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

Bill: You are much more patient than I, those tracks would have met the trash can long ago if I were doing them!

Spector: You compare the MK tracks to Aber PE which is an excellent reason for me to not try them. Man the Aber PE drove me nuts! I finally decided enough was enough and started painting! The biggest turn-off was those "workable" clamps.

All: Sorry no pics, wash is drying and I gotta go to work.

Looks great Bill. Not sure what you meant by the hatch, but glad you and Hans are happy with the result.

Been doing a bit for the Sherman Group build (for a change) so the weathering on the Kitty is going slow. Wash and first drybrush session fixed my little overspray prob, now I've just got to find those missing track pin chains that went AWOL during the drybrush. Decided not to put turret numbers on mine, as I have seen pictures where they were left off and didn't want the prob of having to get decals around the pistol ports, or having to hand paint.

Tools have their base coat of black/track colour awaiting drybrushing with the respective metallic/wooden colours. Vehicle tracks are base coated with Humbrol 173 Track colour (wish they still made this colour) and drybrushed a dark steel. Did this last night but this morning I looked at it and think there was too much silver with the black, so I hit it with another darker wash to tone it down. If this doesn't work a heavier darker drybrush will be needed. I do not want to risk breakages on these indy tracks....my wife prefers me with my hair on my head , not torn out and between my fingers!

Light at the end of the tunnel guys. Last one finished is a rotten egg.

I didn't get a thing accomplished on the models last night. I did manage to watch the last hour of "A Bridge Too Far". I really enjoyed that movie. Got to go back to the video store today, though.

Tonight, hopefully, I'll get a little practice in on puting the ambush leaves on. Not sure what color to make them yet. I've seen some tanks with grey (alla light ghost grey) spots, some with brown and green, some that had dunklegelb. I'll have to take a close look at the book I'm doing the scheme from.

Keep trucking, all! (oh, and Peter, I feel it will probably be I who is that oderous ovid!!) lol

Peter,
i think what Bill means (about the hatch) is that the hatches on that model do not lift up,
they stay flat and pivot off the opening.
and the one he had open for the crewman was turned the wrong way.
they open in the other direction.

keep after it, Bill!
i don't want any sulphurous stench coming from your direction!
:-)

ed.

Gettin' pretty ripe already, Ed! I think you've got figured out what I meant about the drivers hatch. It's the one place I've seen on any of the Tamiya instructions I've done that just wasn't clear. I managed to have the hatch rotated the wrong way from the hatch opening. I couldn't even turn the turret with it there. I just figured it was another point of major inaccuracy with this kit. I'm glad I was able to figure it out. It ALMOST made the $10 I paid for that book worth it! I'm sure it will be a very worthwhile investment by the time I've finished my 3 Dragons and my Tamiya G.

Have a good day, all.

Bill

Bill I hear you on the many leave colors. I opted for Dukelgelb only and am pleased with the results. I also painted the wheels the same as the hull, unlike the box art. It seems there are so many variations to the ambush scheme. My resources weren't as helpful as I wished. Like you stated earlier about the top of the hull, lots of ad lib on the cammo.

hiya folks !
it's been awhile since i last checked in here...
been pretty busy with my (whispered tone) sherman group build project,
but i still intend 2 finish my ersatz m10 dio asap,
just have 2 find time 2 paint my figs...
one of these days...

Bill, Derek & Peter:
3 fine looking kitties !

that's 2 thumbs up 4 each of u !

Derek:
sending u my sincere wish that things work out 4 u...
even the worst day/week/month/year ends eventually !

best wishes 2 all !

frosty

Thought you had abandoned us slow pokes Frosty. Thanks for the compliment.
Looking forward to seeing the finished Ersatz dio.

Thanks Frosty, maybe i'll be done this weekend (i've been saying that for 3 weeks!) and I think everyone's patience will be rewarded (including mine!).

QUOTE: Originally posted by frostygirl Derek: sending u my sincere wish that things work out 4 u... even the worst day/week/month/year ends eventually ! best wishes 2 all ! frosty

Thanks again. I find winter really long and depressing on it's own and most of the "bad times" in my life have been between Thanksgiving and Easter. As you can guess by this time of year, between winter and memories, I get pretty depressed at times. Something always happens to improve the situation though! This year it happens to be the possibility of a new job for a better company with a 230% increase in pay! Pray for me if you believe and if you don't just send good vibes!

Derek,

QUOTE: Pray for me if you believe and if you don't just send good vibes!

.....count on it bro... Keep us informed...

Sorry I haven't been talkative... I get to use the computer about 2 times a week now... more work less play.... I try to duck in now and then but hopefully I will get internet at home and I won't have this problem...

Everyone's projects are look great... I am still looking forward to all of us showing them at once and over-running the forum with Panthers.... once everyone is done....

Derek,
good to hear it, tho i fear you will just fritter that $$ away on food & shelter.
:-)
if it happens, i recommend starting an investment plan, or adding to an existing one.
'expenses' have a way of creeping up to match income.
so get in the habit of 'paying yourself' (saving for your retirement) FIRST.
the more you save now, the sooner you can retire!

if it is of any help, i will be thinking well of you.

now get to work on that tank!
the Shermans are creeping through the hedgerows!

ed.

Well finally made some progress!
A coat of future, decals, another coat of future and a wash!
Here's a pic, get better ones tomorrow.

Wow, Derek. That looks fantastic. You did a fine job on the camo.

Great job!!!!

Derek,
looking great!
can't be much left to do.
ed.

Looks really good, Derek. Very nice job.

Where did you get the turret numbers? That's the style the tank I'm doing is supposed to have on it, but greatmodels doesn't have much of anything in the way of Archer Transfers in. :-(

I didn't get much done, myself. I tried to piece together the left track. It is really a mess. I think I'm up to 4 separate sections now. But I didn't have time to glue it, let it set up, then mold it to the wheels. Oh, and I screamed a head and painted the cupola mg mount dunkelelb!. I did glue some bolt heads onto the the towing brackets on the front of the hull. I think they are a little big, but they will have to do.

TY guys, dullcoat is drying now and some really horrible parts of my wash showed up. I am gonna try to use pastels to hide the goofs. Never used pastels before so I got some today to try, sure can't be harder than a wash which I struggle with anyway.

QUOTE: Where did you get the turret numbers? That's the style the tank I'm doing is supposed to have on it, but greatmodels doesn't have much of anything in the way of Archer Transfers in. :-(

They are all kit decals except the 116th emblem which I stole from my Sdkfz 250/9. I have some red/white outline (#223) and black/white outline (#309) left over. If you want them shoot me an email with your address and I'll throw them in the mail.

Coming along nicely Derek.

Magnificent Derek..... No doubt! GREAT job on working over that old dog of a kit.... Everything looks spot on....

Thanks, Derek, I'll let you know. (Guess I'd better check my box!)

Bill

Argh! I was just really starting to like my Panther, when I shot what I thought was a light coat of buff over the model. Well...I think I shot too much and lost alot of the color of the cammo. Wah! i probably should have dry brushed before I did that also. Just wondering how you guys drybrush cammo. Do you do the base or the color lightened? Thanks for any input.

Derek, looking sweet

Tigerman, I dry brush each base camo colour lightened first, just to give the camo depth, then dry brush the base colour ie, drybrush lightened green over green, lightened redbrown over red brown, then lightened Dunkelgelb over all. This gives the impression of depth and wear on the camo. The camo was a light spray job and, because the paint could be mixed with water, it was easily rubbed/washed off over time.

Thanks Peter.

Man I don't believe it! FINALLY get it finished and BOTH of my normal hosting sites are down![:0]
I really wanted to show it off.
My first for PE, scratch building, kitbashing, Fruil tracks and pastel weathering and I can't post it.

BTW: I'm quite proud of how this beast turned out.

Well done in finishing Derek. Hope the servers come back up real soon, can't wait for final pics.

I have been working on the Achilles for the Sherman build. Thought I was so long on this one that I might try and finish that one on time (yeah right). Going to try and finish the Kitty this weekend. Pics next week.

Derek,
Congratulations!
can't wait to see it, even to it looks like i will have to.

Eric,
adjust, adapt, overcome!
minor set back, press on!

Peter,
looking forward to seeing your build as well.
hope the weekend is productive.

ed.

I scratched the hull strengtheners that go behind the final drives on the lower front hull. I took a couple of pics, but not hardly worth posting them. I'll wait until I take some after the tracks are on and post both sets.

Congrats, Derek. Told you you wouldn't be the last. I really think it will be me. Looks like I'll get there eventually, though.

Have fun, all.

Bill, I can't wait to see it... I am missing the Panther group build... It has been hard for me to get motivated since the GB ended.... Fortunantly the towed GB starts soon... Hope to see some of ya'll over there...

Peace

Will do Kenneth. I know what you mean about incentive. I am trying hard to finish both the Panther and the Achilles, but I don't have figures for the achilles, so that shouldn't take as long.

Hope to join you soon in the tow build Kenneth, can't make up my mind what I want to do. I'm looking into the AFV Pak 40 (due in April) or one of the German 105 mm. Imagine, no tracks! LOL

BTW. Almost have the wheels in place and basically only the tracks and some transfers to put on. Big setback, I haven't ordered any yet. Starting to like the old beast despite some setbacks. Thanks for the encouragement Ed. Hope to fire off some photos soon.

keep at it gang!
hope you have a productive weekend.
i am heading off to ny to see my gf, so no modeling for me.

ed.