Tamiya StuG III Ausf B 1/35 (an on hold WIP-temporarily)

Glad to hear it Ben.

Hey chaps,

Good news - my wages for the month went in today instead of on the Monday quoted pay date so I called the LHS and they confirmed that they had indeed got my replacement StuG III B

So, I've got my new StuG to go with the Friuls which I'd already purchased a while back. I've got the fully painted tools and PE parts from my destroyed original build so I won't have a long build on my hands seeing as most of the tricky stuff is already done!

Obviously I'm going to complete my Marder III M for Tigerman's Panzerjager GB then I'll start my new StuG!

I've got all the mixed paint left from my original attempt which I'm glad about as I really liked that tone of grey/blue which I mixed. I'll have another go at pre-shading too which might actually be even better this time round. Seeing as I didn't touch the interior detail on my Marder with paint I'm going to go for a hatches open and fully painted, tricked out interior and I'm going for a figure too - I need to start figure work and I've got this new one and the original one too so if I mess up I'll have a spare.

I'm going to need another few weekends yet (at least) until my Marder is complete. It's going great but I've been out today so haven't managed to squeeze any build time in. Luckily I have tomorrow to myself and Monday booked off work (a lazy Monday holiday) and by the end of Monday I'll at least  hope to have the PaK 40 fully assembled along with the start of the fighting compartment interior.

I'll be starting a new separate WIP blog from this one for my new StuG so watch this space!

Marder update on the Panzerjager GB page tomorrow!

ATVB

Ben

Sorry to hear about your armor hating dog. I just got a beagle puppy this weekend and never thought about "dog proofing" my workbench, but am doing it tonight.

Maybe you could start a group build for pet damaged models.

Ooooh...bummer. I've had my cats "help out" with some builds before, but never totally destroy one. Ouch.

Let me know if you still want a pic! Guessing I can wait until you're back onto the StuG.

No problem - I'm still in mourning at the minute but I've ordered another as I loved building it and have the Friuls now so it's a definate second attempt!

The dog's not that small anymore and can chew for England. I'll get her to pose for a photo.  I'm pretty sure she actually managed to open the kitchen door to get my StuG - with her paws?

I had a look at the Marder last night. Blimey, talk about over-engineering! I'm off work today so will make a start on the engine assembly later but I'm having some dental work done at 3pm so I might struggle depending on how my head feels, I'll have to see how I am.

It's the PE tool clips that frazzled my brain - they look great made up but can I make them up! LOL!

It certainly makes that StuG look like a childs build! I think the first thing to do is chop away all the 'parts not used' and stash them. There is a great piece FULL of helmets, pistols, gasmask holders and the like.

Update later!

ATVB

Ben

Ben, I'd love if you can post picture of your dog.  I have a small dog so it is safe to say that there is no way he can get on my work bench.  I like your attitude and you will find this very funny later on...  

wow, so your dog actually ate your homework... true story 

sorry about that 

That may well be the first WIP that gotten by a dog that I've heard of here. I have heard of cats knocking over finished builds. Any sad to hear of your loss, but happy to know that you will be joining our GB.

See yah Tuesday.

Oh man, I am very sorry to hear about your StuG.  It was great... but at least we know it will be even better next time.  I bet the puppy is one of the Allies... maybe you can conduct a test.  Place an Allied and Axis armor and see which one he chews first. 

Marder III?  It will be blast... beware for millions of parts.  Be sure to visit Marder Madness where you will find great deal of information.  Good luck buddy!

Hey Wingy,

Thanks buddy. I know it sucks but what's done is done and I can't change it now! I've still got all my nicely painted tools and the Friuls. It's a very cheap kit so I've ordered another and I'll just make an even better one! I'll call this one was a 'practise' build! LOL!

In the meantime I've got my excellent but extremely complicated Dragon Marder to build - I've entered that into the Panzerjager GB that Tigerman is running.

I've got the day off work tomorrow so I'll get that up and running tomorrow. Have a quick look at my new WIP post. I'd love to hear what people have to say about building the entire kit before painting it? It wil require some serious skill and a very steady hand!

ATVB

Ben  

What a roller coaster ride that was.   Getting all heeped up caught up on your build seeing the great progress pics then the sad news of it demise.  Sorry to here that Ben.

BaBill212

Hi Ben,,,    I saw your post and began reading (and enjoying) this morning     ,,, ouch, sorry to hear about the new chew toy for your pup (I have labs,   I understand,, )

Hope you are able to somewhat salvage and good luck with the replacement...   Oh, while you are out you might want to pick up a nyla-bone or some other suitable dog chew toy for your pup.....  ya don't want him/her getting into the habit of using your kits for toys!!   Yikes!

Best of luck

Cheers Bill,

Ben

Hi Ben,,,    I saw your post and began reading (and enjoying) this morning     ,,, ouch, sorry to hear about the new chew toy for your pup (I have labs,   I understand,, )

Hope you are able to somewhat salvage and good luck with the replacement...   Oh, while you are out you might want to pick up a nyla-bone or some other suitable dog chew toy for your pup.....  ya don't want him/her getting into the habit of using your kits for toys!!   Yikes!

Best of luck

Erm,

Righto - a slight problem.

I've got up this morning to find that our fairly new Labrador pup who is teething had soehow managed to get into the Living Room last night and had proceeded to munch, crunch and totally destroy my StuG

To say I'm gutted is a big understatement as I put a lot of work into her yesterday. I'll have to get another as I've got all the tools and Friuls ready to go (they are fine).

So, this blog is 'on hold' until I get a replacement kit - being skint doesn't help!

Cheers,

Ben

Ben, excellent work going on there. Love the preshading.

Terry.

Great pre-shading work!  You are on a roll...

Cheers Dupes!

I'm not...I could probably take a couple of pics for you, though. Spraying a dull coat shortly to seal in the decals, I'll see what I can get you after that!

Hey Dupes,

Are you blogging it anywhere?

If not can you post some 'near completion'photos please as it helps for me to look at more experienced modellers builds

ATVB

Ben

I saw those earlier pics near completion (not yours!) and thought you were almost done...wondered how you had stripped everything off for pre-shading. Heh.

I'm working on the same kit right now myself - just finished decaling -  very interested to see how yours comes out!

Hi chaps,

Thanks for the previous replies and thanks again Wildman for highlighting the spare road wheel location points and spare tack bar.

She's coming along really well now:

Today I put the basecoat on and re-painted the tools as I wasn't 100% happy with them. I've painted all the handles in Tamiya 'Wooden Deck Tan' and will coat them with Tamiya 'Clear Orange' tomorrow after I've added some grain to them. I've also used a nice Games Workshop 'Flesh' colour for the leather cover on the barrel cleaner.

As for the basecoat I messed about with some Flat white (a few drops) with roughly 6-7 parts German Grey (XF-18) to 3-4 parts Medium Blue (XF-18). I like this colour as although it's probably a little bright at present it settles into a nice dark tone after weathering and washes etc. The periscope face has been frilled out as it was flat before - I've picked up some Vallejo Panzer Aces 'Periscope' (Blue) which I'll paint the lens up with later when I'm Adding the finishing touches.

I've noticed a nasty deep EP mark on the underside of the open hatch where the single Periscope is poking out but I'll be painting that a different colour (any suggestions as to the colour of the hatch interior?) and will fill that hole in then. I hadn't noticed it before!

Tomorrow I'm working from home in the morning but I'll have time in the afternoon to add gloss where the decals are going and get the decals on with Micro Sol followed by the addition of the tools. I'm going to try Karls recommendation of avoiding an all over gloss coat and use Gloss just for the decals. I'll seal them in with Matt varnish once finished and see how I get on as I'm going for a weather beaten and battered looking StuG so messy washes will be fine and I'm hoping a matt surface for weathering will help with this look.

Here's today's work! I hope you like her!

Thanks for looking guys,

I'll post an update tomorrow.

ATVB

Ben

Blimey - I'm a virtual newbie! I only took up Armour modelling in early 2009 inspired by my long standing interests in the WWI.WWII & Vietnam conflicts!

I made all the same mistakes (and occasionally still do) with excess glue, fingerprints, poor clean up etc.

It's when you have a finished model that you think is GREAT and you post the results and the feedback is "yeah not bad but I'd have done this & that's a bit messy etc etc"!

You tend to be more careful on the next build. I just wish I had more time to expend on my work plus I'd give anything to have my own 'bench. I have three drawers full of paints, pigments, oils, brass, everything! The kitchen table becomes my bench at the weekend and it's a real PITA getting the AB and paints out and putting them back again as it takes about 6 journeys up and down the stairs.

I was engaged, we split up so I came back 'home'! I can't afford to rent a place of my own and run my car on my salary so for the time being home is home! Luckily I'm an only child!

Glad the blog helps - I'd like to start doing a few more 'detailed' blogs showing how I like to do particular things (like wbill does).

ATVB

Ben

    I've been following your build and I have to say that I am learning a lot! I have been following a few builds as a mater of fact and  I'm  amazed at the skill that you and the others possess. I recently began modeling again ( I'm building the 2cm flak38) and wish I had the skill that you all have. You guys make your builds look so clean. I end up having to sand glue leaks etc..What I'm trying to say is thanks for your inspiration  and taking the time to show us how you do it!

Hey guys,

Thanks for the links WM! That's ideal!

I ordered some Friuls and they arrived today (I've got the right sort before anyone asks) so this has gone from a quickie StuG III B build into an involved build.

I've got some of the UK equivalent to Blacken It - it's called 'Track Black' and I'm itching to try it out. I'm going to replace the spare track runs at the front with Friul tracks so they should look nice. I'm going to have yet another go at some pre shading too - I'll get there eventually!

Andy - you have to get a StuG dude! What about the new Zimmed Dragon StuG IV? Nice!

Thanks again chaps,

ATVB

Ben

Ben, like Tim said Tamiya StuG III B was fun to build.  You have been doing great!  I was surprised to find some spare parts that weren't listed in the instructions but they would have been very useful if we knew what they were for like spare wheel holders and tracks bar. 

Now I am itchin' to build a StuG soon for that StuG GB...

These mount in the middle of the rear hatched. I put one point of the triangle up, you can not really see them after the extra wheels are mounted. Here is a link to a build by deafpanzer. He helped me a lot with my build. These is a photo on page 2 with these mounts:

/themes/fsm/forums/thread.aspx?ThreadID=129514&PostID=1311842&PermaPostID=1311842

The long pins are extra track connector pins. I have seen these stored with the extra wheel, just kind of loosly placed on the holes on these wheels. Another link with photos:

/forums/p/133366/1362704.aspx

The extra track mounting pins are small bolts with an angled and bent flat piece on it. You can kind of see them on the extra tracks I have next to the barrel.

I swapped this track after taking this photo and posting on this forum last summer.  I totally overlooked that.

I don't know why Tamiya would put these parts in the kit and not mention them at all in the instructions. That where the experience in this forum really helps.

Keep up the good work.

Tim

Hinksy

Cheers Wildman,

I did wonder what they were! Thanks for that.

ATVB

Ben

Hello chaps - advice required!

Righto, I've located the spare wheel bases with the pegs on on the sprues - do they locate into a particular place on the rear deck? When you refer to the mounting pins, do you mean the three thin plastic pins on each 'A' sprue?

Anyway, that's a fine looking StuG there sir - beautiful! I assume you know or someone has pointed out the RHS track run?

Thanks again Wildman - I was starting to scratch my head over this matter?

ATVB

Ben

Cheers Wildman,

I did wonder what they were! Thanks for that.

ATVB

Ben