The Ostfront (eastern front) GB 2010/11

Andy -  The metal shurzen looks fantastic!  I especially like how the all panels each sit slightly different, just like the real thing!  As for your dirty metal,  I would think any good cleaner, like windex or simple green would work on brass PE, or maybe some Brasso?

This is probably the last update until after I move in a couple of weeks. 

All remaining components are finally installed and some last minute details added on.  I temporarily attached the front driver's hatch with blue tac.

Several reference photos showed some type of rail on the front of the driver side fender so I scratched one from leftover PE.  I'm not sure what it is or does, but it looked interesting so I added it.  Maybe a handrail for climbing on the tractor?  Anyone know for sure?

I really glad I added the driver, it looks so much better with him there even if he is kinda ugly! 

and with a little primer......

I think I'll hold off painting the base coat until the F22 gun is also ready for paint.

Here's that Bronco kit again.  Its a very recent release so quality, accuracy and engineering should be WAY better than the clunky RPM tractor, at least that's what I'm hoping because I really want an easy build!!

Only 4 sprue trees in 3 bags:

Only 6 steps involved, but they are some of the most complex I've seen!  No easy steps here.....

Lastly, painting and marking instructions.

Its my FIRST EVER artillery build, hope I don't do something stoopid like glue the gun shield on backwards!!

Andy, Ernest - lookin' good, gents! 

FINALLY got one side of friuls assembled last night. Dragon's instructions for 98 links per side turned out to be off...when I lined up 96 of them, they overlapped! Cut it back down to 93, I believe. Looks a lot better, but I'm contemplating adding a link back for just a big more sag. What do y'all think?

Ernest,

Looks like the field gun is gonna keep you busy for a bit... Excellent work sofar! Haven't the faintest about that railing but your guess about a way to get on the tractor would be as good as mine... Good luck with the moving

Doogs,

Judging from this pic i scrambled up from the www i would say it could use slightly more sag but i am no expert. Far from it. The friuls do look the part i must say!

Richard

Wow...that Pz has more sag than a wannabe gangsta!

Think I'll add back two links and see how it looks. Also want to play around with the idler wheel a bit and see how that adjusts the tension.

I have run into some technical difficulties with my Dora, but my Tiger I ausf E is well underway. I have ordered some zimmerit for it. In the mean time, I have started to build the tracks and the lower hull. I love this kit.

ozzman

I have run into some technical difficulties with my Dora, but my Tiger I ausf E is well underway. I have ordered some zimmerit for it. In the mean time, I have started to build the tracks and the lower hull. I love this kit.

Is that the late-production 3-in-1? Got that one in the stash and it looks very nice!

I'm quickly learning that building armor is a lot like building a house. It begins to look like a tank very quickly, then it seems to stall out as all the detail bits are attended to. 

Of course, assembling friuls in between doesn't speed things along, either!

Anyway...my Pz.IV is about 95% done in terms of initial construction. Still got some minor stuff on the turret and that's about it. Oh, and the port side friuls.

Let's see...what else? I added three friuls to the run, and it seemed too slacky. So I took one off to get what you see here. Seems about right.

I also stuck with the kit's barrel, and it's pretty good for plastic, but I wish I'd gone metal, especially after seeing Andy's.  Good lesson for the future I guess. I've gone metal on my first two armor build guns and was very happy with both.

That is looking good Doogs. Don't you just love those Fruils. I have to find an excuse not to buy them for every kit i get.

I paint my Fruils off the vehicle and assemble them at the end. I put them together after i start painting the vehicle. That way i can do the fruils while the paint is drying.

I am back from a week long business trip and Miami Beach was friggin' awesome!   Wish I brought my workbech but I am afraid I will never be able to finish my builds...

Ernest- I am really enjoying your WIP on one of most bizarre tank!  I am not sure if I should have called it tank...

Doogs- Sometimes it is nice to save $$$ if you can use the kit barrel.  I won't mind using DML since they usually offer one piece barrel except for the muzzle.  Your build is looking great and I like the tracks better now.  I forgot to ask this earlier if you are planning to go zimm with this set? 

I better get busy with my Pz IV and I need to finish M24 Chaffee for Korea War GB.  Two GBs going on at same time and both end on July 1st.  Later...

deafpanzer

Doogs- Sometimes it is nice to save $$$ if you can use the kit barrel.  I won't mind using DML since they usually offer one piece barrel except for the muzzle.  Your build is looking great and I like the tracks better now.  I forgot to ask this earlier if you are planning to go zimm with this set? 

I better get busy with my Pz IV and I need to finish M24 Chaffee for Korea War GB.  Two GBs going on at same time and both end on July 1st.  Later...

Yeah, I hear you on the money thing, especially with the friuls! And the different in barrels is always more pronounced before paint. I just feel like turned aluminum and brass capture the "feel" better. Speaking of which...got my Aber barrels for the Pz.III-L and III-E/F yesterday. Only $5 for the latter, but they're both beautiful!

Just think - you finish these two GBs, and then it's time for Panzer III!

The Panzer IV is just about built. Have three more small pieces to attach, and then its on to the priming!

Here she is:

And next to my old Tamiya Pz.IV:

Also got all the wheels sanded last night! My parents are in town for my daughter's first birthday, and brought some of my old modeling gear, including my Dremel disc/belt sander. Brass rod threaded through the wheels and viola...instant sanding!

I am finished with my Dora. I will have pictures tomorrow.

Doogs,

Lovely builds, both of them Was your Dragon offering highly detailed but fiddly? I've heard that Dragon armor kits usually have a gazillion parts with subassemblies of 10 parts where they could have used 4. The only Dragon i've built sofar was the T34 i halted earlier this GB and for that one the story was mostly true... Excellent kit though...

N E ways... The long barreled IV's look really menacing. Ive only built shorter barreled ones (Ausf. D and N)

Ozzman,

Can't wait to finally see it! Wished you had shared more during the build though.... But still looking forward to see your work!

Doogs, nice looking Pz IV.  That Tamiya kit looks pretty sweet as well.  Nice work. I always love seeing your models. Armour or Aircrfat, always a pleasure to see.

Kermit, ye, generally the newer Dragon kits at least are very complicated and lots of parts. and also lots of spare unused parts in the kit which need wading through to find the parts you do need.

kermit

Doogs,

Lovely builds, both of them Was your Dragon offering highly detailed but fiddly? I've heard that Dragon armor kits usually have a gazillion parts with subassemblies of 10 parts where they could have used 4. The only Dragon i've built sofar was the T34 i halted earlier this GB and for that one the story was mostly true... Excellent kit though...

N E ways... The long barreled IV's look really menacing. Ive only built shorter barreled ones (Ausf. D and N)

I've always thought the long-barreled IV's just look like a tank should look, you know? Outside of maybe the Tiger I, I've always thought of them as the "tankest" of tanks.

Honestly, the Dragon build wasn't all that bad at all, especially after that AFV Club Achilles. The AFV kit was easily as fiddly, but the construction was nowhere as assured. At least with Dragon, the parts fit and have places to go!

One frustration was the instructions constantly getting part numbers mixed up. One of these instances was with the turret side hatch hinges, which it reversed. Only problem - reversing the hinges means they're too close for the hatch to fit! I discovered this after applying Tenax. Thankfully I was building up my preferred way, gluing anything I can from the inside first, so cutting the part away didn't do any cosmetic damage.

Spent last night on wheels and track. Assuming the weather cooperates, I'm planning to prime tonight.

Doogs - Great work on the DML Pz.IV!  Its going to look fantastic with paint on her!!   I luv the pic of it next to the old Tamiya(?) kit!  Even after so much time and kit advancements, the older kit still holds up well...no mistaking its a long barreled IV and all the general details are correct!!   To me, the Panzer IV is the epitome of the Panzers because the Monogram Pz.IV was the first German tank I built when I was a teen!  I didn't even build my first Tiger until a few years ago!

Andy - Thanks for the kind words.  I agree that the T version is a little strange looking!  I don't even bother to call it a tank...its a tractor in my eyes!!  LOL! 

Well I lied about not having an update for a while!  I had a moving lull last night so I decided to spray the base color on and had just enough time to apply some panel highlights.  Color is a mix of Tamiya Olive Green/Flat Green/Dark Yellow (ratio is 40/40/20...I think!).  Highlight is the same mix with approx 15% Tamiya Buff mixed in.

The color is quite a bit lighter than what I usually apply, but I purposely did this because the upcoming weathering will darken the color considerably.  When I have time I'll do some post-shading with dark green or black. 

BTW, even though I've been packing like crazy, the LAST stuff to be packed will be all my modelling stuff!! 

BTW, even though I've been packing like crazy, the LAST stuff to be packed will be all my modelling stuff!!  

And the very first to be unpacked and checked to see if everything survived the trip

Richard

Ernest - WOW that thing's looking killer! Love the shading.

And I totally hear ya on moving! We just found out last week that the house we're building and were planning to move into around February will actually be done by December...so all of that pack/clean up and fix up the current house stuff is going to have to be accelerated. I'm already trying to figure out what modeling stuff I could pack and maybe do without come early November...contemplating putting all the paint away during that period and just building. Guess I'll be doing a lot of armor during that month!

Speaking of armor!

Primer went on last night...

So. Many. Wheels.

Doogs- Looking real good.  I always love how models look after being primed! 

I am not sure if the picture is playing tricks on my old eyes.  The picture of both old Tamiya and new DML Pz IV together... it looks like if Tamiya has a longer barrel?  Good luck with the move... if you have too many kits to handle, I'd be more than happy to take some!

Guys- Little update on my OLD Pz IV... remember Doogs' is the new Pz IV!  I have to share with you guys that I am officially a big fan of CA gel from Loctitie recommended by our friend Adam (Indy).  It is alot easier to control the flow with this

I finally finished the skirts... added the lower hooks to the hull securing the skirts better now. 

I guess you will find Zimmerit on the old Pz IV next time I post... planning to do zimm putty this week and over the weekend.  Wish me luck...

Thanks Andy! It looks even better in person...the iPhone's camera seems to have massive color balance issues in the garage. I'll grab a pic with my real camera before I start laying on paint (dark brown layer first...then dunkelgelb...and then I get to probably ruin it by attempting the hairspray technique!).

I think the barrels are actually the same length, they just look way off because the Tamiya's is sitting level, and if you look, it's actually sittings lightly ahead of the Dragon kit. Just perspective throwing things off.

Can't wait to see the zimm!

Doogs, Deafpanzer and Bufflehead: Great looking tanks! I have to say I love seeing that driver through the vision port.

Doogs: The sag looks great now. I built that one a few years ago, and put in a complete Verlinden interior. I have since to repeat that project!

Here is where I am with the IL-2. I loved doing the cockpit, (I am still working on the seat) and the IP looks great- it was clear plastic with recessed gauges that was easy to paint with thin paint with a brush, then the instrument decal goes on the back. The rest of this experience sucks. I have to say I am not enjoying this build, and want to get it done ASAP. Generally poor fit, and the construction could have been simplified. If construction of section A is not great, then B, C and D will have problems etc. Here is a photo of some gaps that need filling. I have seen smaller gaps on old Revell kits.

Rob

Rob - those gaps are going to give me nightmares! I thought Richard built this one with solid results a few months back? I've read that, now that Trumpy is doing those 1/32 Sturmoviks, they're going to turn around and start offering 1/48 versions as well (I know they're doing this with their Bearcats, too). So there might me another option soon!

I think we took entirely different directions on this tank! Since I knew I was going to build it buttoned up, I left out any interior bits! I've got a Pz.IIC that's kitted out with an extensive interior, and think I'll probably tackle that as my first interior (well, other than the Achilles).

Not much on the Pz.IV last night. I finished assembling the friuls (both sides!) and snagged a few real pics of the primered tank. Wanted to give things another day to cure before moving on to actually painting things.

The problem was with the separate nose assembly. One side is slightly smaller than the other- and also one side of the fuselage is a little off with respect to the other side. I'll fill it with stock styrene and lots of Ambroid solvent- it will fill fine!

Rob

Bufflehead and Doogs those tanks are lookin awesome guys, cant wait to see them finished.

Maxfax looks like you have that IL2 under control, those gaps would be giving me nightmares for sure.

It's brown!

These were a pain!

Tonight the dunkelgelb goes on top. This "dark base then paint" formula has worked very well on my Sherman and Achilles builds, so I'm hoping it translates to something that's not green!

Still trying to figure out what I want to do about the whitewash. Not too keen on the idea of dumping hairspray all over the kit, but if that's what it takes...

Another day, another coat. 

Even spraying very sloppily (knowing it'll get covered in whitewash), I'm loving how this came out! 

Now to let it cure for a day or two while I think over the whitewash...

 HOO YEAH Doogs, that's looking really good!    I wasn't sure what the brown base coat was for, but now I can see what your goal was!  VERY NICE!  Good luck with the whitewash.  I've done it once but not using hairspray.

NOW it is really looking very good with Dunkgelb on. 

Have you decided which whitewash approach you will use? LOL  I haven't done it before so I will be following you very closely.  I have Tamiya weathering kit so it may work based on good feedbacks I have seen.  Or using airbrush and spray very heavily thinned white as I have seen the work somewhere here in the forums.  Check wbill's work recently as he did whitewash on his Panzer?

I am ready to paint my Tiger I. I used Eduard zimmerit, I was satisfied, but ill use resin next time. sorry for the lack of pics, I lost track of my camera.

deafpanzer

NOW it is really looking very good with Dunkgelb on. 

Have you decided which whitewash approach you will use? LOL  I haven't done it before so I will be following you very closely.  I have Tamiya weathering kit so it may work based on good feedbacks I have seen.  Or using airbrush and spray very heavily thinned white as I have seen the work somewhere here in the forums.  Check wbill's work recently as he did whitewash on his Panzer?

I waffled a whole lot...was going to try the hairspray technique, but that seems much more effective for really worn whitewash, and the Pz.IV Gs being delivered to the LSSAH at Kharkov came with pretty, factory-applied whitewash, so I wanted something a bit more uniform. 

In the end, I just went with some highly thinned Tamiya XF-2 (2 parts paint to 5 parts lacquer thinner). Don't think the results are too shabby...

Also...note to self...need a different background for whitewashed vehicles...

I fina;;y found my camera, here are pictures of my Dora, and WIP pics of the Tiger I