wing_nut

Biz is slow around the holidays so, sadly, more bench opportunities.

SADLY!?!!?...huhhhh?....I klnow what you mean but how dare you speak of MORE BENCHTIME that way...SHAME ON YOU.  For that you are to turn in your second Steel Cats badge!...wait, you're doing three builds though...hmmmm

Marc: Seriously, does that tape method really alllow you to determine the exact # of links?  COOL!!!  I  was one link too short (100 was called out in the instructions) on the starboard side of my Tiger and I got so frustrated it almost became  a "Dead Cats GB" for me!  I was able to splice in the link and paint it to match but the bending and twisting was a real hassle.  I'll be sure to try your method next time.

Wow Marc is on a roll.Wish I could do more,very busy at work.Oh well,more OT pay = More kits !!

Yeah Bish, that Pz IV w/the schmalturm turret is kind of cool. Thanks. I'm a little surprised that the Pz IV could accommodate that turret size.

deafpanzer: Love those pictures of the Tiger in Winter camo'!!!...I saved them as reference for my Early version...which I may still do for my second build for this GB.

Bish:  Washes look great...be sure to knock the shine down though.  I like the skirt armor and the extra armor around the turret, cool look!

Tojo:  Nice...gotta love when she's about ready for paint.

Guys:  A little FYI...Hinksy acheived some nice results with the AK Interactive washes...I just wanted to chime in and inform anyone considering using the stuff that it is potent straight form the bottle!  I dilute it with mineral spirits 1:4 (AK:Spirits)  before it hits the model.  This is a nice ratio as an overall wash...then it can be reapplied straight as pin/ panel washes..  be aware, it will create a "tide pool" edge as it spreads so keep a clean moistened brush available to correct things a bit.  Oh, and don't forget to shake the bottle FIRST! 

Thanks guys

Biz is slow around the holidays so, sadly, more bench opportunities.

Ben, They are got glue in pl;ace but i didn't leave one end open.  It took some wiggling to get the tracks off and likely will be a task getting them back on once painted etc.   They are fairly tight on the drive sprocket so when you do yours mount them with the open link at the drive sprocket.  Looks like it will be a lot easier getting them off and on again.

Hi guys,

Marc - I'm going to use the Magic Tracks on my Panther G - love the blocks and jar idea. Should give them tracks the look of weight.

Did you permantly fix them to paint on the tank later or have they been left unglued at one end so they can be removed for painting off the tank?

Ben

Man Marc, you're flying thru your third build! I haven't got the camo down on my first!

Nice looking start Marc .........i know about the jars contents .

Marc - Wow! Now that's cool. Very ingenious.

Feels good getting the 1^st WIP pics going.

The tub has all it little goodies attached with the axles.  Road wheels sanded and chunked up.  Some track links keep the teeth on the drive sprocket aligned.

 This Dremel bit is used for several of the wheel prep steps.  When chucked in the Dremel the tire is spun against a sanding stick making quick work of the mold line.   It also leaves a little bit of tooth in the holes that allow it to stay snug on the axle, for fitting the tracks, without glue or poster tack.  I have it in a couple of sizes for smaller road wheels.

I use a piece of tape to check get the length of the track since my experience with the number of links the Dragon sheet says to use has a high probability of being wrong.  The wood block starts it all off nice and square and the blue line is the length of the masking tape.   The sheet says 81 links and it was 85. Some blocks of wood and weight to keep everything flat and in contact with the road wheels. 

Thanks Eric. Someone did mention that it looks BMP ish. I have to agree, sort of reminds me of a BMP 3.

Pz IV with a Panther turret, not as far fetched as you might think.

Krupp's concept to mount a Panther Ausf F turret on a Pz IV Ausf H hull.

wing_nut

Eric, sadly no.  The zim set is winging its way across the pond from Poland as we speak.  I have only used Cavalier zim in the past.  Hope the ATAK is as nice.

Anthony and Bish, looking good gents. I too must add that that Pz IV turret on the Panther hull looks mighty different. I wonder what a Panther turret would look like on a Pz IV hull? 

Thanks Gamera, and ye i agree. I have been looking at images of this for a few years, and it never looks right. I can't remember the last time i changed the newspaper. Before i do, i think i better see what else is hidden in there.

Bish: Nice work there on the washes! Though she still looks strange to me with the little Panzer IV turret perched on top of the Panther body! And glad you didn't throw out the newspaper

Tojo: Like it!

Thanks Ben, i will keep that in mind. I read an article on Armorama where the guy used the dust effects i have. He said he thought the results were better before he removed some with white spirits. So i guess it depends on how heavy a dusting you want. I think i will try it on the inside of the wheels first and get a feel for it, then move on from there.

Hey Bish,

That's good news on the hatch - it's a killer when important things like this go AWOL! They usually turn up in the most ridiculous places too. I never did find that damn barrel cleaning box and Jack for my Panzer II - it was easy to replace them though.

I read a great article in a magazine the other day where the author used AK's African Dust Effects. I picked up some of that at the weekend and tried it out on a couple of older builds that I use for 'test-beds' - it dries to an amazing effect! If you want a nice dusty or sandy effect this is great stuff.

Ben

Eric, sadly no.  The zim set is winging its way across the pond from Poland as we speak.  I have only used Cavalier zim in the past.  Hope the ATAK is as nice.

Thanks all.

Joe, i have to add a coat of future as i use enamel paints. So i have to protect that before applying any wash.

Ben, i couldn't agree more. The streaking grime has really turned out great, and the winter grime is next on my list. I did get the earth and dust effects, so will be trying those out as well.

And i have called off the search parties. The missing hatch turne up. It had hidden itself between the sheets of newspaper i work on.

So onwards.

wing_nut

tigerman

I've been trying hard to get that Panther, but it goes for too much on ebay. 

I still have a bit of the aircraft modeler in me and a premium kit with all that multimedia in the box, that level of detail and part count .. for 45(ish) bucks still strikes me as a deal.  But...I shouldn't t tell you what I paid for the kit.  OK... I will  $8.  Part of 10 model package I bought on Ebay for $80.  Only thing was the guy would not ship it, I had to drive into NYC to get them.  But that's only 40 minutes.  If you can score one of these for 30 clams I'd  get it. So far it looks pretty darn nice.

Wow, way nice score. Did that package include the Atak zimmerit?

An awful lot of really kool looking builds going on here,so many its nearly immpossible to address each one individually. A bow to each of you participants. My Ersatz Panther G is still in progress although little has been done that is truly noticable.The interior floor bracing is nearing completion,trans mounts transmission details and such are being worked out. Much praise must be given to the research squad for the book they have published covering the restoration of the wheatcroft panther A. If you are in the market for some excellent refs check out thier site. Well since I drop in twice a day theres not much that escapes my notice ,except the fact that Deafpanzer isnt soldering his brass yet.LOLsee you all in the Am..

                                          Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Hi fellas,

Bish - That Panther Hyrid is really starting to take off, great work. I'm glad you are getting the hang of the Streaking stuff. It's helped me achieve effects that I just couldn't obtain before AK released these items. I'd try my best using pin pricks of oil paint dragged down the tank and while it's a proven method this stuff really makes the whole process so much easier and the results look great. Those streaks I managed to get on my Tiger turret have generated a LOT of compliments. It's shows just how much difference these little touches make and what catches peoples eyes!

That was AK 'Winter Streaking Grime' on my Tiger btw, a definate to try and great for pinwashes too. It's a green/brown colour.

Btw - I do NOT work for AK (but am open to offers)

Great job my friend

Tojo - looking good buddy, itching to see some paint!

Ben

Bish - Oh Heck Yeah! That looks great. Good to see you gloss coat the entire tank as that would be the way I would do it. NICE!!!

Thanks guys,Bish the wash came out good

tigerman

I've been trying hard to get that Panther, but it goes for too much on ebay. 

I still have a bit of the aircraft modeler in me and a premium kit with all that multimedia in the box, that level of detail and part count .. for 45(ish) bucks still strikes me as a deal.  But...I shouldn't t tell you what I paid for the kit.  OK... I will  $8.  Part of 10 model package I bought on Ebay for $80.  Only thing was the guy would not ship it, I had to drive into NYC to get them.  But that's only 40 minutes.  If you can score one of these for 30 clams I'd  get it. So far it looks pretty darn nice.

Bish that is really shaping up nicely

Anthony, looks great. Always nice when you get to one of the points where the process enters a new stage. 

Nice looking Tiger Tojo.

Thanks bob. So do i. Already been through the vacum cleaner. Another search of the flor is in order i think.

You're making good progress Tojo-looks good.  Looking forward to seeing your Tiger with some paint.

Some more progress,almost ready for some paint :

Looks good Bish-can't wait to see it with a little dust.

Hope you find the missing part soon.

Here is my latest update. Since i started useing washes and such, my biuilds have been farily heavily weathered. For this i wanted it to be more on the light side. I had thought i had over done it again, but when compareing it to my other builds, i think its about right.

I have used a raw umber oil wash and from AK their wash for dark yellow and streaking grime.Thanks largely to Ben (Hinksey) this has come out rather well after a few false starts.

My next job is to get the tools painted and fitted before i add some dust.

Though i do have one small problem. I seem to have lost the commanders hatch.

tigerman

Bish

Eric, not sure why that Panther kit is going for big money. I thought it waqs still in production. Hannants still list it, though hey are currently out of stock. Though they may just not have removed it. I will keep an eye out for it.

Well, not really big money LOL. It sells for usually around $25 and up, plus shipping. I'm trying to score one for around $30 with shipping. The thing is, I have two Panthers and wouldn't really might another subject, say a Valentine or BT-7.

$30, i would snap up several at that price.

One can never have enough Panthers.