"The Maus Tank Was Originally Designed..."

"...To weigh approximately 100 tons and be armed with a 128 mm main gun..."

This 15mm scale multi-piece kit is produced by "Forged In Battle" as Code P-59 Maus Super Tank, and was bought from the "Westwind Productions" stall at "Warfare" last year. The resin hull is 12.8cm in length and 7.5cm wide, and comes on a pre-sculpted base. However, as I wanted my "heaviest fully enclosed armoured fighting vehicle ever built" to 'work' with my "Flames Of War" German D-Day Beach Defence Grenadier Company (using some unofficial rules), I decided to base it upon a Large and Medium plastic stand by "Battlefront Miniatures" instead.

"...And a 75 mm co-axial secondary gun."

"Captured by advancing Soviet military forces" following its completion in late 1944, the tank was assembled and thoroughly undercoated using "Vallejo" Leather Brown Surface Primer. It was then base layered in "Vallejo" Dark Yellow, shaded with plenty of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade", and finally highlighted, courtesy of a rough dry-brush using (more) "Vallejo" Dark Yellow.

With the basics completed, I attempted to tie the colour of my Maus' tracks in with my usual basing palette by applying some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, "Citadel" Rakarth Flesh and Agrax Earthshade over them. I also took the opportunity to 'pick out' its headlights with a combination of "White Star" by "Two Thin Coats" and a spot or two of "Vallejo" Pale Grey.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - These Guards are simply awaiting some washes

Finally, I settled down to patiently pick out the massive miniature's camouflage pattern - something which I had been unsuccessful applying upon a plastic Panzer IV by "Battlefront Miniatures" last year. Basically, areas of the hull and gun barrels were treated to some round(ish) splodges of “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, Luftwaffe Camouflage Green and Heavy Sienna, before all being sploshed with “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. Each area was later simply highlighted back up with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, of Luftwaffe Camouflage Green and Heavy Sienna.

The super heavy-tank's commander was predominantly pigmented in "Citadel" Abaddon Black. Whilst his gunner was undercoated in “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII, washed with “Citadel” Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII. Any details on the metal crew figures subsequently pigmented predominantly using “Vallejo” Gunmetal, German Camouflage Dark Green, Heavy Sienna and a series of “Citadel” Shades.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - This Drone is slowly being highlighted up to "Vallejo" Silver

I had actually been working on the Maus for the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) as a submission for its Challenge Library's History bonus. But having left the AHPC early, I've simply been plodding on with it alongside some more "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" figures for my ongoing "Flash Gordon" project. These 28mm miniatures currently consist of a Major Domo Drone and four Uranian Royal Guards - all of which should soon be finished...

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