The OFFICIAL Panzer III and Its Variants GB

Still lurking every day. Did a little bit. I finished up on a couple of kits so now I can concentrate on this GB. This is where I am.

The two outside figures are from Dragon. I have been using them as a paint guide. I have three figures for this build. As you can see I got lots of stuff. Decisions, discussions. The storage box on the rear is scratch built. Its time to weather.

This is what I have been working on-

Scott

Armor86-  You are getting closer to the finish line and it is already a beauty! The rest would be a breeze... can't wait to add it to the completed list.  I have to get that variant... I think I have only three out of eleven not counting Ausf A-D.  Man, I have a long way to go! 

Carlos- Are you serious it is only your second armor build?  Your work looks like it is a work of a master I am not kidding.  Hope the move will be smooth and none of your models will be harmed.  How many built models do you have to move? Still in southeastern part of Florida? 

Yes, lurking is allowed here but you have to report once a while.   Good luck!

Guys- In case you are wondering when I will finish my StuG... I hope to return in a week as I am very close at finishing my Huey build for a friend's 50th birthday coming up next week.

Here's a sneak preview... going to apply like thousands of decals later today.

Man, I am really itching to return and finish my StuG.  You guys have been AWESOME!

Armor.....nice job....I really like the way you painted your tracks....you are going to have to give me some pointers.....

well I got the fiddly bits inside the turret and I added a few of my own...some wiring along the back and some hex bolt heads to give some detail to the hatch openings....I still need to sand these down a bit. The verlinden set includes what looks like a map case that they call for to install just to the left of the headrest...I couldnt find one picture that showed that case. Instead they all showed a junction box wired to the one on the right...so I made a box out of a piece of resin and wired them together. I puttied up some holes in the turret ring and will add some bolt heads around the ring too...going by what I have seen in some pics.

Well this is where I stop for a while....I am moving and need to box up my stuff....not sure when I will begin building again....hopefully not to long....for now I will just be lurking.....still...comments welcomed ....

Carlos

Closing in on finishing the Ausf. J (Initial Production) - will used the dot filter  and then pin wash next ... still working on the tow cable which will wrap over the right side standing Road wheel the front of the vehicle and back on the left side fender. Photos below. Armor86

Carlos-  Dig the scratchbuilt work on the interior... you did great!

Greg- Always good hearing from you my friend!  Looking forward to see your next update... no hurry as long as you are catching fishes for us. 

                                Hello all.Just me the silent member of this G.B.. All the great looking builds here and you would think that it would be some inspiration to me,but alas things are somewhat busy around the Rowleys lately. I have gotten a bit farther along on the Ausf. N that will be in tow by the Bergie. Not much for picture worthy progress though.I will definitely give it a shot this wknd.

                                                                 Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

bbrowniii

Hmmmm, dupes... nicely done. You are at the horns of a dillema, eh? I agree that it doesn't look 'done' but at the same time, the paint job is so nice I'd hate to see you alter it.

Decisions, decisions....

I am with Boyd... I think we are in a situation where we feel that we have to or must weatherize all of our armor builds.  We forget that all of them came out of the factory clean at first place.  I see plenty pictures of "clean" German armors being transported to the front on train or ships... they had fresh paint job and no scratches. 

So if you can make something out of this that it came out of the factory...

Carlos

That is some mighty fine interior work you've got going on there. Sorry to hear that your Verlinden set has been such a.... bear to work with.

Hmmmm, dupes... nicely done. You are at the horns of a dillema, eh? I agree that it doesn't look 'done' but at the same time, the paint job is so nice I'd hate to see you alter it.

Decisions, decisions....

Hey 86, thanks for the pics...they did help....

Well heres what  I got so far of the turret innards.......after deciphering the Verlinden instructions. I left the spent shell casing bag off....it gets in the way of the foot pedals.  I dont think the foot pedals can go any lower, they would then seem to be too low in relation to the seat....anyway most of the pics I saw had the bag off.....it also blocks the view of the inside.....only extra thing added are the handles on the commanders seat...................Carlos

Dupes- I have to say I want to buy that AK paint set... it looks just GREAT!  Do you have to add thinner to those paint or you can airbrush it out of the bottle?  Sorry if I missed your answer earlier. 

Nice touch using the chain on the front!!!   You feel it is not done... why? Because it is missing a figure?

Just realized that neither pic shows the sweet paint-masked numbers on the back of the turret stowage box...you'll have to wait until next time.

Oh, and Andy - the single panzer gray roadwheel is just for you.

Alright homies, here's where I'm at currently. Obviously, I skipped a few steps from the last pic to these two...that's what happens when I get on a roll. So sue me.

I really LIKE how it looks here, but it doesn't feel done. Probably should throw this over to the armor forum as well, but I'll let you guys stew on it for a while first. Comments? Suggestions?

Armor86- Looking great I really mean it.  Great that you are still with us and I hope to join you in a week.  My Huey helicopter build is about 90% completed...

Carlos- Sorry about the Verlinden disaster.  Hope you read my post in your thread.  Not all are that great... if they are the only one for a specific armor I would take the risk because they are not that expensive in eBay and at model shows nowadays.

I googled and found few great links for more pictures of interior of Pz III.  Check them out...

http://gallery.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php/cat/13473/page/1

http://infopanzer.atspace.com/pzkpwf2.htm

Hope those links help... good luck!!

Posted some photo's of my Pz III's turret inside

depicting the commander's seat ... several good older reference books with diagrams / pictures of interiors ... Armor86

hey all...anybody got any pics of the inside of the turret especially the seats and their supports???? As I mentioned in my rant on an thread I started... Im getting frustrated with these so called instructions from Verlinden...and am not too clear about the parts locations...

thanks

Carlos

Finishing up tools and equipment last up is the jack ... photos below. Armor86

Spare mounted track

Once the vehicle jack and tow cable is finished, turn to wash and weathering. Armor86

hey deaf, thanks for the reply.  im gonna give em' a shot. they have got to be better than the originals.  hey dupes.  do you think you could give me the measurements for the tube that the rear antenae sits in.  seems the dog gotta hold of that as well.  i would greatly appreciate it.  and i have to say she's lookin real snazzy.  you made that ak set really work for ya!  

I haven't tried them but I do not remember reading bad review about those tracks. Am sure they are much cheaper than Modelkasten or Friulmodel tracks!!! 

Wish I could help...

i just found the workable set for pz3 an4's from tristar.  has anyone used these before.  im gonna give em a shot cause they fit my budget, but if anyone can give a heads up itll help.  

hey guys.  need some help here i need suggestions for some decent workable tracks that arent fruils.  just got home from dinner and found both runs all over the floor.  my dog decided to use them as a toy.  good times.  one week spent cleaning those turds and it was just wasted.  man i thought they only ate homework.  i got caught slippin big time.  left them to dry on my fire place ledge.  lesson learned.  at least my wife found my sprockets and rear wheels.  oh.  and no animals were harmed during the search. but that is the closest that dog has come to death.  

Dupes- You are a machine!  How many kits do you build on average every year?  Last year I did only four along with 11 figures.

Looking forward to see your next update.

Hmmm...I'll have to see if I have any un-allocated modeling time before June - I could probably bang out one more before then. Let me see what's still to build after the spring shows.

Working on tool/accessory painting, exhaust rusting, and tracks now. Pics when I've got something appreciable!

86- You just did great hand painting the shield.  I had similar problem when I tried to transfer large outlined numbers on the side of Pz IV but it was an easy fix.  I find easier if you can tape using Tamiya masking tape to hold the transfer before you rub it against the surface. 

I just noticed this... red primer inside the wheels.  Nice touch!!!

Everything is dry transfers, except the white outline shield, had some difficulty with them and ended up hand painting ... working on tools and other details. Armor86 

Dupes- LOVE your SBS how to use those AK Interactive!  It looks GREAT! Are those paint ready to be airbrushed right out of the bottle or do you have to add thinner?

That set is already on my wish list to buy at upcoming shows along with German Grey set.  Is there a set for American armor too?  My mind is blank right now...

dupes

Wow, I just checked out the front page...has no one really finished a build since I wrapped up my StuGIIIA?

Only 4 months left, and a lot of variants still to go!

I agree!  I know there are several ongoing WIPs right now... hope we will be able to close more gaps before the GB expires.  Detailfreak is working on two. Others are working on theirs and some of them are very close to be called done. 

You know I am still working on mine which has been put aside so I can focus on my first commission build for a friends 50th birthday.  Doubt we will close all gaps but it would be AWESOME if we did.

The only instructions are in pic 2 - the back of the box. You can probably find some more stuff online as to their use, but a lot of it is up to you. Gotta run - more later!

That looks good Dupes,tell us about the paint sets,are the instructions for use straightforward,is it easy enough for a caveman ?

Sooooooo...finally have enough to post. This is the DML Imperial Series Pz.Beobs.Wg.III Ausf. H artillery spotting vehicle (hence the dummy gun, replaced with an mg to make more room for radios and spotting equipment). Added a brass barrel for the mg and a couple of grab handles on the turret made of brass. The tracks are going to be Magic Tracks I stole from another kit that I donated some Friuls to...would love to put them on here, but these Imperial kits have an infamous lack of strength in the way the return rollers are designed, and I'm not sure that they would support the weight.

Was going to use my usual basecoat/lightened basecoat in the center of panels method, but since this one is going to stay single colored, I decided to try out the AK Interactive Dunkelgelb Modulation set I picked up last summer. It's an 8-color set designed just for this. Have sprayed the first 7 parts in the last 18 hours or so - here's where I'm at.

Most of this should be self explanatory, but fire away with any questions.

Next up - some application of the final highlight color via brush to some smaller details, and stenciled application of balkankreuzes and turret numbers.