Ruben's Build; Bison I from Alan Models Finished 07/07/09

Well, here comes another update!
But first, a big thanks to all of you who took the time to comment.

After the paint dried I installed the interior of the bison and added the details that were missing around the tank like headlights, tow hooks, front fenders and the like.


Also the convoy light.


The springs for the fenders.


Here's the interior in place.


Then, after some primer and paint was applied, the Friul tracks were put in place.




I did some dry brushing to add highlights and then the gun and the shield were glued in place. Then I applied the markings. The two crosses on the sides of the shield are from an Archer set, the rest is from the kit's decals.





I also started to paint the tools and the muffler at this point.




Now the detailing begins...
Thanks for viewing.
Ruben

Great work Ruben.

I wonder what the recoil was like when that little buggy was firing

Nice work Ruben , almost done, was the Bison a nightmare like many modelers said??

Richard Marchand wrote:Great work Ruben.

I wonder what the recoil was like when that little buggy was firing

Thanks Richard, just imagine the extra stress on the already overloaded suspesion. It's a miracle they didn't fall apart!

fledermaus wrote:Nice work Ruben , almost done, was the Bison a nightmare like many modelers said??

Well, to tell the truth the kit has many fitting problems that alone aren't too difficult to work with. The problem is when you add the PE parts because they made it untouchable; I already lost count of how many times the fenders fell off and had to be glued again and again. So be prepared when you decide to tackle yours.

Ruben

See, I'd call this done, can't wait to see what you do. Lots of pictures please....

You could not tell you had any problems at all as it looks great ! I reckon an air recognition flag would add some colour .

Jenny

Now that's looking real good!

Neat job! It's a very good looking kit.... I can't wait to start mine!

Look forward to next update!

Regards
Noel

Nice work on an Allen kit , details are very well done. I also like the finish you've got so far.

Glenn

Moon Puppy, Jenny, Noel and Glenn, thanks for your comments and support; it's been a long road with this one.

But I'm almost at the end of it!!

I finished some details like the headlights (Painted the interior and added the lens.), the tools (Finished them with a rub of graphite.) and the antenna (Made the mast with a .5mm plastic rod.) Next I applied some pigments to the suspension and the lower part of the shield. I also painted the front of the radios but once they are in place is almost impossible to see them.

But enough talk, here are the pictures:












At the same time I started to work on a base for it. Here's how it stands at the moment.


Next, the crew!
See you soon.

Ruben

Too Kewl for School ! That is a way awesome looking Bison !

I am really looking forward to the figures !

Jenny

I like it!

Nice subtle weathering on the panzer grey and I like the lower dusty area. Looks very smart.... and it's an Alan kit!

The base looks good too. I look forward to see it completed.

Regards
Noel

beautiful bison! when looking at the finished kit one could believe it was the dml offering! terrific job!

Noel-Petroni wrote:Looks very smart.... and it's an Alan kit!

Good one

Superb one Ruben. Like Noel said the painjob/weathering is really well done.

Great job on the Bison Ruben, and even more so because It used to embarrass me to sell those kits! With your work, you could get away with telling everyone is was the DML!

Congrats!

Bob

Gee guys, thanks for the praise.
I never imagined that this kit would be so "liked" considering that the Alan Kits are the ugly ducklings of the modeling community.

I'm really glad you like what I did to the little beast.

Ruben

Great finish! What you did from this ähääm-very-special-quality kit is awesome.

Nice work on the base Ruben, the idea of the logs seem to worked out fine. And of course you are doing a wonderful job on the vehicle.

Dave

Johnny and Dave; Thanks!

Well, I painted the crew but in my eagerness to finish I forgot to take photos of them alone so, sorry about that.
Then I placed everything on the base and here's the result....











The walker..


The talker...


The almost eye-level view.


And the satellite views




So I'm going to declare it finished now

Thanks for viewing
Ruben

beautiful little scenery ruben! congratulations on finishing this one!

Very very nice. I like it a lot

You've finished it!!!

Lovely diorama, Ruben! I like the idea of the crew placing foliage on the tank!

In the pics the tank guys look shiny.... could be the light.

Ruben.... I might stand to be corrected.... but the crew are considered artillery so the colour arm of service was RED. The piping looks pink. I'm not so sure that the tunic was field grey

Regards
Noel

Awesome work my friend!

Now its time to clean up the workbench and get on with the next one, hehehe.

I really like the detail on the officer's uniform, it think it came out very good, but I have to agree with Noel, for some reason the uniform on the crew looks too shinny when place side by side with the vehicle. But maybe some matt varnish can help that.

Dave

Thanks Noel
Yes, the shine is caused by the lights

Noel-Petroni wrote:Ruben.... I might stand to be corrected.... but the crew are considered artillery so the colour arm of service was RED. The piping looks pink. I'm not so sure that the tunic was field grey

Regards
Noel

Well according to my references the crews of SP artillery or SP guns (like Stugs) wore the same black uniform, including the pink pipping, as the tank crews during the early years of the war until the beginning of 1942. The only distinction being a letter P (for artillery) embroidered in the shoulder strap. (Which neither my pulse nor my eyesight is capable of doing.) The field gray variation of the uniform began to appear in February 1942 and even in 1944 you can find examples of crew wearing the black uniform. Remember that when it concerns the German army things get a little complicated

My diorama is based in a photo taken in Belgium in May of 1940 where every crew member visible is wearing the black uniform.

panzerartillerie noel! the bison was attached to panzer units so the pink piping is absolutely ok!

I was thinking out aloud......... You made me take my book out and read

And you're both right! My reference is a fantastic book "Field Uniforms of German Army Panzer Forces in WWII" by Michael H.Pruett & Robert J. Edwards.

Sometimes it's good to take a book and revise!

Regards
Noel