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Bumble bee nids, i like the idea.

Lovely.

Finished build is excellent, terrain looks fantastic, and yellow/black 'nids are a winner

Thank you guys,
your commetns and feedback is really appreciated.

Well, some of you guys raised concerns about the aerial recognition flag and if it would really work.
So I gave it a try:


A very stylized Imperial Eagle in an admittedly 3rd Reich pattern, but I think it looks good on the tank

the PVA-soaked tissue handles the paint very good so far, eventhough it seems to soak up the paint more than plasticard, but OK

Speaking of the tank, as mentioned, I plan on doing a WWII German 3-color Ambush pattern, and so I started yesterday with the dark yellow and mahagoni

I quite like the look so far



However, when placing it on the actual diorama, on the bridge, it looks very yellow

So now I have to decide if I change the whole color scheme to a more red-ish base color, or if I keep it as it is, apply the 3rd color (a lighter brown, as a green wouldn't make sense on Dencara, would it?), and then see if the application of red dust and pigments, as well as some dirt will help to harmonize the colors better.
What do you guys think?
Continue and hope for red dust and dirt, or try something more red, like this here:


Please let me know what you think.
Thanks
Klaus

oh...tough choice...i think it is way too yellow, but the red is not my style so i am a bit biased...well...this is still pre weathering and before wash... i think i opt for hope of red dust and all...and yep the airrecognition flag looks a bit 3r reich, but some styles never go out of style even though it was a dark time... the stlye was beyond men... to bad they ruined it with this behaviorism...

I guess I'm in the same boat Klaus... hard to make a decision with just the base coat to look at as further steps would undoubtedly make significant changes in appearance.

Thanks guys,

so last night I tried to continue with the yellow pattern and added the 3rd color...

Horrible!
Absolutely not what I wanted :(

I was very disappointed and after a lot of pondering I decided to try the standard Dencara disruptive pattern.
So I applied a new base color


and then tested the other colors with it


So this is as far as I got last night:




I think this is a lot better than the yellow pattern, and I quite like it.
What do you guys think?
Cheers
Klaus

just had to check my last comment to see what my first opinion was...i think i am getting old^^

the new scheme looks more promising...in the end this will prove to be the right decision...you did all that with airbrush again? with a normal brush i can´t believe to be that steady and thin for painting so big surfaces...did the change of paintscheme mean that there is the danger of loss of details? i hope not...

cheers and i like your narrative for showing your progress... with the first picture you had me pretty startled... i thought ...urghh... thats not looking good, and that is choosing my words wisely and friendly here^^... but then you said it yourself too and so i could unclench my theeth^^


cheers again, vik

Much better Klaus.... really works with the terrain too.

Much better then the last scheme

Thanks guys,
with the *mostly* positive feedback I continued with the Dencara pattern and sprayed the turret and the gun


The red flag isn't as prominent anymore, but still looking good I think



Say CHEESE!


On the bridge



So now all the detials (tools, lights, guns, sights etc.) and then the weathering and damaging can start.
I hope you like it
Cheers
Klaus

will you add the black stripes that are on your custommmade valk you showed earlier too? i think then it would be fully justified to make the cloth of the flag in black and thus making it again as prominent as you before wished it to be...as of now i think there is a dissonance in the colors you used...am i making myself understandable here?
the turret and body of thre tank look very good now and i think you decided right to change...

In one of the other forums I was asked for a scale shot with a Baneblade.
But since I don't posess a Baneblade, the ZEUS and a Chimera must do



Despite being dwarfed by the ZEUS, the HERUCLES still dwarfes the Chimera



Then I started to paint the slogans for the HERCULES - I used red banners as they are decently visible, without really destroying the camouflage pattern.
For the front I used "Post Me, Nihil Est!" - After (beyond) me, there's nothing!" A nice slogan if you're about to be run over, isn't it?


The turret recieved "Emperatorus Vincit Omnia" - "The Emperor always wins!"


and for the other side "Terror Belli, Decus Pacis" - Terror in War, Adornement in Piece"


And finally the name scroll for the tank


It's a tip of the hat to Michael Moorcock's Elrice Melniboné one incarnation of the Eternal Champion. A tragic hero - almost a anti-hero - but one of my favourite reads in my youth.
Maybe I can find a good spot for a hero image on the HERC...

Well you could always put it on the flag on the rear of the turret..... or put a pennant on a comms aerial maybe!!

Perhaps "mournblade" would have been more apt?

Really good!

Klaus, not Santa wrote:Thanks guys,

On the bridge

mmmh, maybe it's the photo, but look likes the gun is pointing a little down

FantasyBob wrote:Really good!
mmmh, maybe it's the photo, but look likes the gun is pointing a little down

no it lookis like it has 2 bushy antennas

It is really fantastic to get to see this piece finished. Thanks for sharing this with dakkadakka.

Thank guys

Thanks to Vintersorg at WIP (who helped me out on the ZEUS before) I corrected the slogan on one turret side:


Then I painted the Elric mural on the side of the hull


admittedly it's not a very prominent position


In this image you can also see the vehicle markings I added. It identifies the vehicle as Alpha Company vehicle 66 (usually the company commander), 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, XIX Dencara Guards Division.


And then I had a lot of fun with the sponge


Since the HERCULES is a real workhorse on Dencara, and the XIX Guards are in constant battle against the Orks (and now also Nids), it's been a while since the "Elric" has seen a good service workshop, or even a paint bucket.

(BTW, I finally glued the guns in position, so they shouldn't be drooping anymore)


So, what do you think? Anything missing before I apply dust and dried mud?
Cheers
Klaus

One world: AMAZING!

now man, a quest: are you planning some news for the Athena!? i'd like to see it finished soon!

Are you going to put anything on the opposite side of the tank to Elric?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Otherwise all I can say is Bllody brilliant!!

Maybe some muzzle flash marks on the ends of the barrel? Otherwise looks like something that I wouldn't have been able to do in years of work.

Beautiful work Klaus. Really astonishing. The flamers on the side of the hull look a little incongruous though... they're metallic, but no detail or wear... it just looks odd in the greater context of this incredible, battle-worn machine. I assume this will get addressed when the weathering powders go on?

And maybe some skorch marks or soot in front of the flamers.

Ah!
Yes, thanks...I have to admit I kind of forgot about them.
I'm getting old

Dakka Rule #214: "Zoom" is NOT your friend.

The only problem i have is with the back of the track unit. The steep ascent/angle means not only would the treads wear out quicker the engine would be wasting alot of power. I think also the tank would also be incredibly prone to getting stuck in mud.

Too late now and the tank looks Ace so take from it what you will. You are also not the only awesome tank scratchbuilder to make this mistake.

Man i wish you where Santa... maybie then i could see some of these masterpeices under my tree...

Saw your herc on gws facebook, grats!

Thanks for your feedback.
@dantay_xv - well, I'm pretty lazy with the "dark side" of the diorama, so all I did there was a adding a (cheap) repair patch with some Purity Seals)
@Perkustin - yes that's true, it happened when I changed the track and torsion layout, but when I realized it, it was way too late....
I added some soot from the flamethrower to the sides (thanks Gitsplitta and Anvildude) as well as some "travel dust"


Then I added the pigments on the hull and turret for the environmental dust (as well as positioning the little extra like bags, cans, ammo boxes etc.)


Here you can see that the dust also covers a lot of the Elric mural


and the remaining sides:


Here you can also see the scorch marks to the muzzles (thanks whalemusic360)


Now I need to start on the crew and their hatches. They (including the Ground Guide) will wear the navy blue uniforms with silver ornaments, while the "surveyor" and officer at the side of the bridge will receive the Dencara disruptive pattern uniform.

Thanks for your time and I hope you liked todays update
Cheers
Klaus

Much better! (and very impressive) Looking forward to the contrast between the blue uniforms and the orange of the tank. Should pop nicely.