IS-2 1945

Awarded: Bronze

Users' choice

This gallery has 5.17% of the users' votes.

By: Graham Riddle

Manufacturer(s): Italeri

Modifications: Kit built strictly OOTB except drilled muzzle brake

Description: Italeri's quick build IS-2 (Soviet Army, Unidentified Unit, Germany 1945). Painted with GW spray and Vallejo (Model Air and brush), mud from Atelier Modelling Compound. Decals from kit.

Judge 1: The photos are clear and well lit but a little on the small side, it makes it hard to see all your hard work. The colours you've chosen are quite good but some of your dry brushing is a little strong. A stronger and darker pin wash around the raised details would help bring them to life and allow you lessen the dry brushing & lifting the level of realism. Painting some of the smaller details such as the tool box and fuel drums in a slightly different hue of the base colour helps break up the single colour scheme and adds some visual interest. Painting the exhausts a suitably rusty colour and adding some smoke and fuel stains will also help with the realism. The mud, although a good colour and mostly well placed, could be further enhanced with some tonal and textural variation. The decals are well applied and you've done a good job of the tracks.
Judge 2: This model shows authentically painted base coat and well-applied transfers. Extensive dry-brushing helped to raise details, but generally came out too strong and in some places on the turret it went out of control. Using pin-washes would help you better outline details especially on the turret and on the engine deck. Further weathering techniques (e.g. painting dust, strains, chipping and scratches, adding rust on the exhausts, varying dirt in pattern) could add to realism of your work.
Judge 3: You've done a good job on the basic construction. A cursory review showed no flaws of note. The base finish and running gear are the real strengths of this model in my opinion. Both are well done, with the contrast in the tracks & road wheels really garnering the viewers attention. Some more contrasting colours on the upper hull such as a brown hue to the spills on the external tanks would add further interest. Some of the drybrushing is a bit heavily applied and the direction of the colour variance that it has created (horizontal rather than vertical), particularly on the turret, looks unusual. The mud is nicely applied, though as noted by the other judges, some additional tonal variance would give it more sense of depth. You've done a good job here and with just a bit more refinement of your advanced weathering techniques, your results will be stunning. Good work! Wayne