Dragon PzIII Ausf J initial with DAK mod.

Got to love a good looking III and especially one in DAK colors. Nice work on this one.

Great job in the tiger there.. obviously some other people following the same line of thinking as me on the paintschemes actually used by the DAK in the early/mid period! Definitely a change from the assumed dunkelgeld which seems to come along later.

Of course the excellent paints and weathering now available is a huge help (ak, mig and tamiya). I especially like the tamiya weathering pigment set for sand etc, I find it subtle and easy to work with.

I found the following picture especially interesting, as it shows tanks fresh off the ship and the two-tone camo is very evident, even if the colour reproduction in the photo is all over the place!

gallery.kitmaker.net/.../DAK_Color.jpg

Hi Shaun,

Thank you for the updated photo!

Much more depth in there!

I think I will have to re-think my approach to DAK color.

Jack has posted his excellent Heidi cs.finescale.com/.../155450.aspx thread here before and my impression is that you are pulling along the same lines.

So ones again, thank you for sharing!

Very Best Regards

Johan

Pz III initial Painting complete by Gadgetworks3D, on Flickr

rather better photo..

Don, the Diorama will be part of the first attacks on El Alamein, DAK infantry advancing behind/around this tank. The masterbox figures arrived today so will be onto this soon.

The universal carrier diorama in the dios forum is the twin for this one, representing the british 8th army defence.. so it will be in the same format as that but facing left, and they will sit together on a shelf as a pair.

Thanks very much TJ.. toning and subtle real-looking results are my big interest!

Everything except the wheels were painted in place (small paintbrush to add detail, I'm an old school figure painter so it is second nature to get the brush in there!)

the wheels were painted separately as a batch, on the airbrushing wheel on little dobs of bluetack then tyres painted in  by hand.

Johan the photo isnt as nice a light angle as the unweathered on above it.. both are outside in full sun, I shall have to try one at a better time of day as you are right it is slightly flattened out perhaps. That said the weathering being desert dust and the like is quite flat in texture.

Looking really good.  It's a nice kit isn't it?  I just built one for the Rommel vs Monty GB, but did the later L/60 version.  What are your plans for the dio?

Don

Looking good Shawn!

I guess it is my PC but the colors are a bit flat, could it be the flash?

Thank you for sharing!

Very Best Regards

Johan

WOW, that earth tone looks very nice, it is not gray, it is not brown, its a light dust color.

Shaun, absolutely awesome.  Your color tones are flipping excellent!   I noticed you assembled it with pioneer gear, extinguisher,  wood block, etc and painted.  Did you remove (after primer, base & desert tan) and paint them individually, off the model?  If not, how the heck did you paint 'em (especially on their underneath/sides)?  Also, how did you do the wheels?

Regards,  TJ

And here she is, basic dirt/weathering applied and ready to start building into the diorama!

Pz III initial in progress by Gadgetworks3D, on Flickr

Hope you all like..

Shaun

Base DAK camo done, chipping fluid used to get a (subtle, I dont like it overdone) wear on the paint)

Pz III initial in progress by Gadgetworks3D, on Flickr

link tracks built and added, and detail painting/decals done

Pz III initial in progress by Gadgetworks3D, on Flickr

A coat of AK red primer under all

Pz III initial in progress by Gadgetworks3D, on Flickr

And then the base-coat of Panzer grey, still being used at this time

Pz III initial in progress by Gadgetworks3D, on Flickr