1/144 German heavy tank Maus

By: Srdjan Radosavljevic

Manufacturer(s): Dragon

After-market parts: PE parts included with kit

Description: Model was built straight Out of box. After filling gaps and sanding on rear part of the hull and at joint of gun and turret, I primered whole model with Model Master flat black, and after drying of this coat, I sprayed mixture of Humbrol Brick Red and Model Master flat red to emulate German red primer colour. The idea of doing this was to simulate paint chipping later, after applying camouflage colours. Camouflage is based on Dragon manuals - Model Master Sand as base colour, and "snakes" sprayed freehand with my Aztek A4709 airbrush in chocolate brown and European Green... Decals used are from Dragon set but applied by my imagination ;) as I found at least 5 different camouflages and markings of this big tank! After applying gloss coat, I applied wash made of Windsor & Newton oil artistic paint thinned with white spirit...Then I chipped paint on the edges of hull and turret with tip of hobby knife.... Matt coat followed and after light drybrushing with Sand colour I applied dry pastels of various shades of brown on lower parts of hull, and some black pigment on exhaust parts, as the final touches...Tracks are drybrushed with Model Master Steel colour... This is tiny little kit and I enjoyed in this build very much :)

Judge 1: Nice and simple build. I really like the ground work (eventhough it's not being judged). Painting just needs to be tighter in the camo application with much less oversrpay (hard to do obviously in 1/144!). Use of more washes would help with more sharper contrast.
Judge 2: i love this little kit... Generally speaking construction is good, from under construction photo notice that too many filler was used, probably more sandpaper would have been used. The coloration phase is good, I like the general effect and I cannot imagine how you used your airbrush in freehand mode to make amouflage... my personal compliments! I think that perhaps too much drybrush has done, the look seems a little chalky. Paolo Capitanio
Judge 3: Well built (although there doesn't look to be many parts!) The finish, considering the size is good and the groundwork looks very good (but can't be judged for this competition).