Thanks Bish.

Very nice touch PJ.

Rambo

Very nicely done PJ, I'm surprised Dragon didn't include that detail.

 

Thanks. Yes an included grill pe would have been nice.

I wanted to keep this as an OOB build but the darn round air intake kept bothering me. Eduard makes a pe detail set for this model but it really doesn't increase the details that much. I only add pe if the plastic parts are replaced with more detailed metal ones. So with this in mind I decided to scratch out the intake screen cover. Whenever I see something that I can use for detailing I grab it and throw it in my junk box. I picked up this thin metal screen somewhere a while back.

Again I go back to those plastic advertisement cards that come in the mail and drew my circle using the cover plate as a template on the card and screen. Using my Xuron pe cutters I trimmed out the metal screen.

With the circle template taped down securing things I used my scribing needle to carefully score out the circle. I also used my beading tool set to add recessed bolt heads around the plastic ring.

I used my Xuron cutter to carefully cut the ring out. 

Here's the completed cover.

And over the air intake. I think it looks better with this additional detail.

Hey AA, very nice work on that Pz I ausf B. 

AA: Looks cool! Nice work!!! 

PJ: She's coming along swell. Odd about the Vallejo and hairspray, don't think I've ever tried the technique with it- it works fine with Testors Model Master acrylic paint. 

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

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.

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

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.

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! 

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.

Nice progress on the leopard Gamera.

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

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

PJ: Fantastic job there on the camo!

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thanks KC.

That looks great!!!