r/MaschinenKrieger

AC raven in ma.k if u let me…..
Work in progress actually*

This is my first ever model, I know there's a lot to learn but man, was it so fun to build!

Hi all,
First time poster here.
This is a Jerry kit I modified a few years ago.

Finished off the Fliege, which I had been building side-by-side with the Wave 3Q Kauz I posted earlier.

Being the completely new Wave tooling it's a nicer build, with improved pilot figure, interior and poly joints (I don't try to paint them, I leave them alone, and they leave me alone!) compared to the older models - I know plenty people replace them or use putty, but I like the ability to re-pose the model based on what I'm displaying it with.

Finish is as close to the box art as I can get. The base armour colour is the same as the Kauz; Ammo MIG Cold grey + Ammo MIG Sea Blue (5:1 mix), and the dazzle camo pattern was a combination of Ammo MIG Cold grey + Vallejo Model Air Ocean grey + Ammo MIG Sea Blue + Vallejo Mecha Colour Magenta (10:5:5:3 mix). Regular Vallejo RLM04 for ID bands, Vallejo NATO black for hand, flight stabilisers and cannon barrels.

Chipping effects are Ammo MIG Ghost Grey, Vallejo Model Air Panzer Dark Grey, Ammo MIG ATOM Steel, followed by AK Streaking Rust blended with white spirit. After that I dug out the old Tamiya weathering master pastels (I've had them close to 20 years!) and did a bit more blending of rust, soot and dirt with them. Hoses, joints etc got a little bit of staining and fluids with AK Fuel Stains, AK Engine Oil and AK Winter Streaking Grime.

Vallejo concrete and light brown weathering fx around the feet and lower legs. Finally a little light dusting of Vallejo concrete pigments and then AK Ultra Matt to seal it all.

I mentioned previously that it's slightly bigger than the old Wave/Nitto Kauz, and you can see it when they're next to each other. I'm half tempted to pick up a modern Wave Kauz and build it to join the Fliege... but I've got a Rapoon, Fireball SG and a Jerry (in that order) already on the workbench, and then I've promised myself I'll go back to some half-built Space Battleship Yamato kits that are looking at me in a sad sort of way....

Unboxing, parts and full build diary: https://www.target-earth.net/wiki/doku.php?id=blog:models:mak:fliege

The normal use of the enamel based AK Streaking products is obviously to apply them, wait a while, then use a lightly moistened brush with thinner to pull the paint down and away from the point of application, to get those lovely streak effects we love on dirty, grimy models.

I decided to try something different with the Fliege I'm finishing up and did the opposite - wait for the paint to virtually dry, then use a stiff, flat, dry brush (no thinner at all) to push the paint back towards the point of application... and it has produced this lovely grubby effect around the edges of panels and raised surfaces, as if engineers have had their filthy, oily hands around the edges.

I've used oils previously to get a similar effect, but they have the issue that they take ages to cure and move about quite easily if you retouch them.

Above is using AK "Streaking Grime for Light Grey Ships".

Not a huge discovery, but a nice little hack that I'll probably include in future finishing processes.

My buddy and I drove 7 hours from Austin to OKC for an impromptu show. Took Best SciFi and Best Gundam. 3 golds and a silver.

Lunar Flecktarn

Tried my hardest to emulate the original Hobby Japan spread. I hope I did it justice!

I’ve long admired Maschinen Kreiger models, and finally got to see some kits in person this weekend, and had to get a couple. It’s been a really long time since I’ve tried using water slip decals, so I’m not entirely happy with those, but practice will help. Really enjoying seeing all the models here, and already picked up some tips for the Camel kit I’m hoping to start soon!