Submitted for your consideration - StuG III

IWM

I'd say that is a pretty darn solid build!  I particularly like the interior - is the kit 'designed' as a convertable, or did you just decide to build it that way?

I do see one problem - and I have to chuckle because I've only done the same thing about a dozen times - it looks like you've got your tracks on in opposite directions.  They should 'point' up at the sprocket.

But hey, like I said, I've only done that a dozen or so times, so don't beat yourself up about it.

Nice work.

I do have one of the tracks backwards, darn. Will give me something to do tomorrow night. Or maybe the crew was drunk on schnaps when they re-installed it. (yeah, that's the ticket).

I left the top loose to take it off and show the interior. I saw a few models on other forums like this.

Thanks for the comments.

Your StuG looks GREAT!  Bet you enjoyed building it as it was a breeze for me few months ago.  I liked the tracks add on as additional armor touch!  What did you use for the antenna because the kit didn't come with one?

Looking forward to your next build... what will it be?

Good old streched sprue painted gunmetal, like Wild Bill Plunk does.

Your post in the group build were a big help. I would never have figured out the spare roadwheel mounts that was not in the instructions.

I got a Tamiya Cromwell and the new Dragon M7 Priest, so I am not sure what to build next. I am going to a IPMS show in St Louis in a few weeks, so I might get something totally different. I really like the Tamiya JS-2 Stalin.

Thanks for the comments and the help last month.

I like subtley weathered builds. Nice job on the interior. I have heard wonderful reviews on this kit.

I built the Cromwell and it's a really nice kit as well and a breeze to put together. The JS-2 intrigues me as well.

For only your second build i'll put the gloves on first.

Clean up and fit is very good.

Color inside and out is good.

Tool handles have a nice wood tone to them.

For Tamiya decals you did a good job,you can't be blamed for them being thicker than other brands.

Tracks have good color and from what I can tell the track sag is acceptable.

Over all you did well

NOW the gloves come off my dear

It's just a tad to shinny for my taste. Needs a light coat of some sort of flat clear coat to cut the shine. A light dusting of dust colored chalk or pigment wouldn't hurt even.

The silver is a little too silver,  rub #2 pencil lead over it to tone down the silver.

While you're at it take some of the pencil lead dust and add it to a drop of water and bush it over the mufflers. it will give them more of a burned look.

*All the track cops will point out that the right side track is on backward.*

Once again not a bad job Wildman but they say i'm easy. Some of the folks around here get mean

Thanks for the display

Tony Lee

See I warned you about the mean ones here.

Tony Lee

bbrowniii

IWM

I'd say that is a pretty darn solid build!  I particularly like the interior - is the kit 'designed' as a convertable, or did you just decide to build it that way?

I do see one problem - and I have to chuckle because I've only done the same thing about a dozen times - it looks like you've got your tracks on in opposite directions.  They should 'point' up at the sprocket.

But hey, like I said, I've only done that a dozen or so times, so don't beat yourself up about it.

Nice work.

I agree.

That's probably the clēēēnest stug I've ever seen though.......... but anyway, it's VERY well done.

The tracks; well, that way you can probably make some sharper left hand turns.......

That is a very clean and solid build Wildman.
I look at the very good pictures you have taken of a nicely executed job and I am amazed.
I agree with some of the previoues comments that it is a bit to clean, will come back to that later.
But it is clean without any blamishes, love the upfront view with the blown out headlight, all that detail withch is executed very well!
Just some minor suggestions;
The spare whel rubber could be tooned down from gloss to dull.
The spare weels seem to have collected a lot more dust then the rest of the vehicle, I would tone the dust effect down, or apply a filter / and / or wash to the complete superstucture.
I would tighten down the tracks to the drive sprocket and return rollers, if the vehicle moves forward the upper side of the tracks are tense towards the idler wheel with a possible slack in front of the drive sprockets, but they don't float.

Very well done!
Thank You for sharing!

Very Best Regards
Johan

Hey Wildman,

I LOVE these early StuGs and you've done a fine job. The track issue is easily addressed and the interior looks spot on.

As Tony has mentioned I think it needs a bit of weathering. The exhausts are heavily rusted up yet the rest of the build looks like it's just left the factory.

Get a wash on her. Get some dullcoat on her. Get some pigments going to dust her up. A few LIGHT streaks of rusty/muddy water will look good. Try some drybrush in the interior.

The potential is limitless. You've got a great base to be working on here but this build isn't finished. Imo, it's only just begun!

You've done a superb job so far and this could be one amazing build when weathered properly.

Best of luck.

ATVB

Ben

That's about as good as they come for a clean build. A beautiful finish.

You can probably take the tracks off and re-install them with a little work. Those Tamiya tracks are pretty flexible and durable if you handle them with care.

Nice build! Just a small suggestion. You may want to use a decal seting solution to ensure that your decals settle down with a little less carrier film showwing. Also, a bit more variation in tone would go a long way toward making this solid build a bit more eye catching. It is helpful to add some variation to a monotone paint scheme by lightening the upper surfaces and darkening the lower areas.

Pretty sharp work on the interior especially for only your 2nd build back in the saddle! The others have pointed out the main areas that you may want to consider for future builds, look forward to seeing what #3 looks like from you!

Thanks for the advice.

 I looked at this thing all weekend, but I needed some fresh eyes to give me some help. Plus to see this things I missed, like the tracks. I was going to use Mod Podge to make a headlight, but forgot until it was pointed out.

I did a wash, dot filter, pin wash and pastel weathering, but they got lost in these photos. I think the light was way too bright and needs somekind of filter to cut the glare.  Also the pastels really toned down after a couple coats of dullcoat. Need to do it again.

I think a flag or some storage on the engine deck will help with that blank area. This will give me some practice at this technique.

My decal setting solution is 20 years old, time to get ride of that.

BILL: Thanks for the comment. I have been reading your build logs on your website and they have been a great help.

Keep the advice coming. This is great to get feedback from you guys.

VERY nice job, especially considering it's only your second build. I'd be proud of this one!

Nate

Thanks, Nate.

IWM,although I like the dirt and heavy use look you have a very nice stug there.Seems you've set the bar pretty high.