Monkey Wrench Garage - Illustration

I had a great time drawing this. A friend came to me and asked for an illustration for her boyfriend who i really into restoring hot rods. He is currently working on a '73 Chevy Nova. Some requirements she wanted were a "bad-ass" looking monkey holding a monkey wrench in his tail driving a '73 Nova. I decided to create it in a style similar to "Rat Fink" with the over-exaggerated tires, burnout smoke, gearshift coming through the roof, etc. I added small elements to add destails such as the partially visible "ST" on the Hurst T-handle shifter and a vanity license plate which reads "PRIM8." Drawing was sketched in Photoshop and taken into Illustrator for final inking.

W.I.P. - Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Contest Entry

It's been a while since I have posted anything here. I have had a few art projects here-and-there, but not really any time to post. I recently had been working on an entry for a contest over at deviantart.com. The contest was calling for fan art for the new Diablo III expansion pack, "Reaper of Souls". I have since missed the deadline but I am going to finish my painting just to practice discipline and complete projects that I start (which I usually don't do when there is no reason pushing me to finish).

Multiple references were used in the initial design. The problem that I ran into was that any reference image for the user's equipment in Diablo III was that the images were so small in dimensions, it was difficult to use them as an accurate representation of the items.

Steps

References

Portrait of Bob W.I.P.

I have slowly, but surely, been working on getting portraits of my pets done to promote my new endeavor of painting portraits of peoples' pets. I have not gotten much interest yet, but I am hoping that will change with having more paintings done. Here is the progress so far of my painting of Bob.

Grille 38(t) Ausf. H - poster W.I.P.

"The first variant of the Grille was based on the Panzer 38(t) Ausf. H, which had its engine in the rear. The turret of the tank was removed and replaced by a low-slung superstructure and fighting compartment. The 15 cm schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 (heavy infantry gun) was mounted in the front of this armored compartment.

A total of 91 (including the one prototype) were produced in the BMM (erstwhile CKD Praga) factory in Prague from February to April 1943. The official designation was 15 cm Schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 138/1).

As the Ausf H was built on a tank chassis, its hull armour was 50 mm (front) and its superstructure armour was 25 mm (front)" - Wikipedia

image copyright Forbes Robertson 2013


image source: www.achtungpanzer.com

15 cm Schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33/1 auf Selbstfahrlafette 38(t) (Sf) Ausf. M (Sd.Kfz. 138/1)

Flakpanzer 38(t) 20mm - poster W.I.P.

"The Flakpanzer 38(t) - officially named Flakpanzer 38(t) auf Selbstfahrlafette 38(t) Ausf M (SdKfz 140) - was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun used in World War II.

The Flakpanzer 38(t) was designed around the chassis of the Czech-built LT-38 tank and was built from November 1943 to February 1944, entering service in 1944. As the vehicle used the 38(t) Ausf M chassis, the engine was near the middle of the vehicle, and the armament was placed at the rear in a specially designed armoured section. The upper part folding down to allow 360-degree traverse at low elevation. During World War II, a total of 141 Flakpanzer 38(t)s were built, including the single prototype vehicle.

The Flakpanzer 38(t) was intended to be issued to the anti-aircraft platoon of each tank battalion (Panzer Abteilung) in a Panzer division. Most of the Flakpanzer 38(t)s were issued to Panzer Divisions on the Western Front, the remainder served on the Eastern Front. An example user being the 12th SS Panzer Division.

As its folding superstructure allowed a very low (-5°) elevation the Flakpanzer 38(t) was often used against enemy infantry and unarmoured or lightly armoured vehicles." - Wikipedia

image copyright Forbes Robertson 2013


image source: www.achtungpanzer.com

Flakpanzer 38(t) auf Selbstfahrlafette 38(t) Ausf M (SdKfz 140)

Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) 20mm - poster W.I.P.

"The Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) - Sd.Kfz.141/1 was a reconnaissance conversion fitted with a "Hangelafette" turret (20 mm KwK 38 L/55 gun and MG42 - used in armored cars) or armed with 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 (and MG42) gun mounted in the modified superstructure. Only 50 to 70 Aufklarungspanzer 38(t) with 20 mm gun were built from late 1943 to early 1944 and only 2 Aufklarungspanzer 38(t) with 75 mm gun were built in 1944." - Wikipedia

If there are any inaccuracies in my illustrations, or if anybody has any suggestions, please let me know. Feedback is appreciated.

image copyright Forbes Robertson 2013


image source: www.achtungpanzer.com

Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) 75mm - poster W.I.P.

"The Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) - Sd.Kfz.141/1 was a reconnaissance conversion fitted with a "Hangelafette" turret (20 mm KwK 38 L/55 gun and MG42 - used in armored cars) or armed with 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 (and MG42) gun mounted in the modified superstructure. Only 50 to 70 Aufklarungspanzer 38(t) with 20 mm gun were built from late 1943 to early 1944 and only 2 Aufklarungspanzer 38(t) with 75 mm gun were built in 1944." - Wikipedia

If there are any inaccuracies in my illustrations, or if anybody has any suggestions, please let me know. Feedback is appreciated.

image copyright Forbes Robertson 2013


image source: Jentz, T. "Panzer Tracts No.20-2 Paper Panzers (Aufkaerungs-Beobachtuns-and Flak-panzers" 2002


image source: Jentz, T. "Panzer Tracts No.20-2 Paper Panzers (Aufkaerungs-Beobachtuns-and Flak-panzers" 2002

Panzerkampfwagen 38t - poster W.I.P.

"The 1938/39, German take-over of the Czechoslovak state resulted that in March of 1939, 150 of LT-38s in production were confiscated and CKD/Praga was ordered to complete them all. All of them were incorporated into the German Army as PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf A - Sd.Kfz.140. After the German take-over of the Czechoslovakia, the LT-38 became one of the most important tanks used by the Panzertruppe and was retained in production as a tank until June of 1942. The addition of "free" tanks provided the Panzertruppe with badly needed additional equipment in the period shortly before and in the early stages of World War II. Eventually, the proven LT-38, became base for various conversions including the Hetzer tank destroyer. As the war progressed, the Czech industry proved to be a vital part of the German war economy." - Achtung Panzer

If there are any inaccuracies in my illustrations, or if anybody has any suggestions, please let me know. Feedback is appreciated.

image copyright Forbes Robertson 2013

U.S.S. Pennsylvania (BB-38) Illustration - W.I.P.

I am currently in the process of an illustration of the U.S.S. Pennsylvania for a friend who is giving it to his father for his birthday, to commemorate his grandfather's service aboard the Pennsylvania during the Attack on Pearl Harbor and World War II. It has been a very interesting project, but I have found that the lack of resources that blueprint the Pennsylvania has been frustrating. Although, there are a lot of awesome scale modeling sites out there that do show different color schemes and close ups of deck equipment such as cranes and seaplane catapults. More to come soon.

German Tanks of WWII - Winter Project

I am working on a poster of all the German tanks of WWII. In no way do I support the actions or the ideologies of the Nazi party, but I am very fascinated by their architecture and design of military vehicles during World War II. Once I have completed all of the tanks, I will be selling a poster of all of them in comparative scale.

Current versions and variants I have completed are the Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. A, Ausf. B, Ausf. C, Ausf. F, and the Panzerkampfwagen 35(t). I am currently working on the Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) and its variants.

All of these illustrations were created by myself entirely in Adobe Illustrator.

If there are any inaccuracies in my illustrations, or if anybody has any suggestions, please let me know. Feedback is appreciated.

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. A

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. A - "Flakpanzer I" Variant

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. A - "Munitionschlepper" with Ammo trailer

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. B - "Ladungsleger" Explosive Charge Laying Vehicle

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. B - "Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen" Light Command Tank

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. B - "Munitionschlepper"

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. B - "Bison" Self-propelled Howitzer

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. B - "Panzerjager" Tank Hunter

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. B - "Panzerjager" Tank Hunter (7-panel Turret)

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. C

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. F

Panzerkampfwagen 35(t)
Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) - closeup of road wheels and suspension.