BIG CATS GROUP BUILD 2008

Ok, all that awesome 72 work inspired me to try mine.... so I will change (permission to change build, sir!) to the Dragon 1/71 Jagdpanther IV L/70 (early production), kit # 7307.

I *think* I can finish in 10 days or so because:

1. Kit is really good quality, nary a flash or bad sink holes.

2. No zimm.

3. One of the possible markings/decals is that of a captured vehicle dressed up in soviet green. Therefore, no camo to confuse me :)

4. Wheels are not the "interlocking" type shown above, but I can still paint them on the sprue and require minimum prep.

and I will also make my first ever attempt at brass PE lol

Ill post some pics tomorrow, the Ms had the temerity to take her own dig camera away from me and use it for things like taking Christmas pictures of our daughters, jeez!

Ok, let me go and glue some stuff.....   :D

Great looking kit you have there Bufflehead...

I really wanna go find that kit myself.

Bufflehead-your little jagdpanther looks great!! Now I want to break out one of my little dragon kits and give it a whirl. Anyhow, it looks real good , you did an awesome job with the camo.

As for me, I'll have a big update later tonight, so stay tuned.

Nice camo!

Ernest (and anyone else interested) - I did indeed get cracking on my 1/72 Jagdtiger for the Red Storm On The Reich GB - head over there and check 'er out!

Looks like I'm going to have to hustle a bit to catch up to you...

Hey guys, here's the results of my weekend at the workbench.  Actually I only managed to get about 4 hrs of bench time.

First the model was primered using Mr. Surfacer 1200 (nice stuff) through the AB.  Then I tried something different and didn't use Tamiya Acrylics.  Basecoat is Polly Scale acrylic, Dark Yellow and Br. Middlestone mixed 50/50.  I did this because I feel Tamiya has a slight grainy/pebbly finish, which is OK with 1/35th scale, but with the smaller scale I wanted a smoother finish.  All the Polly Scale paints I've tried go on beautifully...very smooth.  The downside to PS is HORRIBLE tip dry!!  Great for basecoats, terrible for detail work.  Fortunately its very easy to clean the tip of my Badger 360 AB! 

For the camo I used Vallejo Model Air; I didn't have exact colors so I mixed Mahogany/Khaki Brown/Panzer Gray for the red/brown (which looks way more red in the photos), and Russian Green/Dark Yellow for the olive green.  Vallejo also goes on very smooth, but it too has problems with tip dry; not as bad as PS, but worse than Tamiya (definitely one of Tamiya's strong points!).  Unfortunately I had a heckuva time with spattering, sputtering and spidering (is that a word?).  Some of this was caused by the tip dry problem of the paint, but some of it was......???  Faulty AB?? Operator error?  Mercury in retrograde??  Anyway, the hull eventually came out OK, but I could not, for the life of me, get the side skirts done.  I did them 3 times and ruined each paint job.  First time I've every been frustrated like that.  I decided it simply wasn't their time yet and set the buggers aside to take these photos and post the message!!

Heh...the only reason I got to check them out is 'cause I'm at the coffee shop chugging some good brew, and poaching their internet. Will NEVER be able to check it out at work!

Let me see what I can do about that Jagdtiger...would prefer to do a 1/35, but a fast 1/72 might get me more motivated.

Hey!  Whassup dupes!!  I hope all the photos didn't overload your dial-up service.  Every time I post lots of photos I worry about the members still on 56k!  I'm having fun with these little kits, but I gotta tell ya, scratchbuilding 1/72 scale is really demanding!  I'm having 1/35 scale withdrawals!! 

Mmmmmmmm...Jagdtiger!!  Be motivated, be motivated!! You know, I STILL don't have any kit of this huge cat!  Resolution for 2009!!  hehe!!

Whoo....I wish the holidays weren't so busy!!  I'm going to be out of town from the 19th to the 28th so the next few days are my last chance to get these done!!

Assembly of the Dragon 1/72 Jagdpanther is done, now starting on the 1/72 Tiger I.  Here's some photos:

I noticed that the 1/72 Dragon Panther G has PE track holders, something my little kit didn't come with, so with a little scrap PE, CA, and lots of patience, a set magically appeared on both sides!

Rod tube in the kit was not up to my standards.  Replacement needed, made from tube styrene, lead wire, PE scraps...at least I kept the original tube mounts!  Oh, and the wrecking bar was missing so I scratched one.

The fire extinguisher was just a plastic lump that left me desiring more.....so I scratched it too!  Brass tube, wire and aluminum strip.   I must be crazy

Since the roadwheels are so small I decided to paint them on the sprues.  We'll see how this works out...I've never painted parts on sprues before.

I'll paint at the same time as the Tiger sooooo....lets proceed with the other little big cat.

NICE ZIM!!

NOT so nice...molded on pioneer tools.  No time to scratch replacements, they'll have to stay.

Roadwheels are COOL!!  They come nearly totally assembled!!  They're even desprued!!

Just slip the outer set over the inner set....

and VOILA!!

Just gently push them onto the axles and you're set!  That easy!  I'll leave them off until after painting, but that surely makes assembly a piece of cake!

More to come....

SMJ,

I really like the way yours turned out

That was a typo on my part. It is the early version. I'm going with the dark yellow base and dark green/red brown camo scheme. Thanks for looking.

Regards,

Jeff

firesmacker wrote:

...Anyway, once again, I apologize, I was actually thinking about this today at work and cringed a few times thinking about what I said...

firesmacker: I've felt that way a couple times myself...but you set things straight and we don't hold grunges around here...

I'm liking that Panther, and I'm sorry if I didn't read your narrative in detail, but I like the pic's and she's looking pretty!  What do you have in mind for the paint scheme!?  Have you seen my kitty for this GB.  I finished it AWHILE back, its a G Late :

Minor clarification please:  I have you on the participant list as a Panther G Early, please confirm so I can get it corrected if needed.

"Why are there so many wheels?" You had me in stitches after reading that...LOL...

hey jeff, 365 days in the year, we ALL wake up the wrong side of the bed sometimes ;)

phone in musters? life is good indeed!

panzer88 wrote:

firesmacker- Is that the Tamiya kit that came with the Eduard photoetch zimm? I had a heck of a time putting the zimm on the kugelblende(mg ball turret). Looks like you did a way better job on yours. Did you use ca glue for attaching the zimm? What kind of camo scheme are you thinking about for this bad boy? Looking great.

I used CA to attach all the zimm. I test fitted all but the last piece I attached and they all fit great. Naturally I got cocky and just assumed the piece for the front of the turret under the mantlet would be the same. WRONG! It was too long. I'm talking like half an inch. Of course, I only discovered this after I had put glue on the piece and had one side layed down. That was brutal...

The ball turret actually has some gaps that you can't really see in the photos. I'll fix that and re-spray soon. 

The kit is the Panther G Late. It lists for around 55.00 dollars but I picked it up at the AMPS show in Richmond back in Febuary for 20 bucks. You guys would have went nuts. This dude had 3 tables stacked with Tamiya and Dragon kits all for 20 bucks a piece. I grabbed four kits and after getting home and checking online, I saved about 150.00 dollars.

As for the cammo, I'm just gonna follow the kit instructions and go with the flat yellow base and the dark green and red brown. From the 19th until Jan 5th, I only have to do phone in musters so I'm pretty much off that whole time. I can do this.

Thanks for looking.

Regards,

Jeff

It's all good Jeff, we all have those moments... just ask my wife.     

Looking forward to seeing the finishing touches on your Panther. 

Panzer88 and Firesmacker -- great builds, both, and turned out so fast! The zim looks great on both, I've not hd a chance to see either PE applique or the molded stuff yet -- it's most interesting. Overall these builds are really sharp and clean. I'm looking forward to seeing the finish and weathering.

I'll have to dive in and detail and weather my Tiger at long last. I have a deadlined model to do this week (dressing poor joints, rescribing panel lines, scratchbuild a nonexistant cockpit, custom decals -- grrrr...), then I can rip into the Tiger and a Mustang both due before New Year to collect badges.

Sorry I've not been around much, but I'm modeling with one hemisphere of my brain and entering data for my PhD with the other!

Cheers,

Mike/TB379

Sorry guys,

That was totally uncalled for. It was just frustration spilling over onto here... It mostly came from me posting pics of my M1A1 and getting over 150 looks and no comments until I bumped it a few times. Sorry but, you guys are the only benchmark that I have. I ask the wife and get thet usual response. "Why are there so many wheels?"

Thing was, I was in a great mood when I posted yesterday since my Steelers beat the Cowgirls.

Anyway, once again, I apologize, I was actually thinking about this today at work and cringed a few times thinking about what I said. You have all helped me in so many ways that I had no business pulling a hissy fit.

Regards,

Jeff

Firesmacker -er, decaf man! As explained by the above posts, some of us have other commitments and schedules... finite amount of time to view threads in the forums. Some can log in and comment every day, and some dont.

I hope we can do another "catty GB"... I will not be able to build mine, but did crack the Dragon 1/72 Jagdpanther IV L/70... and seeing your 72 scale cats.. those kits are NICE! even with PE... 

Don't be upset Firesmacker!  I posted a totally armor related question on the Armor forum Friday night, got 26 views and no responses and now its halfway down on page 2!!  I don't expect any responses now, but it happens sometimes.  On the Vintage Armor GB that's still in progress you can post some photos and not expect a response for 3-4 days!  Depends on how "hot" the thread is I guess!  Anway your Panther is looking good!  What did you use for the basecoat?  Is it straight panzer dark yellow?

Panzer88, nice looking Panther F.  That Cyber Hobby kit looks like a sweet one.  Is it more accurate then the old Dragon Imperial Series Panther F?

Work on my little Jagdpanther has slowed somewhat.  Some of the tools and smaller details are kind of clunky looking so I've been improving them.  I should be able to post some photos tonight or tomorrow, depending on how much work I get done.

Despite the rant, your build is looking good. Keep in mind that not everyone has high speed internet right next to their bench. I used that Eduard PE zim on my DML Panther for Winter Warriors last year, looks like you did a better job than I blending the edges into the plastic.

What sort of scheme are you going with on this guy? 

firesmacker wrote:

Not that anyone here can be bothered to comment. This is what I have so far. Treads are attached. I will be shooting the camo and attaching various parts on this thing in the next few days. After that, I will call it done. Whatever, I'll still claim the badge. It will look like crap but, what the hell. Thanks for the Zero feedback. Good thing the search function works. I may as well have done this in a vacuum. Apparently you need to be an established "Tread Head" for any helpful suggestions/anyone taking the time to say anything around here... Jeff

Dude, it had only been about 48 hours since you made the original post on Friday night.  Think about it, it's the holidays and everybody and their best friend has a half a dozen Christmas parties, office parties to go to, charity work to do, volunteer work, Christmas shopping, hanging lights up on the house etc. etc.  The forums are usually slow in December because of that.... it is to be expected this time of year.  Lashing out like a spoiled child is kind of silly, just be patient.  These are forums.  Not everyone is feverishly posting on here 24/7.

Anyway, nice work on the panther.  I'm not a big fan of PE zimmerit because of the uniformity and minimal relief, but it looks like you did a great job with it! 

firesmacker wrote:

Not that anyone here can be bothered to comment. This is what I have so far. Treads are attached. I will be shooting the camo and attaching various parts on this thing in the next few days. After that, I will call it done. Whatever, I'll still claim the badge. It will look like crap but, what the hell.

Firesmacker,

   Wouldn't be upset, it looks like it was a slow weekend all around for the forums.  Lots of people probably out doing holiday shopping or other things.  This is the Tamiya G?  I didn't know it came with PE zim.  What didn't you like about it?

Put some camo on it, add the tools (dos it have PE grills for the vents?), a little weathering and it'll be really sharp.

 Don

Not that anyone here can be bothered to comment. This is what I have so far. Treads are attached. I will be shooting the camo and attaching various parts on this thing in the next few days. After that, I will call it done. Whatever, I'll still claim the badge. It will look like crap but, what the hell.

Thanks for the Zero feedback. Good thing the search function works. I may as well have done this in a vacuum. Apparently you need to be an established "Tread Head" for any helpful suggestions/anyone taking the time to say anything around here...

Jeff

More progress. The kit came with PE zimmerit. If I had it to do over, I would have left it off.

Any and all comments are welcome. Thanks for looking.

Regards,

Jeff