Panzerjager GB (March 1st - June 30th, 2011)

Hi guys,

I didn't have a chance to update the WIP yesterday; I didn't manage to get the fighting compartment walls started as I've been pretty busy helping my parents with the loft extension.

I did, however, manage to get the PaK 40 assembled and primed to seal it all together - it looks very good.

There is a small seam on the muzzle brake which the primer highlighted so that needs to go. There were 3 different muzzle brakes to choose from so I opted for the round one - I hope that wasn't the wrong choice.

I'll get the compartment walls finished later so next weekend I'll be able to start the interior compartment detail.

WIP update later!

ATVB

Ben  

Rob, I like what you have going on there with the colors.

Ben that Pak 40 looks mean. The Marder in that state of finish reminds me a little of the ne RSO kit.

As I predicted, nothing got done over the weekend is except a little fertilizing of the yard. Perfect time to do it, because it was wet and going to rain.

Hi guys,

WIP update for today:

Today time was at a premium but I managed to get where I wanted to be come Monday night.

I've fitted a few little tiny add-on's but the key thing is the fighting compartment walls are fully assembled!

The RHS wall has the ammo racks fitted as that wall is pretty basic. The LHS wall will be left off so I can paint the radios properly and really get some good detail going on them with wiring.

Next weekend I'm hoping to get the DY basecoat down and then start on the radios.

The walls aren't fitted permanently yet as you will see - I've Blu-Tacked them for the picture!

So, gun and compartment walls assembled - she's looking good and I'm really enjoying this build!

I hope you like her!

WIP update next weekend.

Ben  

Ben:

The walls look great, be good to see you detail up the left side.

Keep it coming.

Cheers, Thom

Thanks Thom. I'll be seing you Sunday at Valley Con!

Ben: really nice looking Marder you have there, it's coming together great! Don't let your dog near it.

Rob: You're motoring right along with your panzerjager, it's looking real good.

Nate

Hey Rob, I practiced the weld bead and it wasn't too bad, except I think I need to make the sprue smaller, especially for the part I will be doing it on.

Not much accomplished except for some painting on another kit and weld bead practice.

Ben that Pak 40 looks very nice.

Amazing what can be done in 2 days of really good bench time.  In the previous photo the upper hull was just dry fit.  Now fenders have been added and everything is all glued up and the hatch pooped right out for an easy fix.  I've done magic tracks many many time but this times i guess I did not put enough glue.  As I was putting them on a link would open,  Fixing that, another would open same place else.  That happened a few more time then it came apart in a few pieces.  Back down on the tape it went with a good brushing of glue.  My wife saw my frustration and offered to hold the link together with tweezers while I patched the links.

Ready for some paint.  Since this will be an all dk yellow scheme I am going to try the technique of a dark primer coat and going a touch lighter with the yellow around crevices and angles to give depth.  What color do you think would be best... like a raw umber or black?

Great progress Marc. You just flew through that StuG. I'm not the weathering expert, but I tend to go raw umber. Black might be more suited to a darker paint.

Hey fellas! Some great work you're doing here....hope to get in on the fun myself next week.

For now I've been marathon building a 1/48 C-47A TRYING to get it done for Valleycon this weekend - hope I make it!

Ben & Marc...

Both builds are looking pretty darn good. Very impressive

As for mine, been busy at work so I'm hoping to get a good bit done this weekend.

Thanks Taps.

We got paint!  It's a mix of hull red, red brown and some black to get to a sort of raw umber look.  Dark yellow next up.

And when I woke up it looked like this

OK, I did that

Marc,

That is looking good I can just make out the pre-shade color .

Cheers,

Thom

Thanks Thom.  It is more apparent in the felsh...er... plastic

Nice Marc. You're first with the paint. Just blowing through this build. I wish I had elves or something to paint mine, but oh well.

Been extra lazy the past 4 days, so I'm crawling right now.

Looooking good Marc!

Nate

Eric, Nate... thanks boys

Eric, unless someones else gets a real burst of action I may well be 1st done too.  Gotta out the pedal down if this is going to be ready for MosquitoCon just 1 week form tomorrow.

I wanted to start the off weathering with getting the lower hull darker than the upper portions. I used the artist oil method that i used on the PBP Tiger. Not an original idea but I've not seen it on a tank and it's the 1st time for me using it on a large area. 

In these series pf pics below, #1 covers the area with a layer of raw umber oil.  #2 the paint being removed with a clean dry  1" flat bristle brush. Clean the brush as you go by brushing in a paper towel.  In # 3 more paint removed with a fresh 1" brush and still more in  #4, this time with a 1/2' brush to get into small spaces better.  #5 I used a q-tip to get out enough to brighten the yellow a bit.  #6 is a final blend with 1 more clean brush.  A pin wash will pick out individual details later.

Depending on what look you want, at any point you can stop brushing and take a paper towel barely damp with solvent and lightly wipe the surface of the high stuff like a dry brushing.  In the earlier steps with a lot of paint still there there will be brush marks.  Let it dry a bit and go back to blend with a clean brush.

Marc, loved the step by step WIP you posted... how creative!  Thank you for doing this so you can help an amateur like me.  Your StuG is looking great!

Great Tute Marc. Very effective. Yes, you will probably finish first. We need a badge designer too, otherwise you won't get a well deserved badge for completion.

If someone has extra time, feel free to submit badge ideas for group voting.

Loving the dirty work, Marc!

I like the final effect, with washes...getting it applied...then slowly taking it away. I use the same technique.

Keep the posts coming!

Thanks guys.  Hope it's of some use to someone.

Eric, a 1st idea

Very interesting weathering technique Marc. I may try that out on a future build.

Nate

I like that StuG in ambush Marc. More creative then the one I threw together at work. i might suggest placing the date somewhere in there.  

I thought I emailed mine home, but I must have screwed up. I will try again Monday.

Hey guys,

I hope you are all well

There's some good builds popping up now and it's nice to see some colour appearing too!

I've been pretty busy this afternoon and have:

• Completed and glued the left hand wall of the fighting compartment to the vehicle and have added the seating and various little doo dahs.
• Finished all the radio assembly to go inside the right hand wall. I haven't mounted this wall yet as I'm going to need it left off to permit full access to the radios and batteries to allow detailed painting and the adding of the radio wiring.
• I've primed the build now.

Tomorrow we have family visiting in the afternoon and I'm working in the morning from 7am - 2pm so time is at a premium! I at least want to be able to get the rear tailgate fully assembled and primed. This will be going on after the interior detailing is complete.

Next week I want to lay down the full basecoat of DY on all the parts including the gun and the fighting compartment interior and start the painting of the radios. I'll then give it a real 'lived in' look - after that I'll move onto the gun detailing and I'll start the roadwheels and fit the tailgate and Friuls. After that the 'Giraffe Spot' scheme can begin followed by weathering etc.

I've got all the tools and clamps to make up yet of course along with two gas mask holders and three periscopes too. There's also the MG42 to assemble, the big antennae ,the spare track runs to assemble and fit - I'm using Friul links for the spare links and the spare shell casings and storage boxes.

I've just bought some Gunze Mr Metal Colour buffable paints which look VERY good. I've bought some 'Stainless' for the breech and recoil slide where the wear would occur and 'Dark Iron' & 'Brass' for shell casings. The Dark Iron is almost a perfect Parkerised grey colour.

I reckon another month should see her about complete

Her she is so far - I hope you like her! Any suggestions for the best radio fascia colours by the way? Everything I've seen looks either dark grey or gun metal? Is that right?

Fighting compartment left wall showing ammo tubes and the gun breech: 

Front view and in the background (and out of focus) the radio set-up: 

A detailed view of the inner of the right compartment wall showing the radio set up and in the foreground there is the cast hood that will drop over the gun barrel: 

WIP update tomorrow guys!

ATVB

Ben

Ben, you just reminded me I never put the radio in my Marder.  Gotta get that in before the show.

Eric, here it is with the date.  BTW, that's one of my Peanut Butter Panzers, the very 1st one..

Hey guys,

Really great work being done in here! You guys really set the bar pretty high.

Marc, I like the weathering technique - I see you've expanded from doing it on the wheels to the entire lower hull. It is really effective and seems to offer some good control. I'm going to give it a shot.

Having said all that, I am going to graciously withdraw from this GB. I had sworn off GBs last year so I could focus on some other unfinished projects cluttering up the bench, but got talked into a couple. Now, after a frustrating week of trying to finish up my Marder III H for the "Marder Madness" build, I just want to be done with armor for a bit. I've got some winged things that are screaming my name.

So, I apologize for jumping in with both feet only to bail out, but seeing as how we are a month into the GB and I have yet to start, and knowing my build rate, I doubt I would have finished in time anyways.

Keep up the good work, guys!

wing_nut

Ben, you just reminded me I never put the radio in my Marder.  Gotta get that in before the show.

Eric, here it is with the date.  BTW, that's one of my Peanut Butter Panzers, the very 1st one..

Damn!!  That is a ridiculously cool badge!!! Makin' me rethink my withdrawal.... but nope, gotta do it...

Sorry to see you go Boyd.  Wait... did you say wingie thingies?  Don't rightly know if'n I ever seen ya build no aireoplane.

That looks more official Marc. I like it and will try to submit mine for a vote.

Boyd, sorry to see you go. I too can relate with too much on the plate. My problem is just finishing the GB. I intend to this time, assuming there is no problems with the tracks.

Ben, looking real good. I believe German radios were painted field gray, with black knobs.

Sorry to see you leave Boyd, but I know what you mean about too many wips! What plane are you going to build?

I like the new badge guys.

Nate