ThaiPaperwork Russian KV-II Tank

[jagolden]

I've finally completed (or stopped) my build of the ThaiPaperwork KV-II tank.
I consider this more of a sculpture than a model as some of my treatment is heavy-handed and simplified.
The original scale is 1:35. I scaled it up to 1:16 in Illustrator and recolored in Photoshop.
The model is light in detail but certainly conveys the bulk and girth of the in-you-face design of the KV-II.

Some more basic build stuff at my web page:
TinPaper Moon Tank Model

[nothing]

even though you didnt detail it out i think it looks fantastic! great job.i like what you did with the terain!

[lriera]

I like it very much. Good job.

[Soaring]

Absolutely wonderful! The weathering especially wouldv'e caught one's eye!

[BARX2]

Great work, Joe! I'm trying to get around to building a tank one of these days, but can never seem to get caught up with my rocket building.

[Dragos]

Could you give more informations on how you have repainted the tank ?

[jagolden]

Originally Posted by Dragos

Could you give more informations on how you have repainted the tank ?

Thanks all for the kind words!

Dragos,
The model file is a vector based PDF.
The drawings themselves are rather simple. The original color of the model is overall mid-military green. Essentially a 2-color model-Green and Black. The only other color was some blue values in the spotlight.

ILLUSTRATOR WORK:
STEP ONE was to import each PDF page into Illustrator as a single layer (which the PDF is).
STEP TWO was the scale up using the SCALE tool.
STEP THREE was to duplicate the layer.
STEP FOUR was to eliminate all the GREE?N from one layer (leaving the black). Eliminate all the BLACK from another layer (leaving just the GREEN).
STEP FIVE I exported each Illustrator file as a Photoshop file with layers.

PHOTOSHOP WORK:
STEP ONE I opened on of the now Photoshop files, picking one that hada lot of large spaces to recolor.
STEP TWO was to select all the green and save the selection.
STEP THREE I loaded in the "green selection", using the RENDER CLOUDS from the filters menu I created a rough cloud pattern in those spaces. Using the CURVES, BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST and POSTERIZE menus I worked until the "cloud" pattern was to my liking.
STEP FOUR I used the HUE/SATURATION menu pick to COLORIZE the cloud pattern to what I liked.
STEP FIVE was to use the LAYER STYLE on the BLACK layer to give the otlines an OUTER GLOW. I used a dirty brownish color and again adjusted to my liking. In the OUTER GLOW pallet I also added some NOISE to the glow so it was not smooth.
STEP SIX I saved the files as .tiff.

BACK TO ILLUSTRATOR:
STEP ONE was to import ALL the .tiffs into a single file (this was rather large).
STEP TWO using the CLIPPING MASK feature I broke up the pieces to get the most on each sheet I printed.

I am not a prototype buff, obviously I colored this to what I wanted to build and I am quite satisfied. I'm sure there's no pattern like this actually used in the war on their vehicles but it serves nocely to suggest a worn winter camouflage.

Thanks for asking!

[Lex]

That's so nice!! Thanks for the tips!!!

[jagolden]

The heavy browninsh/black weathering was added with some chalks I purchased at hte craft store and scraped down with the XActo knife.
Brushed, blew, painted them on.
Sometimes working them into the wet spray sealant to get more texture.

[RINGMASTER]

I don't have ILLUSTRATOR, couldn't all of that been done with just PHOTOSHOP?

[jagolden]

Originally Posted by RINGMASTER

I don't have ILLUSTRATOR, couldn't all of that been done with just PHOTOSHOP?

Ringmaster,

It could be all done with Photoshop. The results will be cleaner using both apps, but yes, Photoshop will suffice.

STEP ONE import each PDF page into Photoshop. I'm not sure how to accurately scale up or down in photoshop. Being a long term graphic designer (from the age before computers), I prefer the scaling of sizes and percentages, but I believe there's a way to do this in Photoshop I have just not learned.
STEP TWO duplicate the layer.
STEP THREE Sample the GREEN color with the eyedropper tool and the SELECT "Sampled Colors" to create the selection.
STEP FOUR delete the GREEN leaving only the BLACK line work.
STEP FIVE on the other layer repeat the above EXCEPT select all the BLACK and delete.

Then you can just use the green selection to recolor those areas and the black line work layer to do the OUTER GLOW work.

[Dragos]

I will try