This is a goleden oldie (seen quite a few built up and painted over the last couple of months) Tamiya Pzkpfw 2 ausf. F with modifications done to depict a tank captured in Tunisia by U.S. Rangers which was then sent to Aberdeen.

It was done for a group build @ S.M.Kompas (local modeling club). The GB called for OOB build but not strictly, besides I needed the modifications for the paint scheme I chose, so I also superdetailed what I could/wanted.

Modifications included:
- adding Alan PzkpfwII tracks and idlers
- Aber German tool clamps and clasps
- RB model 2cm barrel
- tools and horn from Tamiya pzkpfw IV details set
- Meng nuts and bolts (with and without washers
- Italeri German gerrycans
- resin Notek is from Niko model's set for Einheitsdiesel truck (even though at the time of Rangers joyriding in it, it didn't have one)
- Numerous scratchbuilt details, mostly done with 0.1mm styrene (I bought a sheet many years ago and used only for shimming, but for small, thin details it's even better than PE!), thinned fenders and so on.

IMG_5561 by Grzegorz Ziecina, on Flickr

IMG_5562 by Grzegorz Ziecina, on Flickr

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IMG_5560 by Grzegorz Ziecina, on Flickr

Cheers,
Greg

That's some fine detailing work! Just goes to show that a few of the oldest kits around can still be turned in to real gems. Love these PzII's from Tamiya,, I've got six in the stash. Look forward to seeing how you finish this!!

Great work on this kit! Love all the modifications you made to the kit. Makes the kit busier and look more alive. Can't wait to see it painted.

Thanks for kudos Jack and Nigel!

I've started painting the panzer. It was primed in Mr. Surfacer 1000 and base coated in Tamiya panzer gray XF-63. I used tamiya masking tape laser-cut masks to make German markings in white and hand painted the gray infill in the numbers.

Model was then sprayed with Vallejo chipping medium followed by Tamiya desert yellow XF-59. Then the scratching ensued.

I'm not sure I like the chipping medium. While I like the chips it had created They are pretty random and fine most of the time, also the medium dries very thinly as opposed to hairpray.

I feel it required too much work to get the top paint off and the ability to being chipped deteriorated with time. It may be entierly my fault as on the the medium bottle it says that it is for water based acrylics, which Tamiya paints are not.

I'll try to add another layer of lighter chipped paint to get some variation and highlights in the mix, then detail painting and weathering

IMG_5581 by Grzegorz Ziecina, on Flickr

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/150425472@N06/39610508575/in/album-72157691423908321/

IMG_5596 by Grzegorz Ziecina, on Flickr

IMG_5597 by Grzegorz Ziecina, on Flickr

Cheers,
Greg

Excellent work, Grzegorz! Captures the AK atmosphere very well.

Super nice detailing and paint job I have to say! I like watching it. And also thanks for the very, very nice picture quality! A pleasure to watch.

Grzegorz, it looks great, and yes, thanks for the super photo quality

When the chipping gets too tough, have you tried other methods to loosen the paint, e.g. airbrush cleaner? nail varnish remover? Perhaps the solvent effect, applied in small amounts, can be enough to allow the top layer to be softened enough to make the chips. Then there is just using sandpaper, in a very controlled manner, to abrade the top layer. Just a suggestion of something that could be tried... I'm not staking my life on it!!

Thanks Israel, it would be even more atmospheric with the DAK palm tree emblems, sadly these are not visible on any of the photos of it (and it is quite well photographed one

Marian, thank you! I do belive that proper photography is nowdays a part of the hobby you can't ignore while presenting your works to the world.

Cheers,
Greg

Thanks Matthew!

Thanks for the tip also, all in all I'd not want to try any solvent on this, even where the scrubbing worked nicely I sometimes cut thorugh the base coat to the primer with just the brush and water. For now I'm satisfied with most of the chips and will brush paint or use sponge where it didn't chip the first time

Cheers,
Greg

I agree with the others, the quality of the photos matches that of the model itself. What's your set-up?

I use 50cm cubic phototent lit with 2x100W incandescent light bulbs for the sides and 1x150W bulb for the top. The backdrop is a sheet of oracal white self adhesive foil, it has a nice satin finish and does not take dirt as much as paper.

I shoot with canon EOS 600D with 50mm macro lens and mounted on a tripod. I use manual settings but like to fix aperture at 16 and ISO at 100 and adjust the shutter time.

I also use photoshop to adjust photo levels, crop the pictures and sometimes sharpen them a bit after cropping to 800 pixels width.

I do belive though that the first part of the setup is more important than hte camera and photoediting software. That said I could use stronger light sources

Cheers,
Greg

Your detailed explanation is much appreciated, I’ll use it as a guideline for setting up my own application.

The panzer is now luckily nearing completion.

Final layer of paint was Vallejo darka sand over their chipping medium, and this combo works btilliantly. I sprayed the model lightly and chipped with wet brush and I must say I'm pleased with the result.

Then I painted the details and US markings using lasercut masks.
Lastly I've added some dust effects with AMMO light dust enamel and some pigments over the tracks.

I started putting together the commander, he is a Miniart figure from their US drivers set. The chap had his arms slightly reposed to fit over the hatch ring, they still need to be filled and blended.

Not sure When I'll stop but I'll try and add some more dust, perhaps using artist oils, then some dried mud over the suspension, so not calling the painjob done

Cheers,
Greg

IMG_5598 by Grzegorz Ziecina, on Flickr

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Grzegorz, Sweet work on this little tank.

Chipping is wonderful.

WOW! Great finish on your little beast. Those US stars really give a different look. Great pics, too!

You sure took this very old kit and made it to something that is amazing!!!I am just at a lost of words to describe how amazing it is!!!

Ahh, Tamiya's ancient Panzer II F. Came with that godawful figure set. But otherwise a solid kit. Good job with yours. I especially love the weathering.

Very nice! How did you do the perforations on the muffler cover?

Frederick, Jack, Jason thank you for your kind coments!

Frederick, I'm glad you like it, the figures may serve as a painting training dummies for our club's beginners

Tat, thanks, the muffler screen was done by laser cutting 0.1mm plasticard.

Cheers,
Greg

Thanks Greg -- you did well on this oldie!

Thanks Tat!

I used the laser plotter for this part because I have access to one at work, friend that did the same kit for the group build used Aber's PE 'drilled plate'. despite strange english name it's just perforated PE sheet that's perfect for this kind of details.

Cheers,
Greg

Looks even better! Was that part of the original plan? Does it resemble an actual vehicle used in Tunisia?

Hi Israel, yes it was my original intent to depict a tank as capturet by 1st Rangers. It was marked with roundels with stars and the black and yellow 'disc' is Presidential Unit Citation given for the unit's actions in the battle. There are quite a lot of the photos of the tank I modeled mine after, including color ones taken by Robert Capa.

Here is a short description of it's history with a handful of smallish period photos and a link to walkaround of the same tank in the recent years:

http://www.armorfortheages.com/MilitaryVehicles/PzKpfwII/PzKpfwII.html

Another walkaround page:

http://www.militarymodelling.com/news/article/pz-ii-at-the-national-armor-and-cavalry-heritage-foundation/15645

And my favourite: gallery of good resolution period photos of the rangers riding around some African village in the panzer. From these photos I could confirm some details and found out the little white star that was chalked on the right hand side bin . It is unfortunately accessible on facebook (I know some folks dont tolerate it):

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Radio.WW2/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1689531647959491

Cheers,
Greg

Hi gang, my little panzer is finally finished. Last details added, inspired by one of GB participants, I drilled the left headlight and added a lens from a tasca Sherman (will the Sherman god please forgive me?!) and added stiffening rib inside of the right tool box.

Figure was painted and base created to match others from our little Group Build.

Cheers,
Greg

IMG_5741 by Grzegorz Ziecina, on Flickr

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Stunning little beauty, Grzegorz! Interesting that the Americans left the Balkankreuz untouched...