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

Oh what a fun day. I'm almost finished putting on the tools. The only real thing left before decals and weathering was the tow-rope. Some of you might remember that I scratched my own poles and holder. Well the darn wire was thicker then I thought and ripped thru part of it. And the darn clasps were too shallow. I spent what seemed like all evening to finally get one side down. I need to scratch a piece to fix the holder.

Now I'm not so sure I want to even do the other side.

Question about spare tracks. Would they rust up super fast?

I have an update! I got on fiddly bits including those gosh-awful tow ropes. Be reminded that due to my scratching the rod-holder that things didn't quite align as I hoped. Oh well, unless you're a Jagdtiger expert, you might not really notice.

Weathering should reduce some of the glaring rust and hopefully blend things together a little better. I'm still gun-shy about putting some marking on this guy, since most decals never turn out as well as I hope.

Ernest-nice job on the preshade....very nice. 

Eric-looks like you're getting closer to the finish....very nice work too, I might add...

WOW, what a monster! Keep going, it's really looking great Eric!

Thanks Bob and John. It's feeling really good to be closing in on the kill. LOL

I hate doing decals, but I think I'll go for it, to add a little color and interest.

My problem now, is that I'm not a big dry-brusher on large parts, so I'm not sure what i'm going to do with the wheels. I say drybrush, but I should have done that before installing them.

Eric , the more i see of her the nore i like ! The camo ypou did is a beaut . Those tow shackles on the rear have a nice metalic look . Cables look pretty good . i agree about decals .\being a pain .

Due to a lack of references on this beast, I was unsure how to paint the tow cables. I'm pretty sure they're wrong, but i have nothing else to go on.

Thanks again Carl, I'm actually pretty pleased with the camo.

I love these Cartograf decals! Whoop. At least they look good. They don't appear to have a lot of excess around the numbers, which will help blend in the decal. 

John, you might be right, i might have been able to get away without the gloss. 

Stay tuned.

In that second picture they look wrinkled, but aren't. I still need to go back over with a gloss and then a flat. Maybe next time I'll skip the gloss. 

Almost to the dreaded weathering.............I'd like to stop right now. LOL

Nothing wrong with the cables that i can see . I looked for a color picture of museum Jagdtiger with the spare tracks hanging on the casement but their is none i could find  . They seem to be left off from all of the museum Jagd's . Yours look fine to me . It probanly depends on how long the tracks have been hanging out there in the elements . One thing i thought of is when you weather it will you run some light streaks of rust down from a few of the links ? Dont think i would weather it too hard . Looking forward to seeing what you come up with Eric .

I'm scared to weather it at all. LOL I know that the wheels will need some dry-brushing or something. I'm just a chicken dry-brusher anymore. So easy to goof up.

These guys didn't see enough combat to get to beat up IMO

Eric - the JT looks great, but it needs to be dirtied up a bit!   Personally I'd throw a small bit of pastels or pigments on it, mabye a bit of that oil dot filter technique?  At least do some drybrushing, you can't go wrong with that! 

My Hetzer is almost done, just need to finish the weathering and paint a few more details....hopefully pics tonight??

tigerman

Almost to the dreaded weathering.............I'd like to stop right now. LOL

I've got to admit weathering is something I also dread.  Mostly its because I don't really know how far I want to go, and also because I'm just not that comfortable with most of the techniques.  For me the assembly usually takes the longest, but I really enjoy that process.  The second longest is the weathering phase!  Instead of enjoying the process I typically get really nervous and unsure, and consequently the completion time slows down to a crawl!  I spend SOOOOO much time at the bench trying to get the weathering to look just right and when done I don't see much difference! 

Oh well, one of these days I'll figure out how to work all those techniques and when that happens I'll be a happy camper!

bufflehead

 

tigerman:

 

Almost to the dreaded weathering.............I'd like to stop right now. LOL

 

 

I've got to admit weathering is something I also dread.  Mostly its because I don't really know how far I want to go, and also because I'm just not that comfortable with most of the techniques.  For me the assembly usually takes the longest, but I really enjoy that process.  The second longest is the weathering phase!  Instead of enjoying the process I typically get really nervous and unsure, and consequently the completion time slows down to a crawl!  I spend SOOOOO much time at the bench trying to get the weathering to look just right and when done I don't see much difference! 

Oh well, one of these days I'll figure out how to work all those techniques and when that happens I'll be a happy camper!

Ditto to the above. I love the construction part, okay with painting, and loathe the weathering. I just am out to get a used, but not abused look. One of these, I'm going to take on a crapola kit and  beat the heck out of it for something different.

I've tried other techniques, but they never seem to give the same results to me. I tend to goof some washes up, because I'm too impatient and overdo the washes.

I do feel on this build that I've got over my indy-link and decal phobia and have moved on. Now if i could do that with weathering.

hehe, I avoided the whole decal process (and at least one day delay) with the hetzer by using Archer transfers! 

.....and I decided one Balkenkreuz on each side was enough

Eric, that is some fine looking work! I would keep the chipping to a minimum, around the spare track hangers and maybe crew access hatches, but that would be about it. Now the actual weathering, I'd filthy that pig up! Weathering is my favorite part of the build.

bufflehead

hehe, I avoided the whole decal process (and at least one day delay) with the hetzer by using Archer transfers! 

.....and I decided one Balkenkreuz on each side was enough

Love Archer transfers. I just didn't have any numbers.

John, I'll send her over to your house for a little dirtying up.

Soooo close!  Still have to finish painting the spare tracks, the jack block, etc.  The lower hull and suspension/tracks are done.  I also need to touch up a few overpaint areas, then the upper hull needs a wash and more weathering. 

Anyone know how to paint that convoy light at the rear?  I read its supposed to be a blue color?

That looks great Ernest. Love the paint and the muffler. Not sure of the color, I was thinking green or blue.

That looks great Ernest!

Convoy light: http://vincesgallery.smugmug.com/gallery/1343814_Ufp5t#63394016_eu8Ek

Great pictures of that Hetzer in the familiar circular or cloud camo.

Very nice work Ernest. 

Whew!  Finally finished the little beast!  Eric, thanks for letting me participate in the GB!  As usual it was a great one and everyone had awesome builds!

This build represents a couple of firsts: 

1.  First Hetzer I've ever built!

2. First plain dunkelgelb finish I've painted on a tank!

I knew from the start that I wanted to paint this tank in a plain dunkelgelb scheme.  The finished product came close to what I had envisioned, but I still need to work on the weathering on this color in the future.

So here is DML's 1:35 Hetzer "Early Version" (#6030)

I'll be there for you next GB Eric!!

Catching up here from a week long vacation ... I agree with others about seeing plenty of great results here. 

Ernest- Love your Hetzer!   It is harder just to do one color tone but you hit home run with this.  Believe it or not I still don't have it in my stash as apparently they are harder to find at LHS.

Eric- Great work on the camo and details especially the spare tracks.  Looking forward to see it completed...

Like I said earlier, I wish I could have joined this GB earlier but I have been committed to several GBs but they have ended or are about to end except for the Ostfront and my Panzer III GBs.  I will definitely sign up if you are going to host another GB.  I still dig the idea of Afrika Corps GB but maybe it helps if we can expand it to 'North African Theater' to include the Allies?  With recent releases of new Allied kits such as British armors and SAS jeeps, it may attract more attention.  If not, I am always up for Tiger-mania GB!!!

ERNEST - That is one of the best looking Hetzers I've seen!  Dosent get any better then that, perfect!

TM - The Tiger is almost there and it is looking wonderful.  The spare tracks would have rusted up very quickly if not used yours are a very nice color.  Cant wait to see your final weathering with the rust stains going down the casemate from the spare tracks.  Your work on the tow cable looks very convincing to me , nice work on them!

Ernest-that is one stunning Hetzer.  Would you mind posting the details of your finish?  Paint type/brand/color, steps (pre shade, post shade, dot filtering?)?  Maybe you posted them earlier (guess I could go look...)  I've got a StuG on the launch pad that is going to be a solid yellow and I'd be tickled to death if the finish turns out half as good as your Hetzer.

Ernest, beautiful job man. I real like the monotone paint job. Did you use a sponge for the chipping? Waht colors?

Again, stellar work. Don't forget the badge on your way out the door.

Well, I'm closer, but still need to add the washes and then pretty much finished. I faded the camo with a thinned base coat. Not too happy with it to be honest. I had hoped to be done by today, but family is visiting and I had 5 tons of rock delivered this week. Ugh..

WOW Ernest, that really is excellent work! It sure looks great!

Andy - Sorry you couldn't join the GB, but thanks for stopping by and taking a looksee!  And thanks for the nice comments!

Rob - Thank you, you are too kind!

bob - Thanks Bob, your kind words are appreciated.  As for the weathering process.....wow, I never thought anyone would be interested.  It isn't any different from anything I've read about, but If you want I can post it.  Warning....it could be long and wordy!!

Eric - I'm glad you liked how the Hetzer turned out Herr tigerman!  YEP used a sponge for the chipping, I used Vallejo Model Colors, 50/50 mix of German Grey and German Cam. Black/Brown.  In fact Germ.Cam Blk/Brn is one of my FAVORITE Vallejo colors and I use it quite heavily - mostly by itself for chipping and also as the base color all the metal on tools, spare tracks, etc. 

oj - My Hetzer and I thank you!

Soooo......when does your next GB start Eric?  How about a Battle of Stalingrad GB?  I loved your Battle of Kursk GB a few years ago when we had both German and Soviet armor!!

Eric-I'd love to see your technique (and supplies used) posted-the info will go into my 'resources' files for review when the StuG gets to the finishing mark.