SBS: Ghosts of Winter

Aloa Jungle,
well "aloa" is not the right greeting for such an icecold article. In fact it is all about ice and snow. A tank in the middle. It is a short article, but a free one, free of any charge, not hidden behind a paywall. Why I mention this so loudly? Well, seems nowadays that this is something special, eh?
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If you like to support or say thanks the monkeys of Massive Voodoo in what they do, please feel invited to drop a jungle donation in their direction via paypal or check their miniatures they got on sale here.
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Allright, to the topic.
A short article on my project called "Ghosts of Winter".

This article will give you insight in my approach, but frankly not as much as you might wish for. It aimes to give you something else instead: An insight into what I call "project ping pong". I am pretty good with this. I work on several projects at once and listen to the creative voice of the muse who is whispering in my ear.

I start projects by several reasons:

1. comission work
2. because I want to paint a model and it calls me
3. A mix of the upper two
4. because I want to test something and learn on it
5. because I want to test a new product and learn something on it

I am pretty good with pushing all projects to an end that satisfies me. A vision fullfilled. Sometimes I have remains of mainly projects of group number five that are getting lost in the cabinet of shame where I do not find a good connection point to get back into the project again.


This tank by Heer 46 was one of these test pieces where I tested rust by Modelmates.Upper picture: This is how I left it abandoned after the testrun with no idea how to proceed.

I can honestly tell that years passed with this tank rotting in a shelf of my cabinet of shame, but then I wanted to get back to it during my game of "project ping pong". And so I did. Sitting in front of it I really enjoyed the texture of the base, but where I initially might have planned a muddy base I decided to go for an icecold winter, a tank wreck freezing in a snowy desert.


This was my result I came out of this and I am really happy that I went back to the project once again.
Never expected this ...

First thing I decided was - like I said - snow. I used some masterclass snow effects on the base in a pretty rough way to mainly make the base white.

My whole plan changed finally. Even it took me years, but my studies in visualising winter helped a lot. Sometimes you have to experience new things before you can finish old ones.



After this was done I had snow but no cold feeling for the piece. I added blues here and there with brush and airbrush to make it colder. When this was applied I added a gel that dries clear. I used one from Lascaux, but there are other brands too you can use. You can call it one component clear water effect or so. If you use google or your hobby dealer of trust you will find what you are looking for.

I added more snow on top of this and spent pretty much time on creating icicles and bring them in place. They are so delicate. Also added snow and ice to the tank itself. See the blues?

Feel the blues? :D

Love  this photo. Honor killed the Samurai. True.

I retouched snow areas with pure white paint to have a difference in its look.

And in the end I made something out of a project I thought I will never see again. Well, this happens, frankly not with all projects but when it happens it is a great feeling. In the end this was just icicles, icicles and more icicles. Gna!

What I learned on this:
If you are doing miniature painting or scale modelling as a hobby do not start to force yourself through something. Listen. There is a voice inside you telling you what you want to do, nobody tells you what you have to do and believe me you get more done if you listen to your inner voice.

To see more photos of Ghosts of Winter,
check Putty & Paint.

Keep on happy painting!
Roman

_______________________________________________________________________________
You want to support Massive Voodoo? 
If you like to support or say thanks the monkeys of Massive Voodoo in what they do, please feel invited to drop a jungle donation in their direction via paypal or check their miniatures they got on sale here.
_______________________________________________________________________________