Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) GB...now closed

Looks great Buffle.... , beautifull work!!!

bufflehead,

Excellent finish on the 38(t)!

It should place well at any contest (I do hope you enter it at one) The weathering is perfect for a unit that traveled a ways during the campaign in France as the weather was dry & hot.

Many who are not familiar with the evolution of this chassis do not take the time for a second look when Tiger's & Panthers prowl the table. Many believe the war would have had a very different outcome if proven designs were produced instead of dead end evolutionary failures and impractical monsters whose size made them relatively immovable. 

BTW, thanks SuppressionFire for your posts of the little CHWAT!!  I used your plastic goggle lens method for the vision ports on the cupola!!  Cheap, easy and looks great (IMHO)!!

Glad you liked the idea! Nothing simulates Panzer glass like... Panzer glass! The beauty is the goggles come in different tints so even modern armor can get 'goggles' Its a bit of fuss yet the results speak for themselves, I find the lenses are a good density of plastic to work with.

Beautiful Pz 38 Ernest.

Happy New Year all and sorry for being so late with this post!  Even though the GB is officially closed I figured I might as well post this.

My workload in late December doubled due to end of year quotas forcing me to work double shifts!  Anyway I was simply too tired to work on the last 5% on this model until this past week.  So I didn't make the deadline , but at least I was able to finish it this year. 

This is the 1/35 Italeri Pz.38(t) that I augmented with old Dragon indy links, JR barrel, parts stolen from the extras on the Dragon Pz.38(t)Ausf.G kit and some scratchbuilding.  Painted with LifeColor and Vallejo acrylics, oil washes, MIG pigments and some pastels.  The dusty weathering is diminished a good deal in the photos, maybe due to the bright lights , but you can make out most of it.

BTW, thanks SuppressionFire for your posts of the little CHWAT!!  I used your plastic goggle lens method for the vision ports on the cupola!!  Cheap, easy and looks great (IMHO)!!

I had a good time with the GB, THANKS castelnuovo!  Again, sorry I'm late!!  Everyone have a GREAT 2011!

Gentlemen,

This GB is now officialy closed. Acctually, it closes in 4 hours as it is now 8pm PST ..awww, never mind

To all who participated thank you for joining, see you in the next GB.

Cheers....

Very nice job Bufflehead. I also like the gentle weathering...thanks for explaining how you did it. I'll have to try it someday, hopefuly soon.

Cheers....

bufflehead,

Great looking Panzer Gray!

So many model tanks are over weathered, early on in the French campaigns there were many tanks such as the 38(t) that were freshly painted  Panzer Gray over the Czechoslovakian tri-colored camouflage. Take into consideration they traveled mostly on roads in dry conditions that summer there would not be much for weathering accept dust.

Yet the crew moving about would create some paint chips. The original Czech. paint peeking through a bit would be a cool effect.

castelnuovo - Whew!  Thanks for the flexibility on the deadline.  I'll definitely have this one done by the 15th, but I'd like to get that Hetzer done too.  At the least I'll have the Hetzer done by the end of the year!

SuppressionFire - yeah, once I get going I tend to NOT think about WIP photos!  Even with this post I had to force myself to stop and take some pics before continuing!  You're exactly right about the shading.  Its nothing special, just a base coat followed by some thinned black paint in all the recesses, corners and panel lines.  I also hit most of the rivets to give them some 'pop' later on.  Then some lightened base coat sprayed in the center of the panels.  To blend everything together I just sprayed mist coats of the Thinned base color back on.

detailfreak - LOL!  I hear ya dude!  Its tough to focus when all those chores and other "distractions" are around!

So I finally had a free weekend and spent most of it working on the model.  Markings came from the Tristar Ausf. E/F kit.  OK, technically this buid isn't and E/F, its closer to a D, but I figured it was close enough!  After the base paint I sprayed some Future over the entire model making sure the areas for the markings were nice and glossy.  Applied the dcals with Micro-Set and then followed with Solvaset to make sure they snuggled down nicely, especially on the turret rear with all those rivets.  I followed that with another coat of Future over the decals to protect them from the washes to come.

After a couple of days I applied a thin wash of black oil paint over the entire model, then followed by a pin wash of thicker black oil paint.  I actually had to do this a couple of times in certain areas to get the effect I was looking for.  Because oils dry slowly this was a time consuming process and took most of the weekend to do.  Before the wash was totally dry I dragged a brush damp with thinner down the vertical surfaces to create the streaking effect that's visible in the photos, especially on the turret sides.

In between washes I painted and rusted up the spare track links and also the MGs.  Oh yeah, the tracks are painted, weathered and practically done....final weathering will wait until they are attached near the end.

The next step is to paint the tools, jack block, tow cable exhaust and the rear lights.

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Once everything else is painted then I'll apply more weathering.  I'm not sure how far I'll go with the weathering on this one.  I usually like the first of any type of AFV on my display shelf to be relatively "clean", but I'm sure I'll at least give it a light dust coat.  If I have time I may do some light paint chipping....we'll see!

Bad case of builders block here on my end.Have not touched a thing in a month or so it seems.Job and the home repair remodel is about it,oh and deer hunting,I aleady got one in the freezer with two weeks to go.But I will try to put some finishing touches on the Hetzer.

bufflehead,

Excellent base coat of Panzer gray, I would dare to guess you post shaded the panel lines & recesses? I know taking WIP"s is the last item on the list when in the zone & laying down paint after a build.

Do describe your painting techniques as this process is really working well.

Tanks Jason

Looks good Bufflehead. Don't worry about the deadline, it is flexibile...

Cheers...

More progress!  First I painted the inside of the commander’s cupola an off-white color.  Then the panzer gray base coat was applied using LifeColor acrylics, UA 022 Dark  Grey.  Then I post-shaded the panel lines and seams with black and applied some panel highlights using lightened dark grey, and then blended all of that with very thin coats of the base color.  Finally I sprayed on an overall filter using SIN Industries “Blue for Panzer Grey”

Markings are up next.  The Italeri kit decals aren’t up to par….I tested one of them and sure enough they silvered.  I’m going to steal some markings from the Tristar kit….it has markings for 6 different vehicles and one of them appeals to me!

HooWee, she’s getting there guys!  I’ll get this done by the deadline!

Assembly done!  Most of the tools came from the Dragon “OVM Tool Set for Czech-based Light Panzer” kit.  Some other parts came from the spares bin, stole a couple parts from the Dragon Ausf. G kit and cast a couple of resin parts.

Most Pz.38(t)s that I’ve seen don’t have a fire extinguisher mounted outside but I decided to add one, and just to be different I used the Czech version, not the usual German type.  Don’t know if it’s accurate but I like it.

Tow cables added.  I used the ends from the kit cables and some generic copper tow cables.  Its not in this photo, but I also added a PE chain to the tow hitch (since I cut off the molded on chain), but to be safe I added the chain just before the primer coat when on…you know how delicate those things are!

There was no jack block included in the Dragon or Italeri kit so I took one from a Dragon Hetzer kit, modified it and made a master to make resin copies.  I also decided to make a copy of the antenna mount from the Tristar Ausf.E/F kit. 

And here she is all primered.  Tonight she will get her basic Panzer Grey paint job!

I also started this kit, Dragon’s Early Hetzer.  I’ll try to get this one also done by the deadline, it looks pretty easy.   It will be mostly OOB, just adding an Armorscale barrel and mantlet.  Any other improvements will come from my spares bin and whatever PE I already have in the stash.

BTW, SupressionFire, excellent work on your wee little 38(t)!!  That's about the tiniest panzer I've ever seen!!  Did you have to use a microscope for that little guy?

Hold it!

I finished a 38(t) over the weekend!

Its a DML 1/144 scale 38(t) Completed in under 48 hours (weekend madness GB)

Here are the new 'studio style' photographs:

SuppressionFire, that looks great, the "Star of David" base makes it very dramatic.

Cheers...

Thanks for the comments on the disk camo guys. I used clear plastic film with circles cut out for a pattern. I used my airbrush and tamiya paints. I think this was the longest it's ever taken me to paint a model, it took an hour to just paint one of the side armor panels in green alone!

Erik

bufflehead,

Good detail and fix on the return roller hubs! I have the same issue on my 1/72 Hetzer and was going to use a punch & dye set to cut from lead foil and panit once cut.

Well progress is ramping up! I signed up for weekend madness (1/144 scale DML 38(t) Cross over crazy

Anyhow here are some recent pictures of Chwat:

Scratch built loader's & 75mm gun periscopes:

Black granite tile cut into 'Star of David' shape for a 'Tribute to the fighters of the Warsaw Uprising' theme:

Figure peeking through the cut-out. Enlarged to see more inside:

More periscope work. Tops made out of dollar store swim goggle lens, light blue. Aluminum foil added as backing to the larger ones, smaller has acrylic chrome aluminum as backing. Idea is to reflect out light so the work will be more noticeable:

I have all day to tinker on Chwat (Remembrance day in Canada) Will take a break this weekend to get the 38(t) done in 48 hours!

Bufflehead, those tracks look good, the patience payed off, eh? And all those details you did...

Geist, care to tell how was the dot cammo done? Some kind of round brush?

Cheers....

SuppresionFire:  Your little Chwat is looking better and better!  Nice work on the tiny MG and figure!!

Geist:  Your disk camo on that Grille looks great! 

*UPDATE*

Finally, finally, finally got those DARN indy links done!!  I will never use that cheapie DML indy link kit again!  Had I known better I would have stolen the Magic Tracks from the DML Ausf. G kit and replaced those with Friuls or MKs!!  At least the looooong, tedious work paid off...I think they look pretty OK.  Whatcha think?

Take at look at the return rollers!!

More detail work:

1. Wire and styrene handle on the commander's hatch.  BTW, the kit has the hinges on the side so that the hatch opens directly to the commander's right.  WRONG!! Should be hinged a to open diagonally to the right rear! 

2. Replaced that indistinct blob with the extra periscope from the DML kit.

3. Added bolt detail to the lower turret front.

4. This is a biggie!!  The hull crew hatch is completely missing on the kit!! GEEZ!  I had to scribe in a new hatch and add hinges and a splash guard.

5. Fixed the nasty hull joint that Italeri built in.

6.  Jordi Rubio AL barrel.  Also, turns out there was only 1 extra MG holder in the DML kit so I used one of the the Voyager holders for the turret. 

Working on the tools and other small details and then she'll be ready for primer & paint!

Geist,

I really like the 'dot' camouflage. Very well done.

The lighting where the picture is taken seems yellowish... perhaps you can take a few in natural outdoor light? The florescent sodium bulbs are not helping with the colors.

Jason

Geist, that looks great!! . Love the cammo.

Cheers...

bufflehead

 

Geist:  Nice work on the Grille!  That's one interesting version of the 38(t).  Was that used mostly on the Eastern Front?

 

It was used on both fronts. The one I'm building was used by the Liedstandarte on the western front.

The tracks are painted. All that needs to be done is mounting them and weathering them and the rest of the vehicle. Will post pics then,

It's all done! Finally! It was completed OOB and finished in Tamiya paints and weather with some home mixed washes and MIG pigs.

castelnuovo,

Any pen with barb wire will collect the hair. I also have a collection of deer hair for modeling. A black marker will color the hair without adding to the diameter, wash in conditioning shampoo & hand for a week with a weight on the end to make it stand straight for antennas.

Bufflehead,

Thanks for your kind words, the side of the hull is a 'cut out' in the shape of a cartoon thought bubble.

Here are some more recent WIP's:

The MG 34 evolution of the barrel cooling jacket. I sacrificed a small PE grille from a 1/32 scale P-51 for the final design, annealed and formed around a #78 drill bit.

Tried a base coat of silver, turned out too silver and I removed the paint in thinner, plastic softened so details had to be scratch built.

There, all ready for paint...again! This time a base coat of flat black.

The figure is painted and ready to man the radio set in the tiny tank. Wires are horse hair of course!

I made a base out of a 12' x 12" black Gannet tile, it was cut into a 'Star of David' shape using a advanced tile cutter the boys had set up at work. The idea is to be a tribute to the fighters of the Warsaw Uprising. More on that later.

SF that is a very nice build. Where did you get the horse hair? Did you go to the barn for it? Any special kind of a horse?

Bufflehead, the GB runs until Dec 15th...give or take. I am easy going with deadlines, it is just a hobby after all . I fyou would like to build another 38(t) go for it, the finishing date can be extended by a week or two...no sweat.

Hey guys!  I'm just checking on the happenings with the 38(t) GB and posting an update!  Work on my Italeri 38(t) has come practically to a stop as I deal with these $#%ing indy link tracks!  Each link requires a lot of cleanup so that they not only look decent (I hate pin marks!), but also fit together, and so far its taking about 5 minutes per link and there are 192 links (96 per side)!  So if I did the math correctly that's approximately 16 hours of link clean up!  WHEW!!  Fortunately I have one set done and it looks pretty good installed....much better than the stiff rubber/vinyl kit tracks!  So right now I'm slogging through the other track run and have 25 llinks complete.  Maybe, MAYBE I can get it done this weekend and then its just a matter of installing the tools and other small bits before hitting the paint booth! 

SuppresionFire:  Man, that litle Chwat is looking great!  I can't believe how much detail you've crammed into that tiny interior!!  Luv those little crewmen!!  Good thing you're opening it up so everyone can see what a great job you did! 

Geist:  Nice work on the Grille!  That's one interesting version of the 38(t).  Was that used mostly on the Eastern Front?

detailfreak:  Not one, but TWO Hetzers!!  Nice camo work on both, can't wait to seem them complete!

MTMARINE04:  Is that the Dragon Hetzer you're building?  Coming along very well, I'm eager to see some paint on it!

castelnuovo:  When is the official end date of this GB?  If its 12/31 I might try to squeeze another 38(t) in!!

Heh gents!

Better late than never right? Anyhow here are some recent WIP's:

The figure sitting listening in is ready for paint! I chose the 'peeking out' pose as he will be by the cut out.

Some updates on the lower hull, tracks 80% painted, road wheels looking better as well.

Radio sets added, horse hair wires blackened with a felt marker.

MG 34 ready for paint. Cooling jacket 'borrowed' PE from a 1/32 scale P-51 Annealed and formed around a # 76 drill bit.

Hey all! I finally had some time the other day to sit down and give my Hetzer its base coat. I had to do some seam filling. So I'm going to fix that then do some pre-shading and use tri-color camo pattern. Kinda like the box.

Semper Fi!

...Time passes...

Here is the 1/144 scale DML 38(t) The kits main gun & MG's need replacing, NP as I have hypodermic needles which will work. The main components are dry fitted, no instructions for the PE but I should be able to figure the placement. Plan a scratch built antenna out of horse hair. 

The funny thing is the amount of decals included! There is enough marking for a Division of 38(t)'s! Thinking some of the white crosses could be painted red for 1/35 scale medical kits. Regardless good for the spares bin.

detailfreak,

The new camera is working well! Like you I will build another Hetzer (planning on a 1/35 scale Chwat) as they really are the best example of German necessity & engineering capitalizing on a proven captured design.

I was out west and returned with the DML 1/144 scale 38(t)! Will add this lill' beast to my list after Chwat is finished.