Just a small update. I did some detail work on these two vehicles:

Sd.Kfz.10 Ausf.B:

Original foleded-down top


Reworked top



Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. H:

With figure dry-fit


Jerry Can Rack



Right fender storage box


Front hull extra track-link rack


—mike

Great job regarding the details!!

Are you going to tone down the colour of the vehicles??

I'm asking because the RAL code colours for DAK vehicles were darker!

http://www.dkw-nz.net/cms/upload/img_pdf_downloads/colour%20schemes-d.pdf

Cheers

Romain

Definitely. What you're looking at (above) is Vallejo Desert Tan Base Primer (73.613). The base color will be Vallejo Desert Yellow (70.977).

I'm moving along very slowly, so the vehicles have been in the primer state and the figures in the shiny state for what seems like forever!

Here's the Pak 38 with base color painted (below). Is this color okay??? Now I'm sweating!!!



Thanks,
—mike

Hi Mike,

that colour is dark enough for sure! A couple of years ago I would have chosen exactly the same tone (slightly reddish/brownish beige).

However the discussion started recently about DAK colours changed my mind a bit. The new evidence was from parts protected from long time sun exposure and they showed a tone like the ones I sent you in the link (more into khaki).

Colour production (even RAL) is never homogeneous! And I would readily accept reasonable variations!

So relax!! Everything is fine!!

Cheers

Romain

Thanks Romain,
With highlighting (Vallejo Sand Yellow 70916) and weathering the overall color will lighten again, something like the vehicle below or somewhere in between. Will that still be okay?



Thanks in advance.
—mike

I like that a lot!!!!

Cheers

Romain

Thank you, Sir. Your opinion is valued here.

—mike

Hi mike ,

the pak and half-track are nicely built , for sure.

More important than the right color application is the contrast you create by using filters and washes , chipping...
So i agree with Romain.

i'm looking forward to see the diorama ...

Cheers

Kurt ( also known as flyboy)

Thanks Kurt! And thanks for the flyby!

I hope your project is going well.

—mike

Another update on the kits for this dio.

Base coats for the Sd.Kfz.10 and the Pz.Kpfw III are finished — still need to paint the tracks — then final assembly and weathering. The 5cm Pak 38 is already finished. The figures still need some detailing and final paint — then comes the base.

The reference photo.


Sd.Kfz.10 Ausf.B
Tools and wheels are painted.








Panzer Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.H
Decals added; tools, jerry can rack added and wheels are painted.





Lots of wheel painting today ... whew!


5cm Pak 38



Hopefully, I'll have another update soon.

—mike

Hi Mike - wow - this is looking great!! How many builds do you have going? Tough to keep track of them all - you are the model building machine!

Cheers
Nick

Wow! … That’s quite the compliment, coming from you! Thanks Nick!

Quantity … not quality!

I’ve been bouncing between the two large dios = a total of six vehicles and sixteen figures. And in the last few weeks or so, I managed to finish a couple of smaller builds. In addition, I recently started three practice figures — hell-bent on improving my figure painting skills. … Are you listening Romain?!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

—mike

I'm always listening Mike!!

Practice makes indeed perfect! In the meantime you can carefully analyse other peoples' works ...and learn from them!

I've just now noticed the horizontal cuts in the hollow of the knees of the guy standing on the tank. I would get rid of those if I were you. They produce a "Jungle Jim" feeling.

I love your Pak 38 and the additional details on the vehicles!! Great show there!!!

Keep up the good job Sir!!!! I'll be watching your progress in fig painting skills!!

Cheers

Romain

Romain,

I've been following some of the great figure painters on the site and taking in as much as I can. I'm shooting for just 1/10th of their skills ... and for me ... that's aiming high!

The "horizontal cuts" were actually an earlier (weak) attempt at painting shadows into the creases. I've set these guys aside for now and will revisit them after some practice on the three stand-alone figures which I've started. Maybe I'll post their progress.

As always, thanks for your comments!

—mike

Hi Mike ,

nice update , am looking forward to see the paintjob on the figures...

Cheers

Kurt

For some reason, I didn't get anything done yesterday. After that wheel painting session, I'm really procrastinating. Let's see what's left: Some minimal chipping/wear effects, washes, track paint and installation — actually this is getting close and the Sd.Kfz.10 isn't far behind. ... Oh ... let's not forget about finishing the nine figures! ... and the base!

So here's a small update from today's session.

Dry fit the wheels, painted and positioned the Eureka XXL (ER-3520) Towing Cable. I really like these cables, they're very easy to shape into the desired position and have nicely detailed resin eyelets.







I actually pretty happy with how das III is shaping up so far!

—mike

Hi mike ,

that tank is very nicely done , a real clean build, congratulations to you !

Cheers

Kurt

Thanks Kurt!

I think it won't be "clean" for much longer. Hopefully I'll get around to desertizing the two remaining vehicles and maybe some figure work next week ... cough!

—mike

I have a question:

The crank on the jack doesn't seem very practical in this position for travel mode. Should I just go ahead and clip it off and maybe stow it somewhere on the tank? The assembly instructions were a bit vague here.



Thanks in advance.

—mike

Hi Mike,

Just came across this one. Great work going on here and a nice combination of vehicles. Look forward to developments.

Al

Thank you for the kind words Alan!

—mike

I did some work on the Sd.Kfz.10 Ausf.B today, here's an update:

Added the dashboard decals. The Jerry Can racks are scratched and painted. I had to sand the width of the Tamiya cans down a bit in order to fit them between the braces on the fenders. The running gear is dry-fit. In addition, I applied a base coat to the tracks for both vehicles.











—mike

Another small detail added to the Sd.Kfz.10 today:


I cut-out the original sun-visor lens and scratched a clear one out of the trash stash.



I used a mixture of red and yellow Food Coloring and Vallejo Gloss Varnish (70.510) to achieve a somewhat translucent look. My test-piece came out looking better than this, so I might do it over ... or not.



The windshield will be in the folded-down position as shown here.



Kind of reminds me of Colonel Klink's monocle from 'Hogan's Heroes!'




Not a whole lot of progress today but these little bits are kind of fun.

—mike

Looking really nice Mike.
Will watch your progress .

Tom

Thanks Tom!

—mike