Italeri Group Build Sept. 1, 2006-Jan. 15 2007

Sweet looking panther.

I have yet to paint the second coat.

Looks great Scott!

I finally painted my gun shield!    I tried to fix that  crack for almost 2 weeks now. My revelation came earlier in the week when I first, knock out a strap tie down bracket, no big deal, and then a day later, the whole left side of the shield, came off the base! .

 After 2 evenings of damage control, the original crack is still there........

So I decided, after these previous incident, to not push my luck and go ahead with the painting.

Future coat tomorrow.

Gun Tech wrote:

Looks great Scott! I finally painted my gun shield!    I tried to fix that  crack for almost 2 weeks now. My revelation came earlier in the week when I first, knock out a strap tie down bracket, no big deal, and then a day later, the whole left side of the shield, came off the base! .  After 2 evenings of damage control, the original crack is still there........ So I decided, after these previous incident, to not push my luck and go ahead with the painting. Future coat tomorrow.

go for it jean!!! best of luck to you -- sometimes it really does seem like three steps forward , two steps back-- I have been there so many times...tread

Well, since I was encouraged to add another kit to this Group Build, here it is:

This is my Italeri 1/72 scale M13/40 tank that I'm going to make with Australian decals. The top forward part of the upper hull is only sitting in place. I'll be gluing it in place late. She's almost ready for paint; just a few more detail parts to add.

Thanks for looking. 

Wow this looks like fun, since I just recently joined I now I'm too late for this GB but will be there for the second one.

You guys pick different brands each time? or is Italeri the main choice of kits? they have some really nice choices. 

Did some more post shading this weekend, with some lighter stuff on the top, and darker stuff on the lower half, very subtle but with all the layers its turning out nice.  Only way to learn the tricks of the trade is to dive right in, and I'm diving!  Oh, and the engine is just about finished, just need to grime it up a bit more.

I found a few Panther photos and a profile from Grossdeutschland with some green sprayed over the yellow, I may add that tonight to make it look more interesting before I decal and weather. 

Grizzly1970 wrote:

Wow this looks like fun, since I just recently joined I now I'm too late for this GB but will be there for the second one. You guys pick different brands each time? or is Italeri the main choice of kits? they have some really nice choices.

Hi Grizzly. I have no objections if you want to slide in on the build. Yes, technically it's past deadline, but some us are still soldiering on. Some are back for another build.

Every GB is a different theme. Some are more specific, such as my Elefant/Ferdinand GB. Others such as this build and the recent Trumpeter GB are more open to different slections of vehicles through a manufacturer. The skies the limit in GB's.

Duke, that little guy has some nice rivet detail, but i'd hate to paint all those wheels.

Ron, you're always welcomed with another build. Heck, you'll probably finish before me. LOL Thanks too, I'd love to keep this guy alive. Many members gave this old manufacturer a first go and see that they produce some fine kits.

Duke Maddog wrote:

Well, since I was encouraged to add another kit to this Group Build, here it is:   This is my Italeri 1/72 scale M13/40 tank that I'm going to make with Australian decals. The top forward part of the upper hull is only sitting in place. I'll be gluing it in place late. She's almost ready for paint; just a few more detail parts to add.   Thanks for looking.

the area around the gun mantlet  need a dot more filler

Thanks Tigerman and DURR. Your compliments are very appreciated.

Tigerman, those wheels won't pose a problem for me. I'll have them done in no time.

Thanks DURR, I'll get to that little spot when I pick this one up next. Good eyes my friend!

Trumpeter Group Build? I gotta go find this......

Alright, the future coat had been sprayed this weekend, and now I just realised that my decals are a bit yellowed. I read a trick somewhere on the forums and will give it a shot. I'll do more detailled painting tonight.

Lets keep this alive as long as we can

Gun Tech wrote:

Alright, the future coat had been sprayed this weekend, and now I just realised that my decals are a bit yellowed. I read a trick somewhere on the forums and will give it a shot. I'll do more detailled painting tonight. Lets keep this alive as long as we can

Yes, I got the Crusader II, why not keep it going.

What's your trick for the decals?

tigerman wrote:

Gun Tech wrote: Alright, the future coat had been sprayed this weekend, and now I just realised that my decals are a bit yellowed. I read a trick somewhere on the forums and will give it a shot. I'll do more detailled painting tonight. Lets keep this alive as long as we can Yes, I got the Crusader II, why not keep it going. What's your trick for the decals?

I read somewhere on the forums that you can just stick your decals in one of the windows that is the most exposed to the sun in your home. The sun should take out the yellowish in a couple of weeks. I got the decals in a Ziploc baggie taped to the window. I'm monitoring every day., I'll let you all know how it turns out

Good trick, might have submit that to the readers tips.

If I'm game, I might add an in-progress to this build. Hehe 

I can't take the credit for this one, you have to thank "wing_nut" for it. Still not sure how effective it is, gotta be patient

Major update here. 

I decided to go with some green mottling over the dark yellow after finding a couple of reference photos and profiles of Grossdeutschland Panthers.  The exhaust was just tacked on for painting purposes, and will come off momentarily so I can paint and weather it.   

I used this profile from my new 1/35 Dragon Panther Ausf. A Premium Edition (gorgeous kit by the way) and a photo from Panzer Colors III (to name a few) as my inspiration.  Since the camo was field applied I tried to simulate what it would have looked like having been sprayed by Herr Panzersoldier who got stuck with the duty somewhere in Russia early to mid 1944, which gave me lot's of artistic license. 

Gun Tech wrote:

I can't take the credit for this one, you have to thank "wing_nut" for it. Still not sure how effective it is, gotta be patient

the only thing is your gonna have the neighbors staring at you thru the window with the decals especially if they are german crosses

they might come up to you and say  neo  i mean leo how are you

Gun Tech wrote:

Lets keep this alive as long as we can

I'm all for that

Count me in with another build......I'll jump back in with a Sd.Kfz 234/3

 We could keep this going forever

Italeri Fever!

Scott the camo looks awesome. I think it will really compliment your build.

Well I'm in. I shot the first of two cammos today. I might add that I'm not in Ron's factory, but rather I bought this kit almost completed, I just have to paint and weather. The fact that people are still interested, motivates me to finish up this kit.

The Crusader will come much, much later. Sorry gents.

And here are a few shots with the decals applied.  They're beginning to hunker down nicely over the Zimmerit... just need a few more applications of Micro Set.  As you can see they're very bright.  The oil washes and final light overspray of "dust" will tone them down considerably.  

Just a quick update:

And finally, the Italian M13/40 tank is ready for paint:

Thanks for looking and comments are welcome.

Duke,that really does look brail scale with all those rivet's........nice work as usual

Scott,the Panther's looking great

Comet wrote:

Gun Tech wrote: Lets keep this alive as long as we can I'm all for that Count me in with another build......I'll jump back in with a Sd.Kfz 234/3  We could keep this going forever

I told you Glyn, you can get hooked really fast on these wheelies  

Scott, you Camo is top notch   Really well executed.....  I love it!

Great work on your side as well Duke!. Man,those are tiny little rivets.

Thanks for the positive reinforcements gentlemen.  This kit is a first for me in so many different ways.

• First Italeri kit
• First Panther
• First tank with Zimmerit
• First hand sprayed camo
• First completed (well, soon to be) tank in a group build

I'm going to brush a little Future over the decals when I get home tonight so I can start with the oil washes and weathing.  I should have this project wrapped up by the end of the weekend at the latest.  The Micro-set worked wonders at getting the decals to snuggle down over the zimmerit.

I'm going to paint the rubber parts of the road wheels tonight.... tedious to say the least, but the last major thing to do other than weathering.

Here's my latest offering. I was going to surprise everyone with a camo, but I of course disliked it and am thinking something else up at this time. As I mentioned, this was almost completely built when I purchased it and is quite nice OOB. My one real knock is the gun barrel. I believe wbill replaces his, because he, like I, thought it too small. Oh well, it was virtually free and this build gives me the motivation to finish it. Unfortunately, the kit came sans directions and my refs are spotty. I hope to have another resprayed tomorrow.

espins1 wrote:

Thanks for the positive reinforcements gentlemen.  This kit is a first for me in so many different ways. First Italeri kit First Panther First tank with Zimmerit First hand sprayed camo First completed (well, soon to be) tank in a group build I'm going to brush a little Future over the decals when I get home tonight so I can start with the oil washes and weathing.  I should have this project wrapped up by the end of the weekend at the latest.  The Micro-set worked wonders at getting the decals to snuggle down over the zimmerit. I'm going to paint the rubber parts of the road wheels tonight.... tedious to say the least, but the last major thing to do other than weathering.

Scott,

Verry niiiiiice Panther! I can't believe its your first!  Excellent camo!  Can't wait to see the completed build!  I know I'm not part of this GB but I've been following it for quite some time.  I regret not joining in last year.  Oh well I can still see the great job you and the others are doing with these Italeri kits!  Does this mean your Albert Ernst Nashorn & Jagdtiger are soon to come!?!?!