some ice cream holders.
You can see the photos I took from n.º 135 to 145. I also loaded one today from a part I didn't use in the dio.
Also loaded the runner with all the gear. They get "beautiful" like that. I think this one just had one arm switched.😉

Olivier
More and more impressive...

Rafael Lang
muito bons os detalhes da MG34, bem injetado! são de qual marca?

Rui S
@Olivier, Thank you very much for your encouraging comment. Much appreciated, and good for keeping the mojo, because all the alterations and cleaning seam lines on the equipment is time consuming.
@Rafael, a MG34 é da Tamiya: O detalhe em todas as peças é realmente muito bom neste kit. (mas ainda tenho de endireitar a boca e ver se consigo fazer o buraco...???
German Infantry Weapons Set (Tamiya 3611, 1:35)

Archibaldd Haddock
Boa mate, está a ficar bem catita! Cheers

Rui S
OLá Mate.
Folgo em saber que viste este album. Obrigado pelo teu comentário.
Agora tenho de começar a pintar esta malta toda..........😄

Archibaldd Haddock
Claro que vejo! Vejo tudo o que tens publicado, vou comentar mais vezes para saberes que estou aqui. Estou a gostar muito deste! Bem fixe

Rui S
Mate, agradeço sempre a tua opinião sincera.
Fico contente por estares a gostar deste. Está a andar devagar, mas também me está a dar gozo.

coporado
Great progress on those figures and hope you got few weeks of for the paint job 😄

Archibaldd Haddock
Se te está a dar gozo é para continuar! Porque está a ficar mesmo espectacular 😄

Rui S
@ Coporado, thank you. Yes you are completly right, I've be thinking about that. I think I need as few months of 😄 .
@Paulo, obrigado fico contente com o teu apoio e sim vou manter o hobby ao fim de semana, por isso ainda vai demorar.

Al
Impressive work with the rifle slings especially, you must have steady hands to do this.

Rui S
Thank you for your Nice words Al. But we have to wait a bit for the paintjob, to confirm that 😄

Rafael Lang
cada dia que passa o diorama fica mais impressionante!

Rui S
Obrigado, Mate, já comecei a pintar os figurinos, mas tenho estado um pouco parado ultimamente 🙁

Rafael Lang
mas com calma se chega ao longe! 😄

Stefan Fraundorfer
The soldiers' postures look absolutely convincing. Great work! I'm looking forward to see the painted figures

Rui S
Thank you mates for the encoraging words. Much apreciated.
@ Rafael você tem toda a razão.
@ JD, i'm not sure what you mean. I've primed the figures with tamiya acrlics and sprayed the base flesh color, to work Next with oils and enamels.
@Stefan, i've used several brands and boxes and canibalized some arms hands and heads to achive those results. I'm also anxious for the detail painting. The last figures i've finished are the ones in my 1ton desert halftrack álbum, a long time ago. But this time I'm going for new technics.🤔

Rui S
I see what you mean now. I don't know If i give it a try this time, because I would have to mask the the flesh zones and spray again a darker color and go from there 🤔

Rui S
Finaly another step paintting the figures. pictures with mobilphone…🤔🙁

Tim Heimer
Still looking good as usual!

Rui S
Thx a lot for your encouragement Tim. I'm now struggling with painting all the built in details in the figures, and thinking that maybe I should have paint before assemble them.
We will see in the end result 🤔

Tim Heimer
Live and learn Rui! That's what we all do.

Archibaldd Haddock
Top! 😄

Rui S
@Tim, Yes we have too, but I've this problem. I always like to see if everything is ok, so I endup glueing everything in place… 😄
@ Paulo, Obrigado Mate, mas Top é ser muito generoso hehehe.
Como está o meu amigo?

Archibaldd Haddock
Saudades tuas! ????

Rui S
Há 4meses e meio que não saio de casa.

Archibaldd Haddock
No comments

Rui S
A llitle progress like nice shine boots 😄 and bits. WIP😉

Tim Heimer
Looking good!

Bigglesof266
Good to see those Grenadiers keep their boots polished! Figure painting is definitely a slowly acquired art for most of us Rui S. Keep up the good work!

Olivier
Well it is the only way to keep their feet dry...

Rui S
Thx a lot for your suport mates, always very much apreciated.
@Bigglesof266, You are completly right. I know its a very very dificult and subtle & time consuming art, at least for me.
I'm trying new tecnics this time with acrilics, instead of oils, but I'm never satisfied. So dificult.
At least I'm satisfied I've given a "primer" base coat and a flesh with tamiya and let it dry for a week. Like so, I'm not having the problem that I use to have when painting whit oils, peeling the base paint up to the bare plastic.
Also this time to avoid that, I've washed all the figures with soap before base coat.
Now; they look like the SS securit guard on parade hehehe, but it will change…
@Olivier, Yes winter is coming😉

Rui S
Sh#$%& happens, but finally, I'm calling these three finished, or almost. 🙂

coporado
Nice progress on those figures, keep it up 🙂

Rui S
Thanks for the encouragement, Mate

Patrick Hagelstein
Good save with that varnish. Keep it up! 👍

Rui S
Thanks for your nice words and the encouragement Patrick.
Next I'm planing to do the officer, the medic and the guy who is going to the roof to deliver the Entfernungsmesser??? We will see...

Archibaldd Haddock
Don't be so hard on your self! You are on tracks... after all this is an hobby, have fun, keep doing it!
Cheers mate

Patrick Hagelstein
Well spoken Paulo! 👍

Archibaldd Haddock
Cheers Patrick! 😄

Rui S
@Paulo, obrigado pelas sábias palavras e apoio. Sabem sempre bem Mate.🙂
@Patrick, Indeed

Archibaldd Haddock
Cheers mate, Loving and watching your diorama taking form! 😄

Rui S
Obrigado meu amigo. Devagar se vai ao longe, mas estou determinado a concluí-lo,, mesmo com estes figurinos todos.

Archibaldd Haddock
Claro, mas isso é obvio! Nem me passou pela cabeça que irias desistir...

Rui S
Some progress in the officer (almost done), and the other two (Medic and the the Entfernungsmesser deliver ), but the photos are a bit to blur, so i will take new ones.

Tim Heimer
Looking good!

coporado
Great progress here, thumbs up

James C
Fabulous paintwork Rui👍

Olivier
Your eyes must be very sharp and your hand very steady to reach such a result... Looking forward to seeing more.

Rui S
Thank you very Much mates for your encouraging Words:
@Tim, Glad you like it;
@Coporado, Slowly but steady, I will take this to a conclusion. I don't know when but I'm determined;
@James C, wellcome aboard. Coming from such a talented modeler, it's much apreciated;
@Oliver; I use 2.5 close-up glasses and a magnificent magnifying glass (with LED Lights) that my wife ofer me last Christmas. But Yes, when I started detailing the figures, I was glad to see that (if I hold my breath 😄) the lines came out prety good.
I hope to finish this 3, next weekhend and start on the next 3, I think they will be the 3 guys inside the Marder.
We will see😎

Rafael Lang
bela pintura nas figuras Rui!!!😎

Peter Hardy
You're a talented man Rui! I sit here eating breakfast wondering how you got so far up in the line getting talent handed out and I am still waiting for mine to arrive in the mail! Sensational mate, just sensational!

gorby
Outstanding work on the figures Rui!

Rui S
@Rafael, Obrigado pelas suas palavras, são sempre muito bem vindas. Como está o seu modelismo?

@Peter, Mate, you are too kind. Your words are much apreciated, but I've lot's to learn to achive for exemple, your gloss painting skills and others, so please don't understimate your work😉

@Gorbygould, Thank you for your very nice words, much apreciated, mainly, coming from a scratch master 😄

Rui S
Finished the this 3 guys and started working on the Marder crew.

Jean-Michel Tilquin
Impressive paintwork so far!

Rui S
Very good to read your kind words Jean-Michel. Thank you for stopping by, very encouraging, because I really like your excellent work and dios.

coporado
Excellent paintwork Rui! Are you going to add some wear and tear to the uniforms and helmets?

Jean-Michel Tilquin
Thank you too for that, Rui. Very pleasant to read!

Rui S
@Coporado, thank you for your nice coment. Much apreciated.
I know what you mean. I too am not yet super happy with the highlights and shadows I've done.
I'm using 6 diferent Humbrol enamels for the trousers and jackets, but I can't make washs without breaking the previous paint. I've to be very careful not to ruin the work done.
Painting figures as you know, isn't easy, mainly the faces, so for now I'm mostly concentrated in finishing the paint job on the 12 guys, only then, when i put them in the dio, I will see if I go further with the weathering on the figures uniforms.
I'm sure, now that you mention it, that I will act on the helmets, also because of the decals margins. WIP Mate😉
@ Jean-Michel, just being honest about it.

coporado
A wash with arcrylic paint may work as this won't affect the enamel paint. Another option is pigments, you Just need to be careful to not take them off when touching the figures afterwards.

Rui S
Yes Mate, you are obviously right. In my worries I had already thought about the pigments (but thought that they are a bit tricky to control). I like to use them to do fine dust..
I've just remember that I've some Tamiya grey paints that might do the thing in the trousers, the jackets will be a diferente thing because I don't have any tamiya green.
Thank you for your advice, always welcome.

Rui S
This guy goes inside the Marder, front right side. I think he is a radio operator with sniper skils 🤔

Rui S
The other Marder crew and one more infantry figure.

HSC1932
Woah, what a project!

Rui S
Thank you OttovonLindberg, coment much apreciated.
Thanks for noticing it. I think the project already has more photos than people can handle.😉

Rafael Lang
por aqui as coisas na bancada estão um pouco paradas ultimamente, voltei a trabalhar desde meados de setembro então não têm sobrado tempo para os kits! =/

Rui S
É aproveitar os fins de semana Rafael. É o que eu faço😉

HSC1932
Hey Rui, one simple way to quickly weather your figures would be a quick rust wash.

Rui S
Thank you OttovonLindberg. Yes I know, but I fear that would also make the all figure look more homogeneous, and I don't want that😎

Rui S
Made some progress on the last four lancers. Not quite finished but close.

Rafael Lang
estupendos! sem outras palavras!

Rui S
Muito obrigado pelas suas encorajadoras palavras Rafael. Vindas de um modelista tão talentoso, são sempre muito bem vindas.

HSC1932
Well then maybe you could have slightly different shades for each figure, or apply it only on certain parts of the figures?

coporado
Very nice progress mate. I like to see you enhancing your paint skills with each mini. Thumbs up, keep it coming

Rui S
@ OttovonLindberg, yes I found a tamiya darker green color that I Will use as a wash on the jackets and try a better color diferentiation.
@Coporado, Mate you are to kind. Thanks for your encouraging words. Much apreciated.

Rui S
I'm hoping to finish this tomorrow, Finally. Today Just an intro.😉

coporado
Fantastic Intro, more pics please 🙂

Jean-Michel Tilquin
Appealing intro indeed! Suggestion: another album?

Rui S
@ Coporado, Thank you for your comment. Tonight I will poblish the full report😉

@ Jean-Michel, Thank you for your comment.
To be honest, I have been thinking about it for some time now, and I've mixed feelings about it.

On the one hand this album is going too long, but the dio is part of the process and the mates who followed and comment it, deserve to be alerted?
On the other hand, a new album just for the final result is lighter, but it does lose the context, content and all the necessary work involved in its realization?

I would really like and appreciate to know the opinion of the various Mates, about this interesting issue in scalemates presentations and photoalbums? 🤔

Olivier
Well, this album contains already 344 images.

Rui S
Hi Olivier. So in are in favour to another álbum?

gorby
Quite overawed by your figure painting Rui and looking forward to the grand unveiling.
Perhaps you could do a new album and in the introduction/album description and the comments section, you could provide links to the other album.

HSC1932
Hey Rui, it's awesome that you've managed to get this massive project done!

I would suggest parsing through your current album and deleting any duplicates or anything redundant/unnecessary. That should free up about a dozen photos of your finished build that you can put on here to maintain continuity. You could add a new album for lots more photos if you need to, but I suggest you try to keep everything here first

James C
If you don't wish to create a second album, you could always add the completed pictures to the current, but make the first of the "new" images the starting point (Teaser) instead. This is what I usually do and gets around the problem of having to scroll through larger albums to view the latest updates etc. BTW fantastic work Rui👍

Rui S
@ gorbygould, and OttovonLindberg Thank you for your nice words and sugestions. Yes, finaly I can call this one done. 😄
@ James C, Thank you for your nice comment. I usually do as you say and so I've decided to keep doing the upload here with just an addon to the title😎

Paulo Costa
GreatJob!!!Very good details, amazing work!!!My congratulations Rui. 🙂

Rui S
@Paulo, Muito obrigado é com muito gosto que recebo o seu comentário.

FINALLY DONE AND COMPLETE, after all this years 😄 😄 😄.

I hope you like it, even if the photos were taken with mobile phone.

I certainly enjoyed the whole process and even with some flaws, I am satisfied with the experience and learning curve it gave me.

James C
Outstanding work Rui. What a fantastic looking battle scene, with every picture loaded with details... but not over done. The figures in particular look amazing. EPIC!!! 👍👍👍

Rui S
James, Mate you are very kind, your words make me humble and proud at the same time.
Thank you for your analysis, because a fear I always have is the choice of images to publish.
I'm glad I didn't overdo it and that you liked it.
I hope the album and the dio tell their own story.
Thank you very much.

Jim J
Wow! Superb Rui. Excellent work. Very nice details. I really like thought you put into the scene — cartridges, running troops, puddles, injured soldier. Congrats. 👍 👍 👍

coporado
Just wow! Briliant Model figures and base! I love the dynamic you brought into the scene. It makes you feel the action going on. Congrats mate!

gorby
WOW, WOW and a whole host more WOW's!
That's a bit of a stunner that is Rui. It's up there with the best dio's I've ever seen on Scalemates.
A definite ten out of ten (it would have been a nine and a half out of ten – but those fingernails clinched it for me😉 ).

Neuling
Every praise you got here is well deserved. You show a very dynamic scene with lots of appealing details and good composition. I like the close up photos (taken with cell phone: respect!). Top result in every aspect!

Olivier
Your obsession with details proved right. Superb result !

Jean-Michel Tilquin
I can only agree with all the above: lots of details, everything in the right place, full of life. A masterpiece! Congrats!

Guillaume Blanchet
That is a pretty amazing scenery!

Rui S
Dear friends, thank you very much for your compliments and nice words.
I think we all like to receive them and some of us also don't mind taking a moment to give them back.

I am indeed very happy with the final result and finally having finished this dio.
Not the initial winter idea (not courageous or confident enough for that, yet) but a raputitsa, it's ok for me now.

Of course, there are always things to improve, but in this specific case, at the moment, I don't feel that need and what matters is the dedication and the sense of accomplishment when it's finished, right?

I would also like to thank all the mates who passed through here and who undoubtedly helped me to keep my spirits up at times when I lost momentum or mojo.

I thank you all for the support you gave, because if it weren't for that support, it certainly wouldn't be over yet, so this one is for you too.

Now, I'm fuelled up to finish some more work, that I have "on hold"

Obrigado.

Guy Rump
Excellent dio, very impressive 🙂

Tim Heimer
Well put Rui! So true.

David Taylor
Brilliant

Archibaldd Haddock
No comments... all the above said it right! 😄 Grande abraço mate

Patrick Hagelstein
Really nice to read through your comments Rui. Glad we could be supportive to you and your efforts! 👍 🙂

Rui S
Thank you all for your nice words, Much apreciated.
@ Guy, Nice of you stopping by.
@Tim, I'm glad you agree and thx your continuous support.
@David, Nice of you stopping by.
@Paulo, aquele grande abraço, Mate.
@Patrick,I'm glad and thankful for your support.

Peter Hardy
Rui, I have been following this creation very closely for months and have enjoyed it immensely. Thank you for all of the technical knowledge you have put in the vehicle and equipment and also for the "life" you have injected into the cast! Wonderful work. Congratulations.

Tim Heimer
It just keeps looking better and better every time I look at it! Love it!

Rui S
@ Peter, Thank you Mate, for your nice words and for following this looonnnggg build. I always apreciated your suport and I'm Realy glad that you like the outcome.😉
@ Tim you are to kind. Thank you for your interest. Nice to know that.
I wish you all talented modelers the very best new year and a Great 2021 👍

Tim Heimer
Same to you and yours Rui!

DJ Fajardo
Amazing work Rui! 👍 The Marder, the figures & of course, the diorama 😮 I can't imagine the time it took. Awesome!

Rui S
Thank you very much for your Nice coment, DJ. I'm glad you like my work. Much appreciated.
It took too long. I think the first photos are from... February 26, 2017 😮
Well, it stood some time on hold, and lot's of intervals, also 😉

Juskifo
Super travail
Le montage est impressionnant et le theme est très intéressant
BRAVO

Rui S
Merci pour vos aimables paroles, Juskifo. Très appréciée. Le premier commentaire français que je reçois (il y a toujours une première fois). Je suis content que tu l'aimes.

Guillaume Blanchet
Tu parles français? C'est bon a savoir 🙂

Cortex
Great reference pictures, awesome build. I love when old or simple kit is picked for a build and the result looks brilliant.

Rui S
@ Guillaume, gracieuseté du traducteur google. Malheureusement, on ne m'a jamais appris à parler français, c'est un écart qui me dérange et m'attriste beaucoup 🙁

@ Cortex, Thank you for your nice and interested comment. I see that you took the time to see the whole album, I feel honored and very appreciated. I'm glad you like the work.

tankbrusher
Impressive Work mate!

Chris Greathouse
Very neat!

Rui S
Thank you very much, tankbrusher and Chris. I apreciate you nice coments and I'm really glad you like it.

MarSeif
Impressiv dio-work. Especially the wet effects.

Sebastian Meyner
Very impressive work Rui S 👍

Rui S
Thank you MarSeif, and Sebastian Meyner, glad you comment and like it. Appreciated.
Thank you to all the other mates that liked it.

Dominik Weitzer
wow. a lot of action in that scene. impressive!

Artur Z.
Nice work. I see a lot time spent with this diorama.

Rui S
Thank you very much mates. I apreciate very much your comments.
@ Mona, Sorry for the late reply. No problem I understand, my albuns tend to be big. 😉
No, all the figures are plastic, cannibalized and mixed together several brands, some very old Italeri, Tamiya.
@ Dominik, I'm very Glad you Like it.
@ Artur, Yes I'm a slow modeller, and sometimes, in this case I lose my mojo, and had other things to do, but all the encoregement words from all the mates here help me finish it. Thank you all.

Rafael Lang
parabéns pela conclusão meu caro! resultado ficou maravilhoso!

Phil M
wow...

Slavo Hazucha
Epic build - 401 pictures, but worth watching - great effort on the whole scene - one can almost smell the hay and the other "rural flavors" 😉

Great show, tons of little details to discover 👍

Rui S
@Rafael, muito obrigado pelo seu comentário e apoio.
@Phill, I'm glad you like it.
@Slavo, I know your Great work, so I'm honored that you stop by and commented on my album with such kind and encourging words. Very important to me. Thank You mate.
And yes 401 photos are way too many but nowadays we don't have to pay for them right?... I got Carried away with the joy of beeing working on this project and wanted to Share all the Steps on it with my mates.

C. B.
Oi Rui,
as tuas maquetes estão um espectaculo. Principalmente as pinturas das figuras.👍👍👍 Cumprimentos

Rui S
Thank you very much C. B. Nice of you to write your kind comment in Português 😄 Much apreciated.
I enjoyed a lot this longo project. It had some very Nice learning curves and surprises.

Simon Nagorsnik
Hi rui
Looks like a lot of work
I like the muddy road and the roof seems really good
The weatherinh on the marder is fantastic 👌👌

Rui S
Hi Simon, Thank you very much for your Nice comment. Apreciated.
Yap, it took a lot of work, but also a lot of Joy and Nice new experiences.
I've seen your weathering and Dio techniques and they are excellent, so I'm really glad you like this.

Brian Eberle
Excellent

matt
nice, 401 pictures! gotta be a record

Ben M
The wet mud is a great effect

Rui S
Thank you very much for stopping by and your nice comments, mates. I apreciate it.

@ Brian, glad you like it that much.

@ Matt, it's Record for me, yes, and it's more a diorama with lots of pieces build log and of course, it was also a consequence of my pride in this work.
But not a Record for scalemates. I've seen álbuns with 500 plus photos for just one model, and 600 plus photoalbuns and even a 1000 plus photoalbuns.

@ Ben, I was interested in such a russian terrain for a long time, it should have more height, to represent rasputitsa, but the glass base didn't help.

Andy Heim
Excellent work! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Markus Yliaho
Nice piece of art!

Rui S
Thank you very much Mates.
@Andy, Glad you like it that much.
@ Markus , that's a very Nice and kind compliment, it makes me honored and also very humble. much appreciated.

Samweis Spade
Awesome diorama

Rui S
Thank you Samweis. I'm glad you stoped by and apreciated it.

Bobby Thumbs
Incredible job rui

Rui S
Thank you bobby, glad you like this one

Villiers de Vos
Pure eye candy.

Jean-Michel Tilquin
Hi Rui, it seems you have here a winning item. Look at the likes! Well deserved, for sure!

Rui S
Thank you Mates.
@Villiers de Vos, I'm really glad you stop by and enjoy it. Very important for me to achieve the attention of such tallented mates as you.

Hello Jean-Michel Tilquin,

This album has Images (401): full thread has (243 Comments) and 120 or 118 likes not sure about this? becouse I received a message saying: "Juergen Klinglhuber and 119 others liked your album".

I am not a competition guy. I have never submitted my works to the scrutiny of a jury, or even taken them to an exhibition. That's why I love Scalemates and I was against the implementation of the likes system that in my opinion, replaces the the desired comments, and now this??? How...

I also considered this to be my best work when I finished it, so it is simply the winner among my works, not in scalemates? no way.

There are "n" mates here (like you), with better dioramas or experience, but of course, I'm very satisfied about this one, mainly with all the comments, but also, with the likes I received (obviously). In fact I feel truly honored and humble with so many likes from many modelers much better than me and with skills far superior to mine, and this is not false modesty, believe me.

So I take your comment, to thank all the mates, your recognition that gives me strength and enormous pride.

I hope to be able to continue to progress as I have enormous scope for that and not defraud the vote of confidence you all gave me.

Thank you very much Mates

Jean-Michel Tilquin
Right mentality Rui!

Rui S
Thank you Jean-Michel 😄

Alan G
Stunning Rui. Excellent work. Your builds give me inspiration to try and better my techniques.

Mathias Decommere
This is a very stunning dio! I like the critcal situation. Very inspirational... I was planning my next dio to be a situation likr this... Good environmental specifics: the building, the mud, the ditch, very nice, I can feel the bullits fly... Congratulations!

Rui S
Thank you very much Alan and Mathias. I really apreciate your kind comments.

Saad Zia
This is amazing!! Love that detail!

Rui S
Thank you Saad, I'm glad you like it and stop by to comment. I really like your work too.

Neil
Awesome work as always Rui. Highly impressive and always a pleasure to see your work in the feed 👏👏👏

Rui S
Thank you Neil. Your comment is so much apreciated.
I'm also very glad that this work pops up in the newsfeed once in a wile. It makes me very proud.
As said before this work was motivated and resulted from all the encouragement comments, I've received during the duration of this long album. Thank you to all mates.

Николай Романов
👍

Rui S
Thank you NIK666, glad you like this one, and also, thank you to all the new mates that also liked this album.

Kerry COX
Rui. I did miss this build and I do apologize mate. But now I have started going through what you started with and only up to the fifth image of your detailing. I am not at all amazed by the detail, just stunned.
(I love the seat cushions being deformed to give them the used/ abused look of horse hair stuffed canvas bags. !)
See you when I reach the 400 th image. (late next year. hahahahaha

Rui S
Hi Kezza, Thank you for stoping by and your kind comment. Most apreciated.
No arm done Mate, but hey, don't forget the image 401, it's important 😄 So talk to you again 2nd day next year? 😄
Also thank the new mates, that pressed the like. Apreciated.

Kerry COX
401 You say. !
You mean the wood pole tin clad shed that hasn't got any bullet holes or shattered poles from grenades or bodies of Russian soldiers. ?
Yes, I did look for all kinds of things in the image, but you know me. Just a smart arse. hehehehe 😉 👍

Mathias Decommere
One of my favourites! Really amazing diorama.

Alexander Grivonev
Simply gorgeous, so much detail in every single picture 👍

Björn Groen
Superb stunning looking dio... I salute you!

Rui S
@ Kezza, I can't to believe you didn't saw the running enemies? They didn't even had the time to shoot a single bullet or throw grenades, they just run away 😄
@ Mathias, thank you very much. I'm really happy that you choose this one. It's also very special to me.
@ Alexander, really appreciate your comment. Glad you like it.
@ Björn, Thank you for your kind comment, means a lot o me.
And also Thx, to all the new mates that pressed the like.

Kerry COX
Rui. They must have had the speed of a Gazell mate. NO, I didn't see them mate, and now I I say well done. 👍 😉

Rui S
Yap, they where fast fleeing certain death 😄 Thank you for your support Mate, apreciated.

Murtaza Ismail
Wow! Stunning

coporado
Always a pleasure seeing this again and flipping through. Absolutely stunning dio, great crafting, atmosphere and dynamic are superbly captured in that scene!

Pietro De Angelis
Seen and re-seen several times, i really enjoyed it, immense and astounding work, especially on Alan's old kit and the figures, i too have had in my stash the kit with Eduard's photoetched parts and a metal barrel of Jordi Rubio,
lately with an incredible offer I also got the one from Bronco, one of my dreams is to put them together in a winter dio, i shiver thinking about making them just look alike!
My respects and congratulations Rui!

Rui S
@ Murtaza, ainda bem que você assim achou. Obrigado
@ Corporado, Thank you very much for your kind words, coming from a high-level modeler friend, they taste even better. Apreciated. I consider this a millstone project for me.
@ Pietro It is with added pleasure that I read your nice comment, it's good that this project awakens that kind of feeling in a talented modeler, it fills me with pride. I look forward to see Your Marders winter Dio. I'm sure it will be a beautiful work to follow. Thanks again

Noël Bossaert
great job superbly done 👍
I adore

John
Love how dynamic the action in this dio is! 👍

Christian Lehmann
👍

Mark Sherwood
Brilliant outcome to a superb diorama.

AmazingCake
Look amazing - hopefully I'll get to do something like this one day.

Rui S
@ Noël, thank you so much. Coming from a high talented modeler, makes my day. Glad you coment it.
@ John, thank you very much for stoping by and comment, I think That's Also one reason that this album have so many Nice comments. Apreciated
@ Christian, glad you like it.
@ Mark, your comment is realy apreciated and makes me humble.
@ AmazingCake, thx for your comment. All it takes it's work some experiences and dedication.
I'm sure that for some older mates the fact that this album still appears several times in the feed it's boring. For me, it makes me feel a bit embarrassed for beeing over appreciated, but at the same time humble and Extremely proud of a job to which I dedicated myself completely, to repay all the affection that mates gave me throughout the project.
So again, thank you all for your comments and likes. Not sure if completly deserved but... it is what it is.

Guy Wilde
That is outstanding work on every level. I especially like the figures. I see you were able to utilize a couple classic Tamiya figures like the guy in the street furthest from the vehicle. The terrain, the mud, everything just fits together purposefully, great visual story telling.

Mr James
I thought I'd left a comment on this beauty Rui. This and your Finland winter dio are my favourites of your builds. What more can be said that 's not been mentioned before. I think its the dynamism of the figures that draws attention into the scene. Then you add the quality of modelling to finish with a superb diorama.

Laliscale
Very nice details on the diorama and great weathering.I love the house!

Kerry COX
There is not any part of this diorama that can be faulted, as the extensive amount of research says he has represented perfectly, a moment in time. Totally engrossing and a treat for the eye.

Ironman1
Very nice so fantastic work!

Danesha Marasinghe
Amazing !

Recce 4-6
A lot of action. I like the guy on the rooftop, nice idea.

Kerry COX
No matter how many times I look at your work Rui. There is always something I missed. That a lot of fun. 😉

Mike Siemers
Your dioramas are always amazing and dynamic, I can almost smell the gunpowder. The wounded soldier and the one helping him is a nice touch.

Rui S
The day to remember the dead... 😉

@ Guy Wilde, your words are so very much apreciated. Thx a lot and yap, the figures where some classic and some canibalized from diferent brands. For me it was a lot of work because painting figures faces it's not easy.
@ Mr James, Thank you for stoping by and comment. I agree, The kind of emergency seen in some of the figures got a good efect on the overal result of this dio. Also very glad you like my Winter War dio.
@ Laliscale, Thank you, glad you liked it and commented.
@ Kezza, you are always to kind and suportive my friend, Thank you again for your kind words. Looking forward to see more photos of your new dio 'The Red Ball Express'. | Album by RedRoo
@ Ironman1, Thx for your words mate. I'm glad you like this one.
@ Danesha Marasinghe, Thank you for your kind comment.
@ Recce 4-6, Thx. I got that idea as many others, always from WWII photos. Glad you like it.
@ Mike Siemers, Yap I think they help to tell the tale, right? Thank you also for your kind words.

Its always so good to feel the praise of such talented modelers, that I obviously had to thank you all for that. God bless you all.

Martin Maj
excelent miniature painting and the overal detail quality, scenery and the tale it all say is incredible. Every soldier really doing something, they are all in believeable positions, gestures, comunication between then just appearing in my head. Perfect diorama. Inspirational. Thank you for sharing that.

Dominik Weitzer
dropped in - again. and it is so well made. i like the dynamic in this diorama on every angle.
superb.

John E
Rui, your modelling is great as always. What I love most in this one is the sense of urgency you've created with the figures. It feels palpable. Excellent dio!

Rui S
@Martin, I Thank you very much, for your kind and very plesant comment. Very much apreciated.
@ Dominik, thank you for stopping by again and another nice comment. I'm glad this motivated it.
@ John I'm very very pleased to read your words. Glad You like it and took the time to comment.

Villiers de Vos
A fantastic tutorial. Very inspiring.

Dom S.
Fantastic work !!

Villiers de Vos
The number of times people keep on returning to your work is equal to your masterful work.

Peter Hardy
Final comment allowed on this thread. Bloody awesome work Rui!

MS K
Your scene is fun to look at, with detailed characters and natural poses. Not to mention your high level texturing and painting skills. 👍

Findus
Sehr akkurat und gekonnt in Scene gesetzt!

Brad Draper
Amazing Job Rui !

CaptGPF
In the eternal words of my mentor - "Impressive! very Impressive! Obi Wan has taught you well". All kidding aside, I love your work - it takes a lot of skill to build and properly weather kits, but creating a diorama to bring them together is an art form in itself.

Jennifer Franklin
This is incredible, Rui, absolutely awe-inspiring.

Anthony lfk
wow, great dioramas here! Your brush painting skill is very impressive !

Mr James
I love seeing this dio come up in the feed. It's one of my favourites 🙂

Randy Kriegel
Excellent

CaptGPF
Unbelievable - down to the wood grained rifle!