Guys,
I posted this in Armor forum last night and I thought I'd post it here in case you want take a break and build something with tracks. Several people have expressed interest already.
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Several "Armor" Group Builds are expected to end on June 30th so I think it will be a good timing to start a new one after that. Dupes did an outstanding job leading Panzer IV and its variants back in 2009.
So I thought it would be great if we can do Panzer III and its variants GB. There are so plenty of choices for us...
- Panzer III Ausf. A, B, C, D - Pre-production models in 1937-1938.
- Panzer III Ausf. E, F - Production models 1939-1940.
- Panzer III Ausf. G - More armour on gun mantlet. Produced in 1940-1941.
- Panzer III Ausf. H - Bolt-on armor added to front and rear hull. Produced in 1940-1941.
- Panzer III Ausf. I - Variant mentioned in Allied intelligence reports but not an actual existing vehicle.
- Panzer III Ausf. J - The hull was lengthened. Front armor increased. Produced in 1941.
- Panzer III Ausf. J¹ - Equipped with the longer and more powerful gun. Produced in late 1941-1942.
- Panzer III Ausf. K - Panzerbefehlswagen command tank variant with a modified turret.
- Panzer III Ausf. L - Uparmored to 50 mm + 20 mm plates. Produced in 1942.
- Panzer III Ausf. M - Minor modifications such as deep-wading exhaust and schurzen. 1942-1943.
- Panzer III Ausf. N - Armed with a short barreled gun, re-equipped J/L/M models in 1942-1943.
And its variants...
- Artillerie-Panzerbeobachtungswagen III - Forward artillery observer tank.
- Bergepanzer III - In 1944 some Panzer IIIs were converted to armoured recovery vehicles.
- Flammpanzer III Ausf. M / Panzer III (F1) - Flamethrower tank. Converted from Panzer III Ausf. M.
- Minenräumer III - Mineclearing vehicle based on a Panzer III chassis with a very highly raised suspension. (Prototype only)
- Panzerbefehlswagen III - Command tank. Heavier armor, dummy gun, and long-range radios.
- Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz 33B - A close-support, Assault gun. Only 24 built.
- Sturmgeschütz (StuG) III - Assault gun / tank destroyer armed with a 75-millimetre StuK.
- The Soviet SU-76i self-propelled gun was based on the chassis of captured German Panzer III and StuG III.
- Tauchpanzer III - Some tanks were converted to "diving tanks" for Operation Sealion.
Since we are talking about 15 models and 9 variant (many more under StuG), the GB will go on for a full year from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. It would be GREAT if we can have each model built just like we saw in Marder Madness mini-GB earlier. So that way we can see all models and its variants at once at the end.
So I am sending out GB feeler to see if it is getting enough interest so I can get it started at GB forum. I know few buddies are already interested and it will be FUN because there are four less wheels to worry about this time! Just let me know... thanks!