The OFFICIAL Panzer III and Its Variants GB

Thanks Carl,,,   much obliged!

Anytime for you Carl.   I hope you didn't forget about our deal... you will send me a for every compliments I make about your panzer.  I am afraid I lost count...

Me too Andy .................................................

First off i had already glued the track runs together and run them around the running gear while the glue was still curring ( i used Testors plastic cement with the pink label). I then used paper to get the sag correct over the top rollers . I let that set up over night .

I then removed the tracks and painted them .

I fit the drive sprocket into the track and attached it with ehite glue . I left the idler off its axle and had the track fit loodely around it . this gave some extra slack for the top track run .

I put white glue in the holes for the upper rollers .

And slid the rollers one at a time around the teeth and slid the axle pin into its hole . All of the rollers will be "floating " out from their mount holes . After the last roller is slid around the teeth the entire track and rollers can be pushed into place towards the hull.

Now the bottom wheels can be slid on . Put glue in the axle holes .

Slide on the very front and the rear wheel .

Slide on the rest of the wheels .

Since the tracks already had the sag in them i had a slite gap on . I used C.A. on the roller and track and widged a tooth pick in the space to secure the track against the roller .

Done .

Carl- Never thought about using white glue!  I agree using CA is bad idea so I used regular styrene glue in the past but sometimes it would ruin the paint job. This is something I have to give it a shot because I will be using Magic Tracks this time.  I will tell more in my next post...

Slow down!  I am not even anywhere close finishing my StuG.  Kidding, the tracks and wheels look GREAT!!!  So I guess you owe me another , huh?  No I am serious... I am really enjoying your WIP.

Andy , sure am glad your keeping tract of the beers we owe each other cause i lost count a long time ago . If you end up sending me a beer make it one of those Divorce court specials from Utah ......."Polygimee lite "....... .

I've never built a newer kit yet with the magic tracks in it so i dont know whats all different about them . The white glue should work just as well on attaching the running gear . I dont like using C.A. when attaching painted parts either , it always seems to get into the wrong places doesnt it . I've C.A. glued painted parts and they seem to pop off just as easy or easier than parts i white glue .

Slow down ? Who me ? I', one of the slower builders around imo . But remember i have 24 x 7 to work on my builds ......................aint it cool .

Thanks for following the wip . Snowing like crazy now so i should get some good bench time in . No satelite know due to the spruce trees being covered in snow and too dense to let a signal thru ...............going to have to move that dish antenna ........................................

Guys- Update on my StuG.  Love it when it rains outside, my wife can not make me do much around the house except for cleaning.   It is expected to rain tomorrow too...   Perfect way for me to keep up with Carl!!!

Another reason I like to have my builds primed, it helps me catch any mistakes or things I have overlooked.  You see diamond and rectangle shapes on the rear of the StuG? 

Those are places for hooks only on Panzer IIIs... remember this old kit came mixed with Pz and StuG parts.  I checked my reference books to confirm... photo for discussion purpose only.

To cover those, I used Mr. Surfacer 500... applied few coats and let them dry overnight before I can sand them down.

Now they are gone, I did pre-shading this morning... it is ready for base coat of paint.  Rubber on wheels have been painted as well.

\

Hope to post another update tonight...

Hey Guys, I have been lurking alot lately and am amazed with your progress. I've almost finished the Stug B and have already moved on to Dragons Panzer III E. I have had some camera issues and will post what I can when I can. Shell, that paint and weathering is brilliant! Andy, I would classify you as an expert. Lastly. I ran into Boyd at the hobby shop that I always write about. He was speechless. A 5 minute stop to just check it out resulted in a 45 min adventure. LOL I think he was very impressed. I will let him tell ya.

Scott

Carl- Snow?  Y-I-K-E-S!   I am not ready for that...  I agree with you about using CA on paint, they fall apart too easily.  That's why I like to glue PEs on such as slings to weapons or tools before they are primed and painted. 

Guys- After hearing from my local shop owner via email, my order for Friulmodel tracks still is on backorder.  I told the owner not to worry about it and it was a good thing I didn't pay for those.  So I went to eBay to see what I can find... I won this set yesterday for ONLY $17 including shipping.  Winterketten track links from Dragon.  Isn't evilBay great?!?!

I simply can not justify spending $45+ on Friulmodel tracks or $35 on Modelkasten tracks this time.  Trying to save $$$ for Christmas you know...

Chazzer- Hey my man!  Looks like we posted at same time.  So funny about running into Boyd at your fav shop.  Hope you didn't let him fill up his trunk with more kits this time?

Looking forward to see your StuG!  And of course don't forget to include a picture of our favorite book you own.   I recall your Pz III E is for BITW GB, correct?  I plan to build it as my second entry for this GB next year if there is enough time.

Me an expert?  I wish!  It is only my seventh build and I have a long way to go.  Thanks for being too nice! LOL

Ok , i read all of the post but i cant remember everything that was said so i'll thank you Chaz and Andy .................i think you some thing nice about me again didnt you Andy ? (+ 1 beer to you )         

Pre shading looks good Andy but i never seem to have much luck with it showing up in the final paint job so i mostly go with post shading myself .

Andy , this is only your 7th armor model ? Well your really doing a great job with that little experience then . Must be the artist in you . ( + a beer to me , we are even , i think  )

Those wheels , are you going to use a template to spray the paint for the center  color ?

Andy , i'm getting closer to finishing .

I applied the decals to the turret skirting a few days ago . I had sliced the decals so that only the numbers and little of the clear film was showing to cut down on the possibility of silvering . Only problem is that the edges of the sliced decal is thicker and really shows up . I didnt get a pic of the decals at this stage .

What i did was coat the area of the decal with multiple coats of Future ,When the Future cured i dry sanded it carefull until the gloss area around the decal is completely flat . Any gloss left when indicate a depression in the surface and that would show up in the final appearance as a ridge .

Here is how it looked after first sanding .

Then i resprayed another coat of future to fill in sanding marks and other irregularities .

Final coat is with Krylon matt to seal everything for the application of oil washes .

Hey guys, sorry haven't been around for a while.  There has been plenty of good stuff here to catch up on!

STIK - The completed build looks great!  Anxious to see the paint fly.

TOJO - VERY NICE!  The color and weathering are well done.  Really like the front with the spare track and wheels  It will look very impressive with the figures, look forward to them.  My only suggestion would be to weather (darken/streaks) the jack block.

BRIAN - There's always plenty in life to do and come first.  Congratulations on the new addition and hope all goes well, you have my best wishes.

Your Stug looks fabulous!  Love the camo!  The interior additions also...Great.  The thin PE fenders make a big difference and really allow for the damage to them.  The rack is very well done also.  Was it made from scrape PE, styrene or was it part of the PE set?  Look forward too seeing her finished up

ANDY - The primer does help in so many ways.  She looks great and the preshading will turn out nice.  You have become really good with your preshading.  I'm jealous about the brushes but I am happy you got them.  Let me know how they perform.  That was a great find on the tracks, much better price.

CARL - I don't have the words to describe how much I like your Pz III!  It is amazing!  Great work all around but the stowage box is brilliant and your weathering ability with the chalks I find unequaled!  I think your chalk work is way better then all of the fancy, expensive weathering products

Andy and Shell.   Nice project,looking good

Rob and Tojo thanks for your kind words ................

Rob , glad your back , I agree , so far the results have been good from my cheap set of pastels so i'll stay with them . I'm satisfied with how the box came out also . Wasnt sure what color to paint so i just went for the natural / weaterd wood look . Having so much talent in this G.B. to compare too has been a challenge to my skills so i find myself constantly striving to keep up with you guys !!!!!...............

Just completed the burnt umber wash .

Very nice...yes

Carl- Yep, will use circle template for the wheels.  Your turret with decals on looks real good.  I use future too and it never disappoints me.  I see that you use Kylon matt to seal... I bet it is alot cheaper than Testor Flat Clear that I use since it comes in smaller spray can?

Applying burnt umber wash is probably my favorite part of modeling... it just brings out the details.  Nothing beats this!  LOL

Rob- It is great having you stopping by!  You are always welcome to hang out with us crazy guys... thanks for the nice words on my latest work.  Can't wait to spray base coat... was hoping to do it tonight but we had visitors over for dinner and they recently left so I am pretty tired now. 

What are you planning to build next?  Last time it was that little Frenchy beast and it came out beautiful!  You are always welcome to build another one here if we have some gaps to close on our list.

 Anthony- Thanks for the nice words... more to come tomorrow! 

Thanks Rob .

Andy i switched to the Krylon a couple of models back when i ran out of the Dulcoat . Its an 11 oz. can for about $4 . Works better than Dulcoat  imo . Drys real fast . I de-can it and thin it slightly with MM airbrush thinner then air brush it on . I'm enjoying this part of the model also .

I finished the turret ......unless i see something i dont like .

Tomorrow i have to clear off some snow . Think i'll fire up the lawn mower ..........................

Carl- Thanks!  I will give that a try... I haven't done de-canning procedure before.  Turret is looking too good.  Looks like you are about 90% completed and weathering is next?  Try not to have too much fun with snow today.  It is raining today... thank you God! 

Guys- Like I said it is raining... it means more bench time today! 

Sprayed base coat of paint on my StuG.  It was heavily thinned about 50/50 so pre-shades will not be lost. 

You gonna love those circle templates!

YEAAAAHHH!  Perfect match! 

Gonna allow the paint dry before I can spray flat clear tonight then whitewashing & hair spraying technique are next which I am nervous about. 

Andy,,,   the stug is coming along nicely,,,  lookin good !!

Carl,,    thanks for the tutorial on the tracks / roadwheels.   Great fodder for future builds.       And,  your III looks great too,,   !!

CARL - Turret looks great!  All of those details really pop out now.  Now you just have to get the crew together and lower that turret down onto the hull.  Will be waiting to see what it looks like.

Now I have to go and fire up the snow blower

ANDY - You did it agin...perfect pre shade.  That will provide an excellent base for the future treatments, very well done sir  Will be exciting to see a whitewash go on!! I have not done this either but have been wanting to.  I think you'll be able to pull it off with no problem

I haven't forgot about building something else over here, just don't have a lot in the stash for the build.  Still have my Pz III on the train car and the turret mounted train cars but not sure if I want to build the trains now.  I had started on the Gondola car after I had finished the Stug.  It is has not been finished.  It still sits on the workbench taunting me.  Thats the second time I have put a build to the side, don't like doing that.  Anyway the train cars are coming out so big and I want to put them all together on top of that, they may wait to be built until I make my final house move.  Thats about 6 months from now.  Will be nice to finally get a place and be able to really set up a model room, I have big plans!  So that leaves me with nothing else to build but there is still time to see what Santa Clause brings.

deafpanzer

YEAAAAHHH!  Perfect match! 

Hey Andy , next time give me a little warning B4 you post a pic like this ........ Had my mouth full of coffee and i think i ruined the lap top ...........HA HA HA !!!! Funny pic man .

andy when i de can paint i spray from the nozzle thru a 3/8th inch plastic tube into the paint jar , tube about 4-6 inches long . other wise the force of the paint hitting the bottle will cause the paint to fly back out and all over the surrounding area , HTH .

Stug is comming along nicely . i see your pre shading shows thru , good job .

+ one beer for me ........................

Bill , been woundering you was dude . Hope the info helps .

Rob , thanks man . I was just going to put the turret on and click off a few pics . I didnt realize about the moving . Hope when you get down and moved in you have a good place to build at .

Always about Carl,,,,,,          Andy's self pic set me back 24+ hours

PS,,, Andy,,    good pic!

Rob- Thanks buddy!  Yes I remember the stash you bought recently.  No pressure!  LOL  We still have about seven months left... hope this will be still going.

Carl- Drinking coffee?  I thought you drink beer in the mornings? Oh you had to shovel snow so you needed something warm to drink.  Glad you liked the picture... thought I'd give y'all a chuckle.  Notice the horns on my head... what a coincidence?

Bill- Set you back 24+ hours?  That will help you if you are working on that Weekend Madness!  I always wanted to sign up but nothing I have in the stash I can finish just in 48 hours.  Maybe just one figure or two! 

Andy , weird hair man ...............if i had hair i wouldnt let it look like that ! Get control of that stuff dude ................

I finally sat the turret down into the hull ..............imagine that !

Andys beer ..........................

Seems to be something missing from the model before i can call it complete and grab my G.B. Badge ..........................................?