The OFFICIAL Panzer III and Its Variants GB

Carl- Thanks buddy!  Just come over... I will buy you the beer of your choice in a heartbeat if you stop by.  

Bill- Hey man!   Happy to have you stopping by... no need to tell me how many golf rounds you have played this summer. LOL 

Mike- LOVED the GB badge... I am going to use it instead of mine.   Thank you so much for the chuckle!   Back to school yet?  

Deafpanzer - figure looks great - mounted spare track, currently working sand bags and jerry cans ... Armor86

StreetFightingman - GB finishes up end of month ... just in time for the Cat GB .... Armor86

Hey Andy - Lots of good stuff in here.... missed it this summer :(   Sorry I went AWOL on you guys, but I had to "close shop" due to massive flooding/basement damage late Spring. (Yes, mancave is in the basement) . So, my "update" is as follows:

Clean up water damaged stuff

Clean again

Anti-mold treatment

Deeper sump pump cavity

Newer, more powerful, lower threshld sump pump

Install couple fans to help dry out what gets wet

New higher capacity Speed Vac

Purchase heavy duty plastic shelves in Home Depot, use as "pallets" to put everything at least 2' above ground.

Re-route some electrical

attached garage still half a mess (that is where my spray booth is located)

The good news is that most of the work is done.... and I started to put together my workbench again.

The best decision I made was to store AMs, WIPs and model-related items in large tupperware bins and containers, and my paints in a large toolbox. I only lost about a dozen items, but could have been a disaster....

Again, my apologies for (yet again!) not participating fully and completing a GB. I could re-start the Flammpamzer but I doubt I will be able to finish it before end of the month. This way I can take the next couple weekends to put together the workbench and start anew and fresh with a new kit and GB (if they allow me to participate in GBs anymore.. lol... )

I really learned a lot in this GB even with minor participation; I truly enjoy the "dark side" now and cant wait to build (and FINISH) more armor...

Cheers, James

PS - seems I also missed a change in forum format!

Andy -- sorry i've not been around, it's been crazy here -- cleaning for an inspection this week, teaching at the U again, looking after family, plus I've been working on a magazine feature model that's deadlined at the end of the month too. An item I needed for that project won't be coming in till next week, as it happens, so i could take a dive tat the StuG over the weekend. LuckyModel have never delivered on the Legend stowage set, I've just let the order lie as a back order situation so if it ever shows up i'll do something with it...

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Armor86- Really looking great!   I never get tired looking at your Pz III especially inside the wheels where you left them unpainted at its red brown primer!

James- Jeez, I am so sorry to hear about the flooded basement.  I always worry about this too since my man cave is in the basement too.  Like you, all of my kits are inside large storage rubbermaid boxes and most of my kits are on top of the shelves.   Appreciate you letting us know!  

No worries... no hard feeling!  I have been part of many GBs and it is impossible to reach 100% participation rate.  I even had to drop out from couple of GBs myself.  Looking forward to see your build at Steel Cats GB... it should be fun!

Mike- Hey!  No worries no pressure!   We have about two weeks left... again I am very flexible as long as I want to see completed builds.  I need to finish my Pz III too!!!  LOL  

Andy -- thanks, mate! Well, I'm happy to say I've made a start here, there's some zimmerit work left to do and I've temporarily attached the gunner's hatch parts with whiteglue to facilitate the paintjob, they'll be removed, touched up and mounted open later. I've researched the hairspray method for the winter camo and it looks like it should be doable, I may do a test panel first. I had meant to do a whole test kit but I don't have time... I'm hoping to respray the tracks and maybe get some dunkelgelb basecoat underway as early as tomorrow. The Tank figures look great and I'll have the commander standing outside on the rear deck, I hate to hide away detail, and besides, he won't actually fit through the hatch unless cut at the waist, and that's a crime on a figure as beautiful as this!

Photos when there's something to see,

Mike/TB379

Updated Photos - Pz III Ausf J (Vorpanzer) - Several storage boxes and rolled tarps to base coat and dry brush. Thinking of where to logical locate items. Review some photos. Armor86

Photos posted earlier had a problem. Armor86

Armor86 -- tremendous work! I love the finishing stages when a model really comes to life!

I've completed some of the remaining zimmerit work. I had to canibalise some extra pieces in the set for obscure areas, as I wanted the hatches in the glacis to be properly delineated, rather than simply covered. Here's the result:

I'll add a little zim around the tail, just enough to suggest worn fragments, then move the beast along.

I found Archer dry transfers for the black-with-white-outline numbers I need and ordered them today, i considered painting the numbers by hand but I don't think I'm that good. I've researched the hairspray technique and have a can handy, so with luck this'll be my first fancy whitewash job.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Whew! It's been a long time since I've done any work on this. This is how it been sitting for almost a year now:

Got back to work on it today and should have it ready to primer soon.

Armor86- WOW!  You are very close to the finish line!!!  It really looks GREAT!  Nice stowage.  However I would not place wooden boxes too close to the turret because the gun will not be able to move right or left if you try to move it around.  I think they would look great if the long one can be placed horizontal against the spare wheels.  I think it will allow the gun to move freely without hitting the stowage.  Then smaller wooden box on the fender in the rear.  

Again it is your build... thought I'd help.  

Mike/TB- That Zimm is just AMAZING!  That's something I must get for one of my future builds.   You will love those dry transfers from Archer.  They worked on my Pz IV with Zimm... far better than decals because air bubbles are so prone while dealing with Zimm.

John- Man, I am so happy to see you here.  Thought about you when I shopped at Hobby Town USA at Castleton... good news they stock Vallejo paint now.   Yes I am NOT KIDDING!  Still don't believe me? OK, here's proof... LOL 

It made me wonder if Hobby Town USA in Greenwood stock those too.  By the way I LOVED the shop in Louisville and I will not hesitate to shop there again if I ever am in area again.  

Your SIG looks real good especially the tracks!   They look ready to be primed.  Again, no hurry I am not picky about the deadline.  I need more time on my Pz III K so just let me know.  

The last time I was at the Hobby Town in Greenwood I don't recall if they had those paints or not. I do know the 1/35 armor was almost empty on the shelves. Plenty of planes, sci-fi, ships and autos but little in the 1/35 armor. I kind of figured you'd like the shop in Louisville, a little pricey but he has a decent selection of models and supplies.

I think I'll be able to get the SIG done in time. If I can get it primed during the week then I might be able to get it finished over the weekend. I don't know if I'll go ahead with the whitewash, might just do the gray and beat the finish up some.

Thanks Andy --  I'm sure looking forward to assembling a collection of Archers to beat the carrier film issue. The zim is behaving itself well at the moment -- there was a question a few days ago as to how well the Cavalier stuff distresses for a worn appearance, so here's my fragmentary zim from the rear end:

I'm thinking this will be the only heavily distressed area, as the rest up front is not worn away and I want reasonable continuity across the vehicle. I have one piece left to do the strip directly above this and might distress it a bit -- what do you all think?

Cheers, Mike/TB379

deafpanzer

Carl- Thanks buddy!  Just come over... I will buy you the beer of your choice in a heartbeat if you stop by.  

Bill- Hey man!   Happy to have you stopping by... no need to tell me how many golf rounds you have played this summer. LOL 

Mike- LOVED the GB badge... I am going to use it instead of mine.   Thank you so much for the chuckle!   Back to school yet?  

If i make the trip can i have a really fancy beer ? Maybe a Bud Ale ? Or is that too fancy ?

Carl- I would even buy you two Bud Ale... I know it will put a dent into my modeling budget. 

Mike- WOW!  Worn out Zimm on the rear just look very realistic... great work there!

John- Too bad about Greenwood shop... I will check it out next time I am in area.  Castleton has much more armor kits now but I wonder for how long?  Awesome about your SIG... again no pressure and enjoy the weather while you can.  Bet your lawn is finally as green as mine?  

Hmmmmm ..............two Bud ales ...............could be worth the trip .

Hey guys,

Excellent work here. I just spent the better part of a week reading thru all these pages. It is very inspiring! I am new to FSM and the forums here, but intend to poke around and share as I have time.

I am disappointed that I missed the GB as this one is right up my alley. Next time...

Interestingly enough, I was in the process of builing a PzKfw III Ausf E when I came across this site.

(Still working on it...)

Armor86 – great build, love what you did with the tracks. Lots of little tips from your build I will copy for sure (toothpicks on tracks and rationale for addon items for example).

Thunderbolt – Great work with the zimm!

Andy – Figure looks great! I think he is saying EIN BEER BITTA! I already signed up for the Steel Cats GB and bought some more Tupperware bins, I am banning cardboard/paper from my basement! If you ever come down to AMPS Danbury I owe you a cold one!  

JMart- Thanks!  You never know I may be in the area for that cold beer.  Cheers! 

Hasen- Thank you for the nice words!  VERY NICE work on your Pz III E.  Welcome to FSM by the way!  You will find alot of good GBs so you can sign up and build with us.  Next big one is coming up soon... Steel Cats GB if you are interested. 

Hope to see you again! 

Thanks JMART and Deafpanzer - Mid-week update (Pz III Ausf. J - Vorpanzer) Completed oil pin wash (Ivory Black) and (Raw Umber), sand bags almost there (Burnt Umber oil wash) tools installed ... thanks Deafpanzer on comment regarding placement of wooden stowage boxs. Still working on tarps and wooden boxes ... pickup AK Dust Effects and Afric Dust Effects ... Have Mig and other pinments. Armor86

Hasenpfeffer - Welcome Aboard! - Pz III Ausf E looks great - is it the Dragon smart kit E? Will you use the magic track ... several use Friul sets and I have use with an older Dragon Imperial Pz IV Ausf. F1 last year ... I'm on the third build using Dragons magic track set ... finally think I've got them down. Note installing after the fenders are installed can be difficult and require assembling track runs and feeding from the idler (rear) over the return rollers. I didn't cement the drive wheel and idler until after the track was finished. Armor86

Armor86-  Dark washing job you have performed on your little panzer is very impressive!!!  You have chosen right colors and did it perfectly to make details pop.  

deafpanzer - Thanks for the welcome and the compliment. I appreciate that, especially after being on hiatus for the better part of the last 20 years. I feel like I have so much to learn and practice with all the new techniques that I will be busy for quite awhile.

I have also been lurking over at the Steel Cats GB thread. There sure is a lot of chatter pre-build. I will probably join in the fun as I have a couple Panther A's in my stash as well as the older Late Model Tiger I from Tamiya... hmmm, haven't done a Panther in... forever.

armor86 - thanks man. It's actually the same kit that satch-ip and streetfightingman built for this build. CyberHobby (Dragon Imperial + magic tracks + some figures) PzKfw III Ausf. E/F Value Kit. Of course I built it to be an "E" and then proceeded to put the decals for an "F" on it. .

Funny you should mention the tracks and the difficulty in assembly post fender installation... I actually started this thing after I got to the same point on my StuG III F so that I would have a fenderless vehicle to build the magic tracks up on for both. Well, you can see where that got me. Two with fenders. Guess I like a challenge. I just purchased a set of Fruils that would fit this, but they are really for the Dragon Panzer III Ausf F Premium Kit I have sitting staring at me. (This was supposed to be practice for that one...) So, magic tracks it is. I'll post a picture or two later on when I finish up - both the PzIII and StuG, as it will fit in here as well.

armor86 - Geez, and I forgot to mention in my self absorbed post that your Pz. III J looks awesome! Love the subtle camo job and the washes really bring it to life.

Thanks Hasenpfeffer - looking forward to seeing it with tracks ... I used 3 segments for each side - one bottom run from 3/4 around the drive (front) and half way up on the Idler wheel - 3 individual link segment (drive wheel) front - then mostly straight segment run back to the idler wheel. Posted photos earlier August timeframe on the GB. After glue is set primer, washed, rusted to taste ... Armor86.

Best get it in gear if I'm gonna finish,mostly stowage left and some figures later. Some really great builds are gonna come out of this though .

                                         Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Weekend Update - Pz III Ausf J Late (Vorpanzer) - Dry brushing stowage, sand bags, and vehicle completed. Only need to dusty up the vehicle for North Africa theater .... Any thoughts ... I have several different brands i.e. AK's stuff, MIG pigments or ModelMakerz .... photos below ... Armor86

Armor86- Just excellent!!!  Stowage looks perfect too!  Can't wait to see it finished soon...

Worked on my Pz III finally over the weekend too so I will post pictures when I have the chance.