1/72 PM Messerschmitt P.1111 and PM Lippisch P.13 Snow Diorama

Gallery Article by Nick Winand on Sept 1 2010

 

I started these models a few months ago at my grandparents cabin for something to do in the evenings, and they have to have been two of the most enjoyable models I've ever built. The P.13 was finished in little more than a day, and the P.1111 in roughly 3 days, yet the results came out good I think!  There are some minor faults, cracks, etc. (I forgot my modelers putty at home!), but the snow is a good way to cover that up.  I painted both kits in Testors Olive Drab Spray Enamel, then I brushpainted the P.13 in a coat of Testors Dark Brown for camo.  I painted the tail pieces in Testors Aircraft Gray Spray Enamel, and then drybrushed the top of the tail with Testors Flat Green.  The same process was done on the P.1111 with two minor differences, 1. the whole aircraft got drybrushed, although you cannot tell this due to the snow, and 2.  The aircraft was simply painted in a different camo.  Both aircraft were given a coat of Testors dullcote after decaling.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

I first intended to use the P.13 on a desert diorama, and have the chassis being pulled out by my 1/72 Forces of Valor Schwimmwagen, but I am glad I chose the snow route. The diorama is simply a picture frame with the inside filled with a foam used for putting artificial flowers in (check out Basicmodeling's youtube videos, he has a great tutorial on using a similar technique to what I did). I then used tacky glue to fasten some dried moss which I picked up at Walmart, you can get bags of the stuff for $2 USD. This is a great analog for shrubbery. I put my models in place, and then simply sprinkled baking soda on top of it. The oil drum in the background is from a matchbox playset I played with when I was younger, a bit of painted made it a good analog, albeit slightly off scale.

Now, I wanted to give you a sneak preview of things to come. My next article will be on the diorama which you can see above. It is of a 21st Century Toys Tank Jagtiger SD KFZ 186 and a Forces of Valor Schwimmwagen. I used the figures included in 21st Century Toys tanks, for the figures. As well as a collection of over 200 diecast models of varying scales, I have a large collection of 1/32 armor. Collecting these was a hobby of mine ever since I was 6 or 7, modeling is just the newest territory I'm venturing into. I hope to have more models up soon, as well as my 1/32 armor dioramas, of which I plan to have about 12. Right now my time is taken up by photography, and soon to be tied up by school. Thank you for viewing this, please watch for some more, and Happy Modeling!

Nick Winand

Photos and text © by Nick Winand