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

Thanks guys.

Yes I build, just can't seem to get much finished. I'm a relatively light weatherer as noted. I have since added washes and am experimenting with pigments, so I hope to incorporate a more weathered appearance on the Jagdtiger. I won't abuse it per say, but will give it a more worn appearance.

Well I unfortunately failed to make into work today........so I guess I'll have to take advantage of that. LOL

So Eric really does build armor.  Weathering schmeathering....looks great.

Marc glad you're back.  5 gigs sounds like a lot.  When I called a while back I was going to ask if that option was available to you.  Just hasn't been the same without the FUPES!

Eric, those are some BEAUTIFUL builds! It's nice to see an Italeri Marder III H, and how well it can be built up.

Marc: It's REALLY good to see you back on the forums! Looking forward to your participation.

Well, it's 4:15AM, and I'll be heading off to work soon where I'll be cutting sprues. Looking at the Tamiya Marder  kit that I'll be building, I think it's going to go together pretty quick which will give me more time for painting.

I'm actually looking forward to going to work!

Nate

I know many haven't seen my "work", so here's a little GB inspiration. Sorry, I'm not a big weatherer. These are older builds, sucky as the new. LOL

Italeri Marder III H

Tamiya Marder III M (Because of my poor photography, many of the washes around bolts are not showing up)

Dragon Elefant

dupes

Took a quick look at the lineup...I think we should change the name to the "Panzerjager GB, sponsored by DML"!

I may have to branch out just to tip the scales a bit. Or even put it up to a vote. Hmmmmm.

I agree that Dragon has the largest selection, but Tamiya makes 3 Marders, the Jagdpanzer IV, StuG's, Jagdtiger.

Not much else, except an Italeri StuG IV, Jagdpanzer, and a Marder III H. Tristar makes an H as well. Kinda of limited. I'm surprised that no one is attempting the new Dragon RSO w/Pak-40.

It's a few minutes shy of midnight, but I'm heading to bed. I will be tackling her tomorrow. Not sure where I'm going to start.

Took a quick look at the lineup...I think we should change the name to the "Panzerjager GB, sponsored by DML"!

I may have to branch out just to tip the scales a bit. Or even put it up to a vote. Hmmmmm.

Yeah, I've been AWOL for over a year now...ever since the forum switchover. The redesign wreaked complete havoc with my dialup connection - made it pretty impossible to load anything in a remotely reasonable period of time (i.e., less than 15 minutes a page - ugh).

So anyways, got a new cell phone plan recently which includes free laptop tethering ability (yay U.S. Cellular!). While I don't have unlimited access, 5gb a month at least will let me participate again. Have to be a bit selective about how frequently I'm clicking on pic heavy threads (5gb is a lot...but not a WHOLE lot), but I'm back!

As for the shows, we'll see what I can haul back in terms of awards and stash - I tend to be pretty lucky.

Yay, Dupes is coming out to play! Gald to have you. It occured to me that you've been AWOL from the forums or it just appears that way.

Good luck and get some nice awards and grab a kit or two while you're there.

Hey fellas!

In a continuing effort to return to forum-regular status, I'm eyeing this GB with great interest...I've got a couple of shows in the next few weeks that I need to finish things up for (Downeastcon on March 12th and Valleycon on March 27th), but I don't see any reason why I couldn't bang something out that fits the bill after that.

I'll keep you posted, T-man!

nate, I like that Dragon Puma sitting next to the bench. I'm still a tad disappointed in not picking one up when I was at a show. Oh well, there is always the next one.

Yes Marc, but I will not be putting in a midnight appearance myself, but plan to hit the bench in the morning, assuming I don't make it into work.

yaaaaay!

Tock

Less than 8 hours... on the east coast anyway

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

Tick

Tock

Tick

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!

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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...

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). 

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.

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.

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

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

Nate

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.