Bish -- the zim on the mantlet is Squadron white putty cut with testors liquid cement and applied with a small brush. I let it surface-dry for about twenty seconds, then scored in the pattern with the tool.

Thanks all -- will crack on today and see what I can get done. I have the paints in hand but might go with Archer dry decals over the zim, I saw a tute and it looks like they burnish into the pattern very well indeed.

I'm going to try my best to replicate Tony Greenland's build of this kit (p109 of the Windrow and Green (1996) edition of his book), with the exception of the etched set he used, I'm all etched-out at the moment after fiddling with it on my AS-90 build...

M/TB379

Opps, sorry Ernst, didn't see your post.

jgeratic1

Ernest, that industrial strength thinner looks to be running low and needs replenishment. 

Check out the latest release from amusing hobbies.  Just guessing, but it's origin does look like that of the Panther?

regards,

Jack

This was the Daimler Benz (hence the DB) design for the Pz V. It was based largley on the T-34. They lost out to MAN who came up with the Panther we know and love.

Got my new compressor yesterday.  Man is the Iwata smart jet quite.  My wife loves it.  This mean I get to build while the kids are sleeping.  Like Hinksly late Sept or October will be my starting date.

Kim

Ya know, you're right Jack!  I HAVE been doing a lot of stripping and painting lately.....

I think the VK.3002(DB) was Daimler-Benz's 1942 design response to the Soviet T-34/76 (funny how the artwork shows two of them burning in the background since this never saw action)  The DB design never got past the prototype stage, losing out to the MAN designed VK3002(MAN), which ultimately became the Panther  The DB design was considered too Russian, whereas the MAN design was more German.

BTW, DB had another, very similar protoype with leaf spring suspension.....I wonder if Amusing Hobby is going to release that version?

Eric, would this count as an entry in this GB? It could be said to be a forerunner of the Panther...

Ernest, that industrial strength thinner looks to be running low and needs replenishment. 

Check out the latest release from amusing hobbies.  Just guessing, but it's origin does look like that of the Panther?

regards,

Jack

Hi folks,

This is going to be GRRRREAT!!!

I can't wait to get the Panzer II finished and get the Dragon Tiger I Ausf E with pre-moulded Zim that I have on order underway for this GB!

My kit will be in with my LHS's last Dragon order and my Panzer II wil be another 4 weekends before completion.

I reckon I'll be starting my GB Tiger I right at the start of October. Probably on the weekend of Saturday 29th September.

Ben

Off to a good start guys!

Mike - Pretty good first time zim work there!  Much better than my first attempt!  I'm glad my two of my little kitties have molded on zim.

Hasenpfeffer - sweet looking Panther kit and it will look sweeter with the Atak zim! 

Eric - you should put some zim on that late Jagdpanther....just for kicks!!    lol

YES!  Bufflehead is actually starting a group build on time instead of coming in waaay late!!  This morning I cleaned up the main workbench and snapped a couple of photos before chopping and gluing plastic.

Took all the roadwheels out to see how they're assembled on each kit.  I think I'll leave the wheels for last and work mostly on the hulls and turrets first. 

The only aftermarket parts I'll be using are these little 1/72 brass MG barrels I've had in the stash for a couple of years.  Finally get to use them!

Oh, and you can ignore that bottle of Crown Royal Reserve on the bench.  I just use that as an industrial strength paint stripper and acrylic paint thinner......  

Update. I got the torsion bars, back plate, and transmissions glued together, so i did get step 1done today. Hope to get more done tomorrow.

Corvettemike, hope you can make it in. This s a pretty long GB, so there should be time to hop aboard.

Mark, hope you can finish that project accordingly.

Hasenpfeffer, you're probably correct. Some of the earlier A's that went to Italy didn't have the zimmerit, so that's a good call on the Late A's needing it.

Mike, great job on the zimmerit. that looks super for a first attempt.

Well, I did manage to get the box open and start cutting the wheels off the sprues. I'm anxiously awaiting the ATAK zimmerit that I ordered for this build. (With my limited Panther resources, I could not find a single Ausf A without it...)

The kit:

And the vehicle I hope to have mine somewhat resemble upon completion. Note the real #111 had zimmerit.

Hope to have more soon!

Yeah, nice start. I may get some time in tonight, we'll see how I feel after work. I actually have pics of the vehicle I'm doing, which is a first for me.

Nice start Mike. What you use for the Zimm.

Okay, first WIP shots -- I've made some modest progress on the Tamiya King Tiger (Porsche) today. First, a better box shot with the shrinkwrap away:

Next, general progress so far:

I've done my first ever raked-putty zimmerit experiment, here it is:

Not too bad for a first attempt. Closer:

I'll probably get the wheels assembled tomorrow and hopefully start on the turret zim.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

I'm outta the gate, kinda sorta. Started out by drilling a hole in the bottom of hull so that I can glue a nut to the inside in order to screw in a metal file handle w/bolt to accomodate handling during painting. Also broke out the RB model metal barrel and began figuring out how to assemble it as it came with no instructions. Found an image for a 75L barrel that gives me a general idea. Any tips woluld be welcome. Sprue washing is also on tap today. Some preliminaries I need to engage in are practicing with the Lifecolor acrylics I'll be using to paint this cat. I have the German Armor set #1 and arriving soon will be their Dunkelgelb contrast and saturation set. Curious to try this out. Again any tips on painting with Lifecolor paints is welcome.

By the way Eric, nice call on starting on the Labor Day weekend. The extra day getting jump started is certainly welcome.

                          Joe

Dang now I wish I hadn't sold my Panther A back in Feb! I'm working on my Spitfire Mk. II for the 1942 GB then I have a M1A1 lined up for the Gulf Wars but after that I'm free. There's a swap coming up next month so if I can find a Tiger I I'm interested. I'll let you know a little later in the year if I'm in or not depending on my progress with these other builds.

What can I say, guys, you twisted my arm! Okay, turret underway, I'm using the Eduard turned barrel and as the Cavalier mantlet part was designed to be used with the kit barrel, I'm doing zimmerit with thinned putty and the pattern rake Cavalier always include on the base of the mantlet/gun tube shroud, my first time ever. It looks pretty good for a first go, if I say so myself. There'll be pics tonight. I must say, I have no idea what people complain about when they call these kits outdated, the fit is an absolute dream...

M/TB379

Don't look like I'll be starting on the first, either...Have gotten myself tangled up in something that turned out to be a lot more work than I had anticipated and past experience has shown me that having two projects in the works at the same time usually does not end happily on either end. So, I'll be back when done with 'tother.

Regards,

Mark

Shellback

Gamera

Almost time to let the cat outta the bag!!!!!

Sorry, couldn't help myself... 

Well, my mom thinks I'm funny.

Sometimes... 

Hey Gamera show this to your mom ..................

RAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kitty want to KILL!!!!

Hmm, I suppose I *could* jump the gun on the rest of you... Just to pace myself on other tasks, of course... :-)

M/TB379

Lucky dog Mike. Now get building.

It's September 1st here in Aus today, I cut the shrinkwrap and reviewed the parts last night. This kit looks a pretty straightforward build. Resilient steel roadwheels -- yay, no tires to paint! This is my first time for one of these -- just rub the rims with graphite for metal wear!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Now that is funny.  Kinda like getting fish in the bag at a fair.

Gamera

Almost time to let the cat outta the bag!!!!!

Sorry, couldn't help myself... 

Well, my mom thinks I'm funny.

Sometimes... 

Hey Gamera show this to your mom ..................

I might be able to start getting a few bits together this weekend as well. My current build is almost done, but i have just ordered a soldering iron and have to wait for that before i can finish the dio.

Almost time to let the cat outta the bag!!!!!

Sorry, couldn't help myself... 

Well, my mom thinks I'm funny.

Sometimes... 

I know. It snuck up pretty fast. I almost have all my sprues washed and ready to go. Just wish i could start this weekend. maybe later on Sunday.

Less ' n 24 hrs Eric !!!!

Small  update. I went through the sprues and noticed it does come with late dampers for the latter style mufflers. I will be doing that version.