The OFFICIAL Panzer III and Its Variants GB

                                Great figure work Andy I have ten or so I can send around your way,can you give me a turnaround date? I'll have to back a bit as I do not re-call what you were building. LOL ,out of touch I guess.

Rob- Holy cow!  This is great information... thanks for sharing with us.  I noticed that for anti-tank its either pink or red.  I went for red this time... hope it is correct for my Marder II crew. 

I am glad your family is OK after reading your comment in BITW GB... crazy world we live in now.

Detailfreak- Hey buddy!  Ten figures?  Yikes that would take me at least four weeks... it took me nearly two weeks and half just for five figures. LOL  Glad you liked the figures... now I can finally start building that StuG you gave me.  I won't mind painting couple of figures for you since you gave me this great gift. 

Guys- Good news!  I am officially calling those figures DONE!  I learned something today and I thought I'd share with you guys.  In the past I have struggled to take good pictures of my builds despite good camera I was using.  A friend of mine told me to get special bulbs from photography shop. 

I bought two... they were expensive... $12 each.  You can see the big difference now...

Old bulbs... it made everything look yellowish or brownish.

New bulbs... this is exactly what I am seeing with my own eyes.

I will post few more pictures next...

                                       Not a whole lot of progress on my part,but the rest of you's are giving her the peas and carrots.LOL heres all I've got for now.

                              Noticed the wonderful lighting,and the backdrop . at two am that hardly mattered. The panzerIII ausf.N is the Dragon OOB ,really!! It is. The bergepanzer III is still the originally specified kit.As I mentioned I had cosidered swapping. Also considered converting the N to the flammpanzer but the lack off a couple of refs. I'll keep looking for the old dragon kit also.Anyway the berge needed something on the towbar!

                           Thanks for looking.

                                                      Greg "Detailfreak"Rowley

Greg- Great process on your builds... two going on at the same time, correct?  I think I have two perfect figures for your Bergepanzer...

Andy  i have that same yellow ting due to incadescent bulbs . The CFL's make a good difference .

Greg , those are good looking builds.

                                 I figured the two of them pulled up along a dirt road and ahem,as in the Verlinden figures "Things  to Do". Been thinking about short tracking the victim but  I have not seen this done to the panzer III, the photo I have seen is a jagdpanzer IV complete with shorttrack and towbar.

                                  As for the figgies? I think  I'll give her a shot myself.

Guys- More pictures... I applied dark washes using W&N Raw Umber oil paint heavily thinned with Mona Lisa thinner.  I love doing this part because it brings out the details at the end. 

Tank commander for my Panzer IV Ausf H...

German infantry to go with the Panzer IV too...

I am not too sure about the helmet hanging on the officer's back according to the instruction.  It hasn't been glued yet.  Please let me know if you like it or not...

Finally my Marder II has a crew!!!

Now I want to drink a diet coke with Captain Morgan rum... LOL

Now you know I have no more excuse not to start my StuG build any time soon... thanks for looking!  Feedback and comments are always welcome.  I would have posted this in Figures forum but I don't think most of us go there often nowadays. 

Have a good one!

Andy , wow ! I really enjoy looking at them . The expressions on them really have feeling . Their look is rough and unshaven , just as it should be . You have got the knack for doing really well done figures . (i Score them 5 out of 5 beers.)

Carl- Thanks man for the five beer.  I think I can handle only if you allow me to drink them all in an hour, right? LOL!  Cheers!  

I figured those soldiers were involved in heavy fightings during the Battle of Kursk that they haven't shaved for several days.  I was surprised how MIG pigment came out good for the officer with the cigarette.  But it was a flop for the other figure... I accidently wiped a part off when I was doing the washes so I just removed the whole thing.  I think I still need to fix his face with a little touch of thinned flesh paint around the nose.

I am off tomorrow but my snow bird parents are in town this week so I hope I will find time to start StuG!

Outstanding work on those figures Andy

Thanks Anthony!   Is that your new profile name... Tojo72? If so, I like it! 

Greg,,    thanks for the kind words...  appreciate it.    The kits are looking great. I do like the idea of them on the dirt road.... Great fodder for some dirt and grime.

Andy,,    super job on the figures.   The lighting fix sure did help.    And personally, I like the helmet on the back...  I have positioned both on the back and on the front...  In your case I would opt for the back...  less of a distraction from the work you did on the face.

deafpanzer

Thanks Anthony!   Is that your new profile name... Tojo72? If so, I like it! 

Thats me Andy,I was able to switch to one that I use on other forums also.

anthony2779

Andy - those figures are gorgeous! Light makes a difference. I used a 60% off coupon at Michaels and got an OTT Lamp/Bulb. Pricey but makes a big difference for both the pics and them Mk I eyeballs.

Dupes - I have a vague recollection of that suitcase being somewhat on sale couple Squadron catalogs ago... only time I have seen it "on sale"

Bill- I agree with you about having the helmet hanging on the back.  I will go ahead and have it glued but first I will tone down as I haven't used flat clear on the helmet so that's why it looks little shiny.  Thank you my friend!

JMart- Thanks for the information about Michael.  I might buy one more bulb to replace the one inside the paint booth.  I go to Hobby Lobby all the times and I like to carry the coupon inside my wallet "just in case"... looking forward to your work here.

Andy,,   always a pleasure Pal,,,, 

I may have finished the micro pz,,,  but I am still tinkering with the build.     A few pics of the base and scant progress.....

I start this out with a 6 x 9" walnut beveled base...  checking each side I mark which way I want the "eye" to view from (front).

I then mask off a quarter inch from the bevel as the working area of the scene.....  I mark the front with an X just so I don't dummy-up and forget (eventually the arrow will be gone).

I then scrape that very nice walnut finished wood (always pains me) so my "scenery" will have some grip.

For this particular scene / idea, I am incorporating quarter inch square clear plastic as a "dam" .....   I cut at an angle (shown, somewhat) then I sand, buff and polish down to a 45 degree angle (or close).

Before securing [to the base] I paint a border so I don't have to worry about the edges showing the scarred walnut underneath. The border painting will reflect the color of the scene in an upcoming step.

I use Weldbond for securing the clear plastic sections....

After the intial pieces are put in place and the bond dries, I go back and totally seal the inside of the plastic frame.     Neatness doesn't count in this part of the effort.....  which is always nice.   And the bond dries crystal clear (the corners still have a little drying time yet, but there is no rush)....

So, that is where I am at the moment.    Much much more to do with this scene...    I will keep you posted as I progress.

Hope you enjoy and am looking forward to following the rest of your builds!

All comments welcome of course......

Bill

Hey Brothers, Been doing alot of stalking lately. I don't have much to contribute. I will post later this weekend. The work being shown is great. Thanks!

I wanted to let you all know that there is a seminar on Sunday Oct. 9th at 12:pm at HQ Hobbies in Milford CT. AK Interactive is doing a class on color modulation and airbrushing. There is also a sale in conjunction, to celebrate the stores 10th anniversary. The guys doing the class are the same ones from APMS EAST a few weeks ago. If your in the area check it out, there is lots to learn. PM me for any info or questions.

Chaz

Have a good time at the seminar Chaz...............

Gents , i wont be posting for about a week . My son and grand daughter are staying with me for another week and i havent been able to get to the bench anyway so nothing to report on Pz. 1 . I'll catch up latter.

Enjoy the time with your family Carl,,,    the bench will always be there when you return

Andy - You can sign up for free for a Michael's Rewards card; you get additinal coupons via email.

Chaz - Is that seminar part of the IPMS Stratford show??? 

Andy - You can sign up for free for a Michael's Rewards card; you get additinal coupons via email.

Chaz - Is that seminar part of the IPMS Stratford show??? 

JMart, The seminar is not part of the show. It celebrates the 10 years he has been in business. There will be 20% off EVERYTHING in the store and 50% off more than 100 kits, and not the crappy ones! He stocks Fruils, Modelkasten and many more AM track sets and ALL the paints you could possibly want including Polly scale leftovers. All PE sets, Aber, Eduard etc, Airbrushes including Iawa and lots of kits and AM details. ALL on sale!!

The reason I tell you of this is because of the variety and savings. I am in NO way related or have been paid for this message. I just want my brothers to know about this place and the deals to be had. The owner is a builder of AFVs. HQ Hobbies, Milford CT.

J, where do ya live, I'm in Guilford. Not many people to share ideas and tips with here. Also no clubs.

I have lots of pictures of the build to post this evening.

Happy modeling

Scott 

BaBill212

I start this out with a 6 x 9" walnut beveled base...  checking each side I mark which way I want the "eye" to view from (front).

 

Bill- Loving what you are doing!   Wondering if I can get those bases at Lobby Hobby or Michael's?  I need to make six bases for all of my past builds.  Yikes!

Chazzer- Lucky you!  I'd go one of those seminars if they are much closer.  Have fun and keep us posted...

Carl- Have a great time!  Family comes first for me too.  Speaking of devil, my 'snow bird' parents have been visiting since Saturday but they left for Florida this morning.  That's why I have been little quiet this week... can't wait to hit the work bench over the weekend. 

Try not to buy more StuG kits or you will not have enough space to sleep on your man cave. LOL

Jmart- Good idea... thanks!

Andy,,    I am not really sure where you can get these bases. Maybe as Malone says, you could try Michaels or Home Depot, Lowes, etc.   I was fortunate enough to get mine for free at a company cleanout. They were going to toss 4 x 5's, 6 x 9's, 9 x 12's and 12 x 15's.....  some with bevels some without....  but all walnut and finished. I probably have 100 of the different sizes.    PM me if you would like me to check into my stash for you.

Malone,,   I usually make my tow cables out of stripped wire. I typically will thin-out the amount and twist a little tighter than the stripped version.

Malone- Thanks!  Yes I have seen those unfinished wooden bases.  If they are the only option for me, then I guess I will buy them and have them stained.  Was hoping I can buy finished bases... less work for me because time is never in my favor. 

Funny thing I was thinking about looking for metal wires too at Michael's or Hobby Lobby next time I go there... let's hope somebody can answer your question.

Bill- Lucky you!  Love it when you can get stuff for FREE!!! Don't worry about checking your stash.  I will check Michaels' and Hobby Lobby... smaller wood base may work better for my builds or I will run out of space quickly and put up with my wife about space shortage later on...

Andy, Stugs, Stugs, and more Stugs! They are my Favorite German tanks. I like the lines and the progression from the "A" and up to the "G"  and any variants. Like this build. It's all your fault! Once this "B" is done I am planning on the "E". I think. I am committed to the "Blitz" GB., I'm building the Matilda. Should be lots of fun. Anyway, After that I'm gonna paper the walls, the headboard of the bed and maybe the ceiling with Stugs, Stugs and......more Stugs. Did I tell ya I like Stugs?

This is a little late but you figures came out so cool. I have never built and painted one. When do you use an airbrush and when do you paint. I want to do the commander for the "B". Just oob. Thanks pal. Have you heard from Maj Mike? We were the three Amigos prior to our build. I hope he's OK. I think he said something about being busy for the summer. I'm not sure.  

Thanks

Scott