The OFFICIAL Panzer III and Its Variants GB

Naw , i'm not interested in starting a G.B. Eric, right now . Iv'e got one more major project to get done b4 winter comes . I have the 100 ft of wall completed and now i'm going to build a 50 ft deck next to it . Should be done some time in September and then i can cocentrate on models this winter .

That's a good time to start another. I have one or two projects after I finish up the JT. We'll see what we can come up with.

Doogs- Nice iPhone joke... looking forward to see your update!

Malone- It will help if you can most a picture.  I am not sure if I can help because I haven't build one yet but somebody might.

Carl- Yes Eric is correct... Dupes held 1,000 Wheels GBs last year.  One of the best GBs... wish I joined but I was still new and little shy.

Eric- Out biking or internet has been turned off for the whole summer in Maine?  

deafpanzer

Doogs- Nice iPhone joke... looking forward to see your update!

Malone- It will help if you can most a picture.  I am not sure if I can help because I haven't build one yet but somebody might.

Carl- Yes Eric is correct... Dupes held 1,000 Wheels GBs last year.  One of the best GBs... wish I joined but I was still new and little shy.

Eric- Out biking or internet has been turned off for the whole summer in Maine?  

You shy Andy? LOL Well I'm glad you are no longer.

I started that build with a Tamiya Pz IV J, but my AB went poof and I couldn't get the camo I was looking for. I hope to finish it after my JT.

deafpanzer

Doogs- Nice iPhone joke... looking forward to see your update!

Malone- It will help if you can most a picture.  I am not sure if I can help because I haven't build one yet but somebody might.

Carl- Yes Eric is correct... Dupes held 1,000 Wheels GBs last year.  One of the best GBs... wish I joined but I was still new and little shy.

Eric- Out biking or internet has been turned off for the whole summer in Maine?  

Glad you got over that Andy !

Ok , i completed the detail on the smoke grenade launchers .  Not completely accurate but close enough .

Great details on the smoke launchers!  WOW!

Carl, awesome detailing on the grenade launchers. Me like.

Andy and Eric , thanks for your help with the pics and for your comments !

Definately,

This GB runs for a year and I'm building 3 models as part of it but will be doing smaller projects inbetween the Pz III GB builds.

Seeing as I have both the Bronco Comet and Dragon Hybrid IC Firefly in my stash I'm thinking something along the lines of an 'Allied Armour GB' or 'OD Green GB'!

What do ya reckon?

Ben

Ben- Looking forward to see all of your three builds.  Actaully Eric (tigerman) is planning a GB and he will be sending out a feeler soon.  I think you will like the themes... your kits may work with his upcoming GB. 

Y'all have a great weekend... I hope to finish spraying camo scheme on my Pz IV but I am not too happy at this moment.

BRIAN - Thanks for the color ratios but yes, I had already mixed and painted.  You just may be insane, a 150 parts per fender!  They look absolutely wonderful!  Big improvement from the kit supplied parts.  Keep it up.

CARL - Like it!  What is glazing putty?  Like the results it made.  How user friendly is the putty?  Nice work on the launchers also.

GREG - Beautiful work!  Very unique vehicle and with your craftsmanship makes it very enjoyable to watch the progress. 

ANDY - I too have added the sites to my favorites.  Here is one I had found, hope someone can use it, http://www.worldwar2aces.com/panzer-tank/panzer-iii/

First photos of the Pz III F.  Dragon, as we all know, uses the same sprue trees for multiple kits.  That requires some surgery if you are not building the base model.  For the E/F kit, the forward return roller must be moved aft a bit.  See below.

That is post modification.  Working on step 3 of the instructions as we speak...

Satch

Not much but a little progress was made on the interior.  Parts made so far, some were scratch some from the spare parts box some kit parts.

The kit came with the bolted on armor plate for other variants.  Not using these parts decided to shave the bolt heads off to add to the interior where bolts were missing.

Radios with wiring and added bolts and parts from the spare parts box.

Hull floor with added bolts on the sides

Deck and gun mount

Rear bulkhead with added parts from the spare parts box

Scratched ammo box

Still much more work to do before final assembly of the interior.

Guys- Great!  We have two new WIPs going on here...

Rob- Thanks for the link!  It has been bookmarked... always could use more.  Love the work on your radio sets and scratch built ammo box!  Looking forward to your next update...

Satch- Can't wait to see how your kit comes out.  It looks like I owe you a for making my life easier because you are going first with this kit.  I still am planning to build Ausf E from same kit after my StuG III. 

Hey guys,

Just the usual progress update!

Andy - why are you not happy mate? Cammo spraying problems???

Okay: I'd been looking at my SIG all week and had spoke to Andy about post-shading it as it was too dark and, imo, a bit too blue. I tried a post shade and although it looked okay I decided to put down the black preshade lines again then take my Panzer Grey mix for this build and add some Tamiya flat white and German Grey. This was thinned 50/50 and re-applied gently over the original basecoat.

This time it came out perfectly: a much greyer, brighter tank with a lovely pre shade on which my added weathering and rust streaks will show up perfectly - this wouldn't have happened with my original colour.

I think I can stop worrying about it now as I couldn't have asked for a better colour. The rest of the afternoon was spent painting the road wheels (Dark Grey/Flat Black @ 50/50) and the tracks (Nato Brown/Hull Red @ 50/50). This took an age to do as the wheels and tracks were already in place but they are done now. The wheels aren't great as hand painting them without going over the rims is pretty tricky but it's minor and the weathering will sort that. I've added some highlighting to the track horns and drive wheels to show wear.

Tomorrow I'll get the tools and Jack on and really get stuck into it and start on the detailing - I'm loving this build!

My new paintjob (the photos were taken outside so are a bit bright):

 Indoor shot with painted tracks so it's a bit darker here:

Thanks for looking guys,

I'll get the decals on her tomorrow and start the weathering.

ATVB

Ben  

Ben- WOW!  What a huge improvement.!!!

We can see the pre-shades this time and it looks ALOT better I swear.  I am sure other guys will agree.  I am so glad you made the decision to do it again to make it work.  It will look even better after weathering for sure. 

I am just like you... not giving up until I am satisfied and happy.  Right now I am in process of re-doing the camo scheme on my Panzer IV. 

malone duke

Does anyone have a decent shot of pz3 from above where the front spaced armor is. I wanna make sure the pe cover is on right. Its where the driver port and ball mg are.

What ausführung?

Rob , great looking scratch work !

This is the glazing putty . I've had this tube for over 20 yrs ! Its not been opened . I have another tube opened and it as old but is starting to separate the liquid from the compound . This stuff cures fairly fast . I thin it with lacquer thinner to prolong the drying time . when dry its not supper hard and is easy to sand .

I squeazed some into an empty Tamiya paint jar , makes it easier to get at .

Duke, do these help?

These are camera shots from  Photo Gallery and Profiles #2 Panzerkampfwagen III by Nikos Livadas, for informational and instructional purposes only, of course.  Its is an awesome reference for Pz IIIs.  Photos of the surviving examples from armor museums around the world.

Ben, that's looking really nice. I like the monotone grey.

malone duke

Sorry. Mine is an ausf. M/n. I've seen it added to other ausf's though. I really think this should have been a one piece affair instead of the multi parts in the kit. Detail is good but its looking like a chore to get these panels to line up and sit right.

Here's how it assembled on my Dragon Ausf M / N

deafpanzer

Ben- WOW!  What a huge improvement.!!!

We can see the pre-shades this time and it looks ALOT better I swear.  I am sure other guys will agree.  I am so glad you made the decision to do it again to make it work.  It will look even better after weathering for sure. 

I am just like you... not giving up until I am satisfied and happy.  Right now I am in process of re-doing the camo scheme on my Panzer IV. 

Thanks Andy and Tigerman,

It's loads better now. I can see my pre shade work plus the lightened basecoat will help the rust and rain streaks show up.

I've taken a couple of more photos as the outside one's look a little bit washed out.

I hope you get your cammo sorted btw Andy!

That's a bit better!

WIP update tomorrow!

ATVB

Ben  

Ben , that shading looks cool !

Shellback

Ben , that shading looks cool !

Thanks Shellback!

Ben

                            Some real nice work going on in this G.B,most everyone seems to be hitting high gear.As for me I have pretty much got the fiddly bits on the rear deck complete.the resin collars for the top of the upright were pretty much junked out so I took some fret material and soldered up a couple of new ones.

                                   Was checking out the work going on here a bit earlier when there was a terrible pounding at my door,upon investigating I came upon this.

                                    So I looked around and seeing no one I brought it in the house.Looking at it carefully I concluded that it was not a threat and that I should open it! And heres what I found.

                                Actually I picked these up for a sum of 24.95 each through facebook.Not bad,I really only wanted the Panzer III but when I showed the deal to the wife she said I would be a fool not to get both. You gotta love a woman who knows a good deal when she sees it.

                                                            Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Hi guys, just dropping by to see whats going on and I must say that I'm truly impressed.

Carl, another whopper job on those smoke dischargers, couldn't notice anything not right but they look great to me.

Rob, the interior of your stug is most impressive and those are the exact colours I'm aiming for.

Ben that looks great, in the short time you have been at the hobby you are improving leaps and bounds, keep it up.

Greg, lovely etch work, looking forward to seeing your next instalment.

Hope to be joining you guys soon.

Terry.