The OFFICIAL Panzer III and Its Variants GB

Bill, you're much braver then I in finishing that micro Panzer. Well done.

Scott, nice setup. Is that antique Singer desk or whatever it is, worth anything?

Guys- Do appreciate you taking your time to make comments!   I thought you'd enjoy since we don't see figures painted often here.  I hope to finish the figures today. 

Pulled my back while working on the yard earlier today.  Ouch!   Where's the asprins?!?!?  I hope I have some left after taking so many from looking at Bill's micro panzer. LOL

Carl- LOL!  You are way too funny... glad you are part of this GB.  Thanks!

Jmart- Don't worry... I can not tell if you screamed like a girl.   Looking forward to see your first post of WIP!

Chazzer- I told myself that I have to take that book on the chair...   Bet it will help me paint my figures better!

dupes

Andy - Lifecolor, eh? Unfortunately I'm loaded up with Vallejo stuff and didn't really want to tackle yet another brand of paint...but I'm liking the colors you've got there, and if they come in a nice little 6-pack of everything I need...hmmm.

Looks like I better get a pic up of where I am with my StuG III Ausf. A before Chazzer gets started in on his!

Dupes-  I like Vallejo too!  I have the Flesh set from Vallejo.  I hope to replace all Model Master enamel with Vallejo if I can get that special military case with 72 bottles as it is at the top of my Christmas wish list.  No question it is alot easier just to squeeze paint out of the Vallejo bottles!

Looking forward to see your StuG A!!!  Don't worry about Chazzer I think he is busy with that pin up book...

JMart,,   thank you, appreciate it

Eric,,   I had to finish,, it would have haunted me if I hadn't....  I still have some plans for it and the schwim

Andy,,,     sorry about the back, I know from experience what that is like.   Forget the asprins for the back, switch to advil     or some other ibuprofen       

Hi guys,

Well here's my final weekend update!

• I completed the other run of Friuls.

LOL! Sorry, I had the work computer at home with me today covering any emergency calls from our clients so it was a busy afternoon and completing these Friuls was all I wanted to get done - they really do look the business!

So, next weekend I'll be able to treat the Friuls to a long bath in the blackening solution. You get 3 bottles; the first is a degreaser, the second does, erm, something and the third makes the tracks 'turn'. I used this stuff on my last StuG III and it worked really well. Apart from some filing to expose bare metal on the raised areas the treated runs didn't want much else doing to them.

Apart from the treatment I'll also start some light washes and chipping.

Here we go so far - looking sweet

Thanks for looking guys,

I hope you like her!

Have a good week and take care,

Ben  [t$t

Andy , strange how the back goes out when it comes to doing yard work ...............just saying .

I concure with bill about ibuprofen . Take care .

Ben , those tracks look bad a$$ !!!

Ben,,,    looking great,, luv those Friuls....    is another cleaning trick to soak them in white vinegar?

BaBill212

Ben,,,    looking great,, luv those Friuls....    is another cleaning trick to soak them in white vinegar?

Cheers guys

That photo from the front looks great! MEAN!

White vinegar eh? I'll have to look into that as the blackening solution says to clean them as well as possible before immersing the tracks into the first solution (there are three bottles in all) which is the degreaser. The other other two make the blackening happen.

You put the contents of the bottles into 3 containers and immerse in each for varying times before moving them onto the next. The third makes the reaction occur almost straight away.

Cheers fellas,

Ben

Ben, MEAN is an understatement, down right FEROCIOUS is more like it.  I like it!

Just finished my first go at Fruils, two sets actually.  Had used Blacken It for my color.  By no means am I an expert at this so had taken advice from Tony aka Pvt Mutt.  First cleaned with soap and water, Then a vinegar bath, next into the blacken it, finally a soaking in water with baking soda. 

Have to remember we are playing with PH here, acids and alkaline.  The vinegar is a mild acid and seemed to clean them very well.  When the tracks came out they were CLEAN, white and very dry feeling.  Insure to wear gloves when removing them from the vinegar and there after to ensure not to grease or dirty them back up.  The blacken it turned them almost immediately, strong acid.  The bath in the baking soda is a neutralizer to the acid stopping the process and preventing damage to the pins holding the tracks together.  This is after drying and before any further washes painting or other treatments.

Allrighty,

Shell, The book is research. AND for the articals. I'm doing reasearch on um...let  me seee....um...yea thats it ...yea...ok....

Tiger, The Singer desk/sewing machine/work bench is all original. Right down to the needles and thread. I picked it up from a friend for free. I think it's worth a few hundred dollars. I have three of them and they all work. Pretty cool. I sell them at a barn sale we run. I kept this one for a desk.

Ben, every detail on your build is what I strive for. Man that is awesome!

Andy, what pin-up book? ...OH...that one..yah... about that...articals...research...um...I think your confusing me with....Carl yah with Carl...and...um...umm.... or Scott....not Chaz.. or Chazzer.....

Rob= The Master.

Dude, Your another modeler I want to become skill wise. Awesome and on the Blitz GB!!

Scott

Andy - that's the same one that I've got. Also managed to pick up all of the Panzer Aces colors, too - since I'm colorblind, it helps me out a LOT to be able to directly match callouts from the various magazines I use for references.

I seem to remember seeing the 72-bottle suitcase on sale somewhere recently...let me see if I can dig that up.

Ahhh, $189 shipped for the Military Colors suitcase (instead of $240). Not as good a deal as I remembered.

Dupes- $189?  That's alot cheaper than what I have found earlier.  Where can I find it?  Thanks again!

Carl & Bill- You betcha... took Advil. Always worked better especially for my neck since the surgery.  Thanks!  I didn't let it stop me... the yard looks great! 

Ben- I absolutely agree with the guys... that's killer set of tracks. Do we really have to wait until next weekend for you to post an update? LOL Take it easy buddy...

Rob- Beautiful tracks!   Now I can not wait to try my first Fruil tracks after seeing your two perfect tracks.  Now I have to order Blacken It set for the Winterketten tracks I will be using...

Guys- Quick update on my figures... safe to say they are 99% done.  Sorry they are taking me much longer unexpectedly.  I haven't done five figures altogether before.  They only need a final dark wash then I am calling them done. 

 I applied decals for the collar patches and shoulder straps.  They were from Alliance Model Works I brought at IMPS show last spring....

Worked on the flesh again tonight... added lighter tone of flesh to the lips.  Then I added very little Panzer Grey MIG pigment to the chin... a great tip I learned from other modeler here. 

Thanks for looking... have a great week!

Your funny posts remind me of Chuck in the Aircraft forum Andy.

LOL Andy man . Fiugures are looking great .

Chazzer

Allrighty,

Shell, The book is research. AND for the articles. I'm doing research on um...let  me seee....um...yea thats it ...yea...ok....

Tiger, The Singer desk/sewing machine/work bench is all original. Right down to the needles and thread. I picked it up from a friend for free. I think it's worth a few hundred dollars. I have three of them and they all work. Pretty cool. I sell them at a barn sale we run. I kept this one for a desk.

Ben, every detail on your build is what I strive for. Man that is awesome!

Andy, what pin-up book? ...OH...that one..yeah... about that...articals...research...um...I think your confusing me with....Carl yah with Carl...and...um...umm.... or Scott....not Chaz.. or Chazzer.....

 

Chazzer

Alright,

Shell, The book is research. AND for the articles. I'm doing research on um...let  me seee....um...yea thats it ...yea...ok....

Tiger, The Singer desk/sewing machine/work bench is all original. Right down to the needles and thread. I picked it up from a friend for free. I think it's worth a few hundred dollars. I have three of them and they all work. Pretty cool. I sell them at a barn sale we run. I kept this one for a desk.

Ben, every detail on your build is what I strive for. Man that is awesome!

Andy, what pin-up book? ...OH...that one..yeah... about that...articals...research...um...I think your confusing me with....Carl yah with Carl...and...um...umm.... or Scott....not Chaz.. or Chazzer.....

 Ben I have a question- What do you use to get the wood so realistic? Man that looks just great! My efforts so far on the wood handles are not so great. I use Vallejo wood for the main color, which I am happy with. It's just that after My paints either doesn't want to come off or all of it wipes off. I was using acrylics in the tube. Thanks alot!

Scott

Guys sorry for the screw-up. Been looking at "articals" too much. LOL

Chaz

HA HA ! LOL Chazzer .............

Andy,,      too funny!     HA                         The figures are looking real nice...

Chaz,,,   you'll hurt your eyes looking at all those "articles"            

deafpanzer

Ben- I absolutely agree with the guys... that's killer set of tracks. Do we really have to wait until next weekend for you to post an update? LOL Take it easy buddy...

Cheers everyone,

Andy - sorry mate but you'll have to wait until Saturday to see my next update. I like to limit my modelling to weekends as I worry that I'd 'burn out' if I did it every day! Plus my work just doesn't permit any real sit down bench time during the week.

My Black Trak Solutions arrived today so it's all go for Saturday. Can't wait to see them treated!

Cheers fellas,

Ben

ANDY - Figures are looking better every time   Have always wanted to try the insignia transfers!  They look fantastic were they easy to use, do you recommend paying the extra money for them?  By looks I would say Yes.  Do you know what the colors for the piping means?  If not I could post a list of all the colors and meanings both for the Wehrmacht Heer and the Waffen, just let me know.  I have that book also, originally bought it for my WWII collecting.  It does make a great reference for modeling also.  I too highly recommend it.  You asked if there were books of the same type for US and the answer is Yes there is.  There are many that I could tell you but the ones I recommend are GOVERNMENT ISSUE: U.S. ARMY EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS COLLECTOR GUIDE.  volume one and volume two.  These are very good books very much done like the one you have.  Many color pictures of all the authentic gear.

BEN - Looking forward to the weekend.

CHAZZ - Thanks for the complement but most of all these guys on here are better then I, most of the guys in THIS GB is better then I.  I just enjoy being able to share and learn amongst everyone here   I'm taller than that guy you posted anyway but the color is about right.  Oh ya, its alright to look through the articles as long as you have safety glasses on.

Chazzer-  I hope you realize that you have to share any articles with us in the GB... that's the rule.

Eric- Thanks! Anthony?  Maybe one day I will find him in the wingy forum... I have couple of plane things.  Please don't tell the Armor guys about this...

Carl & Bill - Thanks guys!

Ben- Cool!  See you next weekend.

Rob- Thanks for the nice words!  You will like those decals.  I thought about ordering Archer dry transfers but wondered if they may be too difficult to place under figure's neck if I want to rub the transfer on the collar. 

I have been trying to learn all of those pipings.  SO MANY out there!   So far I know...

Pink- Panzer    Red- Assault Gun     Yellow- Recon    Grey/Silver- Infantry      Green- Specialized like Pioneers

I have a book that shows alot of this but it may be outdated.  I am always up to get another good reference book!  Here's my favorite book...

Photo for discussion purpose ONLY!

Sounds like US Army Europen book is a perfect book for me... I am going to look for it now. Just don't tell my wife I am about to make another purchase online soon. 

Andy - Think I'm going to try those decals.  Thanks for posting them.  Have seen that book before but cant hardly remember it.

Will  find the real write up on this for you and it will have pictures to go along but this can be a start

                              WEHRMACHT HEER                                          WAFFEN

white                      infantry                                                                 infantry

light blue               transport & supply                                            supply & technical service

dark blue              medical                                                              medical

black                     combat & construction engineers                 engineers

gray blue              specalist officers                                              na

light gray               propaganda troops                                         general officers

brown                   na                                                                       concentration camp guards

bright red             generals, artillery, heavy anti-aircraft           artillery

crimson               general staff corps, veterinary                       veterinary

pink                      armor, armor recon                                         armor, anti-tank

orange red         military police                                              replacement services, engineer officers 

wine red              specialist service                                            na

orange                 ordnance                                                          na

gold yellow          recon, cavalry                                                   cavalry, motorized recon troops

lemon yellow       signal                                                              signal & propaganda troops

light green            mountain & light infantry                              mountain infantry

grass green         armored infantry                                           rifle regiments of SS police division

Thats all of them, hope this makes since to you.  Will get some color refs up after I get some sleep.

Andy,,    I think I have that same book. I would think it couldn't be that outdated, right?

Rob,,    nice listing there.....   going to print it out for a quick reference.      Much obliged!

Good material Rob .

                               Great job on the little panzer Bill you did a wonderful job with the subject you used.Cool camo job to !!