Completed » Fish Sub / Paddlewheel!

[finescalerr]

What's the big deal? All his models are superb. What else did you expect? -- Russ

[JESTER]

Very Nice!! Did you scratch build the oval name plate?

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[RoughboyModelworks]

Beautiful job Michael... photos are excellent and absolutely convincing. Though, I am curious how you got Angelina Jolie's lips in the porthole?  I realize it's the leather seat but in the first photo it looks like a big pair of lips...

Paul

[Ray Dunakin]

Bravo!!

More pics, please!

[JohnP]

Indeed more pics please! This is beyond comprehension. The photo with the paddlewheel looks like the best CG artist made it. The whole deal demonstrates a mastery of the finishing arts. It is a unique and complete concept carried out with great intent. And he showed us all how to do it.

Thanks
John

[FichtenFoo]

Wow, thanks guys! Quite the accolades!  Now go build yours! I want to see! Also check out the Group build on my forum. So far just one other build-up on-going but it's really great! A racer version.

The CG image was fun to make. I recalled watching how they made scenes from "The Hunt for Red October" and "The Abyss" so used those memories to do this. I didn't want to use smoke, so added that haze in photoshop. Making adjustment layers to desaturate and add blue helps. Also messing with the contrast, using wave and ripple filters for the lighting effects on the sub and surface water, using a 1% huge dissolve brush to start the speck floating in the water... Having good refs helps. I also had the assistance after I started of an underwater archeology student who actually dove a paddlewheel wreck and told me to really pop the reef colors as IRL they're really bright with lots of reds.

Paul: I noticed the lips too. Pretty funny! Fish-lips!

Jester: That was part of the PE I produced for the kit.

Russ: Hahaha! Thanks!

Chuck, Hauk, Ray, John, Marc: Thanks guys!

[lab-dad]

May be a "waterline" version will be available someday.......
I could see one bobbing in a harbor somewhere in South Florida!.....
Would be a shame to cut a whole one up.
Really enjoyed all the pics and info on this build.

Does it bother you all those were sold and only one "lives" so far?

-Marty

[DaKra]

Turned out great!    I really like your diorama compositions, they are very 3 dimensional and lively without being complicated.   

Dave 

[BKLN]

I have to say that Michael's work might be some of the most creative I have seen in a while. Obviously, this forum is a showcase of some of the most talented model builders in the world. And we usually judge good modeling by the execution of the build, the paint job, the weathering. But besides being perfectly executed, it shows a true talent for storytelling. So much of our work fits into certain categories: narrow gauge trains, automobiles, structures and so on. But Michael's stuff always sticks out. Can't be categorized. Very cool!

[FichtenFoo]

May be a "waterline" version will be available someday.......
I could see one bobbing in a harbor somewhere in South Florida!.....
Would be a shame to cut a whole one up.
Really enjoyed all the pics and info on this build.

Does it bother you all those were sold and only one "lives" so far?

-Marty

Thanks! Not sure about producing a waterline version... there's only been a couple requests for it and you lose so much of it that way. Plus it'd mean making an all new PE set-up which unfortunately isn't cheap. More than half the cost of my initial run's PE cost was the set-up for the film negative. I don't know if I could justify the cost. Actually there's mine and another. Check out Mike Rinaldi's build-up on my forum's group-build: http://fichtenfoo.net/forum/index.php?topic=6001.0

Turned out great!    I really like your diorama compositions, they are very 3 dimensional and lively without being complicated.  

Dave 

Thanks!

I have to say that Michael's work might be some of the most creative I have seen in a while. Obviously, this forum is a showcase of some of the most talented model builders in the world. And we usually judge good modeling by the execution of the build, the paint job, the weathering. But besides being perfectly executed, it shows a true talent for storytelling. So much of our work fits into certain categories: narrow gauge trains, automobiles, structures and so on. But Michael's stuff always sticks out. Can't be categorized. Very cool!

Thanks! I try to weave my own little world. I already live in one... might as well model one too! 

[shropshire lad]

Hey , Marty , give us a chance , we've only had them for a week or two . Unlike the two Mikes the rest of us are slow workers .

  Plus I'm waiting to gather as many tips as I can before "diving in" ,


   Nick

[Bexley]

Just use a resin waterline. You'd still get to see everything. Though, you'd probably have to be extra careful that the cockpit is watertight before pouring.

[Philip Smith]

Your build turned out wonderful Michael! I prefer your highly maintained one over your associates version.

Philip 

[Malachi Constant]

Just noticed a couple "figure" sets (well, critters actually) that might be useful to the underwater / seaside fans ... Mantis Miniatures have a couple 1/35 sets with various fish, seals, pelicans, seagulls and a crab:

http://www.mantisminiatures.pl/EN/11,0,Accesories.html

These are supposedly offered in the US by Military Miniatures Warehouse ... but trying to navigate that clumsy site leaves me wondering ...

Cheers,
Dallas

[Ray Dunakin]

Check out Google's interactive "doodle" honoring the birthday of Jules Verne! I just saw it and it reminded me of your diorama.