#3 Tristar Panzer I Ausf A *COMPLETED*

Thanks Sprue!  It was one of many great tips I learned here on FSM.  I used MM Wood (enamel) as base coat.  W&N oil paint Raw Umber lightly thinned using a stiff paintbrush like one of those cheap Testor kind to make streaks and let it dry for more than 24 hours before you can weather it. 

the wooden tool handles look real 

Dave & Terry- Sorry it took me long to get back to you guys.  I will look into that polly thing at upcoming show this Saturday.  Thanks for the nice comments.

Ben- Let's hope there will be a perfect GB after June.  Stay in touch.

Andy I love it beautiful finish. Well Done.

Terry.

Andy,

Something I've rediscovered for flat coating is Polly Scale flat coat.  It's acrylic and you can airbrush it straight out of the bottle.  I'm looking forward to the next  deafpanzer installment.

Cheers

Dave

Hey Andy,

I too am really wanting to build a Panzer II. I think the Dragon one has an interior similar to my Panzer I.

I'd like to build one of the bigger 1/24 Tasca Panzer II's but they take up too much precious space! !/35 will be fine.

We both like our early German Panzers and German SPG's so we'll have to both keep our eyes peeled.

After the StuG is complete I'll have two kits left in the stash. Two Dragon kits; the stunning Sherman IC Hybrid Firefly (my Grandad drove a Firefly in WWII so I want a good Firefly build on a base-my Aunt is looking for photos of him during WWII in his tank of which apparently there are loads but they are having trouble finding them) and the Marder III Ausf M Command Vehicle - a real mega kit with soooo many sprues!

We could look at a Panzer II GB and run it ourselves - we'll have to put the feelers out to guage interest? Something for the Summer maybe?

Lovely finished build by the way my friend, I'm loving her!

ATVB

Ben

Jetmodeler- Thanks!  Painting eyes are never that easy for me...   But am glad I didn't give up this time. 

Marc- Thanks!  Now I can return to my Marder II as MIG pigment has been applied last night.  It was a dirty job but somebody had to do it.   I have already started working on M24 Chaffee...

Ben- Just let me know if you see a good GB that fits our plan.  I am itchin' to build DML Panzer II later this year if possible.   Nice work on your StuG... I have been lurking around StuG GB.

Sorry about the bad picture but safe to say that they are no longer shiny!  Thank you for the constructive feedback... you guys rock!

Andy, nice to see that you can put this one on the finished list. Excellent job.

The figures look even better on the second attempt with the eyes.

Now that's what I'm talkin' about.  Sweet!

Hey Andy,

It's the eyes and the facial features in general that I struggle with. I think I'll be able to do the eyes okay now that I have some very good detailing brushes that go down to size 10/0 but I can't make the face 'pop'. I'll keep trying and I've got some articles etc on face painting that may help me too.

I took the figure out of my Dragon StuG III A as it was dismal and detractred from the build which is nice. I'm going to use the figure from this Tamiya kit for it and at least have yet another go at getting it right.

I'm off to paint the basecoat on my StuG III B now - I'm going to try the pre shade yet again and I'll be very happy if it works, even just a touch! I'll get it painted, decaled, tools fitted, wheels on and then Assemble the Friuls then finally head for the home straight! Wish me luck!

I'd love to build another Panzer I Ausf A with you. We could do a joint build, share info and perhaps do a joint blog? Could be fun as the Norway thing was good - apart from Lasse going off the radar!

ATVB

Ben

Thank you ogrejohn!  Hope you are still planning to attend Roscue Turner IMPS... it is only two weeks from now. Don't tell my wife I have lots of cash stashed somewhere in the house.  Will PM you more details soon. 

You've done a wonderful job on it Andy! Sure looks great!

Thanks Anthony!  I was wondering about the shiny uniforms too as they seems to be shiny now after washes.  I will definitely apply flat clear finish to tone it down.  Like always... thanks for your comments! 

Very nice effort Andy,a build to be proud of,the color modulation looks great,the overall dusty appearance,and the detail painting on the figures.One point maybe was mentioned,but the uniforms appear shiny,perhaps to try to flat them down some more ? but thats it great job

,

Anthony

Detailfreak- Thanks for stopping by.  Sure, just send me your figures along with a case of beer or two.  I paint better that way...   If things go well with my next two GBs, I am planning to join StuG GB if it is not too late.

Nate- Glad to help!   Unfortunately I buy a kit if I don't have it every time I see a great build.

Ben- You are way too nice!  Yes, for sure we had too much fun doing Norway GB... I have this "95% completed syndrome" that I would jump to next kit when it is almost done.   Just visit Figures and Misc forum... there were plenty of great toots especially by Indy and others where I learned a great deal.  I lost count how many times I tried to get the eyes right... wish all figures wore sunglasses!

Maybe when timing is right we can do Panzer IIs using brown/grey scheme to make our friend wbill happy.

Hey Andy,

I thought she was finished before but she really looks the part now!

I just wish I could paint figures! I cannot get them to look 'real'. They look like mannikins in shop windows!

I'm fine with the uniforms - no problem but I can't find a good colour for the face, I can't get any depth the the face and they generally detract from a good model.

I'm pretty stuck and would love to start using figures like you as they make such a difference so any help or advice greatly appreciated (no hijack intended Andy)!

A great Panzer I by all accounts. I feel like building another in a very early war Brown/Grey scheme.

ATVB

Ben

Nice job Andy. I have one of these stalled at the painting stage. Just might have to resurrect it after seeing how nice yours turned out!

Nate

  Nice work on the pzr 1,the figs also.I must sit down and actually paint some figs myself,or I could just send them to you. Gonna head on over to that Korean war G.B and watch what happens.Have a great day Andy.

wbill, thank you so much for the nice comment.  It really feels great to have it completed for sure!  I was not satisfied with the figures eye so I give it another shot tonight. 

I had to post this picture because I thought it looked so cool!   Very light flesh tan was applied to eyes...

Used MM acrylic flat black this time instead of using a very fine black marker... it was easier that way.  Lesson learned for me!

I am going to call it done for now before I change my mind.   Off to build an old Italeri kit M-24 Chaffee for Korea War GB which will be my first American armor in 25+ years. 

Nice to see this one get moved over to the "completed" stack Andy, you've done well by the little guy!

Jetmodeler- thank you for the comment that was posted months ago! 

Jeez, I sure got sidetracked with my Marder II for the Marder Madness few months ago that I never finished my little panzer.  I think it is safe to say that it is completed... here it is. 

Applied more burnt umber to the tank especially the wood handles.  Thanks David (hughes2682).  Then I applied MIG pigment and painted the figures that came with the kit.  They were not too bad but far better than typical Tamiya figures.

Closer shots of the figures... first pic was WIP before the eyes correction but I am still not satisfied.

I think I am going to add very small peck of very light tan to the eyes then do the eye pupils again.  I love this Panzer I Ausf A... why?  Because all of my buddies found it difficult to believe how small it was when I showed them. 

Anyway I wanted to say thanks for all of your constructive feedback for this little panzer. 

Andy,

Everytime I look it just looks better and better. Glad to see it has its shoes dirty.

Dave, you were right... it didn't take that long to dry.  I let it dry overnight because I couldn't wait to start my Marder II!  Will work on tool handles this week.

Disastermaster- Thanks for the boots! LOL

Ben- I'd love to buy AK stuff next time I go to a model show. Never thought about using airbrush to apply MIG fixer... gonna try that.  Thanks!

Bill- Thanks for the answer to my question about gluing tracks to the wheels.   It looks like I will have to do it if I want it to sag.  I couldn't resist starting the Marder II while my family is gone so I will wrap up little panzer this week.

Look gerat with the dirty boots!  Thats just what it needed.

Rob

Looking REAL good Andy!

Nate

Moving right along with this one Andy! On the MK track question, you can glue them down if you want to "fix" them in position for sag without any problems but recommend you do that after you're done with the pigment exercise.

When using ordinary water as your carrier, you just need to allow enough time for it to air-dry before you can go to work on it for removal of the excess. Looking forward to the next round of updates.

Looking good now Andy,

I used pigments like this on a build and used a STIFF bristled toothbrush to remove the ecess - the remainder was a very convincing collection of dusty dirt in the recesses, cracks and running gear etc.

Like you say I misted a light coat of MIG pigment fixer oxer the road wheels and tracks with my AB to hold it all in place - it worked perfectly.

I know your experience and skill far exceeds mine so I'm wondering how far you want to go with this teeny Panzer? I like streaks and muck and all sorts! You can't beat some good rust streaking imo. I've also just bought some of the new AK production Streaking Grime and Winter Streaking Grime along with Rust effects and Earth Wash. This stuff is great and the AK DVD is superb!

Keep us posted - I know you must be desperate to get this Marder on the bench now for Marder Madness!

Lovely work - I'm liking the tracks too.

ATVB

Ben

NOW , it's weathered.

NOW, it's BOOTS........

..........instead of shoes.

Andy,

I'll take you up on that .  As for the tool handles, there have been time where I've had to go back and, veerrrryyy carefully touch them up with some Burnt Umber oil paint and some Turpinoid (Blue Can).  

SInce you've used water mixed with your pigments, drying time is usually about an hour. It'll also depend on the temperature and humidity at your bench.  Results may vary .  That's going to look even better yet!

Cheers

Dave