GIEBICHENSTEIN | Lichens and fungal mycelia | Part Four

Lichens were added by painting dots of green-yellow
paint in some areas.

On some photographs a white milky layer can be seen
on the »Giebichenstein«

These are probably fungal mycelia.

After conducting a few tests I went for the following technique:
I painted the desired areas with Future acrylic floor finish.
Then I rinsed the model with tab water which results in the
milky white »mycelia«.

GIEBICHENSTEIN | Iterum | Part Three

Repainting the »Giebichenstein«

Base color is again Humbrol #61. The matrix was done by
sponge using grey, black and light-flesh shades. The
idiomorphic alcali feldspar crystals were done using a stencil.

250.000 years of weathering offers some occasions
for a modeler. Dirt and stains were done by sponge, too.
I wetted the surface with acrylic thinner and applied
very light layers of Tamiya redbrown, black and grey.

Depending on the season algae and moss spreads over
the hump of the »Giebichenstein«. Again, I used sponges
and Tamiya green shades applied in very light layers.

GIEBICHENSTEIN | Learning from Bob Ross | Part Two

Trial and ... error – I am a fan of Bob Ross and his approach to the arts and his attidude towards »errors«. Let me quote him: »We don’t make mistakes here, just happy little accidents«.

After the base painting has cured for a day or so I applied a thick
wash of a umbra colored oil wash. I let this dry for a hour or so.

I then removed the wash with a piece of thin cloth damped
with white spirit. I tried to achieve a finish with some
vertical streaks recognizable. This was the Trial ...

And now for the Error ... I airbrushed a dirty greyish layer
of stains. This didn´t look right. Time for a restart
and a complete repainting of my Giebichenstein!

GIEBICHENSTEIN | Study of an erratic block 1/35 scale | Part One

This project is a study of how to model realistic rocks. I choose to do an erratic block, namley the »Giebichenstein« near Stöckse, Germany.
The main block measures approx. 7.5 x 4.5 x 2.75 m and weighs approx. 330 tons. It is accompanied by a small »satellite« block.
The »Giebichenstein« is a Phorphyry. It consists of a fine grained flesh-colored matrix (due to highly dispersed ironoxide) and large idiomorphic crystals of alcali feldspar. Other minerals include quartz (clear grey to «smoke«), hornblende (black), and feldspars (white to flesh-colored).

The block was carved from polyurethane foam.
It was brushpainted with Gunze Mr.RESIN PRIMER.

PIP: The little sattelite was base coated with Humbrol #61.
The idiomorphic alcali feldspar crystaly were applied with a
rectangluar stamp made from styrene.
Color is #63 lightend with white.

The fine grained matrix and smaller crystals were
applied by sponge. Colors used were light flesh, smoke
and darkgrey.

The finished porphyry.

Lables of the Luftwaffe – Balkenkreuz | Part Two

Late war national insignia were simplyfied to save labour and materials to rise the production numbers of the Nazi war industry. Also this new style made the insignia less conspicuous from largers distances.

Upper wing Balkenkreuz as used on the
Bf109 and FW190 fighters.

Fuselage Balkenkreuz as used on the
Bf109 and FW190 fighters.
Dimensions and ratios as early Balkenkreuz.

Lables of the Luftwaffe – Balkenkreuz | Part One

The Balkenkreuz in the early style were black and white trimmed with thin black outlines for high visibility.

Early Balkenkreuz as applied to fuselage sides
and lower wing surface.

Early Balkenkreuz as applied to
upperwing surface.