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Steel Cats (Sept. 2012-Aug. 2013)

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  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, July 4, 2013 9:23 AM

IB1/48: Looks good to me! Love the faded effect you did on the camo pattern. Only thing that sticks out for me is the crack on between the upper and lower front glacis plates in the second to last photo. I'm guessing you haven't cemented the hull together yet?

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Friday, July 5, 2013 12:20 AM

Catchy camo scheme Ibuild48. She's coming along real nicely.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, July 6, 2013 2:39 PM

Since my LHS is having extreme difficulty getting my engine screens to arrive in a timely manner, I sidestepped, chose an alternate makers PE screen, and ordered them from Sprue Brothers late last night. So I am hopeful they will be here by Tuesday so I can get her all painted up. In the meantime I have been working on painting the crew figures...

I decided to go with the Black Panzer epaulettes as opposed to the Brown Afrika ones based on finding out that some Panzer crews did this- they wore the European style Panzer rank epaulettes as opposed to the Africa Corps type. Just a bit more color on these guys to break away from the earth tones.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    April 2013
Posted by SchattenSpartan on Saturday, July 6, 2013 5:33 PM

Nice work, Stik!

I still owe you some pics of the lower hull. I'll post them tomorrow or on Monday.

Cheers, Clemens

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, July 6, 2013 5:57 PM

Thanks... looks like PB is trying to extort money... gonna have to find a new image hosting service...

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2012
Posted by Hasenpfeffer on Sunday, July 7, 2013 12:50 PM

Embarrassed Page 183, in May = my last post... Life has been busy. I've been wanting to make a post here and there, and just haven't found the time. I am pleasantly surprised by the resurgence of activity here on the SCGB. Yes

So many great builds going on. I wish I could comment specifically. Just know that I have been following along and am impressed by all the work. 

Schatten Spartan, Malone D, Dan, Jack, StikP, and IBuild148 - I'm looking forward to more fellas. Stick out tongue

My goal is to still finish up this 2nd Panther before time's up. (And I feel I have to balance out all these Tiger builds! Cool)

So, here's the progress I've made in the last month and a half or so. Doesn't seem like much, but I've been plugging away when I can.

I built the 2nd track run (Bronco indies) and primed them with Tamiya Flat Brown. The fit of these isn't great on the drive sprockets, so I'll have to see if I can work something out. They just don't "snug" down enough to look right. I have most of the tools painted up and mounted. I also put a couple filters on the base paint job. 

Next up will be trying to get the wheels and tracks squared away. That is the last major assembly hurdle. Then it's on to the majority of the weathering, wear and tear.

Keep it up fellas! 

  • Member since
    April 2013
Posted by SchattenSpartan on Sunday, July 7, 2013 1:14 PM

That Panther is looking gorgeous, Dave!

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Sunday, July 7, 2013 1:32 PM

Figures are coming along nicely Stik.

Dave, the panther is gorgeous.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Sunday, July 7, 2013 5:17 PM

Than you Tiger & Hassen.

Hassen, your panther is looking superb! What unit are this markings from? I think I need to build me a Panther sometime in the not too distant future. I have not built one in over 25 years and am way overdue. Especially since that Italeri Panther A in my stash has been there since it was a new release in the early/mid 90s....

Tiger,I have been nickle and diming the figure painting over the past couple days, and doing bits of research along the way, finding out good tidbits of color/painting information along the way as I go. And learning that I still have a long way to go with my figure painting

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2012
Posted by Hasenpfeffer on Sunday, July 7, 2013 5:48 PM

Thanks guys! Stick out tongue

StikP - Same situation with my Panther. I've had it in my stash for over 20 years. It was time to build it. I'm modelling this one after a Wiking vehicle near Kovel 1944, but the real 822 has some differences that I have not comprehended. Call it artistic license.

Wink

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Sunday, July 7, 2013 6:37 PM

Thats why it looked familiar. I am very sure I have seen photos of those Panthers in one of my books. What color are you using for the Dark Yellow here? I really like the shade, it is not so vivid as the typical shades by most paint companies.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: ON, Canada
Posted by jgeratic on Sunday, July 7, 2013 6:51 PM

Dave -  that panther looks hot!  I'm assuming you hand painted the turret numbers, well done that.

Stik - I like the colours you've laid on the figures.  

Regarding the use of continental insignia on tropical uniforms, I checked my books on what is written on this... the panzer skulls were definitely transferred from the lapels.  Seems only officers were permitted to wear the European  rank insignia (collar and shoulder), and sometimes have been known to exchange the *** eagle as well.  As you say, photo evidence shows otherwise, this is cool.

-------------------------------------

Weekend at the bench, got the tracks painted up:

This was the main photo reference used to get an idea of the weathering pattern, from the Bovington Tiger:

regards,

Jack

  • Member since
    July 2012
Posted by Hasenpfeffer on Sunday, July 7, 2013 7:13 PM

Hey StikP - The Dark Yellow is just that... Tamiya Dark Yellow. It has varying amounts of Flat White added. I start with DY/FW about 70:30 for the base and add more white, hit more upper surfaces, add more white, hit more upper surfaces etc. A pseudo modulation if you will. The base coat yellow is back around page 182 or 183ish. There are so many ways to get a great DY color. I know of others mixing DY and Buff, DY and Deck Tan, MM Dark Yellow and MM Light Grey, etc. I suppose the key is to find one you like and can reproduce somewhat consistently.

Jack - Thanks. The numbers were AB with a stencil I created (pg 183). - I know, a long time ago! LOL Surprise

Your tracks look super sweet. Yes You've done a great job at reproducing that look. (It's pics like that Bovington shot you've got that make me wonder why some modelers make the tracks all rusty.) Huh?

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Monday, July 8, 2013 9:38 AM

Those are nice tracks and well replicated Jack.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    May 2010
Posted by Shawker on Monday, July 8, 2013 10:42 AM

No since in delaying anymore as the KT is done just working on the dio which will take me a while yet.  Please be kind as this is my first GB lolz.

I will put up in a short bit of a final pic for the front Eric.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, July 8, 2013 11:28 AM

Dave, love the camo and SP love those figures!

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    May 2010
Posted by Shawker on Monday, July 8, 2013 11:28 AM

Tags: Tiger II

  • Member since
    May 2010
Posted by Shawker on Monday, July 8, 2013 11:29 AM

for some reason not all my pics down loaded or uploaded but I put up the one you can use for the complete build.  Hope you guys like it.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Monday, July 8, 2013 11:31 AM

Dave, thanks for explaining your Dark Yellow to me. I may give the altered Tamiya version a try somewhere down the road. Your's really looks great!

Jack, excellent work on those tracks. That indoor shot of the real thing looks like the tank just got back from a drive. I have seen that effect many times on other vehicles. But seeing it on a running Tiger... wow! Talk about bringing history to life! Thanks for posting those Bovington Tiger photos

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    April 2013
Posted by SchattenSpartan on Monday, July 8, 2013 1:15 PM

Those tracks are really stunning, Jack! May I ask you how you achieved that look?

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: ON, Canada
Posted by jgeratic on Monday, July 8, 2013 5:08 PM

Shawker - good job on the Tiger II, I like the added touch of the netting on the barrel - and grats on the completion. Beer

-----------------------------------------

Thanks all, for the comments on the tracks.  I'll try my best to describe what I did, but bear in mind that it was an experimental process as I've never done them like this before, and until now, never had all the variety of choices that can be found these days.  

First the products, I think most are fairly visible in the photo.  

-   the two sets of links were sprayed with old track from the LifeColor set.  The tracks were made of black plastic, so I let this work to my advantage and did not strive for a solid coat of paint.

- next, I cut two narrow strips of masking tape for each track length.  This represented the area where running gear did not disturb the track surface.  Over this, I first wet/dry brushed MiG's track brown followed with LifeColor's reflective agent (basically a dark metallic powder).  I Used Tamiya's acrylic thinner to give the dry brush a better bite, it also helps seal the powders.  

- removed the tapes, and I think at this point I wasn't satisfied and proceeded to cut six lengths of masking tape for each track, representing where the road and forward gear wheels touch the surface.  Over this was wet/dry brushed LifeColor's dry dust.  

- the above tape also protected around the guide teeth, which were done next. Top halves were painted with AK chipping colour.  Over this was applied some of the track brown powder, and lastly, the tips of the teeth were wet/dry brushed with dry dust.

- masking tapes removed, had some touching up to do.  Also streaked some of the chipping  colour on track surface were the outermost road wheels would run.

//////////

- the opposite side, that touches road/ground surfaces, is much simpler.  A wash made from MiG's light dust was applied.  This powder is odd though, as it has a green tinge to it.  Not happy with that, made another wash to tone that down - created from Flory's sand and light dirt.

- dry brushed the reflective agent, followed by a lighter application of Tamiya's metallic grey.

- a final thin wash over this, from the left over Flory mixture.

regards,

Jack

  • Member since
    April 2013
Posted by SchattenSpartan on Monday, July 8, 2013 5:45 PM

Thank you very much for the tutorial, Jack! I promised you guys some pics, but it seems like photobucket says "no" to that... I'll try to upload them tomorrow...

Cheers, Clemens

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Monday, July 8, 2013 8:14 PM

Shawker, your King Tiger is very nice. I built that one in the mid 90s, and aside from replacing the kit tracks, AA M.G., and the tow cables, it built up very nicely I thought. Of course that was before Tamiya and Dragon issued kits of this, but still it is not a bad kit, and it used to be the only game in town for the Porsche turret.

Jack that is quite an involved method, but obviously the results are worth it.

Today I got an email from Sprue Brothers saying that my purchase shipped on the 6th. So I am hoping it arrives tomorrow so I can get basic painting completed. Today was mostly spent working on flesh tones on my crew figures and some detail work on them too... but I gotta admit, the DAK bug is biting me hard working on these guys and researching them... must... be... strong....  Splat

and posed in the turret...

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, July 8, 2013 9:38 PM

Shawker: Looks good! Really nice work on the camo there.

Jack: Thanks for the low down on how you did the tracks, I think it's a tinkering process for all of us to try to get it right. Looks waaaaaaaaay better than the quick, cheap, and dirty technique I used.

SP: Again, nice work! They're really coming together now. I like the black epaulets too, adds a bit of contrast to the tan uniforms.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Illinois
Posted by armor86 on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 10:58 PM

Eric - I have my eyes on a soon to be release Dragon Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf.D DAK Tropical Version No. 6779. Hopeful on North Africa GB .... Armor86

 


Dan

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 1:17 AM

Nice work on your King Tiger Shawker. If you want to try and submit more photos, I'll hold off on the photo for finished builds.

Dan, that would be cool. Not sure if I'll be able to lead a GB. Something kind of came up, but I'll see what I can do.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 1:23 AM

No package from Sprue Brothers today for me... just more detail work on the figures. Washes and dry brushing. Maybe tomorrow...

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 6:10 PM

My screens arrived in today's mail!!!

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 6:17 PM

So I instlled them, and glued down the last bits in place... beautiful detail on these grills... they even got a weave texture in the mesh...

So now Hans und Franz wait patiently for their Tiger to get a full coat of Olive Green tomorrow...

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    April 2013
Posted by SchattenSpartan on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 6:52 PM

Nice work, Stik! But where is Fritz?

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