Greetings fellow modellers.
After a long time of lurking at all those beautiful models here I decided that it's about time to join this community.
So, I'd like to show you guys my Panzer III. It's the Dragon kit built OOB. Pics were taken before I did some finishing touches (drybrushed tracks to give them metal sheen, installing antena, some oil stains etc.). This is the third model that I managed to complete so all critics are more than welcome.

nothing to criticize there. That's a nice looking model, and especially if its only the 3rd one you've done!

Thank you Guy

You've done a very nice job, Saša! Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

—mike

Excellent work and nicely-understated weathering. If this is only your third, you've learned your lessons well!

Thank you guys for your kind replies.

I agree with everyone else that, for your 3rd model, you did an excellent job. Seems all that lurking paid off!

That said, since you asked, there are a few details to be pointed out. First, the tracks are mounted reversed from what would be normally found (though I believe there are photos showing this happening occasionally). Second, the drivers view port needs to be painted to show that there is actually a vision slot there. Carrying that a step forward, and really getting detailed, all the vision slits and cuts in the headlight covers should be darkened to better represent openings. Third, both tail lights need their lenses painted. Next, the handles of the wire cutters mounted on the right fender were made out of bakelite. They should be a reddish brown (burnt sienna works well) in color. And lastly, the jack block was wood with metal bands and handles. While it is possible to find one painted body color, it's hard to believe someone would take the time to paint the sides, but leave the top it's natural tone.

You can easily incorporate a lot of these "fixes" on this model, or just keep them in mind on your next build. Hope this helps.

Impressive, even for your tenth model. The cutters look fine to me. From what I can tell, you painted them the same color as the tank and showed a little fading. The weathering is quite well done. I had only just started to venture into hard weathering, after 12 or so builds. I think that the biggest improvement you can make would be to replace the tool clasps with etch. It is not too difficult and the price is nominal. did you mix the grey, yourself?

Hey Bob
Thanks for your critics, that's what I need to become better.
Yeah, I did some corrections after the pics were taken (removed paint from drivers vision port, washed the front lenses. The rear ones I just forgot...
Thanks for the info about bakelite handles. I didn't know that. And for the wooden block too. Seemed to me that it was in some sort of metal housing.
And for the tracks mounted reversed...well, if I try to say that I made them like that on purpose because this tank was planned to drive around the battlefield just in reverse gear...you wouldn't buy that, right? Kidding, yeah, I made a rookie mistake.
Thanks again.

Hey Matt
To tell you the truth, the cutter was hand painted with dilluted metallic black, I tried to made them look more like metal.
Unfortunately I couldn't go with any AM parts for this one. Currently, I am fighting with Tamiya Tiger with Eduard PE set so we shall see how will that turn out.
The color is some sort of my own mix. Over the Vallejo Panzer gray primer I airbrushed few thin coats of Vallejo Air Panzer gray, with a few drops of blue and white, adding more white for each new layer and for lightening some top panels (I couldn't say it was color modulation, but some rookie and scared try at something like that). I gave an AK blue filter a try, luckily at the bottom because it was waaaay to blue. The rest was finished with some oil fading and washes. And pigments, of course.

Normally the blocks were just strapped in place or had a mounting bolt coming up through the center. With the amount on field modification work going on, I wouldn't put it past someone to build a box for it.

The same goes for the tracks. It's totally believable for a field crew to get in a hurry and accidentally reverse the tracks. There's a StuG in one of the museums that has one track going one way and the other reversed. According to the museum, this was exactly how it was found. What you have is not "wrong", per se, it's just not normal.

Keep up the good work. You're off to an excellent start.