Thats funny, Stik thats a cool build. Really nice camo work.

Dan that Stug III is a fun build, looking good.  

Would 4 decals be about right, that was what was on my Panther. If its got turret numbers and unit insignia, I assume 6.

Thanks Jibber. Painting is certainly the longest process on this kit. Everything else is quite simple.

Bish, yes there are six decals on this: three crosses on the hull, and three turret numbers. Seven if you count the separate digit for the rear hatch... Yup a real trying batch these were...

She could use some racing stripe decals, or maybe flames down her sides....

Stik: The camo on your Panther looks awesome! Those German tanks sure have way too many markings on them...

Dan: Great work on that StuG! I always had a thing for the StuGs (especially the F-series) and those Dragon kits build up into really nice models!

So how is that panther coming on SP, you still struggling with all those decals.

Nah.... it's been the weather here lately. Was trying to nickle and dime the detail painting, but it's been over 90 degrees in my work area for most of the past couple weeks in my work area... not very pleasant so all hobby work is on hold. The heat broke a couple of days ago though so perhaps this evening or tomorrow I will get some good progress photos...

You having a late summer heat wave as well. Not quite that hot here, thankfully, but still on the warm side.

Yes, it is still warm here. Was only in the upper 80s here yesterday. The day after tomorrow more seasonable weather is supposed to come back here...

Well here is my progress since my last photo updates:

Future coat on

decals on

detail items painted and last fiddly bits installed

all ready now for washes, flat coat, and weathering...

Looking good, I always like it when I have added the markings to a kit, it gives it identity.

It does that indeed

Very sharp SP, just a little matte and some weathering and you're done!

Looking very nice there, Stik!

Seems I have let this one slip a bit so better give it a slight nudge. How we getting on guys.

I'm in a holding pattern until one of the LHSs gets some Raw Umber in stock...

No worries Stik.I know a lot of people on the roster, me included, will be getting to their builds much later on, i'll just have to remember to keep bumping it up.

sorry for my absence but been trying to get a couple other GB out of the way before starting this one. So now I can open my box and get started on my Stug.

There is some really nice work being done here and the completed builds look great.

No worries shiv, I know everyone has loads on and there's a few GB's I have not been active in as been that busy. Look forward to seeing your StuG. Will be interesting to see how you approach this after doing the 72nd one.

I know what you mean guys, I was hoping to have the Sherman Jumbo finished and off the bench by now and well into the Ersatz Panther/M10 for this build - gawd I'm draggy here lately...

After a busy week end I got some work done on the Stug. At the scale model contest in Ajax I picked up a metal barrel from the barrel store.

finished most of the lower hull

and started in on the upper hull

the kit was designed for an electric motor so I cut some styrene and filled the holes in and finished with some putty to smooth it out

hopefully I will complete the upper hull today and be ready to join the 2 halves together.

Nice progress Shiv.

finished the upper hull and ready to join to join the two halves.

there was a big open space that I filled with some styrene and putty

Nice work there shiv, she is looking good.

Yeah Shiv nice work! Those older kits do build up great once you take care of little issues like the battery/motor holes and the open sponsons.

Excellent work everyone, started work again on my StuG III.  Some of the assembly can be easy, the photo-etch can be challenging to glue on.  Paper thin parts that get glued vertical, were not easy.  And seeing some other StuG's on here from different manufacturers, Dragons is different were there are six sections that get assembled separate, then come together at the end.

Four of the six sections are shown here.  I used Tamiya's extra thin cement on the sides.

Dan, good to see you back under way, nice progress.

All that work seems to be worth it, nice work!

Thanks Bish & Gamera.

There is roughly 470 parts to this kit, not sure how I'm going to simulate slag in the DS tracks.  And this will be my first time working with the tow cable wire, is there a method of softening the wire up to make is flexible?  Do you use CA glue to glue the cable to the plastic end piece?

There is some interier with this StuG III, the main gun has a nice soild mount to attach to.

26 parts.

I only plan to have the Commanders hatch open.

Very nice work on the StuGs guys! I am quite impressed by the level of molded in detail on the Dragon kit! Wow!

Well just for giggles, here are a couple of photos of where my Panther is currently in the holding pattern. I used oils for my wash this time and am pretty happy with my first attempt of using those on an armor build. Very forgiving stuff. Afterwords I added a coat of Humbrol Clear Satin but I have not year had a chance to run by any LHS to see if they have restocked on Raw Umber. Life is a bit too busy for me currently...

anyway here are the photos...

Nice work there Dan. Afraid I don't have any tips for the tracks, I have only used DS twice and that's both on Panthers, so no top rollers to worry about. I believe in the past some have mentioned thread to pull it down. As for the wire, yes, use CA glue. Not sure about heating them up, I glued mine in place and was able to get them in the position I wanted.

Looking good Stik. And no worries, we have Shiv and Dan holding the fort at the moment. I am now 3 kits away from starting mine.