The IV looks great Ralph,are you adding figures hanging out those turret hatches?

I tend to build slow as well. I'm still developing my skills, and on top of that life has a tendency to demand my time with a vengeance

Tell you what, build the main body structure and wheels today and get them painted. Then you'll be over 70% done with your build

QUESTION:
I was under the immpresion that Italian armor had in one of their camo schemes a sand with a grey/green mottle in North Africa. Or am I off base, but if qnyone would be kind enough to give me some references to show that I am either right or worng. I have Squadrons Italian Armor showing a sand with the grey/green mottle, but very subtle.

Bob

Not great, but some decent info:
WWII Italian Armour Discussion Thread

Thoughts on Italian colors in North Africa
Wargaming Forum

Mostly focused on German DAK
]Same Wargaming Forums

Will try to look for more later if you haven't found what you need.

Is the small Dingo used by DAK ?
Or do I have to stick with my Panzer IB ...

Damn.. so many Campaigns, so little time..

Yes John, MiniArt even makes a direct kit of it:

LEICHTER Pz.kpfw. 202(e) w/CREW DINGO Mk.I

I just noticed that they will also be releasing the Valentine that I was going to do a conversion of. I just need to wait for it come out now

I know Jeremy, I have one of those Miniart German versions, I'm not sure if it's the one with the crew or not.
I'm in with this one then.

The Valentine would be a great kit too, you're going with this on this campaign then ?

Awesome John, sounds like you're all set then

And yes for sure, I've been wanting to build that since I found a photo of it back when Noel first suggested this campaign.

Jeremy,
Thanks for the links, I looked into my Squadron no. 2039 "ITALIAN MEDIUM TANKS IN ACTION" and found a color profile of an M13/40 of the VII Armored Battalion at Barce, Cyrenaice (eastern Libya) in December 1941. Sand Yellow with a very subtle Grey/Green mottle overspray including the unit designations.

So I found what I wanted to do in the first place, not just a plain desert yellow vehicle.

Bob

Awesome Bob. That Italian armor from WWII is not easy to find photo references or info for. Looking forward to seeing the paint on that M13/40

I have now even finished my Panzer III Ausf. G version, based on the Dragon Ausf. F „Smart Kit“:

Finished paint before the „Dusting“











and after given the hole model a Lybian desert look:










Note: Unfortunately I have realized too late that I have fixed the „2“ on the left turret side not really horizontally. That’s the disadvantage of the Archer decals, if they are on, no more modifications possible.

The paint was done with Lifecolour RAL8000, brightened on the top surfaces with Lifecolour “Light Stone 61”.
After that I added two filters, “Tan” from SIN Industries and after that, one with REVELL Enamel 362 “Greyish Green” to give the Lifecolour RAL8000 a little bit of its missing green “touch”
After a cover of Tamiya “Semi Gloss Clear” from the spray can I made a pin-wash with Brown Wash from MIG and some dry brushing with Revell Enamels “Tank grey” 78, “Brick red” 37 and Humbrol “Desert yellow”93.
Following a cover of Livecolour Matt/Gloss Clear in ratio 3:1, I made my “dusting” to create the “Desert look”.

Now I am working on the Tank commander figure, which is from the Tristar “German tropical tank crew”



For the basic paint I choose Lifecolour RAL7008 „Grünbraun“ because it comes very close to the typical olivegreen tone of the “standard” DAK-uniforms.

Lets see how this goes on.

Erich

Erich, your Panzer III looks great, I wouldn't worry about the number I didn't even notice it and had to go back and look really good to see it. Looking forward to seeing it complete with the commander

@ Jeremy
To tell you the truth I have always worked with Pliers when doing PE and it always worked well for me. Picked up a neat trick or two along the way from other modelers for Hinges and stuff,., But with the Dingo I encountered some parts that were fiddly and complicated and in that case it is easy to have an extra "hand" ready. I think I could do those parts with pliers but it will take me much much longer and uncertain as to what the endresult will be.

Started on friday on my ice effects dio for the article... Got all the raw parts finished. Going to take pics today. More on that later. Pretty odd to tell people about an article for ice effects in a thread dedicated to the Desert Fox. Talk about opposites

This was a productive weekend and so I can report my 1st campaing build, the M13/40 carro comando, ready.
After painting the crew figure, which is my 2nd painted figure after my modelling re-start, and I think it is at least, lets say, acceptable (according to my skillness).






Hi Bob,
About Italian desert colours:
Till end 1941, all Italian vehicles has been painted in a Khaki green "Grigio Verde" at the factory. Vehicles deployed to "Africa Settretonale" (means North Africa) received in Lybia a partially (or totally) overspray with the "Giallo Sabbia". Depending how many thime the head befor going to the front line after tehir arrival.
A lot of M13/40 in the battle of Beda Fomm was still in their Khaki green colour.
Beginning of 1942 all Italian AFV got a factory paint in the "Giallo Sabbia".

I have tried to re-mix this colour with Tamiya paints, but I was not able to reach something to the real. Note: The Tamiya recommandation given in the M13/40 instructions are not really suitable.
I have recreated a mix based on Revel Aquacolour for the Italian Sand, which is:
REVELL: 9x88+1x65+1x383+2x15

I would recommend to use the Livecolour paints, which makes all easier:
UA213 "Grigio Verde chiaro" for the Khaki green Basic
and
UA 218 "Guiallo sabbia scuro" for the sand yellow basic with top surface lightened up with UA217 "Giallo sabbia chiaro".

Some M11/39 and some very early M13/40 has been even painted with UA529 "Nocciola 4" or UA 528 "Giallo Mimetico" from the Italian Air Force, which has specified a sand colour earlier than the Italian Army for their North African war.
Note: Even some early DAK vehicles seems to got this paints from the Italian Air Force, after the DAK arrived in Tripolis Feb. 1941

Erich

Erich: Looking good! Can't wait for the dio to come together, and thanks for the tip regarding Giallo Sabbia

ATTENTION FELLAS!!

For any of you who are still trying to decide what to build, or just want to build another kit for this campaign, HLJ is having a sale on DAK models starting today!

HLJ DAK models sale

Updated photos of Pz III Ausf G over the weekend with Tamiya red brown primer paint ... final finish with two tone cam.

Nice job handling your Panzer with all of those delicate details Dan! A lot of people have broken off at least a small handful of bits on that kit when it came to painting time.
Just out of curiosity what kind of lighting do you have at your workbench? It seems to really be throwing off the color in those photos and not doing the red justice.

I've several light sources and include the camera's flash, work bench has a fluorescent light bulb and magnifier lamp with 60 Watt incandescent light bulb. Any suggestions on which light has the best to true color ... other than taking it outside in natural light.

Both the fluorescent and incandescent will alter the color, especially if used together. Try only using one type of light at a time, and your camera should have a special setting for each type of light to help properly filter the odd colors they emit.

Hi everyone, been very busy the past two weeks. There is so terrific projects underway, very good work.

There are several Pz Kpfw III's under way or completed. as well as Pz IV's. Sd Kfz 232, 222, and a kubelwagen.

Dan and Wayne, nice progress on the Pz Kpfw III G's, and Wayne, nice Pz Kpfw IV.

Erich, as I have said before, nice job on the Pz III Ausf F to "G" conversion and the M13/40 Carro Comaando. Nice pigment work, desert dust looks good.

Paul; I don't think I could do Braile scale, eye site is not good enough at my age.

Bob: Nice project, another M13/40, understand the no go on The Aussie version, switched, could have used a captured Stuart ar Matilda though.

Robert: hope to see some progress on the Dingo, interesting subject.

Good job everybody;

I think I have one to many glasses of Wine, typing is teriible. Anyway, happy fourth of July for the USA guys, happy weekend for the rest of you. Sorry Brits, one colony that escaped.

I will be taking some progress pictures this weekend on the Blitz and Pz IV F with base. I will try to use a figure or two of what I have presently, need to order Tank Pz IV DAK left side crewman, thought I had it but was wrong.

Again, happy holiday.

Ralph

I started the Dingo DAK version.
I am still amazed over the huge parts count, 3 parts PE for a single handle... on such a tiny kit.
I lend my camera so no pics for a week...

Ralph: Those Tank figures are something else, I only have a couple of them myself, but they're right up there with Alpine easy.

John: Take that one slow bud, and pictures can come as you have the chance.

Happy 4th of July fellas!

This one has way too many PE sub assemblies, as I said 3 PE parts per handle.
It has a full interior, not sure if it's accurate or even if I'll be able to see anything inside after it's finished...
But so far I 'm only building the Dingo between the 234/4 & Hetzer build, it always start slow then I'll kick the cruise control and I hope this one will go smoothly Jeremy... the Hetzer is a really cool build just 2 things be aware when attaching the top hull back panels (there are several hatches and it's where you will attach the exaust ) be aware with alignment and don't use a LionRoar metal barrel.

I truly recommend the Dingo, so far it's a fantastic little kit, such detail on a tiny plastic kit it's really amazing !