That's awesome PJ! Looks like that shell might weigh almost as much as the Panzer I!!! 

Gamera

That's awesome PJ! Looks like that shell might weigh almost as much as the Panzer I!!! 

 

Thanks Gamera. That got me thinking so I looked it up. The Panzer 1 was 5.4 tons and the 60cm shell was 2.39 tons. 

I spent most of the day painting the German Yellow color. The bottom part is MM enamel and the top is Vallejo acrylic. The MM enamel paint is a tad lighter so I still have to go back and re touch some parts and even out the two colors. The flash makes the top look darker than what it really is.

The top took almos 3/4 of the Vallejo bottle. I have a few Vallejo paints so I wanted to try it out here but I'm not 100% liking it over enamels. It took several sessions and the AB was partially clogged a couple of times even with 3-4 drops of thinner to 10 drops of paint. Vallejo recommends 1-2 drops of tinner per 10 of paint. I also added double the dose on the flow improver which helped but again, nothing like the ease of using enamels.

The mufflers were shot with Alclad and MM metalizers.

The 2.3 ton projectile was sprayed MM RLM70 enamel then given a polish with a soft cotton rag and the least amount of Rub N Buff for a metallic tone. It still needs additional weathering. The darn thing looks like a Ma Deuce slug.

Size comparison of the projectile. I also picked up a nice pre made wood base at HL for $5. Not worth the hassle of breaking out my wood tools to make one.

Rambo

That's looking great pj. 2.39 tons! Wow so how was the ammo transported for this massive thing? Done think it would be capable of hauling more than two. It must of had a transport team with it.

 

Thanks Clint. The ammo and vehicle were trasported on trains. They also had a munitions carrier and crane to load this thing firing one round every ten minutes. It took a crew of 21 men to operate. 

That looks fantastic!!!

Thanks Gamera. I can't wait till the other two colors go on. I'm figuring out the layout of the patterns that will probaly be done with the help of Silly Putty.

That looks great!!!

Thanks KC.

I've gotten a decent amount done on the Leopard II. Sorry I didn't take any photos in progress, I got on the jazz and just didn't think about snapping any...

The tracks that came with the kit were a pain to clean up but I love them. Simple lower and upper link parts that snap together to hold everything together. No cement needed so you can't accidently cement the links so they won't move.

Looking good Gamera, the kitty is taking shape. I like that snap together track system better than the link and glue ones.

I often forget to take pictures of certain steps so you are not the only one.

The beast has colors. I too forgot to take step pictures but she is finally painted. I went back freehand and did some touch ups. I also added some white to the touch up paint and air brushed areas for fading.

one side of of the hull has the black rubber on the return rollers painted, now for the other side.

Now to let it cure then on with washes, weathering and finally the base.

Rambo

Awesome PJ, are you going to add any figures just to show how massive this thing is?

 

Thanks Clint. I’m playing around with ideas for the base. Thinking of showing a figure next to the projectile and vehicle for size comparison.

Nice camo scheme. Especially since you went freehand on it. Looking forward to the finished product.

Nice to see some pics of your kitty, Gamera. It's coming along nicely.

Plasticjunkie, that’s a big SP gun with a REALLY big shell!  Makes a Sturmtiger feel inadequate!

Gamera, ah those Germans keep making new versions of the Leopard that then become my new favorite!

Panzer vor, guys!

Thanks guys! I think the Leopard II is the best looking modern tank.

PJ: Fantastic job there on the camo!

PJ, that is really well done. The scheme has come out great.

Nice progress on the leopard Gamera.

Thanks gents! Been doing oil washes so the parts are drying so on to the tracks.  As a typical Dragon goof, there are no instructions on  assembling them together. No big deal for me since I've done several armor builds with similar link  and sectional tracks. They have two mold release marks on each link but they will be covered up with pigments once assembled and painted so no need to fill and sand them. 

This is my highly sofisticated state of the art track jig, a piece of glass used as a straightedge to keep the links lined up. Tamiya thin glue goes on the joins and set aside for 20-30 minutes.

I can then mold and bend them to get the desired shape.

Dragon supplies straight sections and separate links so one has to play with the parts to see how many per side are used. None of this is mentioned in the instructions.

I have one side done so I let it cook for a while till they cure. Even after curing the links can be manipulated for sag and alignment.  Next will be paint and weathering them.

PJ: That's insane that they didn't give you any instructions on the tracks. Still, looks like you've got things under control, nice work. 

Bish: Thanks! 

Gamera, this is the usual Dragon oops that they forget. The instructions only show the assembled tracks, das it! I want to give it some sag but you have to use 2 straight sections on the top instead  of  including additional link pieces. I will try to gently give the straight pieces a slight sag.

Alright, you can mark the Pzkw. Mk. 1-B down as DONE!  Here's the final reveal:

Got the other side of the tracks done. This thing is a long puzzle.

Did several oil washes for grime and light rust.

The weathering on the loading sled did not come out as I wanted. Vallego does not behave the same way with the hair spray method as Acrylic lacquers like Tamiya does, producing a fine feathered worn effect unlike here where the paint just peeled exposing the red primer. I just may re do the entire paint thing on the sled.

I'm letting the oil washes dry and then I will spray clear flat acrylic and do some DOT filters for additional wear followed by a #2 pencil for exposed metal edges.

Nice work there, which picture do you want for the first page?