"15mm Scifi Germans" Topic

I'd like to share some of the work I did on my my Scifi german army.

I'd like some advice on making better pictures too.

Nice. A Manowar fan. \m/

What scale is this and where did you get the viper? Very cool stuff!

Nice work.

Adjust the macro settings. Most cameras have a close up setting for objects 28 inches or closer. You need some better lighting too. The camera's flash will often drown out detail, so turn that off and use a lamp, preferably two or three, each from a different angle. You generally won't get around taking multiple photos.

Looks like you set up a decent light box, but sometimes a more enclosed light box is worse than just having a white backdrop. Using a cloth backdrop will help.

@tekhammer: Indeed :D

@jimklein1966: Hasbro Micromachines Titanium Battlestar Galactica Viper Mk. II

auction

I managed to get a bulk order of the black and blue ones for a reasonable price. Someone had a bucket full, and was trying to make his real money on the shipping while selling them for 5 bucks a pop. I bought 6. ;)

@Wolfprophet

I was using the Macro setting, though I'm not quite sure how to fine tune it yet.

Right now my light box is one of those white 5 gallon paint drumes with a window cut in the side and a desk lamp shining in the top. I realyl don't think I have room to fit more lighting in without obscuring the window. Any suggestions?

I built mine with $2 USD in white foam core. It's simply a box with an open front. The top overhangs a bit to capture and reflect light from the flash (more on that later). Inside is a piece of white posterboard which curves at the bottom so there are no sharp corners. On the front facing in are 4 shop lights (with bulbs this will set you back about $20 USD).

Hopefully your camera has a white balance setting you can custom calibrate. On mine to set it you take a photo of the white background. Dig up your manual or look it up online. Like me you'll be surprised by the cool things your camera can do.

Flash is okay if it is a fill flash that doesn't shoot directly at the subject. It should aim at the top of the box so it reflects back down.

Thanks for the advice.

So what do you guys think of the paint jobs and the tanks? They're both modified pegasus 1/72 scale models of panzers that were never built.

Wonderful!

They look cool!

Try fiddling with your ISO and exposure settings, (ISO- I think lower is better). There's a lot of advice on the internet, a lot is too technical, but for static indoors lit shots fiddle with your settings and see what works. Take a few identical shots with different settings and write down what works.

My pet hate is uncropped photos…

And my final 2c worth, miniature photos benefit from a miniatures-eye view, so you're level with them.

Have fun experimenting, I'm no expert…

I guess the IFV-looking vehicle is a "Schwerer Kleiner Panzer" with the cannon omitted and the turret mounted rearwise, right?

I'd just LOVE to see the Galactica Viper in more of a "Luftwaffe-ish" livery, with yellow nose, green heart or ace of spade markings, azure/grey spots and so on…

@Moqawama

Yep. It's the Schwerer Kleiner Panzer backwards with the heavy cannon replaced by a hatch.

The other is the Jeagermundi with the gun replaced by that off a dollar store robot and once again, turned backwards.

As for the fighter, I'm willing to do modifications to its paint scheme but I'd like to keep the look of the basic black badguy look. Any suggestions?

Any ideas on how to improve my kit bashes?

Add an ATGM launch rail to the IFV turret, a-la BMP-1

perhaps with an exotic-like missile like the German Fritz-X

And here's my general…

In other news I've figured out how to take a picture that doesn't come out looking like pixelized horse crap.

I forgot to color correct. Lets try that again…

Any suggestions to improve my painting?

Thor, Sign of the hammer. :D