The OFFICIAL Panzer III and Its Variants GB

Hey all

BEN - Nice work with the camo!

ANDY - The figs are looking great!  That one does look like Captain Morgan   Nice pictures of all those tanks.  Thats quit a collection to be a private one.

JOHN - How has your build been going, any updates in the future?

DUKE - Those are much better pictures.  I love that paint job!  I may borrow that scheme in the future.

SATCH, DOOGS - Good luck at the show and take some pictures for us all.

Hi guys,

Cheers for the regarding my cammo, PANZERWAFFE

Here's my brief Saturday WIP update:

Unfortunately I was down on the rota to work from home covering the emergency phone from 2pm - 10pm today so I've not had a chance to get much done. What I have managed to do is paint the wheels - with my new Quickwheel Mask and it is SUPERB!

First of I sprayed the wheels mounted on sticks all over with my rubber colour then when that was well dry it's a simple matter of putting all the wheels and idlers into the holes which hold the wheels in place by a sticky layer on the part that covers the tyre area leaving just the hub exposed. When the sticky layer is eventually gone the holes are tight so the wheels should be held in place quite well anyway. These wheels look brilliant and are so precise I'll definately be buying a few more of these for different types of tank in the future.

When the rubber colour is dry you simply push the wheels and idlers into the holes, load the ab up with the basecoat colour and give the hubs a light covering. Remove them and clean the face down with some cotton wool and thinners.

So, the decals are on and now the wheels. Tomorrow I'll be painting the tools and fitting them and then I'll start assembling my newly purchased Winterketten Friuls. I was wondering how many links are supposed to have the ice sprags fitted to them? Is it every one, every other one or every so often or ? 

So plenty to keep me busy tomorrow. Seeing as it was pay day last week I treated myself to a decent soldering iron with a pointy tip, some brass 1.4m and 2m 1/35 scale German antennae and some brilliant Brass Shackles. The Shackle bar is threaded and where it goes into the the other part of the 'U' it actually screws which is pretty impressive I thought. I'll use these Shackles on the Tiger I'm getting as they are pretty chunky!

I've got the tools prepped for painting tomorrow so I'll get them done and make a start on the Friuls:

Here's my Vallejo paints which are used exclusively for tools and detailing with brushes. They brush on much better than with Tamiya acrylics:

Thanks for looking guys,

WIP update tomorrow! 

All the best,

Ben

Ben - that Ausf.N is looking really great! Loving those brass d-rings...may have to look into those in the future.

All - as of today we can now call this the Award-Winning OFFICIAL Panzer III and Its Variants Group Build! Barely...but the Vorpanzer took third at the Austin show...my first contest and first win ever. Also got the chance to meet satch and check out his III in person, and it was awesome too!

Hit it big at the vendor tables today. Nothing Panzer III-related, alas, but I finally found my T-34/85 and scored the new Bronco Bishop for 20% off (and holy cow...I don't know how Bronco packs what they do into their kits...but the thing is friggin' magical to behold). 

Keep up the awesome work everyone!

Ben , looks really fine !

Ben, it sure is coming together very nicely! It seems I remember reading somewhere that the ice sprags were used every 3rd or 4th link. You could get by just adding them like that around the drive sprocket and the rear idler. Putting them on the bottom will not be seen and I think you'd have to look pretty close to see them on the top run. I don't plan to use them at all on mine.

Ben,,   looks like that quickwheel mask worked out good for you,, nice!    Not sure if there was a hard fast rule with the ice sprags. I have seen photos with them in different configurations.     That D-ring / shackle is pretty amazing!    Good luck on the Friul and tool build today....   I am hoping to get some work done too.

Matt,,    Congrats on the show win!     Way to go,,,,   post some pics, if you can....  would like to see!!

Doog's Pz III L  soundly defeated my Pz III F in mortal combat.  There was some very stiff competition in the category so Doogs is to be congratulated.  He took many great photos which I'm sure he'll post soon.... hint hint....

I came away from the vendor tables heavy with boxes but lighter in the wallet.  A Dragon Pz IV J mid production Smart Kit for $25, a Dragon Porsche Jagd Tiger with AM zim and a metal barrel for $25, and a Dragon M4A3E8 w/105mm for $15, and some wingy things that you guys won't care about!  Bargains abounded at the show.

Doogs is such a great guy and terrific modeler.  I will enjoy seeing his work often.  Next show is the Austin AMPS in Oct.  Hope to see more of the Texas Battalion of the FSM Division there.

Satch

Here are some of the armor pics - I got one of satch's Pz.III, but it was one of about 1/3 of my shots that came out completely blurry. The lighting in there wasn't great for taking pics...

Here's a very nice King Tiger. I think this is one of the Dragon zimmed kits.

A very nice Sherman Flamethrower HVSS

A destroyed T-34/85

A MASSIVE T-34

Gorgeous Kubelwagen

This Flakpanzer was the ONLY entrant in box-stock.

A very well-executed M42 Duster (at the awards ceremony the guy read it out as M...four...two...guess he doesn't do much armor?)

The rusting on the tracks seems a bit over the top, but otherwise, this Panzer IV was probably my favorite single model of the show:

The Vorpanzer!

My other entries (man, 32nd props was a crowded field...)

The one that one 32nd props. Not to be a stick in the mud or sore loser or anything, but it was a good kit, but not the one I'd have chosen to win. Felt way too clean for a wartime Dauntless. Felt the same way about the SBD-5 that won 1/48th. Oh well...judging is weird!

This Hellcat won box-stock and, I think, took best aircraft overall. and it was a gorgeous build.

All my pics are in an album on Photobucket if you want to check the rest out.

As for my haul, in addition to the epic Bishop, I also scored that Dragon T-34/85 I've been hunting for a long time (for $20!), as well as a Trumpy KV-1 ($19) and a Trumpeter RF-8 Aerosan for $10. A few wingy things, too. 

Doogs- Congrats about bringing home the award!  Yikes, you brought only two kits at the show... I normally haul home alot more.   I just realized I didn't list you under completed roster earlier so I recently added a photo of your Ausf L to the roster.

Satch- Sorry you didn't win but it sounds like you had fun meeting Matt and hitting those vendor tables.  It is my favorite part at the model shows.  Fortunately there is only one show in Indiana every year or my stash would have been much bigger.  Also AMPS National event is coming to Auburn again... it is the best show. Period!  You should check it out...

Ben- I am a big fan of Vallejo paint too and I will probably replace all MM enamel paint with Vallejo and Lifecolor one day.  I find it alot easier to use their bottles by just squeezing into the AB. 

Shackles look real good.  I agree with the guys... often I read that ice sprags were fit on third or fourth link.  I would do what John suggested... not to put them on the bottom tracks since nobody will see them. 

Doogs- Thanks for posting pictures from the show yesterday.  I am glad you remembered how much we love pictures.

Guys- OK I updated the build and completed roster this morning.  I made couple of changes to make it easier for us to review the list.  I'd appreciate if you can take your time to review them to confirm that I have the correct information. 

Weather is not pretty today... cold and wet!   You know what it means?  More workbench time!  I am going to start my first build StuG III Ausf F/8.

I LOVE Vallejo, with one exception. No matter what I do I can't "feather" it the way I can Tamiya, Gunze, and Model Master (enamel). Excellent stuff for base coats and masked camo, but I can't imagine, say, freehand mottling with it.

deafpanzer

Doogs- Congrats about bringing home the award!  Yikes, you brought only two kits at the show... I normally haul home alot more.   

Thanks!

And I bought way more than two kits!

The full list:

• Bronco Bishop 25-pdr SPG (+ a set of friuls!)
• Trumpeter KV-1
• Trumpeter RF-8 Aerosan
• Dragon T-34/85
• Tamiya 1/48 P-47 Razorback (for $20!)
• Trumpy 1/48 Sea Fury FB.11 for $20
• AM B-25C/D for $20
• Hasegawa 1/32 Fw 190A-8 for $30
• Trumpy 1/32 F4F-3 Wildcat (late production) for $25

In addition to the friuls, I also picked up a new bottle of much-needed Tenax to keep my tank building activities going, and a 190 markings book that comes with a decal sheet for like 15 different aircraft and full markings in 72nd/48th/32nd. Yippee!

Last year, I walked away with like $60 of my "blow money". This year, not so much...

Hi guys,

Glad you liked them shackles - they are really good! Imo too big for a smaller build like a Pz III / IV but ideal for a bigger beast like a Tiger, a KT or a Panther. That's why I thought I'd get some for the Dragon Tiger I'll be building over Christmas. They are only £3-50 for 4 which is pretty good, the antennae are a pound each. If anyone wants some shackles let me know and I'll get some ordered and posted to you.

Onto my Pz.III N - Todays work:

Well, I'm glad to report that ALL of the stowage if in place and is now fixed - it really worked out well and looks great (imo at least)!

All the tools are done, wooden handles painted with Vallejo and metal tips etc painted with Gunze metalizer paints. It took a lot longer than I envisaged so I decided to leave the Friuls to next weekend. I'd like to think they'll be fitted by Sunday. I'm going order some 'Track Black' Dip from my buddy Tim tomorrow to weather them in as the effect it gives is just perfect.

I remembered to actually paint the air intake cover but instead of paint I just used MIG Winter Cammo Wash on that area as paint would have looked too stark seeing as I earlier applied a first layer of MIG Cold Grey Wash which looks great. I'll apply some more layers during the week until I actually get round to starting the 'proper' weathering next weekend or the weekend after.

You'll probably notice the Jack Block. The photos have showed that I missed a few areas whilst painting it and the clour is wrong so I'll be doing that again! The MG barrels need drilling out too.

Have a butchers and see what you think - todays work:

Thanks for looking guys. I hope you like her as much as I do (so far). I can't wait to get the Winterketten fitted!

I'd love to hear any comments/feedback etc.

Have a great week everyone,

All the best,

Ben  

deafpanzer

Doogs- Thanks for posting pictures from the show yesterday.  I am glad you remembered how much we love pictures.

Guys- OK I updated the build and completed roster this morning.  I made couple of changes to make it easier for us to review the list.  I'd appreciate if you can take your time to review them to confirm that I have the correct information. 

Weather is not pretty today... cold and wet!   You know what it means?  More workbench time!  I am going to start my first build StuG III Ausf F/8.

Good to reed your going to get started on the III Andy !

Alright fellas,

AMPSEast was this weekend and, as promised, I picked up the Orange Box Stug III E for this GB. I've got one project in the queue in front of it, then I'll be diving into this build. Try not to leave me too far behind .

And speaking of AMPS East, now that the behemoth is complete, I can get back to all of the other builds I was working on when that massive pile of sprue came out of it's massive cardboard box.

My StuG III Ausf A is among them - if I remember correctly, construction is finished, and she's ready for paint. After looking at all of the panzer gray I entered into the show, I'm going to have to do something a bit different - panzer gray with a nasty, dirty whitewash!

Pics to come.

Here it is, Sunday evening,, caught a few games today and was able to get to the bench too for a bit.....

Satch,, very cool that you and Matt were able to meet at the show. Sounds like you had a good time and were able to snag a few nice pieces too,, good deal

Matt,, thanks for posting the pics and congrats again... you also had some nice "grabs" at the show,, I do miss hitting up vendors when I used to attend the shows. There just aren't many around [here] anymore.

Andy,, I checked out your update, thanks for the heads up. It looks good to me.

Ben,, the tweaking is looking good... will be waiting to see those Friuls...

Bbrown,, no worries on being left behind,,, I just realized I need a few things (to finish my overall build) which will take a while to get in-hand (nothing can be easy,, grrr)

Dupes,, who doesn't luv a nice dirty whitewashed stug??...... will be looking for your pics!

And,, speaking of pics, here are a few more of the pz micro III - - -

I painted the tools and associated deck accessories...   I then laid down some area gloss for the decals and carefully cut and placed. I had to do some extra trimming here and there to get them to fit into some of the positions. I was a little afraid on how they would turn out, but, they worked out fine,, mostly.

Following the decals I also did some basic weathering.

I also added the rubber band tracks, along with some lower structure weathering.

Next on the hitlist is putting the components together, finalizing the weathering and start working up my little scene to go along with the pz micro III

Until next time,,,,,    do stay safe

Thanks

Bill

good looking little feller !

Bill- Your little Panzer is really looking good especially the decals!   Looking forward to see it cross the finish line soon...

Doogs- Holy cow!  That's a great haul from the show... I am very proud of you!  Now I am hoping that your wife didn't see you hauling them inside the house?

Ben- Gosh, the stash looks great now especially the drum!  Great job there!

Boyd- No worries... am looking forward to see your WIP on StuG E.  Promise you we will not leave you too far behind especially that I have two builds planned for this GB.

Dupes- Can't wait to see another StuG completed.  Looks like we will be able to scratch all StuG variants off the list... congrats again with the awards from AMPS East!

BEN - She's looking good, the stowage really came out nicely.  Looking forward to more weathering, think that will bring everything together.

BILL - Nice to see her coming together, looks nice!

DOOGS - Congrats on taking place!  Thanks for posting the pictures.

Guys- Like promised I will start my build... it is an old Dragon Imperial kit #9013 StuG III Ausf F/8.  It was a gift from our friend Greg Rowley (detailfreak).  We had too much fun doing WIPs in Turretless GB a year ago while nobody else were around except for us two.  Thank you Greg!

When I opened the box for the first time, I was amazed by how many parts it came with the kit!!!

Wait a minute!  I discovered that most will not be used according to the instructions.  So typical of Dragon kits I will end up with plenty of spare parts especially this time.  Blue shade represents not used... nearly 75% I would say.

I am going to pimp this old kit up once again.  Aluminum barrel from RB. Brass PE from Eduard was only $2.50 for Panzer III Ausf F but I am sure I will be able to use some....

My reference books...

Osprey StuG & Jagers: Almost worthless... it was one of my first reference books I bought when I returned to hobby.

Concord StuGs I & II:  Plenty of great pictures and color plates... lots of history information.

Achtung Panzer:  Best for walk around pictures & drawings. 

Yesterday I spent hours looking thru the books doing research to help me understand better about Ausf F/8... now I do and I found a camo scheme I really like.  I am going for...

 Like shown in the picture below... photo for discussion purpose only!

As usual I will include figures, I will use two on the left... they will be walking by the StuG.  I still need to find a tank commander in winter outfit.

Interesting thing about this kit... the studs are already molded on the hull. 

Can't wait to see how it comes out... thanks for looking!

Hello guys, I went to APMS EAST this weekend and met alot of people. What a great time. The models were awesome. The deals on models staggering. I took a bunch of pictures and I will post those and my purchases under a new thread. I did buy 4 different Stugs including another Tamaya Stug B. When my skills improve I want to build the "B" from a picture I researched. The one thing I HAVE to post is this great deal I found for some misc stowage.

A CLOSE UP-

AND MORE-

IT TOOK ME ALMOST ALL LAST NIGHT TO ORGANIZE ALL THIS STUFF-

It is almost all resin and white metal.There are 409 pieces!!  All for 5 DOLLARS!!!! Yep thats right 5 dollars.When I get it situated I have no problem sharing this horde. You can PM me and I could just pop it in the mail. Any way,  I did a bit of work on the Stug B.

I dry fitted the tools and such.-

I ran the wires for the notek lights. Thanks Andy and Ben. Your help is appreciated. I found the schematics that I believe Ben posted. It was perfect.

I also started the Magic Tracks. This is a overview of the jig. I also started putting rubber on the wheels.-

Comments and critiques are welcomed and appreciated.

Scott

PS- This is for you Andy. Note the fluffy pillows and comfortable mattress. LOL buddy!!!!

Hey Chazzer!  I am so glad you went to AMPS East... who knows maybe one day I will join you guys?  No kidding about the shows... you can not find better deals anywhere else! 

Five dollars for 400 pieces... PRICELESS!  Four StuGs?  WOW!  Maybe you can build another one for our GB later... you know we are here to help. 

Half of your pictures didn't show up... maybe you need to go back and fix the links.  I want to see all pictures!  And I am looking forward to see more pictures you will post in a separate thread.

Fluffy pillows?  It sounds very tempting after only five hours of sleep last night... LOL

Andy, you could create a new TV show: "Pimp my panzer".

Scott, super haul on the AM. Wow!

I saw a reference above to wiring diagrams for a Notek light - any idea what page I'd find that on? Or can whoever found it shoot a re-post up here?

Thanks Andy! One of my awards was for a StuGIIIB...finished a couple of months before this GB started, unfortunately. Heh.

Thanks for the kind words guys,,    you are very generous

Andy,,   nice scheme picked for the stug,,,   and the figure choice(s) will look great alongside. Good luck with the commander.

Scott,,   that is some boatload of goods you picked up for a sawbuck,,,  !      Great grab!!

Anybody notice the site seeming to be a little buggy today?     Pics missing, long load times, etc.?     I was on earlier and noticed a few pics not loading,,,  I did a refresh and half showed up,, the other half didn't.   Refreshed again and most showed up.     Tried later (on a different PC) and it still seemed buggy....        Maybe they are doing some maintinence,,,    ?

dupes

I saw a reference above to wiring diagrams for a Notek light - any idea what page I'd find that on? Or can whoever found it shoot a re-post up here?

Thanks Andy! One of my awards was for a StuGIIIB...finished a couple of months before this GB started, unfortunately. Heh.

I think the Notek wiring was on pg 34.

Bill, the micro panzer is looking great!

Scott, dang that is a lot of stowage, should come in handy. Nice work on the Stug!

Andy, looks like you're going to doll it up some. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Much obliged John.........

Some great work in here...   I got inspired to dust off the bench after a long absence and get a-building.

This looks like a great place to start (AND finish, for once...... )

Seems all the variants are taken... I have the Tamiya Ausf L  with the Voyager PE set and the Dragon Ausf N SmartKit

Could either of these qualify?  Cheers 

Babill yesteday i couldnt get on the site for a while . Message said link was broken .