#3 DML Pzkpfw III Ausf N sPzAbt 501 Afrika (W.I.P.)

Edmund, the photos and lighting are PRIMO now! Excellent lighting!

You can see the results of your efforts muc better now! And it's looking great, seriously! The weathering is really coming along very nicely!

Gotta get some subtle streaking in there now; rust streaks, dirt streaks, etc.

Looking good!

Thanks Karl, Wayne and of course Bill for your feedback on the Plunkinator.  I actually did not like the shots I posted last night because I forgot to turn my flash off on the camera itself and I had to make some adjustments to the lighting and the lightbox itself.

Here are a few after I correctd my previous mistakes and then I am back to work on the model itself. I am way behind.  Thanks everyone for your patience as I went off on a learning tangent!

Hi Edmund, it seems like you and I are the night owls around here, West Coast and awake, huh?

Anyway, I haven't checked in in a while, but I have been following your photos, it's looking really nice, I agree with Doog (like I'm qualified to DISagree with him), a bit more rusty-dusty streaking, but it's really stunning.

I like your photo booth, I built one, too, but I think my incandescent lights are too bright, they are blowing through the tissue and washing out my color.  Your photos are an amazing improvement.

I'll look at getting some compact flourescents, those 100w incandescents are just too much.

Anyway, very very nice, you are really killing this one.

Keep it up,

Bill

Hey Bill,

Yeah I am a night owl it's the only time I have to find peace through working with my hands.

I have been busy doing my first dot fading\streaking which has been fuin and interesting and started chipping the turret.  

Thanks for the kind words I am glad you like it so far.

I picked up 26 watt flourescent natural light bulbs at Target for $5.95 a piece and they are equivalent to 100 watt incandescent.

My goal is to finish the weathering on the turret and hull by Sunday so I can start putting on the tracks.

Have a great weekend and thanks for taking the time to comment Bill.

Build Update:

I was able to get some great traction this weekend on weathering and track assembly while balancing quality family time.

On Friday night I was able to finish applying the dot filter method to the turret and hull followed by a pin wash of black and brown wash oil paints.  I then very carefully using Model Master Schwartsgrau enamel rather than the Poly Scale Acrylic Reefer Grey I had used on the last tank applied a light chipping effect over the entire hull and Turret.  I used the swing out magnifyer and chanted "Less is More" the entire time.  I then appiled a variety of MIG pigments again sparingly to the turret and hull.

On Saturday after some plannned family time I sarted on the Magic Track assembly, painting and mounting.  My confidence was high due to the success  I had on my second set of Magic Tracks which was short lived!

I set up my first set of tracks according to Karl's tutorial and applied Testors slow setting glue whcih gave me an hour window to mount the road wheels for that side.

The first three suspension arms snapped off in my hands trying to mount the the road wheels!

I almost lost it but I reminded myself that this was "fun" and methodically glued each suspension arm back on with thick CA and then still had time to basecoat, drybrush and apply an oil wash to the track before mounting!!

I also had a slight problem because I doubted Bill.  On his build log he had indicated to use 92 links for each side and I disagreed with my vast amounts of experience compared to him that it should be 94.  I was incorrect it was 92.

It turned out okay so here are a few pics:  I still need to mount the antenna, and I just basecoated all the Jerry Cans and other stowage I am going to mount on the rear rack.

Edmund,

I hate to be the one to break this to you...but you've got one of the tracks installed backwards. Both tracks should run the same direction on both sides. In the head-on pic, the track on the right side is facing the correct direction while the one on the left is reversed. You obviously learned a lot with this build though and can definitely see a progression in your skills from the last one and I look forward to your next one!

wbill76 wrote:

Edmund, I hate to be the one to break this to you...but you've got one of the tracks installed backwards. Both tracks should run the same direction on both sides. In the head-on pic, the track on the right side is facing the correct direction while the one on the left is reversed. You obviously learned a lot with this build though and can definitely see a progression in your skills from the last one and I look forward to your next one!

Hi Bill,

I would like to share with you a quote attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson about success which I try to live my life by.

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.

I really appreciate your comments and honest appraisal of my work so far.  I knew the tracks were handed and I understood the DML color codes indicating left and right but I must of missed the direction thing. I examined my other models and what I am obeserving is that the correct direction is that one of the ends of the trank links for lack of better verbage is more pointed out than the other.

Lesson Learned!

Now did you you appreciate the more subtle weathering?

model maniac 96 wrote:

hello again! this is an absolutely wonderful build, and I am amazed at your abilities. Jim

Thnaks Jim I am glad you like it.  It's not done yet! 

Schnobs wrote:

I really appreciate your comments and honest appraisal of my work so far.  I knew the tracks were handed and I understood the DML color codes indicating left and right but I must of missed the direction thing. I examined my other models and what I am obeserving is that the correct direction is that one of the ends of the trank links for lack of better verbage is more pointed out than the other. Lesson Learned! Now did you you appreciate the more subtle weathering?

Most certainly did appreciate your more subtle weathering, it all blends together well and is the progression I mentioned in my first post. Love your philosophy, words to live by for sure.  

The easiest way to remember which way to mount Pz III/IV tracks is that the triangular shapes on the face of the track link should always point down when looking at the front of the vehicle. This in turn causes the smaller end of the track that inserts into the next link to be at the top and the widest portion at the bottom. This is reversed when looking at the rear of the vehicle due to the direction that the track runs in. It's a common mistake to make with these types of tracks, don't feel bad! I have one myself still sitting on the shelf from when I first encountered this type of track.

wbill76 wrote:

Schnobs wrote: I really appreciate your comments and honest appraisal of my work so far.  I knew the tracks were handed and I understood the DML color codes indicating left and right but I must of missed the direction thing. I examined my other models and what I am obeserving is that the correct direction is that one of the ends of the trank links for lack of better verbage is more pointed out than the other. Lesson Learned! Now did you you appreciate the more subtle weathering? Most certainly did appreciate your more subtle weathering, it all blends together well and is the progression I mentioned in my first post. Love your philosophy, words to live by for sure.   The easiest way to remember which way to mount Pz III/IV tracks is that the triangular shapes on the face of the track link should always point down when looking at the front of the vehicle. This in turn causes the smaller end of the track that inserts into the next link to be at the top and the widest portion at the bottom. This is reversed when looking at the rear of the vehicle due to the direction that the track runs in. It's a common mistake to make with these types of tracks, don't feel bad! I have one myself still sitting on the shelf from when I first encountered this type of track.

Thanks for the compliments about the weathering because I see you as a great example of balancing weathering and reality. Great info about the triangular shape on the face of the track link pointing down.  I really see it now!  Well, here is the thing I am a perfectionist which I am sure doesn't suprize anyone on this forum!  I was ready to let it got but my wife knows that I plan to enter this one into the IPMS Seattle Spring Show on April 18th and after she read your post she looked me in the eye and smiled and said what are are you waiting for? I really love that Lady!  I was encouraged to enter the show this by some of the local IPMS people as a way of getting my feet wet and meeting local guys and continuing to learn. 

I did end up with duplicates of this kit so I am going to redo the tracks on that side.  I am also going to start painting the Jerry Cans and other stowage tonight as well.

Convoy!

Thanks again Bill.

agentg wrote:

Now that's looking really good. Not too beat up, not too clean. Just the way I like 'em. Now junk up that rack, a lil' dust here and there and display that baby proudly!

Thanks Wayne & Jim for the compliments and I apologize for the lateness of the reply.  I have base coated all the stowage and and have started detailing the Jerry cans.  I am also remounting the track I mounted backwards. 

I should be able to call this one completed by Sunday is the present goal.

LOL!

Thanks Marc it was an interesting story.  I get some great natural light thorugh the kitchen windows and I was lining the tanks up and I "might" of been making some tank rumbling sounds when my wife snuck up behind me and accused me of playing with toys!

Build #3 Complete!

I want to thank everyone that stopped in and provided suggestions and pushes to the finish line.  Thanks especially to Bill and Scratchmod for his fantastic pictures that I used as a reference and guide when I was not sure how to proceed.

Here is a few pictures please let me know what you think.

model maniac 96 wrote:

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jim

LOL!

Thanks Jim!  This one took exactly one month total to complete.  I am going to record actual hours next build just for my own curiousity.  Do you think I nailed the Jerry Cans? 

Schnobs wrote:

model maniac 96 wrote: AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jim LOL! Thanks Jim!  This one took exactly one month total to complete.  I am going to record actual hours next build just for my own curiousity.  Do you think I nailed the Jerry Cans?

wbill76 wrote:

Congrats on completing #3 Edmund! I see you got the tracks turned around the right way on both sides, nice save!

Hey Bill like I had a choice once you pointed it out my last name is Schnabel and I am a third generation German from North Dakota. Those kind of things keep me up at night!  I was raised by a man that stated if you can't do it right don't start!    Hard to learn that way so I amended his motto to do my best until directed otherwise!

I really appreciate you pointing that out and giving me that traingle pointing downward tip from the front view.  Keep it coming Bill!

I am almost ready to kick off #4 which will include a two tone cammo paint scheme and God help me figures!

Peace not Pieces!

model maniac 96 wrote:

Schnobs wrote:  model maniac 96 wrote: AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jim LOL! Thanks Jim!  This one took exactly one month total to complete.  I am going to record actual hours next build just for my own curiousity.  Do you think I nailed the Jerry Cans?  cool idea, recording your total hours. And I absolutely think that with out a doubt you nailed the jerry cans, looking forward to when I can do that kind of work, once again, great job!! Jim

Not an original ideal Bill did that awhile back on one of his builds and I was just curious.  Addtionaly many of the modeling mags in kit reviews reference hours per build and I wanted to keep them honest. 

Schnobs...she came out awsome, the weathering is just right. The Jerry cans look great and the placement of the cans look familiar too I see you chose not to add sandbags!!!

I'm looking forward to your next build. What will the next one be?

Rob

scratchmod wrote:

Schnobs...she came out awsome, the weathering is just right. The Jerry cans look great and the placement of the cans look familiar too I see you chose not to add sandbags!!! I'm looking forward to your next build. What will the next one be? Rob

Thanks Rob!  I was hoping you were still keeping an eye on this build. I studied your pictures closely and the more I examined them the more detail jumped out.  You my friend are a master of detail and congrats on your latest win on your own work.

I tried every arrangement I could on the Jerry can rack and I ended up liking your arrangment the best.  I ended up deciding not to try to use sandbags because I focused on being much more subtle on the weathering this time and didn't want to hide the results.

Well I have only done monotone tanks so far so it is time to dive into a soft edge two tone cammo paint job.  I was also planning to wait until build #6 to start adding figures but my wife of all people is pushing me to start doing figures.  With those goals in mind I ran across a Cyber-Hobby Super Value Pack  (Orange Box) Sd.Kfz.142/1 Stug III Ausf. F with Sturmgeschutze Crew for $27.00. I fiured it I had to hide the end result from company I wouldn't be too out of pocket.

I have some ideals on how to approach the two tone soft edge and one is follow this paint scheme:

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10062429t2/60/2

I figured I would base coat it either XF-51 (Khaki Drab) or a lightened XF-61 (Dark Green) and then use some blue tac or silly putty to mask and then use XF-60 (Dark Yellow).  I do not know if I am ready to do it free hand.

Let me tell you how much I know about painting figures.  I am done!

I have read Vellejo figure painting turorial and a few other posts but other than that I am flying without a wingman. 

Thanks again Rob for the inspiration and the support.  I am entering it into the IMPS Seattle Spring Show on the 18th just for fun.

Peace,

Edmund,

Sorry, I missed you declaration of "Complete", this really came out nicely.  I like teh weathering, enough to know you did some, not enough to simulate a mud bus.

Well done, I can't wait to watch you do the Stug.

Bill     

Thanks Bill!  That's what I was going for a subtle weathering without beating you over the head with it.

I spent the weekend catching up on all the Honey Do's in the nicest weather Seattle has seen in quite awhile.  I just finished up cleaning up the bench and just opened up the Stug box.

I will start tomorrow and start posting the Build #4 later this week.

Have a good week!

COOL

Nothing like resurrecting a 4 year old thread.