discussion 1/72 Pz.kpfw VIII Maus - Germany 1946

[Greg_147]

Hello all,

I fancied trying something a little bit different, so I'm going to be attempting a 'what if' style diorama, the centerpiece being a Maus from Vespid Models. It's going to be an urban scene, set somewhere in Germany in 1946, where the war still rages on, and Germany apparently managed to successfully field these things :smiling5:

The scene is going to involve a resin building from Airfix, which I painted many years ago and forgot about. It'll conceal a number of concerned looking Allied troops, taking cover as the Maus rumbles down the street outside. The house is 1/76 scale, but hopefully that won't be too much of an issue. If it is, I'll just scratch-build something instead.

I'll also be trying to 'future up' the Maus with some Mad-max style accessories, such as barbed wire, stowage, rockets, that sort of thing. The main goal is to be creative with it!

Some pics of the kit. It looks to be quite well detailed, and comes with two metal barrels, and some PE for the grills. Other than that, it's two big rectangles on tracks, so quite true to the real thing.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[scottie3158]

Greg,
I will pull up a chair mate.

 

[Guest]

Cool idea

Those Airfix houses are quite nice, and I doubt you can tell it’s supposed to be 1/76 while the tank and figures are 1/72.

 

[adt70hk]

Greg

Interesting idea.

Will be really interested to know what you think of the kit. I know they're a new name on the modelling block but the kit reviews looked excellent.

I bought four of their Comets as soon as they were released, for the wargaming my son and I do. I've not built them yet but they look very nice indeed on the sprue and like yours come with a metal barrel, some basic photo etch and link and length tracks.

All the best.

Andrew

 

[adt70hk]

.

 

[Steven000]

Nice project Greg, have fun

 

[Mini Me]

Sounds interesting.....I'll watch this one. Rick H.

 

[Mini Me]

Sounds interesting.....I'll watch this one. Rick H.

 

[Greg_147]

Thanks for the interest all. It's coming together quite nicely. The first thing I've noticed is....wheel. Lots and lots of wheels :smiling5:



And the PE bits are on, which is a nice touch.



And how it might look on the base:

 

[Tarps]

Greg I will also pull up a chair and enjoy the build.

 

[Mini Me]

Very nice. :thumb2: Rick H.

 

[Guest]

Joining as well Greg.
I'll sit at the back . The building look ok with the Beast.

 

[Greg_147]

A bit more progress on the construction...





...and now it also has some rockets. Salvaged from a Staghound kit from a GB. For better or for worse :smiling5:

 

[Greg_147]

First paint is on (minus the rockets), with a dark wash to bring out some of the smaller details. I've also added a stowage rack on the front. Next up is some oil paints, and then to start adding more extra bits.

Also the three US soldiers who will be hiding in the building. Really shows the size this beast was. The guy with the Bazooka probably would have been being a little optimistic!

 

[Greg_147]

I've unleashed some oil paints on the Maus, and it now looks significantly more grubby. I've attempted some chipping with a sponge technique as well, but that hasn't gone particularly well (I'm probably using the wrong colour).

Also I thought such a beast would probably need a way to get onto it, so...enter a basic ladder made from copper wire.

 

[Guest]

Think it looks ok, in fact damned good Greg. Nice touch with the ladder :thumb2:

 

[Tim Marlow]

Making a nice job of this Greg. The grubbiness looks pretty good to me.

 

[Greg_147]

A bit more work on this one, mainly the street. I've scored the pavement and bricks into a plastic sheet, and will paint these grey. The inside of the building has been done to mimic floorboards, and will be brown.



Also, a few more additions to the Maus. It now has some unditching beams, a tow cable, and some spare tracks on the turret.

 

[Greg_147]

Aaaand groundwork painted. Most of this will be covered in rubble and the suchlike. Also done are the three US soldier figures.

 

[Greg_147]

A bit more progress today. I've molded some ammo crates for stowage, and made some additions to the turret; some netting for the barrel, and an MG34 for the commander. I've also started building up the rubble on the street; kitchen towel at the moment as a base layer, and when it's dry I'll paint it and start adding debris.