Yes, that is the same vehicle. According to some sites online, that Panther belongs to the Fuhrer Grenadier Brigade, an offshoot of the Grossdeutschland Division.

I hadn't seen mention of it being that unit before. I know not to completely trust kit instructions, but that's the problem with these vehicle with no unit insignia. I was going to do 301 when I got to the kit, but I might just change it for something I can be more certain of.

One review on the kit, on missing lynx, suggests possibly 2nd Pz Div.

Yes, the Heer marking on panzers in the Ardennes are quite similar and confusing at the same time. I've been hitting up different sites over the past few days and lets just say that they are conflicting and varied. The instruction sheet on the kit says "unit unknown" LOL! At least it is a Panther in the Ardennes with the features I wanted... I could still opt to do a 116. PD Panther after I get the camo on. Those ones are not in dispute for photos due to their location. But then I have the wrong exhausts on my build if I want to get picky...

Bish

I noticed that you haven't added me to this group build. I'm building the Tamiya 1/35 Panther. If you could add me that would be great.

Thanks Jamie

A lot of German vehicles, especially late in the war, didn't seem to carry any markings. When it comes to kits, ''Unit unknown'' seems to have been the best equipped unit in the German army, I bet they wish they had had more of them. I get a bit frustrated at times as I like to build my German armour from different units. I would like to build at least one kit from every one of the 38 Panzer Div's the Germans had. At least with the Panther, you can be certain you can find at least one vehicle that can be identified with certainty. With some vehicles its a real pain in the butt.

Yes the late war markings were minimal and/or enigmatic. Divisional markings were seldom seen, and when you start getting into oddball vehicle types... Well, I am sure that you know better than I how hard it is to pin down unit ID. Throw in the fact that many late war formations existed pretty much on paper only... I guess I am opposite in that I like to stick with particular units whenever possible.

Looking very good there, Stik! Some nice pics of the Zimmerit too!

Well heres my second attempt at applying Zimmerit. I found some modeling putty at a local craft store. I cut down the top of one of my Tamiya paint caps for the ridges for the Zimm. I think it came out very good overall.

Jamie: Haven't tried clay like that but what you've got rolled out there looks pretty darn good.

Thanks Gamma

I figured the clay was cheap enough, I thought I would give it a try. It had a great work time and if it started to get sticky I just added some water to my finger and it kept moist.

Look terrific….

Schatten, thank you for the kind words on my work so far. 

JS, that improvised Zimmerit tool looks like it will do very nicely! At least on the open areas. For tight in corner work there will be some challenges for that roller I bet.

Here is my latest update:

Yesterday I airbrushed on a coat of Tamiya Hull Red for the Red Oxide primer color. Which as you can see is really a dark & deep reddish brown color and from what I have read online somewhere is supposed to be a good match for the orginal color

 Then today I began the camo pattern colors. I used Humbrol 83 Ocre for Dark Yellow, which as you can see is not as vivid as most model paint companies' shade of that color...

Tomorrow, if all goes well, I will airbrush on a pattern of Tamiya Olive Green for the green areas of the camo scheme. Stay tuned until then...

That homemade Zimmerit looks terrific! I never had to add Zimmerit to my models myself, but I'll try that technique once I want to build something without molded-on Zimmerit.

Stik: That red oxide sure has a nice look to it! The camo looks good too!

Good Morning

Well I have officially started my second GB this morning. I'm looking forward to building an Armor piece. Here are some pictures to get you all to enjoy. If anyone has any tips please share. I'm sure I will need them.  

SP: Look good, like that red oxide primer.

Jsmyth: Nice job there on the back plate.

Yes, that color looks pretty good. I will be using it again on more late war German armor builds.

Yesterday I got the pattern of Tamiya Olive Green airbrushed onbefore work. Today I took a couple of photos to show it. I need to do some touch up work on the Red Oxide and Dark Yellow, but it is almost ready for a gloss coat, decals and weathering.

Looking much better now...

Nice start Jamie.

Looking good SP, the pattern is coming along very nicely.

Yes, she looks very sharp there SP.

I need some help. I am looking at the rear plate on my Panther and I don't have any idea what the two boxes are on the back. They look like fuel tanks to me. Should they have Zimmerit applied to them?

The two big boxes in the corners I believe are tool boxes. I've seen photos of them with zimmerit applied over them.

Those are stowage boxes on the Panther's rear plate. Zimmerit is optional on them. Some have it, some do not.. Check photos of the unit/tank that you are representing. The fuel tanks on the Panther are inside the engine compartment on the sponsons underneath the side armor.

Yes, they are stowage box's. And they do usually have Zimm on them.

Looks good SP, can't wait to see all the details painted

Excellent work everyone.

Just got started on my StuG III.

Dan that is a beautiful kit! Some serious detail in there with the torsion bars beneath the floorboards 

Well today I went back and tightened up the camo pattern

Next up, a coat of Future for the decals...

Nice start Dan, and that's coming along nicely Stik, be nice to see the markings on.

I am looking forward to that as well my friend. I airbrushed on a coat of Future a little while ago... looks all pretty and shiny now... Off to work here in a few. Tomorrow I ought to be able to get all those numerous decals applied (yes I am being quite facetious)

Sometimes I wonder why I even bother painting German armour with all the markings that go over it.

Yeap, so many decals I almost want to build an aircraft instead!

Camo looks super SP.

I swear there are more decals on this Panther than on most Cold War USAF fighter bombers... NOT! LOL! I think it took me all of 10 minutes to get them on. And that includes fetching the water and cutting the ones I needed off of the sheet... ok, maybe 15 minutes...