DML Jagdpanther Late Complete PICS P9 12-12-10

Finally managed to get this one across the finish line this weekend! Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that this build would take 2.5 months to complete, but that's life for you I guess.

I sealed up the previous weathering with an application of Testors Model Master Lusterless Flat in the spray can and let that dry overnight. That left only the pigment weathering for the tracks and lower hull. I mixed up a combination of Mig Pigments Dark Mud, Light Dust, Europe Dust, and Rubble Dust as a dry powder until I had the tint/color I wanted. This was converted to a wet mix using ordinary tap water with a drop of dish-washing soap added to break the surface tension. The wet mix was applied using a round sable brush to the lower hull, running gear, and the tracks. After it had air dried, I removed the excess using a stiff bristled brush (while wearing a dust mask to avoid inhaling the fine particles!) and then made further adjustments using several q-tips.

This was the first time I had tried doing this with the tracks off the vehicle and it made a difference so will likely be something I continue when using workable tracks at any rate.

The tracks were then installed on both sides and the idler properly tensioned to produce the right amount of sag.

The final step was the installation of a JB brass 2m antenna using some CA gel and painting it up with MM Non-buffing Metalizer Gunmetal. Then it was off to the photo-booth for the walk-arounds to finally, finally! get this one across the finish line.

Congratulations Bill! Again another stellar build even though it took longer than your expectation's, but you crossed the finish line.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Glad you got this across the finish line!  Outstanding work as usual.   I like the details especially the tools on the beast.  I think I am going to build my Jagdpanther kit (DML w/ zimm) in 2011... tempting! 

It took you only 2.5 month?  That's still better than my record.  I have completed only 3 kits and I am trying to finish fourth (Marder II)...

Enjoy your break and drink two this time.

Merry Christmas to you and your family too IB48!

Andy, 2.5 months is an eternity for me, at least going by prior standards of averaging 4-6 weeks on a single build. This one was OOB (except for the tracks) and was supposed to be a quick/easy project...best laid plans I suppose! I may have to adjust to a new reality of builds taking this amount of time to complete for the foreseeable future that is as my build pace has definitely slowed way down this year. Thanks for the comments as always!

Bill, glad you finished. Looks great. 2.5 months......so what, enjoy the journey....its not how fast or how many you build....its what do you enjoy. Take a break....enjoy modeling for modeling...and have a on me

Rounds Complete!!

Rockin' build there Bill!!!    That 'ol Jagdpanther turned out great. Nice subtle weathering, and the camo is dead on.

Dale

Very nice.I'm jealous as usual.

So does this mean your slump officially starts now?

I sure hope not.  That's a real beauty.  I love that camo and plan on using it on an upcoming Peanut Butter Panzer... even though it might not be appropriate.  It just looks too damn cool.

Another masterpiece........perhaps we will see it in a magazine article somewhere down the line ??

Love it! A great looking model of a awesome tank with a beautiful paint job! Well done.

Epic Win!

Very nice.

Mike, thanks as always and your prescription is just the ticket!

Dale, appreciate the comments and glad you like how it turned out. This camo scheme is one of the "well known" schemes out there and I'd been wanting to tackle it ever since I got the kit and saw that it included the markings for this particular vehicle.

TD, no need to be jealous and appreciate the kind words all the same.

Marc, it's kind of like when recessions officially "start" and "end". The slump has been ongoing for the last couple of months but only just manifested itself in a meaningful way. I'm not saying that it's now officially "over" either...I do need a break from blogging and the "grind" and think I've settled on just the thing to have on hand as a simple project for my upcoming holiday time off. Would love to see this scheme show up on one of your PB masterpieces for sure!

Anthony, thanks for the compliments, as for publication there aren't any plans for that anytime soon but you never know. Part of the "break" is also a break from the publication grind...it's a major "time stealer" in the background that has been contributing to my feeling of the "slump" that I need to break out of.

Mad Klingon, cb1, appreciate the comments as well!   

Love It Love It Love It

The way you finish out the under carriage is always a treat and looks so natural.

Thanks for the show Bill

Tony Lee

Thanks Tony! High praise indeed and glad you like it!

You can never go wrong with a "Bill Build"

Great to see you found some mojo and got this one finished Bill this particular camo scheme is one of my favourites and one i hope to pull off one day you have managed it perfectly it looks awesome i love it . 

Thanks Ron, nice to see you back online again and posting as well!

Beautiful job Bill! I really like the dried mud / dusty look of the tracks and running gear, great job! Camo is VERY cool too.

Nate

Congratulations to another cool build Bill,
Your technique has developed in every way over the last years, and in your continues improvement I think you have become an inspiration to many of us.
I think you should take pride in that.
The camo scheme is a 100% knock on, I have seen this done with very good results with sharp demarcation but your soft demarcation is so much more convincing.
You did this soft in 1:35, just imagine what it would do take to do it sharp in 1:1, planks that bend around the curves?

Thank you for sharing Bill

Very Best Regards
Johan 
.

   Bill I didn't think you'd be able to let this one sit to long.

  As always a fine job all around on this big guy. Now get started on that next project no time to waste now that your back in the groove

Nate and Steve, appreciate the comments!

Johan, I debated back and forth about whether or not to do the camo as hard or soft-edged and what finally tipped the balance for me was the timeframe in which this one was built since it pre-dated factory-applied hard-edge schemes. Combine that with the complex curves/surfaces you mention and it made more sense to me that way (although I was prepared to use the blue-tack masking to get a hard-edge had my decision gone the other way! ). Thanks as well for your kind words and glad you like how it turned out.

Not really being a math guy, i did devise a very simple equation for modeling:

the longer amount of time spent on a model + the higher number of techniques used= better model

your jagd proves my point :)

Well worth the wait for this one, came out fantastic   Camo is very nice but really like that dirty running gear.  Great work.

Rob

Belt Fed, I like that "new math" formula, it works! Thanks for the comments as always.

Rob, thanks and glad you like the way the running gear turned out, I did have to take some care with the MK tracks since the pigment treatment and stiff bristled brush approach can be a little rough but overall it worked out well. Definitely a technique I will continue to work on and fine-tune going forward.

Well Bill I've beenn following this and alot of others in work but dont really get a chance to reply. As always great work she is a beauty.

If I'm not online before the X-Mas well then Merry Christmas to your and your Family.

Terry.

Thanks Terry and a Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

I thought I commented already. My bad. 

Glad you got her done Bill. It must feel like a relief. Now you can turn your attention to a new project. I do love the camo and your superb understated weathering. Used, but not abused. LOL

Can you give us a peek into your next project? Merry Christmas. 

Thanks Eric! Yes, it is a relief to have this one done and on the shelf. Definitely set a personal record for longest single build duration!

My 2 weeks off for the holidas officially started yesterday and I do have a new project in the works to occupy my time during the break. I'll offer you a clue in that it could be considered the JP's "older cousin" and leave it at that.

Once again another Master Class. I despair that I will ever get any where near as good....cheers....Kenny

I particulary LOVE the fadded look of the kit ... subtle weathering...

A really nice painting work. Congratulations!