Af! Overheating in the desert North Afrika 1942 ( Italeri kit 1:35 scale).

[Paul Kok]

Je weet wat ze zeggen over Schotten: Schotten waren Nederlanders die verbannen werden omdat ze verspillingsziek waren.

You know what they say about Scots: Scots were Dutch people who were banished because they were wasteful.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

Hello Paul,
No I didn’t know😉

 

[Gérard Deygas]

The North African climate puts a strain on equipment, long journeys sometimes up to 1500 km to supply the front deteriorate vehicles. As much for mechanics as for bodywork. To reproduce its wear effects, I use the base shade applied with a brush pure or slightly diluted on certain parts. We obtain honorable results like here on the rear body.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

We will imagine that after a very tiring long distance, a night drive to avoid the British hunt, the refueling finally arrives. Nourritue, fuel, water, various materials... the essential to continue the fight. The bodies sweat .... the heat is overwhelming.... At our place in France and in our department of Gard, it’s the same thing right now!!!!

 

[Bert van Wiltenburg]

Did you give the arms and legs a gloss coat to create the sweat?

 

[Gérard Deygas]

I applied a satin polish with a flat brush. Well stretched the varnish with the help of the brush

 

[Peter van Dijk]

I've never seen sweaty skin like this (on miniatures).. it does look very convincing 👍

I've read about the heat in France and Spain.... it is creaping up North and heating up Netherlands as well right now 😅 Hang in there ! 🧊🧊🧊

 

[Gérard Deygas]

One could even imagine that one of the crew members of this Opel Blitz using a stencil is painting on one of the doors the palm tree emblem of the AFRIKAKORPS...😉

 

[Jakko Westerbeke]

That is a very good addition, and not something you see a lot in dioramas 🙂

 

[Gérard Deygas]

Yes, I like to reproduce attitudes that we don’t see often enough

 

[Gérard Deygas]

The sand acts as a powerful sandblaster, abrasive during storms it damages paint and mechanics
*

 

[Gérard Deygas]

These few photos present the damage caused by a hostile environment for vehicles and men...
To improve the appearance of the Italeri kit, many parts have been improved or completely redone.

 

[Alain Tisseire]

Hi Gérard,
I feel like I'm reading the Opel Blitz's technical manual.
Very nice work.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

Hi Alain
Thank you for your appreciations.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

For the rims and tires, I decided not to use those present in the kit. A very bad experience with a Horch Kfz.15 from the same manufacturer having dissuaded me. After a few years I discovered the rims “eaten” by the rubber of the tires!!! A chemical reaction between the rubber and the injected plastic. Damage unfortunately irreversible... To avoid this misadventure, I chose to equip my Blitz with resin wheels. Today disappeared my choice had been made on the French brand PSP. They have never moved since. To represent a slightly under-inflated tire, I sanded the part in contact with the ground on a sheet of medium-grain sandpaper. Don’t forget to place the tire valve. At this point, they are not yet installed.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

With the long distances to refuel the front, the troubles follow one another for the convoys. Mechanical breakdowns are frequent, most vehicle engines are not equipped with filters for sand dust and obstacles related to terrain difficulties are common... areas of soft sand ensable vehicles delaying their Stuck in the sand, my Blitz is going to have trouble reaching its diorama !!!

 

[Peter van Dijk]

The plot thickens 😬............ i cross my fingers for the Opel and her crew 🤞😎🤞

 

[Maarten Weers]

Nice effect. Do not forget to put a lot of sand between the different components of the truck. Sand goes everywhere.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

Other photos of the Opel Blitz taken from different angles. I will talk to you soon about the loading of the truck.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

The loading consists of fuel drums, water jerrycans, a crate containing equipment and two wooden sleepers. Essential parts to be able to unload the fuel drums. Like the extra spare wheel.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

The main loading of our truck are barrels of fuel. Subjected to harsh tests with repeated loading and unloading, rolled on the ground, dragged they present a well-damaged paint! It is necessary to restore this aspect which reveals paint chips, various traces etc... For this I have already mentioned, I use a stamp to clean the pots. But before that, you need to paint the barrels... I chose two colors, a very dark green Humbrol 75 and Humbrol 93 sand with added Revell white matt 5. After painting the base, a black candle wash is applied (dilution with white spirit). Once dry, sand pigment is deposited, then the excess is removed with a second clean brush. The strapping of the barrel receives a mix of Lamp Black Winsor and Newton +Revell 78 + Burnt Sienna Winsor and Newton. For impacts and other traces, I used the same mixture in an aluminum container, further diluted with white spirit. The scotchbrite stamp piece is dipped in this mixture and applied to the desired parts. The center of the largest shards painted with a brush.. The metallic aspect of the straps is made with a pencil lead.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

the sequel...there was no more room!!!
The main loading of our truck are barrels of fuel. Subjected to harsh tests with repeated loading and unloading, rolled on the ground, dragged they present a well-damaged paint! It is necessary to restore this aspect which reveals paint chips, various traces etc... For this I have already mentioned, I use a stamp to clean the pots. But before that, you need to paint the barrels... I chose two colors, a very dark green Humbrol 75 and Humbrol 93 sand with added Revell white matt 5. After painting the base, a black candle wash is applied (dilution with white spirit). Once dry, sand pigment is deposited, then the excess is removed with a second clean brush. The strapping of the barrel receives a mix of Lamp Black Winsor and Newton +Revell 78 + Burnt Sienna Winsor and Newton. For impacts and other traces, I used the same mixture in an aluminum container, further diluted with white spirit. The scotchbrite stamp piece is dipped in this mixture and applied to the desired parts. The center of the largest shards painted with a brush.. The metallic aspect of the straps is made with a pencil lead.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

With these last photos this thread ends. The crew of my Blitz consists of 2 figurines from MK35, the brand no longer exists today, the team has retired. The emblem of the D.A.K, the palm tree, was taken from a Verlinden board. I really appreciated our exchanges. See you soon for a new
thread.

.


.

 

[Jakko Westerbeke]

That is a very good-looking model, it really gives the impression of being in the heat of the desert 🙂

BTW, I’ve added the prefix “Af!” (meaning “Done!”) to the subject to show that the model is finished.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

Thank you Jakko and see you soon

 

[Peter van Dijk]

I am glad the crew and Opel survived to ride another day 😉

Nice blog Gérard 👍 and about the next one ?.... bring it on 😃

 

[Alex van de Wetering]

Gérard, I have always enjoyed your books back in the 90's/2000's and enjoy your builds here on the forum just as much......please keep them coming.

Another thing I love is that you (like me) still use Humbrol and Revell Enamels, oil paint and relative simple techniques. It goes to show that one doesn't always need to spend hundreds of Euro's to reach a good result.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

Thank you very much for your appreciations. Through my different subjects I have always wanted to offer products that are simple to use and easy to get hold of, which are often more effective than some expensive products for painting kits. I have never changed my way of doing things since I started making models and I keep these good habits that work very well. I just finished 2 models at 1/16 and despite the change of scale I keep the same working technique 😉

 

[PietvanHees]

Well done, in all aspects. Thanks very much for charing it here.

 

[Gérard Deygas]

👍 👍😉