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Completed my first tank build! Tamiya Panther Ausf. A

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13 replies
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  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, December 17, 2015 11:31 AM

Looks pretty darn cool to me! That same kit was my second 'real' tank. I'd second the Dragon kits, way better than this but the classic Tamiya you built is an excellent 'entry drug' to armour modeling! 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: St. Louis
Posted by Shawn M. on Thursday, December 17, 2015 9:15 AM

thanks everyone!

 

The kit is the old Tamiya Ausf A.

I love the smell of plastic in the morning

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: Denver, Colorado
Posted by waynec on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 4:07 PM

nice job. i hope my first airplane turns out half as good.

Никто не Забыт    (No one is Forgotten)
Ничто не Забыто  (Nothing is Forgotten)

 

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Schroon Lake, NY
Posted by SMJmodeler on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 3:53 PM

Shawn M.: I'd be proud to call that my first tank!  You were pretty bold to try all those upgrades...I commend the effort & execution!Yes  She's a real looker.

If you're serious about staying over here on the dark side you'll find there are TONS of things that can be done to keep taking the model to the next level...specifically weathering.  If you want to look for stuff for the Panther just do a "search forums" and you'll find all kinds of things from PE enhancements, to camo' schemes to using graphite pencils to depict worn metal-to-metal on the road wheels!  

BTW: What kit was this, Tamiya? 

  • Member since
    September 2014
Posted by rooster513 on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 3:21 PM

Looks really good to me! I've yet to venture into the armor arena but this makes we want to too. Really nice build!

-Andy

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: St. Louis
Posted by Shawn M. on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 1:02 PM

Thanks Toshi!

I love my Iwata, money well spent in my book.

I love the smell of plastic in the morning

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 12:43 PM

Very nice build, excellent paint job.  I think Iwata AB are one of the best companies out there.  They cater to all personal styles!

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: St. Louis
Posted by Shawn M. on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 12:05 PM

I own and use an Iwata CR Revolution, this is the 4th model I've painted with it.

 

I love the smell of plastic in the morning

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: The cornfields of Ohio
Posted by crockett on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 11:19 AM

Shawn M.

Thanks Crockett, figured I had to atleast use the rubber band tracks once before going to indi link stuff.

I also filled the sponsons and created ducting for the rads an fans, the antenna is a whisker my kitty shed.

Your panther is excellent!

 

I would save a little cash and get a double action airbrush and compressor. Mastering the airbrush is really necessary to elevate ones skill. A lot of builders invest heavily in PE and other (expensive) AM accesories, only to have thier models not acheive the result expected....due to lack of understanding in terms of acheiving realism @ 1/35 scale. The airbrush can alleviate the need for "washes" and other techniques that require extra $ and in most cases, errors are not reversible...not so with the airbrush.

Build experience with your wingy thingies definitely is a plus for you....good luck and welcome to the darkside. Looking forward to your future work..

 

regards

 

Steve

 

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: St. Louis
Posted by Shawn M. on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 10:06 AM

Thanks Bruce :)

I love the smell of plastic in the morning

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: From the Mit, but live in Mason, O high ho
Posted by hogfanfs on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 9:51 AM

Shawn,

I think it looks damn good for a first armor build! Great job!

 Bruce

 

 On the bench:  1/48 Eduard MiG-21MF

                        1/35 Takom Merkava Mk.I

 

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: St. Louis
Posted by Shawn M. on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 9:47 AM

Thanks Crockett, figured I had to atleast use the rubber band tracks once before going to indi link stuff.

I also filled the sponsons and created ducting for the rads an fans, the antenna is a whisker my kitty shed.

Your panther is excellent!

I love the smell of plastic in the morning

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: The cornfields of Ohio
Posted by crockett on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 9:34 AM

A good base effort. Obviously, the rubber band kit tracks detract from the other detailing that you worked so hard to acheive. The Panther is an interesting subject, and this old kit has a lot to be desired in terms of accuracy.

A good clean build, but, as an aircraft modeler, I know it's hard to apply weathering and wear that most armor projects require.

Keep at it. If you can mange to get hold of any DML Panther kit, your horizons will be expanded. You can still discard these tracks and fit up a set of AM tracks that would really improve the presentation.

Below is my Panther D that was published in an edition of finescale modeler magazine - just an idea of the almost limitless possibilities you can acheive as your learning curve progresses.....

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: St. Louis
Completed my first tank build! Tamiya Panther Ausf. A
Posted by Shawn M. on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 8:50 AM

Having never built a tank, but having 2 in the stash, when I won this kit at our IPMS show in the summer I figured it was a good way to step into the "darkside".

Im an airplane builder primarily but that will change after this.

I rebuilt the cleaning rod stowage tube from brass and styrene, replaced the grab handles with wire, rebuilt the exhaust/jack bracket with brass, added bronze necklace wire for the tow cable and model ship chain for the..well..chain. The bed roll on the side of the turret is from a Tamiya detail set. The spare tracks, jack, jack block and fire bottle are from an Italeri detail set.

I used the rubber band tracks from the kit, and while lacking inside detail they weren't terrible to deal with.

Paints are all Vallejo with MM washes and MIG streaking effects.

Finished Pic:

More pics if you'd like:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/shawnmanny/albums/72157662297721602

 

I have to thank you all, as I've learned SO much from reading your posts and following your builds. Between you all and the FSM magazine, Im proud of this tank.

I love the smell of plastic in the morning

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