MENG Model Sd.Kfz.182 King Tiger [WIP - Tank Crew]

Because painting miniature figurines is where I got my start in this hobby, it always seems to feel like I'm in my element whenever I work with sculpted human forms. And I'm glad my journey had begun with miniature figurines as I feel they are probably the most important part of a vignette or diorama. Regardless of the scale - be it 1/144, 1/100, 1/35, 1/28 1/24, 1/20, 1/12 or even to a lesser extent 1/6 - being able to place miniature figurines next to a scale model kit provides context and scale to any project. Both German Wehrmacht tank crew members do just that for the King Tiger.

Meng Model King Tiger (Henschel Turret): German Wehrmacht tank crew (front view, black background)

Meng Model King Tiger (Henschel Turret): German Wehrmacht tank crew (front view, beige background)

Meng Model King Tiger (Henschel Turret): German Wehrmacht tank crew (back view, black background)

Meng Model King Tiger (Henschel Turret): German Wehrmacht tank crew (back view, beige background)

Scale comparison of the 1/35 scale tank crew against a Vallejo Model Color paint bottle

Paints used comprised mainly Vallejo Model Color and Games Workshop Citadel acrylic paints (see below). Method of painting was by hand brush as I felt the scale of the figurines was too small for air brush techniques. Maybe in the future I can be skillful enough to airbrush even at this scale, but for now I'll settle for the comforting to-and-fro motions of a hand held paint brush.  

Vallejo Model Color paint colors used for the German tank crew's uniform

Vallejo Model Color paints used for the tank crew's uniform accessories e.g. pistol holster and leather belt

Vallejo Model Color paints used mimic lens reflection on the tank commander's binoculars

Games Workshop Citadel paints used for the tank crew's metallic accessories and hair

Up close with a dedicated macro lens, the two key mistakes I made with the seated tank crew's eye become noticeable. Firstly, his left eye is not as well defined as the right because some white hues got onto the lower eyelid. Second, the area near his right eyebrow and bridge of nose is too dark and should've been lightened with shadow flesh hues. Neither mistakes are markedly visible to the naked eye. So for the moment I won't go back in to correct the mistakes in the interest of moving along a project that is already taking too long as it is. As far as I'm concerned the tank crew is complete.  

Blonde-headed Aryan poster boy of the Wehrmacht with lapel/collar insignia markings and all

At extreme macro closeups, the left eye looks a tad off but thankfully it's not very visible to the naked eye 

Imperfections to the cast of the figure's left cheek ended up looking like a small scar

Vallejo black, dark grey and half-tone mixtures of both hues were used to paint the black uniform

The tank crew uniform actually stands out better against a black background

Blonde hair is based on an old recipe from my days painting Warhammer minis

Folds on the uniform were well sculpted and molded thus providing obvious areas to highlight with paint

As per historical references, uniform undershirt was painted in german field grey which is a kind of green

Both crew members had their photographs taken against a black background, followed by a beige one. To my eye, the uniform was better contrasted against the darker background while the beige background was kinder to skin tones. The point being, repeated ad nauseam in my previous online ramblings, is that colors tend to look different depending on what color is beside them.   

Against a beige background, the colors of the figurine take on a slightly different slant ...

... for example, at first glance the contrast within the black uniform is not as evident ... 

... partly because the beige background makes the uniform look much darker ...

Leather for the pistol holster was painted a darker shade of brown and given a black wash ...

... as compared to the leather belt which received lighter brown hues and a brown wash

In terms of ease to paint, the upright tank commander won easily because in his case there was no need to paint the hardest and most critical part of a human figurine i.e. the eyes. Since they were hidden behind the binoculars, the eyes could be left with just darker flesh hues.

A King Tiger tank commander viewing the battlefield through his binoculars

With the commander's eyes hidden behind the binoculars, there was no need to paint the eye details

Black background tends to focus one's eyes on the contrast on the tank crew uniform

Folds on the commander's uniform is just as impressive as those found on the other crew member

Back view of the King Tiger commander, whose pose sees him standing out of the command hatch

Hair on the tank commander has a more yellowish/golden hue compared to the hair on the other crew

Note the different levels of gloss between the various parts of the uniform e.g. shoes vs trousers

Sheen on the binocular lenses were a mixture of Vallejo Metallic Blue and Silver

Additionally, not much skin was exposed on the standing tank commander. Other than the lips, not much facial details was present to be painted. As mentioned his eyes were already covered by the binoculars. Moreover, the commander's ears were completely covered up by a set of headphones. That left the shiny lens reflection on the binoculars as the only interesting detail left to paint. Rather than mimic lens reflection using acrylic color transitions, I used a metallic paint shortcut.

Photograph of the King Tiger tank commander taken against a beige background

Metallic sheen painted on the binocular lenses was meant to mimic lens reflection

Insignia details on the commander's cap and shirt were painted with metallic paint

And so arguably the hardest part of an AFV (armored fighting vehicle) project - the figures - is now complete. What's left to do is mainly to further dirty up the King Tiger with dust, dirt, streaks, etc. Weathering the tracks and their surrounding areas will be a whole thing unto itself, likely the most time consuming step left in the entire project. Weathering processes should be easier for its turret and hull as they already look fairly dirtied up. What the German Heavy Tank currently lacks is a layer of dust and dirt with the occasional streaking effects. The end is now in sight. Phew!