ARMOR - Panther (PzKpfw V) Group Build (any scale) - FineScale Modeler - Essential magazine for scale model builders, model kit reviews, how-to scale modeling, and scale modeling products

wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Thursday, February 5, 2004 4:34 PM

Looking good, Frosty.

QUOTE: As you can see, plain dark yellow makes the Panther a bit bigger and meaner.

Dwight, I mean you are making that comparison to a PINK tank, remember!! Have you ever seen the movie "Operation Petticoat"? Reminds me a lot of that movie, for some reason!! lol

I hope to get a little work done tonight. Hopefully, the kids will cooperate and the wife is out of town for the weekend! (Too bad I don't have tomorrow off!! lol) I am struggling over where and how to build the lower sponsons on this thing. Maybe Derek can give me an idea what he did! At the least, I am going to pull out one of my Dragon kits and see how everything lines up. See, there is a very valid reason for having 5 or 6 different Panther kits laying around!! My wife just wouldn't see it that way, if she knew!! lol

I will at the very least, try and get some pics taken and posted on Ron's site. I used my new digital camera for some of my son's Science Fair project and got to learn a little more about it. Yippie!

BTW -- This is officially my 900th post!! Yea! I'm on the down hill slide to star #4!!

Have fun, all.

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 5, 2004 4:36 PM

..........beautiful...pics..must get hot on that desert..real hot.........jeffl

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Thursday, February 5, 2004 11:07 PM

As "promised", here are some pics of my Tamiya Panther. The zimm looks pretty rough to me, especially on the rear hull.

The upper hull with Zimmerit.

The rear hull plate with zimmerit. Believe it or not, the zimm is pale green!

The rear deck showing the Armor Research grills.

This one shows the new, double road wheels.

There are a couple more on Ron's upload page 12.

Hope you enjoy them, they've been a long time coming!!

Bill

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Thursday, February 5, 2004 11:36 PM

Fine looking zim there Bill. You're using Tamiya's zim tool correct? That seems to make quite a difference.

Eric

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Dwight Ta-ala

Member since
July 2003
From: Philippines

Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Thursday, February 5, 2004 11:39 PM

Another great zim job, Bill. You are beginning to become a good disciple of MODA. LOL.

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Friday, February 6, 2004 12:41 AM

Thank you for the complements Eric and Dwight. I am very honored.

Yes, Eric, I used the Tamiya zimm tool set. I tried a bunch of different ways to put the cross hatch pattern in, but wound up using the tool for that too. It took a bit of practice (I stripped off more than one section and did it over), and I'm still not happy with some of it. The small areas on the rear hull plate and back of the turret are kind of goofy! Next time, I'm going to use the Bondo Cream Hardener instead of Tamiya's hardener. It gives a LOT longer working time.

Dwight, I have light years to go to come into the same galaxy as MODA. He truely is in a Galaxy Far , Far Away!!

Have a great nigtht.

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 6, 2004 9:14 AM

I'm putting my Friuli links together for my Dragon early A. There are no instructions in the box about how many links to use.

How many did you guys use? Is 89 right?

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Friday, February 6, 2004 10:12 AM

Hey, Larry. How you doin'??

The MK tracks called for 86 per side for the Panther. Should be close for the Friul tracks IF they are both in scale! I'd do up about 84 or 85 and see how they look. Probably could go one link longer because of the sag, but I think one less will pull the tracks up too high.

I got the MK's all together and painted black. Tonight or tomorrow, I'll start putting the rust washes on. Hopefully I'll get the sponsons done and the hull glued up this weekend. Then get to start filling in all the gaps!

Have a great weekend.

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 6, 2004 10:24 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw
The MK tracks called for 86 per side for the Panther. Should be close for the Friul tracks IF they are both in scale! I'd do up about 84 or 85 and see how they look. Probably could go one link longer because of the sag, but I think one less will pull the tracks up too high.

Thanks Bill. Dragon's instructions actually don't tell you how many to use! But I sat down and counted each one on the photo of the links on the kit, and it turned out to be 89. I may wind up using that many for the friul treads, as they are fatter than the MK and so will stick out more. Thanks.

Did anyone in the build use the Friul treads? How many links did you use?

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 6, 2004 10:33 AM

Bill, your lookin great there. The zim to my eye is very good. You guys who tackled the old tamiya A should give yourselves a whoop whoop. I looked in the box long enough to go .... Oh heeelll nahh! an that was about it!
I can't wait to see this one painted up... I think its gonn a be something... Keep us posted...

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 6, 2004 10:46 AM

Looking good Bill, I'll get some pics of my sponson fillers up ASAP. I went with 85 Fruil links although I may add 1 more.

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wildwilliam

Member since
December 2009
From: West Grove, PA

Posted by wildwilliam on Friday, February 6, 2004 12:20 PM

Bill,
looking good!
keep me updated w/ what you are doing w/ the tracks.
i got my Tamiya links made into 4 sections per side & painted flat black.
looks like if i am going to keep cheating off of your homework,
rust washes are next.
do you have a secret recipe?

ed.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 6, 2004 1:10 PM

the Zim looks great Bill
and your Panther looks great Frosty too

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Friday, February 6, 2004 1:23 PM

Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.

Ed, you're welcome to any "knowledge" I have at any time. I just hope I don't lead you down the wrong path. I've still got volumes to learn!!

The was I will use for the next step on my tracks is a mixture of Humbrol leather (#62, I think) and burnt sienna oil paint. I just mix a little of the burnt sienna in with the leather until I get a nice, red, rusty color. I use a little, white plastic artists mixing pallet that has quarter sized depressions in it for mixing the paints together and the thinner. Then make a wash out of it. My one worry is that it might disolve some of the black paint. If it does, Next time, I'll use Floquil Engine Black for the base color. I've let the black set for about 3 days to make sure it's nice and cured.

Good luck.

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 6, 2004 1:41 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw

Frosty, here are your Panther pics. Look pretty good!

Bill

Bill:

thanx again 4 posting my pix ! i was just about 2 try linking 'em myself, &
i saw u'd done it already ! what a guy !!! Thumbs Up [tup]

and thanx 2 everyone else 4 the positive comments !
this was only my 3rd try at armor, chalk weathering, otherwise OOB...
i've learned a lot from all of u masters here...
i am but 'a dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants' ! Big Smile [:D]

the next panther i do (yes, i love the look of this afv 4 sure)
will probably b that very nice Revell Germany
ausf D/A kit, except 4 one small problem: i stole the spare trax 4
the ersatz ! anyhow, i think i'm due for a 3 tone camo job and after
seeing Redleg's StuG, not 2 mention the schemes i'm seeing here... wow !

thanx again, & have a great weekend everybody !

frosty Smile [:)]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 6, 2004 1:48 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by muzzleflash88

1/72 is sooooooooo cute :)
I'm going to have to try that braile scale.

Great job frosty!

thanx, muzz !
that's exactly what i said when i saw my 1st 1/72 armor kit last year !
go 4 it, but remember that 1/72 is just as addictive as the big stuff...
it just doesn't take up as much room when ur done !
LOL !

frosty

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 6, 2004 2:18 PM

The sponson bottoms on my Panther: Filled with .040 sheet styrene (wish I would have made a template to share Black Eye [B)]

), the step was to be filled with putty but obviously was forgotten Blush [:I]

so now I have to CAREFULLY putty and try not to wreck PE. [:0]

Hope this helps, Bill.

Frosty: Great work, keep it up. Thumbs Up [tup]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 6, 2004 2:36 PM

Sweet... Derek you teasing us with this belly shot. I want to see how the pe and all looks. Be careful now sanding it....

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 6, 2004 2:54 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by frostygirl
but remember that 1/72 is just as addictive as the big stuff...
it just doesn't take up as much room when ur done !

And 1/72nd is also the perfect scale if you are going to be displaying your armor kits right next to your aircraft.

WOT DID HE SAY?!?!?!??!

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Friday, February 6, 2004 3:27 PM

Derek;

Thanks, Dude. I'm sure that will help a lot. Looks like a pretty well used bottle of PolyScale black you got there! lol Looks like you did a nice job getting the axle "tubes" off the bottom of the hull. Nice job with the putty, too! I hadn't thought much about doing that. I might have to go back and see what I can do about that myself. The problem I've got is that the set of outer road wheels I bought replaces the long plastic Tamiya pieces with short metal ones. They fit far enough into the hull that I don't think I can cut those axle mounts off. Oh well!

Thanks, again, for the pic.

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 6, 2004 5:34 PM

Bill: I should have added that the filler plates extend about 1/8" (3mm) inside the sides of the lower hull. As for the axle tunnels, you may be able to trim and glue in the original axles then cut & fill from the bottom.

The PS bottle is "Night Black" and I use it a lot for painting too, It is probably the closest to absolute black I have used. Tongue [:P]

All; As for seeing the rest - PATIENCE! Some of the stuff I have done must remain secret for now...Shhh. Blindfold [X-)]

Battle damage!

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Friday, February 6, 2004 6:32 PM

Derek:

Can't do that with the original axles. I have long since super glued the new metal axle stubs in. The extend about an inch or so into the hull. If you look at the picture of the lower hull, you will see the crusty, acceleratored super glue in those tunnels. But thanks. I suppose at this point, I might be able to cut them off back a ways, but I'm not sure it's worth it. I'd even considered adding a sheet of styrene under them and making kind of a false bottom. But it would have lowered the bottom too much and would have looked very stupid, I think.

Have a good weekend.

Bill

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

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spector822002

Member since
December 2003
From: Southern Maine

Posted by spector822002 on Friday, February 6, 2004 6:38 PM

larry: I used fruil here and had around 85 links per side here that should be about correct

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 6, 2004 8:08 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by spector822002

larry: I used fruil here and had around 85 links per side here that should be about correct

Ok, thanks. I guess 85 it is then!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 7, 2004 2:49 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw

Derek:

Can't do that with the original axles. I have long since super glued the new metal axle stubs in. The extend about an inch or so into the hull. If you look at the picture of the lower hull, you will see the crusty, acceleratored super glue in those tunnels. But thanks. I suppose at this point, I might be able to cut them off back a ways, but I'm not sure it's worth it. I'd even considered adding a sheet of styrene under them and making kind of a false bottom. But it would have lowered the bottom too much and would have looked very stupid, I think.

Have a good weekend.

Bill

Park it in tall grass - no-one will ever know! except us and I ain't tellin. Wink [;)]

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wildwilliam

Member since
December 2009
From: West Grove, PA

Posted by wildwilliam on Saturday, February 7, 2004 4:38 PM

just a quick update:
after the rust wash on my track sections,
i used the silver pencil to highlight the wear bars & guide horns.
then it was on to the 'fun' part.

i have gotten one of the tracks on, and am starting the other.
i hope it goes a little easier. Smile [:)]

the side i finished was a bit finicky.
i used a fair ammt of monofilament (fish line) to secure tracks to axles
and in one spot, to each other.
for some reason, it looks abt 1/2 link short ! Evil [}:)]

so i put some slow CA on it and tied it w/ the fish line.
then i cut the ends.

it will need some mud, then perhaps no one will be the wiser.
Black Eye [B)]

must get back to work!
have to get this thing operational before those Shermans start rolling out in force!
Big Smile [:D]

ed.

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Saturday, February 7, 2004 4:46 PM

Well, I got more red-brown and am going in. I've stagnated for most of the week. I'm not sure I'm going to try to do ambush scheme this time around or not. I did get a finer spotter brush, so we shall see.

Derek, how do you paint the rubber on the wheels once they are glued to the hull? I've often wondered how it is done.

Eric

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 7, 2004 5:36 PM

Guys, my Friuli are curving pretty badly. Spector has said that they normally do, but I've never read anything about that, and my Tiger II Friuli didn't curve. I expected straight lengths. I'm disappointed.

Am I alone here? How can I straighten these things out?

My sequence now is
1) Get treads built
2) paint tank
3) paint wheels
4) put wheels on
5) put treads on wheels
6) weather

So I'm not going to know for a while if the treads fit. HELP! [:0]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 7, 2004 7:43 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman

Derek, how do you paint the rubber on the wheels once they are glued to the hull? I've often wondered how it is done.

I'll tell ya when I figure it out! this is the first time I've done it this way. I probly could have done it better but this is my first kitbash (amongst other things) so I don't have the techniques worked out!

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Saturday, February 7, 2004 9:48 PM

Derek, How did you do the exhaust clamps on the rear hull?

Wish I could work on this tonight, but I'm about done in for the day.

Have a good one, y'all

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

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ARMOR - Panther (PzKpfw V) Group Build (any scale)