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

Nice one Bob, I was wondering who was contemplating doing this one. I must say that when I looked at the kit I thought that because it was limited to one particular vehicle that it may be somewhat bland or limiting in what you can do with it.

I must agree that I think it is basically the same kit that Marc is doing with minor differences.

I have not done a whitewash since theh old Verlinden days of the 1980's , and things have changed. Still looking forward anyway.

Good luck with the Jagd Pz.IV.

Regards,

Terry.

Just noticed a mail from Dale over in the Stug  build so I will be using the Stug for that one and a 1/48th Tamiya marder over here.

Roll on the 1st.

Terry.

Terry, glad to have you aboard.

Gentlemen.....just 10 days to go! Not so far away anymore is it?

Here's some pics of my Jagdtiger.

What doesn't  show up well in the photos is the 30 odd PE tie-downs for foliage. There's no way in he$% that I'm attempting to place those things.

Otherwise this appears to be a fairly straight forward build. I'm trying to figure out the tracks. I feel I have to assemble the roadwheels and leave the sprocket and idler loose. I've never don the "Doog" method, but it seems worth a try. Anyone's input appreciated.

terry35

Nice one Bob, I was wondering who was contemplating doing this one. I must say that when I looked at the kit I thought that because it was limited to one particular vehicle that it may be somewhat bland or limiting in what you can do with it.

I must agree that I think it is basically the same kit that Marc is doing with minor differences.

I have not done a whitewash since theh old Verlinden days of the 1980's , and things have changed. Still looking forward anyway.

Good luck with the Jagd Pz.IV.

Regards,

Terry.

Thanks Terry,

For the record, I gave some thought to changing my build to the StuG after seeing your post last night.  Of course, I've been known to change my mind about a build more than once......

Cheers

Let me know Bob. That Jagdpanzer sure looks tempting. I mean, really tempting. The only drawback for me is the 32 roadwheels and indy tracks. I'm to that stage on my Panzer IV J that's sitting waiting for a camo paint job.

tigerman

Let me know Bob. That Jagdpanzer sure looks tempting. I mean, really tempting. The only drawback for me is the 32 roadwheels and indy tracks. I'm to that stage on my Panzer IV J that's sitting waiting for a camo paint job.

Will do Eric.  Right now I'm planning on sticking with the Jagdpanzer and saving the StuG for any future builds similar to the "Panzer Aces" GB that I never got around to starting a few years ago.

I feel your pain regarding the road wheels-I gave serious consideration to picking up a Jagdpanther...until I counted the road wheels!

bobbaily

 

tigerman:

 

Let me know Bob. That Jagdpanzer sure looks tempting. I mean, really tempting. The only drawback for me is the 32 roadwheels and indy tracks. I'm to that stage on my Panzer IV J that's sitting waiting for a camo paint job.

 

 

Will do Eric.  Right now I'm planning on sticking with the Jagdpanzer and saving the StuG for any future builds similar to the "Panzer Aces" GB that I never got around to starting a few years ago.

I feel your pain regarding the road wheels-I gave serious consideration to picking up a Jagdpanther...until I counted the road wheels!

Those are arguably worse, since they are so much larger. Perfect candidate for the template masking. Never tried it myself.

I've seen more then a few Pz IV wheels mudded or sprayed with a earthy color, so the builder could get out of  painting the tires.

tigerman

 

 

....I've seen more then a few Pz IV wheels mudded or sprayed with a earthy color, so the builder could get out of  painting the tires.

hmmm....I'll have to remember that little tip if I get close to the deadline and need to skip a few steps...

Well it is tempting to try it, but in most cases it looks kind of fake to me, especially the sprayed earth color. 

tigerman

Well it is tempting to try it, but in most cases it looks kind of fake to me, especially the sprayed earth color. 

I've found that some Squadron putty, nail polish remover & cheap craft acrylic paint-various shades of brown, make a nice dried or wet mud.....

One week to go gentlemen.

I checked the size of the Jagdtiger next to my M1 Abrams and the length was almost identical and the Jagdtiger was taller, but not wider. Gives you an impression of how huge it was.

I hope that everyone remembers that this GB starts in 3 days.

Here's that comparison of the Jagdtiger next to my M1

The M1 kind of dwarfs it. 

3 days, I remember   Will post a sprue shot tomorrow.  Went threw all the parts and this is going to be a great kit.  Still debating on the color that will be used.  Thinking panzer grey, have to many African colors already built and there is not really any other choices.  Actually there are only 2 days left before start.

Wow, that thing was massive! It's gonna look good when it's finished. Looking forward to starting my Marder.

Nate

Dragon Marder III Ausf M 'Befehlsjager' (Command Vehicle) by Hinksy:

Okay, Hinksy is in this GB!

There was a slight 'mishap' with the lovely little StuG III B that I was building last night so I had two choices:

• Be miserable and mope around until I manage to source a replacement Tamiya StuG III B. Erm, the dog ate it last night - seriously! I caught it trying to steal a kit before but just in time. This morning I came downstairs to find my lovingly painted StuG munched and crucnched and I nearly cried - I'm not joking either
• Break out the Dragon Marder III Ausf M Behehlsjager from the stash, enter this GB and cheer myself up - I chose this option! Yeah!

I've got the Friuls and all the painted tools safely out the way for my StuG and I got some great practice in on what is a basic weekend assembly so I'll order another and build that on completion of this Marder. I hadn't assembled the wheels so in one weekend session I'll be ready to go with a new StuG again!

I digress - there are some very nice looking builds going to be making up this GB!

I've put off building this kit since last Autumn as it is so SCARILY complicated! I'm not skilled in the art of PE bending and can just about make up exhaust covers, I'm not too sure about tiny little tool clamps though! I do feel that I've been 'hiding' behind Tamiya builds as they are usually very easy and in order to improve my skills I need to move out of my comfort zone and build crazy kits like this. No doubt I'll be asking for the occasional bit of advice from you nice chaps! I can only build at weekends so I'm doubtful as to wether I can get this build completed by the end of June but I'll damn well try my hardest.

Onto my build:

It's the Dragon Befehlsjager 38 Ausf M (a Marder III Ausf M Command Vehicle basically). I'll be building totally OOB as everything is is so amazingly detailed with a chuck of PE too! I do have Friuls left from my Hetzer that are the correct ones but I'm not sure if I'll use Friuls or Magic Tracks yet as I like Magic Tracks and I know that I'll have future use for the Friuls - I'll decide later.

There is a very detailed interior that won't be seen but I'm building it all, transmission, seats, engine - the works! I'm planning to depict the vehicle on the box art with the 'Giraffe' cammo scheme. The build is a 1944 Marder from the 1./Pz.Jg.Abt.346th Infantry Division.

I've got a day off work tomorrow so I'll be starting bang on time!

Here's my entry and some general photos of the instructions, sprues & the box art:

Wish me luck guys!

Again, any tips re the best way to paint this build would be great - I could do with any advice that you kind folks can offer me 

Kind regards,

Ben

Ben - That is some bad news about your Stug but like you said at least you got some good practice and now you have many spare parts and a set of friuls.  Anyway it will be good to have you here and you have a great looking kit to work with.

I would not worry about the parts count.  Dragon kits are one of my favorites.  The fit is almost always very good, has nice detail, and lots of options.  To me its just a few more parts to glue on besides that its just like any other build.  The only real problems, and I am not sure for the kit your working, may be in the instructions.  Dragon instructions can be missleading or just not there.  Just prefit your parts and look a few steps ahead to make sure everything is going to work out right in case something does not show on the instructions. 

If it was me, I would save your friuls for a kit that is in need of an upgrade and use the magic tracks.  I really like magic tracks and think they come out very nice.  Thats me though.  The PE parts - most dragon kits have a PE part and then a regular molded part, gives you an option of using either.  I say try out all the PE get some hands on with it and if something goes wrong use the molded part in its place.  Most of the PE is not to hard to do just requires a little more time and patience.  The tool clamps are probably the hardest and as said earlier there should be tool with the clamps already molded on them.

As for painting, thats all preference.  Everyone seems to do things in a little different order.  Myself for this build would probably complete the interior paint and all.  Asemble and paint the running gear and tracks then build the remainder of the kit.  Mask of the running gear and interior and paint the remainder main body.  For a normal tank with say a turret, I finish running gear complete with paint and tracks,  mask that section off then build paint (with base coat) and complete hull, and last build paint with base coat the turret.  Basicly its like 3 subassemblies.  Last when all subassembies are with there base coat and are all put togther will spray the final coats (its camo).  Almost always leave my tools and small gear for last and paint them seperate and off the AFV.  As long as they are easy to put in place with everything else already built they will be the last thing glued on with some CA glue, then weather.  I am sure you will hear a hundred different ways to do it, it's just what you get comfortable with,.  No real right or wrong way.

Hope some of that helps and look forward to see your build.

Bob.... do the Stug.  Terry you and I can have sort of a "menage a troi" if you will, in the midst of this plastic orgy.

Eric if you follow doog's toot for the MT's you will wonder why you've never done it in the past.

wing_nut

 Bob.... do the Stug.  Terry you and I can have sort of a "menage a troi" if you will, in the midst of this plastic orgy.

Eric if you follow doog's toot for the MT's you will wonder why you've never done it in the past.

Nate, it's a large canvas for sure. I'm still looking into two colors, rather then 3, but might have to go with the tri-color camo. 

Thanks Marc I intend to. I bought some of the glue yesterday. Kind of surprised I had none.

Ben, tough break on the Stug, but glad to have you aboard.

Gents, just 2 days until B-Day (build day). 

wing_nut

Bob.... do the Stug.  Terry you and I can have sort of a "menage a troi" if you will, in the midst of this plastic orgy......

Marc......thanks for making me think about it.....again.  I have a couple of kits in the stash that would be good for this GB and as usual, I have trouble making a decision.  My top two choices are the Jadgpanzer and  Marder III M..... but a mini StuG GB in the midst of the Panzerjager GB would be fun.  

I probably won't be able to start until Saturday....unless I suddenly feel ill Friday morning....cough..cough...

bobbaily

I probably won't be able to start until Saturday....unless I suddenly feel ill Friday morning....cough..cough...

That's funny, I'm suddenly coming down with something (cough cough). I have this strange feeling I might not make in to work Tuesday morning.

hmmm....Panzerjageritis.....sounds bad...only known cure is a day of styrene therapy....

bobbaily

hmmm....Panzerjageritis.....sounds bad...only known cure is a day of styrene therapy....

So my guess is, the doctor is telling you to just build it.

I'm planning on building my Marder at work, and then bring it home to paint. It's going to be totally OOB including the rubber band tracks, so I can concentrate on the finishing which is my favorite part. Plus, my last build was a bit of a struggle, so I need something relatively easy this time!

One more day..........

Nate

What kind of job do you have that you cab build at work?  And how do I qet that job?

PANZERWAFFE

Ben - That is some bad news about your Stug but like you said at least you got some good practice and now you have many spare parts and a set of friuls.  Anyway it will be good to have you here and you have a great looking kit to work with.

Hope some of that helps and look forward to see your build.

Thanks Panzerwaffe,

That was a very helphul and insightful post

I've built a few Dragon kits now and they are my definate favourite but this kit is something else!

I haven't looked at the tools (I will now) and am unsure if there are second tools available with plastic clamps on but I'd like a go with the PE all the same. The tool box looks great as does a lot of the PE.

I'm going to have the fron transmission hatch removable so that will be nice and detailed. The engine and other gubbins will be in there but won't be visible so I'll assemble them all the same but won't be spending time on making them look nice and shiny!

Build wise it's fairly straightforward so I'm confident enough with it. The one thing that I am VERY inexperienced with is detailing fighting compartments and breeches on guns so that will be interesting!

I'm going with the Magic Tracks and the Friuls will go in the spares tub.

I've decided for definate on a Dunkelgelb basecoat with the 'Giraffe' sheme applied loosely over the ttop. The radio will be assembled off the build and I'll need to add some wires - I'm sure I've got a wiring diagram somewhere for that particular radio unit.

Update will be at the weekend as I have work now and no build time left this week

ATVB

Ben

Yes I need a job that I too can build at work. I could get so much more done. I wouldn't be tired either.

One day to go!

Tick

Tock

Tick

I rebuild alternators, starters, water pumps, etc. for the Transit company here in Connecticut. Unfortunately, I can't actually build during work, ( though I do occasionally sand parts when no one is looking!) but before I punch in, and at breaks and lunch I get quite a bit done.

Here's a couple of pics of my "office".

Nate