For those interested, here is how I am doing on my builds for the Ardennes Capmaign. I am working on a diorama that will include a M4A3 105mm from HHC 741st Tank Battalion, a King Tiger from SpzAbt 501 and some troops from 3rd Fallschirmjager. The Sherman will be knocked out and abandoned with a thrown track. The KT will be driving by as the troops are looking for loot and celebrating what they think will be a victory. The Sherman is the Tamiya kit with some MV Lenses. I haven't added an antenna to it yet but otherwise it is complete minus final weathering. The track will be added as I add it to the diorama base. That way I can bury parts of it in mud and get it jammed into the suspension the way I want it. I also had a fit problem with the track on the side that won't be thrown so I am in the process of putting a plan together to take care of that too. After the tanks are placed in the diorama the final weathering will take place to tie them into the terrain. So far the King Tiger has not been weathered except as was done in the initial painting of some of the parts. There are no washes or highlighting applied to it yet. While the Tamiya instructions imply that tank 322 would be in the Ambush scheme, I have a photo of a 322 that seems a near exact match for the supplied markings that show the tank in a basic three color scheme. I decided to go with that as the basis of my paint scheme. Enough of my rambling, here are the photos.







The King Tiger is the Tamiya Ardennes kit with Tamiya photo etch grills.

Looking good Rich, I did notice that you havent weathered them yet? Looking forward to see this diorama. Also, if the shermie was knocked out, I think the crew would have taken the .50 cal, for sure. That weapon is very valuable.

Boy, I don't know if it's my PC or what. Those KT photos don't look very good. They didn't have those squiggles when I first put them in my gallery.

Thanks Harrison. Much appreciated. As for the .50, I imagine it depends how quickly they had to high tail it out of there. That is some of the loot the troops will be looking into acquiring.

Very good builds. I have one Tamiya 105mm just like yours.

One thing though...did you glue the tracks of the King Tiger. If you did, you might have a hard time painting the rubber rims of the road wheels...

Angela

Hi Rich ...Good start on your kits ..Your are correct about the fact that 332 did not have an Ambush scheme ..good catch .. Keep up the good work and I can't wait to see them weathered .

Angela the KT looks as if is the steel wheeled variant so no rubber rims required.

Rich -

Both Sherman and King Tiger look terrific. I'm very anxious to see the diorama develop as I think the theme is an excellent choice. I've got the Tamiya "Ardennes Front" King Tiger also and am doing it OOB for the "AGE 2". I'm doing Tamiya's Panther G in the 3-colour scheme for my "Ardennes" project. Thanks for providing an outstanding example of that scheme for us to work from. If you're interested, there was a very good discussion about the paint/camo schemes of schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 & 506 (ref in "Armor" is "Koenigstiger Camo" & "Peiper's King Tiger"). Some great and very helpful info provided by "thebear", "Kelley", and "Biggles2". I'd go with their info as they have the best knowledge and references. Great builds and can't wait to see more.

Blade48mrd

Ooops....

TheBear pointed out to me that KTs wheels are steel. There is no rubber rim.

I should have known before. Sorry for the wrong "thing." I should have shut up.

Angela

No way ! All input and comments are welcome. That's how we all learn from each other. Thanks for all the feedback, it is much appreciated. Blade48, thanks for the info on the discussion, I will need to check that out. I hope I can get this project together as I envision it. I sure am glad we got an extension.

A funny thing about those road wheels by the way. I was so excited to be ready to put the track on, I forgot to go over the roadwheel tread with a pencil to simulate the wear. ( I guess there is some weathering done after all) Luckily, I noticed it before I glued the track down to the road wheels. Off went the track, but only for a little while.