Hi Jeff,

Nice save man! ive used 5 min. epoxy in similar situations
but it can get sloppy in that small of scale. looks good.

Gary

Thanks Gary,I hate to say it,but I"m starting to like this braille stuff.Harder on the eyes,but nicer on the wallet.Hopefully more to show by the end of the week end.J.T.

Hi everyone!
This morning started very well with the skirt supports.


cleanign was easy and alinement was to nothing to say about that. then I wiched to join the upper to the lower hull and was feeling good aboout having some great progres.
I soon realised that the fenders stoped me from geting the upper hull in place because they where snaging against a styrene protuberance along the lower hull. In the dragon plan it is indicated to glue the fenders prior to the assembly of both part of the hull but now I must advise against this.

As you can see on the picture above I've cut out a part of that infernal protuberance to allow me some clearance and leaving enough of it to ensure good adhesion of the parts.
I would also sugest that both part of the hull be assemble before glueing the flak turret railling, it also interfere with the fenders You can see on the pic below the rails pinches the fender against lower hull and need some work to get it in place and still I'm quite disapointed, it will need some fixing.

Finaly the front glacis needed some gap filling(like the rest of the undercarriage!)but at least the welds were aligned.


Now remember this: I should have trusted my guts with those fenders and put them afterward. I know it's no big deal and it is easy to repair but I was kind of hopeing the plans would at least give a good sequence despite being slightly confusing. Anyway it is still an amazing kit, wish there would be more reveiw on this build.
Phil

Hi Folks,

I had enlisted in this campaign from the start, but due to health issues and family affairs I have not been able to commence my build until now. I have decided to start with the Dragon 1/72 Panther G early production with Zimmerit (Kit no:7363). I am using some after-market PE and a RB barrel, I may get a PE set for the model, possibly Part or ET. Anyway here are the obligatory start photos, I will get cracking with the build and post the initial photos when I have made some progress.


The model...


And the date-line...

I must compliment all the contributors on some outstanding work...I have been keeping up with the builds and find it all fascinating, also educational as I have learnt so much about the Panther already.

Now for a question; I notice the inside run of road-wheels on many Panthers have what appears to be a burnished metal ring. Is this the result of the guide teeth polishing the rim or is there another explanation. Also did this occur on all Panthers?

Thanks in advance,

All the best,

Paul

As I understand it Paul it is where the guide horns run the wheel rim above the rubber.

Thanks Darren, I will bear that in mind when painting it. I haven't decided where it will be set...but I want to check out the Italian Campaign as I haven't ever done something for that.

All the best,

Paul

I have not made much progress but here is where I am at as promised.

[quote]Greetings Armor Guys

A first timer here, long time lurker and researching techniques and such. But anyway I am going to jump in right off the High Dive. My first armor kit will be the Tamiya 1/35 Panther A. I will build her as a Tank from 1.ABt/4 Panzer Rgt in Italy. my build will be OOB, with maybe Archer Decals, and maybe figures too as I have never done armor or figures so I will be grateful for all the help. here is the kit. Ill start tomorrow.

[quote]


Ok all im almost ready to start, I have read and read and couldnt seem to find the answer I was looking for. So I went on a little paint spree today. I picked up the following paints, are these good to do German Armor and the Crew figures??

Tamiya
Flat Earth XF-52
Dark Yellow XF-60
Desert Yellow XF-59
Vallejo 149 Choc Brwn but is written XF-64 on it
Metallic Greay XF-56
Flat Black XF-1
German Gray XF-63
and the rest is Model Master Enamels.
Panzer schokoladebraun 43'
Rust
Dunklegrun
Panzer Olivegrun
Panzer Dunklegelp 43'
Dark Tan
skin tone shadow tint
armor Sand
and radome tan

Eugene

That looks like a pretty good selection. I usually paint dark yellow vehicles in the follwoing steps:

1. Prime with Tamiya grey primer.
2. Undercoat with Tamiya Flat Black
3. First colour coat is a mix of 50:50 Dark Earth (all colours are Tamiya) and Dark Yellow thinned by about 30%. Spray this lightly, ensuring that the black shows through in all edges, joins, shadows etc
4. Second coat is straight dark yellow, thinned as above, in the centre of each panel but not out as far as the previous colour.
5. Third coat is 50:50 Dark Yellow and Buff, thinned as above, and to not quite as large an area as the Dark Yellow.
6. Final coat is thinned Buff, again to not quite the same area as the previous coat.

Suggest you try it somewhere inconspicuous like the underside of the hull.

Other members will undoubtedly have their own methods, this is just one I have used successfully for many years.

Have fun.

Regards

Rob

Darren: Always great to see your work.I'm getting ready to paint my mini jagd and am conserned about the colors the kit maker suggests.They seem very strong and bright to Me. What colors did you use?
EugeneWelcome.That looks like a nice kit.Have fun.Jeff T.

Paul,I found some pics on Prime Portal showing roadwheel wear.

It does not look like this has been run much after it was painted but you get the idea Jeff T.

Eugene I suggest you invest in some photo etched screens for the engine deck as this provides a good introduction to photo etch and does make a difference to the finished model.


Jeff I used good old Tamiya paints thinned with Tamiya thinner, I will get you the exact colours used shortly.

Hi Everyone,
@ imatanker: Hi Jeff, thank you for those stunning detail shots...it really gives you a good idea of how the tracks got worn. I presume this is a recently restored Panther and has not been run for long, from the small amount of wear you can see that the rims of the inside tracks would not be long in getting a 'polished' finish. Also it is interesting that the tracks aren't 'polished' where the road wheels meet them, they seem to have a residue of rubber on them as that part of the track is discoloured. Excellent photos, thank you so much for sorting them out for me.

All the best,

Paul

WOOO Rob, that sounds like a lot of coats of paint, no wonder why i can't get the whole paint modulation thing down

Paul:Yes I agree.I don't think the tank had been run very much and looked to be freshly restored.
Darren:I await your reply.
I should have another update on the JP later tonight.Jeff T.

Jeff the Tamiya paints I used where;

XF 60 dark yellow as the base colour
XF 58 olive greeen
XF 64 red brown

Darren,Thanks.I think I will use XF-59 Desert yellow for my base,but I don't have the other two colors in Tamiya.Would Vallejo mahogany 846 work for the red brown and flat green 968 with some black added work you think?Jeff T.

Here'smy latest update short and sweet
Roadwheels ready for paint
Painted
Satin coated
Drilled out the barrel
And just discovered something.Whats wrong with this picture
The fix,after I figure it out Will follow.Have a good week Gents J.T.......I have next week off So look for more updates

See? I did it again, heres the barrel
Just call me Homer
I put the barrel assy together also.it was in the orignal post but I don't know where it went.Lost in cyberspace I guess

Eugene

Yes, I know it sounds like a lot of coats, but remember, they are all very LIGHT coats. In my attempts at something approaching colour modulation, I usually don't but the final buff coat on any vertical surfaces.

Regards

Rob

Jeff

Mmmm - the MG mount should be recessed within the armoured housing, methinks.

Rob

YES,YOU ARE CORRECT SIR!But thats not changing now. There is one(O.K. two) things missing.J.T.

Hey everyone I have been searching hig and low and cant really find an answer to question I have about a couple planned builds. My questions are

What units were using the Marder II SDk131 in Italy, I think I read 1st Fallschim somthing that is the Paratroops right??

I see that the 1st Batt 4th Panzer Regiment had panther A's and some arrived in 1943. and fought thruought Italy so am I correct that some had zimmerit and some did not, and they only had 2 exhaist pipes not 4?

and lastly how was the Battalion broken down. I read that the #'s are lets say 529 its the 5th Company,second platoon,9th tank.. How does this work for HQ I read that Stab 69 was in charge of 4th Panzer Rgt so are they 69th Panzer division? and tanks are 001 thru 003??

Sorry if that is not understandable but I am new to armor.

Thanks in advance
Thunder

After Priming, the base paint.
Worked on the wheels this weekend.

Eugene

Yes, you are correct in your thoughts that the Marder II was used by Fallschirmjaeger.

The numbering sequence that you indicated for Panthers is also correct, although I doubt that you would ever find nine tanks in the same platoon.

I'll have a scratch arouns and see if I can find anything else regarding unit organisation. All Panther As, by the way, had Zimmerit.

Regards

Rob