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

Tony,
Wow man! Thank you for the compliment. I've been jonesing to get out to the bench since the last posting. 12 hour night shifts don't lend well to that on my stretch on. But! It is now my weekend! Woo Hoo! So after I peruse the forum for a bit more and get the brain chatter to shut up I'll take a nap and get some fun stuff done later today.
Cheers
Dave

You know, I don't think that I've ever painted the bumper stops!!!!  You're right about slowing down to get the details right...after all, what's the rush?

Later,

Rick

Dave,

I have been watching this since you started and that is some SWEET ACTION!!!

Thanks for the tip on the smudge sticks and graphite stick. Stopped by Arron Brothers tonight and picked them up.

Hope your son is feeling better. I had the H1N1 early last month for 13 ugly days and it is all that and more.

This is most excellent! I have the regular panther a late in the stash, is it the same kit without all the goodies?

 

 

Dave nicely done on your Panther. Great camo scheme.

Rick,
There have been details that I've missed in the past because I didn't slow down and, in the end those details were visible to some extent or were very visible. By that time it was too late to fix them. I wanted to get this build and future ones right. By the way I very much enjoyed your Panzer wreck dio at the Evergreen show. I took a lot of mental notes at that show including on your dio.
There is no rush.

IBuild148,
Thank you for following this build (just don't forget to your hobby bench LOL). You are most welcome for the tip. Ahhh, the wonders of sharing! Actually, it was my daughter and, yes she is back to college. I'm glad to hear that you came out on the other side intact. I work in an Intensive Care Unit and I've seen others not so intact.

Mark,
Thank you for the compliment. Yes it is the same kit without the goodies. There is a boat load of AM stuff for it if you are so inclined.

jimz66,
Thank you for the kind words. The camo scheme is the reason I chose this one.

I've got plumbing projects in the house to finish today. Lordy, I hate those projects. I will get to the bench today. I'll post some updates later today.

Cheers
Dave

Well I was able to get the weathering on the wheels done. Got some "dried mud" on the hull. I'm still not done with that part as I plan on making some sections still damp. Other sections more dry. The dried mud was a concoction I whipped up tonight with a fair amount of inspiration from Bob (aka M1Carbine, thank you by the way). There was an application of mud earlier in the week (the last I was at the bench) that was far from what I wanted (been a bit distracted this week). The effect was rather nice, unfortunately it looked like wet mud (something I do want to do in a future dio/vignette).
I may get more done tonight. Especially if the insomnia genome/gene goes active.
Cheers
Dave

I put some scratches on the barrel from the travel lock. I masked the area and dabbed Vallejo German Grey with a small piece of packing sponge.



If you look closely you can see the lighter "mud" that was "wet"

There is still some touch up to do with the "mud"

I used MIG smoke pigment for the exhaust and smoke with dark rust for the air intake pipes

Wowie Dave!

This is layer after layer of painting, detailing, and weathering!

Very cool I hope I can see this in person Sir!

Edmund,
Thank you very much for the compliment.
At the rate things are going of late I should have it done by the next Evergreen show. LOL. Who knows I may get some more done tonight. That insomnia gene is in overdrive tonight.
I found a commander in my stash. Bob emailed me some pics for reference. I going to need to start working on the passengers and commander.
And I hope the see that Sherman AND Sahariana in person. The builds I saw of yours in person were stunning and they have only gotten better.
Cheers
Dave

I am hoping that you and Bob and Eric can ride up for the Seattle Spring show this year.

Make sure and check out Bodge's Figure Toot in the Figugure section it is well worth a read.

Edmund,
Do you know the date of the show? I am up for it. I just need to plan the logistics. Crazy busy here lately.
Thank you for the heads up on Bodge's Figure Toot. I'll head on over there now and have a gander.

I'm back. WOW! I'll be trying that out!

Cheers
Dave

Dave plan on it, we can work the logistics out.....lets see....park at my place.........cross bridge, pick up Eric.....then:

 

         ROAD TRIP!

Im better now

Bob

Hey Dave,

They have not announced the Spring Show date yet but here is there web site for you to bookmark they will probally announce soon.

http://www.ipms-seattle.org/

I am glad you like Andy's toot it was very helpful to me.

Sweet work Dave, the mud and road wheels look like you just lifted them off a muddy road.

Dave, the weathering is superb on this baby! You've really got a nice touch on that aspect of it. The wheels are particularly well done!

Bill and Doog,
Thank you for the compliments on the weathering/mud. It was a good thing that there was no one but me at the bench when, I realized that the mud had dried "wet". All sorts of new words got invented under my breath. I wish I could say they were rated G. They weren't. Oh well. It all worked out.
Cheers
Dave

Edmund,
I think I should brew that 2nd cup of java. I didn't see your post above Bill's. Uggggh! Thank you for the heads up on the Seattle IPMS site. It's bookmarked.
Cheers
Dave

Superb work Dave.  I am going to steal/borrow your idea about the marks left bythe travel lock.  i was thinkingthe same thing for the Jagdtoger.  Big heavy gun in the cradle.  You idea is simple and effective.

Marc,
Thank you very much! Borrow away. I borrowed it from someone myself. LOL
I think I may haveseen it somewhere in these forums. Imagine trying to keep that big gun still. I don't care what the guarantee is on the paint. It's gettin' chipped
Cheers
Dave

Schnobs wrote:

I am hoping that you and Bob and Eric can ride up for the Seattle Spring show this year. Make sure and check out Bodge's Figure Toot in the Figugure section it is well worth a read.

I'd better start saving some money, so I don't get yelled at.

Dave, the cat is beginning to roar.

I've been looking but haven't posted in some time, and I must say this is looking great. Yet I think I'll have to slow down and paint the bump stop from now on. The weathering is awesome as is that cool camo scheme.

 

Rob

Tigerman,
I know what you mean about $$$. Two kids that need braces
The roaring must have been what I hear the other night! LOL

Rob,
Thank you for the compliments on the detail and camo. The bumper stops really aren't visible as they would be on a maintenance/wreck dio. What it did get me to do was notice the details I may have overlooked before.

Cheers
Dave

Progress has been a bit delayed of late but, better some than none at all. Right?
I've got the cat's left shoe on and that's as far as I've gotten. I haven't learned how to tie the right one yet. I'm working on it. LOL
The top of the hull has several applications of MIG pigments as does the sides, front, rear of the hull. I'm not sure yet if I'm done with the sides, front and rear. The grills appear rather stark in the pics, however they aren't that stark in person but, they still need some attention.

I had to glue the track to the tops of the wheels. I think the manipulations during painting may have tweaked them.

This shot was an attempt to capture the weathering on the side of the hull. I was having a heck of a time getting the camera to focus. If you squint really hard it's there.



Cheers
Dave

Dave that sure is looking good no joke. Take your time you're to close to perfection bud.

It's a beauty                                                                                                                              Tony Lee

David this is phenomenal!

DS tracks correct? They look fine to me.

Tony,
Thank you for the comments. I thought I's bunged it up with using the wrong MIG pigment with turpentine. It turned out rather reddish. Thank heavens I've got other pigments. Whew!

Edmund,
I've been following your latest build with interest. A lot of interest. So your comment holds high meaning. Thank you sir!

Eric,
Actually they are not DS. They are Magic Links. If you have the time, look near the bottom of page two and you'll see a worse case representation of sink marks for these links. Not all were like this, though a number were. The track run I put on when I initially put it together rested on the tops of the road wheels. When I put the tracks on for real this time, the tops of the guide horns didn't even touch the wheels. Oh well. That's why they make super duper glue.

Thank you all for stopping by

Who knows I may even learn how to tie the right shoe tomorrow for this cat. LOL

Cheers
Dave

Moving along nicely with this one Dave, I agree that the reddish tone is a bit strong on the hull top but the overall pigment effects you're getting are good. The weathering on the lower hull and wheels in particular if very convincing.

Bill,
Thank you for the comments. That initial pigmentation of the upper hull bit me in the behind. Bit by bit I'm getting it corrected. I'm having to walk away from the bench a lot with this step as I do not want to over shoot the effect. In short trying to tie in the whole tank together. The effect I am going for on the upper hull is one that has been trod upon by troops seeking transportation. Going for the dirt, mud and whatever that has been brought up by the soldiers boots.
Cheers
Dave

hughes2682 wrote:

Eric, Actually they are not DS. They are Magic Links. If you have the time, look near the bottom of page two and you'll see a worse case representation of sink marks for these links. Not all were like this, though a number were. The track run I put on when I initially put it together rested on the tops of the road wheels. When I put the tracks on for real this time, the tops of the guide horns didn't even touch the wheels. Oh well. That's why they make super duper glue. Cheers Dave

Roger that Dave. What threw me off was your talking about gluing them to the tops of the wheels. I didn't think clearly.