1:48 German Tanker - 'Tiger Reloading' No.1

A tanker passing a shell, the first pose

Replenishing ammunition was among the most ordinary and at the same time most laborious activities of a crew. Shells were passed out of the vehicle or up from the ground through the hatch, so inventive positions of the body arose that show off beautifully in miniature. It is exactly such a moment that the first of the pair of figures in 1:48 scale captures, and it gives a display case a story at once.

Work around a heavy tank

The Tiger was a heavy tank of the second half of the war, massive and tall, so handling shells called for a ladder or the help of a second man. Ammunition was carried in wooden crates and the individual rounds were passed from hand to hand. In a tableau a pair of figures arranged at different heights therefore looks natural: one by the track, the other on the hull or on the turret. The difference in eye level will itself create tension in the composition.

Painting the work clothing

Crews wore dark one-piece overalls at work, and with them the main task is not to let them merge into a black area. So mix the base one step lighter and create the depths only with a glaze. Soil the hands and the cuffs with brown and an oily glossy patch, because a man always gets dirty while loading. A light face will then stand out all the more in dark clothing.

It suits above all

• Models of heavy tanks in 1:48 scale
• A tableau with an open hatch and crates by the track
• A pair with the second pose of the same subject
• Modelers who want to show work rather than combat at a vehicle
• As practice in dark shades without falling into black