Panzer III and Its Variants GB

                             The victim.

                                                               Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

detailfreak

                             The victim.

                                                               Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Greg, I'm feeling a tingle go up my leg.

Mike

Yep Andy I'm a definite with a Stug III G Early. It's Saturday night late and I have not had a beer today.

All the best Andy and I look forward to the start of this build.

Terry.

deafpanzer

Hi, my name is Andy and I am a modeling addict.  It has been 23 minutes since I fondled my kit.  Do I have to say that I did it twice because my Pz III Ausf E has arrived today?

So...I'm in San Antonio this weekend, doing the Sea World thing with the kids...looked this morning and realized that HIll Country Hobby's only about 15 minutes from the hotel.  I must've done something right, since I managed to convince the wife to let me go out while the kids napped.

Picked up a much-needed bottle of Mr. Leveling Thinner to replenish my supply (love that Gary stocks all the Gunze stuff...that's one thing I wish my LHS stocked).

And I also somehow walked out of the store with this...

Not going to mark it as a definite for this GB yet - the Vorp still has pride of place - but it may be a great second build! 

I was also shocked...SHOCKED...when I was glancing through the instructions and saw it only called for 50-some track links per side (56 maybe?). The Pz.IV I'm building now calls for 98 links per side, and I mean, I know its bigger, but not 40 links bigger, right?

IF that 50-something number is correct, it has HUGE implications. The Friul set I bought for my Pz.IV is a III/IV 40cm track set. 230 links. So...one Friul set could take out two P.IIIs, potentially. 

DoogsATX

I was also shocked...SHOCKED...when I was glancing through the instructions and saw it only called for 50-some track links per side (56 maybe?). The Pz.IV I'm building now calls for 98 links per side, and I mean, I know its bigger, but not 40 links bigger, right?

IF that 50-something number is correct, it has HUGE implications. The Friul set I bought for my Pz.IV is a III/IV 40cm track set. 230 links. So...one Friul set could take out two P.IIIs, potentially. 

doogs,

I don't want to rain on your parade, but when I did my PzIII and used MK tracks, I think it took between 88 and 93 a side. That 50 number sounds like a typical DML instruction SNAFU to me.

So, deafpanzer, I have not read through this whole thread, but are you allowing overlap builds or are you strictly going for the 'one of each variant' approach?

We all know DML kit instructions are a cruel plot to undermine American confidence and drive us all crazy.

Hinksy

Hello guys,

My name is Ben from Rugby in England, I'm 31 years old, recently un-engaged to my girlfriend and I'm a modelling addict.

Hurrah! No interfering nagging women and modelling! Cushty!

That's a very nice looking kit Andy, I'm definately going to have to get that figure set as even though I'm not bothered about a Commander figure I REALLY like the crewman hanging out the side hatch! If I bought this figure set I could use him on my Panzer III N, I've got a StuG III A in desperate need of a decent Commander (open hatch but awful figure which needs replacing ASAP) and then a spare for the next Panzer III!

Here she is:

Note the kit supplied PE grills and turned Aluminium rifled barrel (like the Tamiya StuG III B): 

There are three suppled cammo options:

• Leningrad winter (as depicted on the box art)
• Kursk Summer (Dunky base with Red/Brown and Dark Green fine random lines)
• Tunisia (Tamiya call for their paint's to be mixed to make the required colour but my main interest is in the European theatre of war, particulary the Eastern Front so I won't be considering this)

Now then, from what I can gather, the Winter scheme is a grey basecoat with patches of white. Is this white paint or would the tank have been grey and have been whitewashed? The box art shows a very neat application of white, almost as if it were done in the factory? Any suggestions guys?

I know Bill did a Tiger I in this scheme so I'll ask him what he thinks but I like the Kurst Summer scheme so I'm going to go with that (I think).

Tracks: I'm going to avoid Friuls if I can as this was a stupidly expensive kit. I asked for a proper discount as I'm one of their 'better spending' customers  at my LHS but they insisted that Tamiya prices have just gone up (again) and could only knock a few pounds off. In future I'll be shopping around before ordering as I've seen it on the web for sale between £25 to £46 new.

Including the kit tracks I've got three pairs of vinyl Panzer III 40cm tracks as I have two pairs left over from my two StuG's. I'm going to leave one pair well alone and using the other two pairs I'm going to see if I can carefully chop a few links of one of the pairs and glue them on to the other pair to 'extend' them. If this works I should be able to get a good sag going imo? The join will be under the roadwheels so it won't be visible but I'll be very neat anyway - it just depends if they join up with CA or normal glue well enough! Otherwise I'll try the normal kit tracks and failing that I'll order some MK's.

If anyone has a spare set of DS Panzer III tracks (if they make them) or unused Panzer III 40cm Magic Tracks I'll happily buy them from you? 

Anyway, apart from the figures and base which I need to order it's roll on the 1st July! I hate having unbuilt kits cluttering the place up so I start a build and finish it - I never start a new build whilst I've got one on the bench 3 quarters completed (unless there's a major reason)! I've just received the base and scenery for my StuG III B so I'll be starting on that along with the figure to go with it so I need to stretch it out until July 1st to kill some time!

ATVB

Ben

Just lurking along.

Ben, Dragon has yet to make DS tracks for Pz III. Would be a nice idea if they did. I wish each kit came with indies and DS tracks myself. Depending on the kit and amount of sag, it would be a nice choice.

bbrowniii

 

DoogsATX:

 

I was also shocked...SHOCKED...when I was glancing through the instructions and saw it only called for 50-some track links per side (56 maybe?). The Pz.IV I'm building now calls for 98 links per side, and I mean, I know its bigger, but not 40 links bigger, right?

IF that 50-something number is correct, it has HUGE implications. The Friul set I bought for my Pz.IV is a III/IV 40cm track set. 230 links. So...one Friul set could take out two P.IIIs, potentially. 

 

 

doogs,

I don't want to rain on your parade, but when I did my PzIII and used MK tracks, I think it took between 88 and 93 a side. That 50 number sounds like a typical DML instruction SNAFU to me.

Looked again, and it said 95 per side. Which seems high (I'd imagine two more road wheels would account for a greater than +3 link difference), but within reason.

Now I'm curious where I saw the 50-something number!

Welcome aboard, Ben!

tigerman's right - no DS Pz.III tracks as of yet. If you're worried about the vinyl tracks holding together...honestly they shouldn't be under ridiculous tension or anything, but you can reinforce the join with "clips" of PE fret. Did a very crude job on the tracks for my Achilles after they broke twice...but no reason it couldn't be cleaned up if goin in a more visible-ish area.

Ben- Good move... don't get married and start a family until you have built all variant first.   Look at me... I can barely build four kits a year.  But it is great having a wife and two young boys.

Detailfreak- Hey my friend Greg, now I am little confused... you signed up to build Bergepanzer and Flammpanzer.  Now you are signing up Ausf M as third build? LOL  Or will it be turned into one of variants you signed up.  I really love the camo job on the box cover... I always wanted it but not on my Ausf E as it was still in Panzer Grey. 

Terry- Awesome!  I already got you listed.  LOVING your work on LWS and look forward to see more of your work here.  Don't worry... we will have plenty of here after July 1st. 

Doogs- You little *** copycat!  LOL  Nah, I am glad you got it.  It was a great deal... only $27 and it came LOADED!  Even figures were very good too.   I noticed there were not many track links inside two little bags too. 

Boyd- Hey man!  Always good hearing from you!  Looks like mini-Marder Madness reunion is happening here.   Yes, overlapping builds are allowed.  Of course, we would love to see all variants built if possible so we only have few gaps left.  I'd send you a case of  if you can sign up for Pz III Ausf D, Ausf J Inital or Ausf M.  Or even better StuG III Ausf E if you got it! 

deafpanzer

Boyd- Hey man!  Always good hearing from you!  Looks like mini-Marder Madness reunion is happening here.   Yes, overlapping builds are allowed.  Of course, we would love to see all variants built if possible so we only have few gaps left.  I'd send you a case of  if you can sign up for Pz III Ausf D, Ausf J Inital or Ausf M.  Or even better StuG III Ausf E if you got it! 

 

Well, I've kinda sworn off GBs, but I do have a soft spot for all things Pz III. I'm not committing to anything, but let me see what I've got and I'll get back to you...

                      Any, the M is my donor for the Bergepanzer  III

                            The rest of  ,Stop fondling yer kits,show some restraint.

deafpanzer

Ben- Good move... don't get married and start a family until you have built all variant first.   Look at me... I can barely build four kits a year.  But it is great having a wife and two young boys.

Hey Andy,

That's good advice. I've tried the whole settling down thing and it's not for me. Saying that I'll probably meet a great lass and fall head over heels but for now I'm my own man with my own agenda!

My buddies tell me they took the missus to buy some furniture or a new tumble drier at the weekend, stuff like that - that is definately not for me. Not yet!

I'm trying to limit my builds per year and reckon I'll do 4-6 this year. We are only half way through the year and I've only built my JSU-152 and my StuG but they are two of my best builds so slowing down and really taking time obviously works! If I build too many too quick before I know it I'll need another cabinet! I'm having to think about starting building more 1/48 stuff as I'm worried it's going to be filled before the end of 2012!

Can we start this group build now? Pleeeease

ATVB

Ben

I opened the Panzer III L box again about 30 minutes ago.  I touched every part in there.  I'm so looking forward to the 1 July start date.

Meanwhile, to get my mind off of the Panzer III, I'll start a Tiger I.  Its the old Tamiya kit, but its one I built 30+ years ago and is a comfortable build.  It'll sharpen me up for this GB.

Make it a good day, folks!!

Ben- Only six more weeks... go and find yourself a girlfriend to kill time.

MAJ Mike- Your addiciton really worries me...

Good thing I am in Miami Beach for a conference at a hotel right by the beach.  I really needed a little break from two ongoing GBs. 

                           Andy,to the best of my knowledge I know it to be immpossible and impractical to model on the beach. But I imagine one could fondle his/her kit!! Also hope you figured out what the Ausf. M was for.

                                                               Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Hey!  I washed my hands when I was done.  The curtains were closed and I was alone in the house.  Besides, everybody does it!!!

Also, the thread seemed to have gone dorment.  I wanted to stir things up a bit.

Greg- Yes I got it... so it will be another scratch building project for you and it will be another fun thread for us to follow your work. 

MAJ Mike- Please try not to scare everybody away...

Here's the view from my hotel room on 9th floor balcony in Miami Beach.  I will have limited access to internet until I return home end of the week.  Be good!

                        Andy owner of the GB is on a working vacation!!!! Major we may well be in the wrong business!! I sure hope he's enjoying himself. Y ou didn't take your kit along did ya?

                        Ok ,theres six weeks to go and counting.

                        Hey Andy that view looks like the ninth floor cell of the minimum security.( Note the barb wire fence just beyond the minefield.LOL)

I know I'm in the wrong business.  Model-blogging from the hotel swimming pool or beach cabana sure sounds nice. 

What drink goes with a Panzer III?  Would the little umbrella in the drink have a DAK palm tree insignia on it?

The world wonders.

                                                                           KAMIKAZE!!!

Hey Andy,

Having a nice break im Miami mate?

That long grass and wire does look a bit suspect I must say?

I don't know how popular the show is over there but just watching CSI here (which is stupidly popular and a show I love) has made me want to go there - and Vegas too (apart from the brutal CSI murders obviously)! Las Vegas isn't the same after Grissom (William Petersen) left though - Fishburn is definately no Grissom.

Can we have Hugh Laurie back after you've finished with him btw please? What season oh 'House' are you on now?

Anyway, get back and get this GB started will 'ya - I don't think I can stretch making a base for my StuG out over another month you know. Saying that, I've got that tiny 1/144 Dragon Lang which would make a nice weekend build.

As for a girlfriend, you're havinn, a bleedin' bubble aintcha (bubble bath - laugh)? I'm not long out of a 3 year relationship with an engagement tapped on the end for good measure. I've had enough of women for the time being. Anyway, if I get desperate I've always got my (oops, family site isn't it)!

Between work, sleep and models my days are very full

Look forward to having you back buddy!

ATVB

Ben

I've picked up my Pz III G that I indicated that I would build. Now I've just got to weather my current project and then finish another before I can start the III. I'm looking forward to building an Afrika Korp tank, I've not built one since my first tank, the older than dirt Tamiya Pz II. That older than dirt comment is relative of course given the fact I'm only 20.

Erik

I resemble that remark!

I just picked up DML old Imp Series Pz.Kpfw III Ausf M and Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf N w/Schurzen, and have the DML Pz. Kpfw III Ausf. J - 2 in 1 kit and can build as an initial J w/short 50cm L42 gun. I'm currently building a DML Pz. Kpfw III Ausf G "DAK" - 9116 old Imp. Series 9032 kit.  armor86

If Andy is relaxing on the beach what else is there too do except fondle our kits?   Is this a support group or an influential group, I just ordered and hope to have here by the end of the week:

All of these may be my secondary kit.  They are all PZ III related, now the question is which should I do after building my kit I had signed up for?  My primary kit was:

My other question...I have already built the Dragon Ausf K so the new one I ordered plan on making it into an Ausf M, what all needs to be changed to do so?  The most noticeable would be the gun mantlet and the star antenna.

And YES cant wait to start the fondling

Careful.  I was sternly admonished for stroking the parts in my Panzer III L kit.  In the meantime, I've started a Tiger I.  Its the old Tamiya kit, but its relaxing and I've got some after-market stuff for it.

Got an e-mail from Dragon about a clearence sale.  I'm on my way to look.  Maybe something good is available.

dupes

Boyd - didn't you snag a Cyber-Hobby rebox of the StuG III E/F at AMPS last fall?

Nope.... it was the PzIII G 'Afrika Korps'. I've also got the Stug G that you snagged for me.

dupes

Or am I completely mis-remembering? It's panzer 3's, after all...I'm sure you could un-swear off of GB's... ;)

You are a bad influence, ya know that??!!