Gangster's Ma.K Archelon

[GangsterNo1]

Well 2 months in and I haven't even started either my 'Winter is Coming' or my 'End is Nigh' build. This means I'm having to scale down and change my build for this one. Sorry Ivan, but the Fallout 4 themed diner / car / survivor idea from the Facebook page will have to wait for another time as work, family, etc is taking up a lot of my time.

What I plan to do now is a small vignette using this Maschinen Krieger figure in a post apocalyptic scene. The back story is basically a nuclear attack by Soviet Russia on England in an alternative future. The figure will be a Soviet trooper in his suit standing amongst what used to be a woodland. I'm planning on using a Soviet tank cammo scheme from World of Tanks that was apparently a woodland scheme used by the 6th Tank Army in 1944. It's a bit of humour as the desolation from the nuke means that the woodland cammo isnt really appropriate.

[SergioSolo]

Nice to see some MaK love around! Archelon is a classic I had a lot of fun with mine

[GangsterNo1]

Had a productive evening last night, got through the bulk of the build in one sitting. This is my first Ma.K kit and it was quite good, reminded me of the Bandai Star Wars figures as it has articulation and the joints snap together.

The only down sides are some nasty joins down the centre of many of the main leg and arm panels. I'm going to add some welds to disguise these and give more of a Soviet armour feel. I think I'll also add some cast texture to the torso/head part as well, again to echo Soviet armour.

[GangsterNo1]

Stretched some sprue and made some welds whilst watching the hangout tonight. Also used a bit of Mr.Surfacer 500 to give a cast texture to the torso/head.

[GangsterNo1]

Tonight was priming and masking night. I finally got a chance to use a new tool I picked up at Telford, the Gyro-Cut, and it is really good.

[GangsterNo1]

Cammo done. Fairly happy with it. Tried some modulation with Russian 4BO greens.

[panzerman825]

Love MaK subjects. Cool camouflage paint scheme.
That Gyro-cut tool is pretty neat. Thanks for sharing.
Bill

[schweinhund227]

Very Effective Camo !!! Well done mate !

[GangsterNo1]

Cheers for the feedback guys.

Gloss coat, decals and pin wash done. Just need a flat coat and some weathering and it should be there.







I've started to think about the vignette now. Below are some reference pictures for what I'm going to try and achieve for the post apocalyptic theme and the link into the cammo scheme. Basically I want a woodland after a nuclear attack.

[GangsterNo1]

Flat coat on. Pretty happy with it, just some horrible silvering on the leg decals that I need to fix. On to the base now.

[GangsterNo1]

Work temporarily suspended due to injury. Thumb is wrapped up like a banana so hard to do anything useful. Apologies to those already seeing this on Facebook.

[Lysus]

Love these, shame I didn't peak in here sooner. War wounds aside, I'm digging where this is going, and the Ma.K looks impressive!

[Les]

Ouch! That looks pretty deep; hopefully you got it sorted with the doctors and are healing up.

[GangsterNo1]

Big dressing is off the thumb so I can actually hold things properly again. Work has recommenced! Over the last couple of nights I have started work on the base and tonight I made a tree from armature wires, PVA and bark powder all supplied by a guy who lives down the road from me, http://www.treemendus-scenics.co.uk/

[GangsterNo1]

More work done on the base tonight. Tree got a wash of Ultimate Dark Dirt and it looked great so didnt do anything else except some dry brushing. TRhe rock got painted with 3 different colours and then some more Dark Dirt wash. Finally I used some of the new AK Diorama products, the Still Water and the Dark Earth. I mixed some paint into them both to get the colours I wanted.

The base will mostly be covered with forest floor scatter but the Dark Earth gives a nice platform with some of its own texture. Not sure about the still water yet, will have to see when it dries. I'll probably add some moss and further weathering to bring it all together but pleased so far.

[GangsterNo1]

Wasn't happy with the water so ripped it out and added a rock instead. Finished off with some forest floor stuff, again from www.treemendus-scenics.co.uk . Just need to do a few more bits and mount it so the next photos will be the final reveal.

[GangsterNo1]

I liked the base but the scale was just all wrong and I dont think it really captured a post apocalyptic theme very well either. Guess I'm too used to working with 1/35. Will save the forest base for a 1/35 figure.



Tonight I built an alternative base for the Archelon. Something to evoke the destruction post nuclear blast.



Cutting it fine but should be finished. Just need to wait for the PVA to dry then I can paint the girder and do some washes, weathering etc.

[GangsterNo1]

Finished it tonight whilst watching the hangout. Just painted the girder added some pigments. Much happier with this one.

[Les]

Congratulations on your finished project!