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Building DML's Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf N sPz.Abt. 501 Afrika

Markings and Weathering

A coat of Future was applied by airbrush and allowed to dry overnight before the kit-supplied decals for Red 07 were applied and treated with Walther’s Solvaset to get them to snug down and conform to the surfaces. Once dry, a second coat of Future was applied to seal them in prior to the weathering process.

The first weathering step was designed to add some more subtle variation to the previously applied paint work. Small dots of Afrika Braun, Afrika Khakibraun, and Italian Dark Brown were applied and, using a round 0 sable brush dampened with thinner, blended together with downward strokes. Once that had been done to the entire vehicle, a pin wash of Raw Umber was applied to bring out the details. To preserve this, another light coat of Future was applied to create a barrier between that effort and the next.

The next step consisted of again applying small dots of paint, this time standard Testor’s enamel in the little glass jars, using Flat Red, Flat White, Flat Yellow, and Flat Beret Green. These dots were blended in the same fashion to introduce subtle tonal shifts and build on the previous layers’ work.

With that done, the entire vehicle received a dull coat using Testor’s Lusterless Flat in the spray-can, holding the can about 12” away from the model and making multiple quick passes to insure even coverage and avoid heavy build-up. Once that had thoroughly dried, the lower hull and suspension was treated with Mig Gulf War Sand pigments mixed with water and applied by brush. The mixture was allowed to air-dry and a series of stiff-bristled brushes used to remove the excess and adjust them. Once the lower hull was done, a much more diluted mix of the same pigment and water was applied to the rest of the vehicle and allowed to air dry. It too was carefully adjusted to achieve the final look.

I thoroughly enjoyed this build as an out-of-the-box effort with the only addition taking the form of the Notek wiring for the front hull.