Panther Ausf A late 2-20-10 I'm calling this one DONE!

Well I got rid of the Heer markings and, I'm hoping these guys look more like the SS riders that would most likely be catching a ride.  I shaved the eagles off the right side and painted them on the upper left sleeve using Vallejo off white.  The lapels were shaved down as well and runes painted the same off white over a black lapel patch.  The division bands on the left forearm were done using the same colors as the lapels, as for the wording on the patch, I took Manstein's advice and painted "gobblygook" on them.  Darn close enough to these 20/15 Mk I eyes at 1/35 scale.  I flat coated them earlier today to prepare them for the pigments that they'll receive tomorrow.  The hull top finally got its pigment treatment.  I did not affix the pigment with turpentine this time as I did not want to repeat having to repaint the hull top a third time.  Getting so very close to calling this one  done.

Cheers

Dave

Hi Dave,

I just wanted to post a quick note before your post got away form me that the TC looks great and the riders are really looking great man. 

Well done!

Edmund,

Thank you for your continued support, tips, and shared toots during this build. Not to mention the encouragement.  I may be able to finish this one tomorrow. We'll see.  I'm leaning towards an aircraft on the next build I am leaning toward the Wingnut Wings Junker J.1 1/32 scale.

Cheers

Dave

hughes2682

Edmund,

Thank you for your continued support, tips, and shared toots during this build. Not to mention the encouragement.  I may be able to finish this one tomorrow. We'll see.  I'm leaning towards an aircraft on the next build I am leaning toward the Wingnut Wings Junker J.1 1/32 scale.

Cheers

Dave

You are most welcome Dave my pleasure! WHAT!  Airplane Oh The Sacrilege!!! 

Well for what it's worth the plane is WWI German AND it has a corrugated skin (over all surfaces). Here is their link if you wish to check it out. They've got pics of the few remaining A/C.  The engines on these kits are kits unto themselves.

www.wingnutwings.com/ww

Here is a pic of the box.

Forgive me for I am a worm.  NOT! LOL! I've got several armor builds done. I feel it's time to mix it up.  My unbuilt armor collection outstrips my A/C stash.  It used to be the other way around. 

Cheers

Dave

Dave,

Man, I'm sorryto have overlooked this thread for so long--it just slipped under my radar! But man, this is one fine-looking build!

Nice job on the Panther, and the figures look superb, honestly! Good colors on the camo, and the whole scene looks well-rendered!

Karl,

Thank you for the compliments and stopping by. Thank you again for your posting way back about repainting the top of the hull.I didn't affix the pigments to the hull top this time. I had noticed that the light refracts from the top much different than the zimmed surfaces and I did not want another horrid color shift like last time. So the hull top got a couple of different pigments brushed on. No worries on "slipping under the radar".  I was looking at some serious bench time today but the weather in the Willamette Valley today is going to be lovely. It's a nice break from the Rain Festival soooooo, a nice road ride then bench time. The sun is out and it's time for a vitamin D fix.

Cheers

Dave

Figures are looking very sharp Dave, nice to see them now with their heads attached.

Bill, 

Thank you for the compliment and your support during this build.  I needed to get the heads attached as the bench was seeming to be a rather macabre place with the headless figures for so long.

Well folks I'm calling this one done!  I touched up a couple of fiddley details, got the pail painted and weathered (after seeing so many tanks with these somewhere on them I  just needed to add one). The piping on the TCs hat finally got painted but, not after I realized that the epoxy I had glued the TC feet to some card stock had joined with the recoil guard.  A quick saw and some dremel tool work cured that. The figures are glued down.  I got the oil/grease stains on the rear deck last night.  So this evening I set up my very low budget photo booth and shot some pics.  I apologize to the people with dial ups.  Bob, Edmund, Bill, Tony Lee, Karl, Wayne, and anyone who's name i forgot (sorry I am terrible with names), thank you all for you support (both for the build and the other stuff that reared its ugly head) , encouragement, tips, advice, and what else have you. The last pic is of the next project that will get started tomorrow.

I'll be back with more armor builds.  Just need a break with a different kind of kit. I haven't done a WW I bird since I was a kid (30+years ago)

Hi Dave,

This build epitomizes commitment to excellence and not settling for mediocrity.  Form the Zimmeret to the final weathering, and the figures this really pushes the bar up.

Great work Dave and I am really impressed with the final output as I knew I would be!

Yay Dave!

Good evening Edmund,

Thank you so very much for your input, advice, tips.  I am quite pleased with this one, especially after parking it next to an Ausf D version that I completed about 6 years ago. I think it was my second armor kit since I was a kid. I had just started painting figures using oils, working with resin, and I fell in love with Fruil tracks on that one.

I am glad that it did take as long as it did as there were some details that when done needed fresh eyes on them at a later time.  I think after this (don't read this part Edmund) A/C the next kit I will start to work more with scratch building.  Woo hoo.

Cheers

Dave

Quite stunning Dave. Definitely one to be proud of. The figures really compliment the build.

Eric,

Sir, thank you very much for the compliments.  The figures were a result of the Vinnie Branagan toot that Edmund sent my way.  That toot alone rejuvenated my stack of boxes of DML figures.  I know it's a bit early but, will you be attending the Evergreen Museum show this year?  If so, hopefully I can meet you this time. I'll be bringing the Panther with me and possibly my next build.  The Junkers J.1.

Cheers

Dave

Congrats on getting this one across the finish line Dave! Definitely one to be proud to have on the shelf.

Dave your hard work sure paid off for you because you've done a mighty fine job my man.  One question: Where is the tow cable or cables??  I have this thing for cables and tracks you know.

Boy you did good

Tony Lee

Fantastic all around, Dave.  Wonderful result on the vehicle and amazing skills on the figures.  You just may be the only guy who takes longer to complete a build than I do, but, man, your results are spectacular.

Great job, thanks for sharing.

Bill

Super job!!!  I've been following this for a while, this has been a real labor of love for you. All that hard work has paid off, and those figgies are top notch. Figgies are still one of my weakest set of skills. Great all around job and good luck on that wingy thing.

Brother Dave....FAN FRIKIN TASTIK

Absolutely stunning.  Now I see you are moving on to those wingy things I love.

Bob

Bill,

Thank you for the compliment and support during this build. I like the camo you've gotten on that nashorn of yours.

Tony,

Thank you for following along on this one, trust me there'll be more.  You're keeping me honest on the two cable.  I had completely forgotten to scratch build a tow cable for the beastie.  I ended up needing to get some wire at the hardware store during my errands today, as everything I had wouldn't work. That is a stunning Sturmtiger you've got going.

Bill (Citadelgrad87),

Thank you sir for your compliments.  What do you say we have a contest....last one to the finish line wins?  LOL.  I've taken to doing at least one figure with my armor builds as it gives a nice sense of scale.  A lot of us have never been around these beasties.

Panzer88,

I have enjoyed bulding this one, a little less during the fiasco with the hull top color (the reddish one).  Since've I've wanted to include figures to give a sense of scale to my armor builds I had to "jump in full" to learn figures. Thank you for the compliments and the luck with the wingy thing.  I've heard the engineering on those kits is phenomenal.

Bob,

Brother, Thank you for following along with this not so speedy build.  Not to mention you help with the TC figure and the pea camo!!!  I should start posting on the Junkers J.1 later this week.  I spent the day clearing the Honey Do List including an oil change on wifes Mini.  That WAS different. 

Cheers

Dave

Sweet looking Panther and great modifications on the Heer to the SS !!!

Manstein,

Thank you very much for the compliments and the heads up on the SS vs Heer passengers.  Not to mention the differences and tips on how to modify the uniforms.  

Cheers

Dave

G,

Thank you for the compliment and for checking in on this build. Of my builds, this is one that I am very proud of.  Hmmmm, what to do for my next armor build and do it better.  Time to start getting more into scratch building.

Cheers

Dave

Looks great, you got my thumbs up on this one, very well done.

hughes2682

 Of my builds, this is one that I am very proud of.  

  As you should be Dave. The time, effort and attention to detail that you've put into not only the Panther but the figs also has paid off ten fold. Outstanding work!

  Be careful with the scratch building it can be addicting

Bodge,

Thank you so very much for the compliment! I "borrowed" your idea for chipping that you used on your KT and employed it on my Panther.  Especially around the TC hatch.  By the way, I showed the wife the KT inspiration and she thought it was phenomenal.  What else have you been building?

Panzerguy,

Thank you for the compliments and following along.  The VB toots that Schnobs passed on to me were instrumental in getting those figures to shine.  From now on my figures will be getting the VB treatment in one degree or another.  I started dabbling more in scratch building with metal last year when I scratched some fenders for a Sherman from flat brass stock.  Nothing says bent metal like bent metal. I've been really inspired by Citadelgrad's Polish tractor's brass fenders.  Yes, I've gotten the sense that it can be addicting.

Cheers

Dave

Dave thank you for the compliment aswell for being inspired by something i use on my builds and a thankyou to your good lady aswell  As for what ive been doing of late  well not as much on armour , ive started a E10 but ive been doing some figures for future dioramas but i havnt posted any thing up yet. Cheers mate, Andy.

Bodge,

It's good to know that you are still out there. Good luck with your figures.  I'll keep a weather eye for your postings.  

Cheers

Dave