Tamiya StuG III Ausf B 1/35 - Now onto the base! (14/05/11)

I have to agree with the others, this STUG IS AWESOME, it has to be your best yet.  You have done more then improve, you have moved up in the ranks of modelers.  The weathering just really put it on a new playing field, very nicly done.

What an excellent build! I'm building the same kit for the Panzer III GB. I can only hope mine looks half as good as yours!

You are a master!

Ben, you are starting to scare me.  WHY?  You are getting better after every build.  NO kidding! LOL  Yes I have to agree with others this is probably one of your best builds to date.  I loved this Tamiya kit and I won't mind building another one. 

Brilliantly finished model there Ben, she really looks the part and it has to be your best work yet.

Well Done.

Terry.

the doog

Hey Ben, it looks like you've stepped up a level, and reached a personal best!

I can't really see anything to critique or suggest--looks like you've hit a home run!

Thanks Karl,

That really means a hell of a lot to me and certainty helps with the old confidence!

I've got an oval base on order and long Summer grass to go with it. I've got my buddy to paint my figure as he really is just great at it (I need more practice yet but I'll get there) and the tarp should be fitted tomorrow. It will take another week to get the base and scenery I ordered and I don't think the figure should be ages coming so at least I'll have the StuG mounted on the base come next weekend.

Soon I'll have the Panzer III GB to start then I'm going to try a couple of Allied builds and knock out this Dragon Firefly in the stash and I've just ordered the lovely Bronco Comet. It will be nice to paint some green!

Thanks again matey

Ben

Hey Ben, it looks like you've stepped up a level, and reached a personal best!

I can't really see anything to critique or suggest--looks like you've hit a home run!

tigerman

Ben, this is stunning.I've missed a bit, but am not disappointed. This may go down as your best build yet!

Thanks TM!

It's comments like this that make it all worthwhile! Thanks buddy

If you've just looked at the photo's please read through the blurb that I typed - it will help put things into place.

I forgot to mention that the grease/oil stains on the rear deck were fresh when I took the photos which is why they look a bit 'stark'. They've toned down nicely now but will probably end up being covered if I go with the tarp.

I'm nearly there, just a tad more fine tuning and the fitting of them small chains to the pins! Advice stil needed re the pins.

I'm going to give the tarp a go tomorrow and next week get the base and scenery ordered. I've a friend over here who is painting me me a figure to be posed walking alongside the StuG. His figures are very good too - my figures are not! I'm, erm, still practicing!

I'm going to try and paint a Swastika but I've found out that my favourite UK on-line store stocks flags ready to go in 1/35 so I'll have to see.

Like I said, the StuG will be completed tomorrow and some decent photos taken but the base will be next week and I suppose my buddy will be a week or two painting my figure. He's offered to give me one of his figures which is very nice of him so that's one less thing to worry about!

If anyone can offer advice re where I need to put the chain on the clamp and pin I'd be MEGA greatful as I want to get it right! I've just realised I've two more pins on the back too so there's four to do now, not two!

Thanks again Tigerman - much appreciated

ATVB

Ben

Ben, this is stunning.I've missed a bit, but am not disappointed. This may go down as your best build yet!

Good afternoon folks,

A quick update for the day:

I'm not far off now. I wanted a dry and dusty Summer build to suit Poland '41 and I think it's come out fine so I'm stopping with anymore work on the main tank now.

I've just added some varied pigment, some AK streaking grime and some tiny oil dots into each of the holes on the upper panels to add some rust. The grey shows through nicely on the upper casemate and I'm hoping to make some 'stowage' using rolls of cardboard, chunks of plastic and anything else I can find to use as some stowage on the rear deck. I then plan to add a tissue paper tarp over the stowed items and use the hoohs I've fitted on the rear deck as tie down points - I've got some Carp fishing braid which should be just the right scale for smaller diameter rope. The tarp will be painted in a field grey with light pigment on it and I'm then going to push an aerial Swastika recognition flag under the ropes.

I've seen quite a few StuGs done in a similar manner and this should look great - depending on if I can get my tarp to work (I've never made one from tissue paper) and I can paint a decent flag or find a proper scale cotton one to purchase.

I've worked over the entire build with a medium bristle toothbrush to remove excess pigment to blow away leaving a nice coverage of dust in all the right places.

There was a supplied spare track link run in the kit so I ditched that and used some spare Friul links which look SO much better

Things left to do:

• paint the front track holder and weather the final front piece of sloping flat armour
• look at making a tarp, stowage and sorting a flag
• add some very small link chain to the front tow clamps (name?) and fix the other ends to the retaining pins that go through the clamps.
• Sort out a base, long grass scenery and a figure to be posed walking alongside the StuG.

How she's looking:

Friul links weathered using 'Track Black' used to replace the kit links (weathering still to be done on this panel and the retaining clamp need painting): 

NOTE: If you look at the third photo from the top that shows the spare track link run you can see the clamps underneath each headlight. I want to put very fine scale chain from the clamp to the retaining pins. Can anyone tell me the chain should start on the clamp base and be stuck onto the pin that pushes through the hole?

I hope you like her chaps, I know I'm very happy with her. Apart the base and figure she should be complete by tomorrow. I'll order a suitable base and figure next week.

Thanks for looking guys,

ATVB

Ben

disastermaster

I've been watching 'ya.

                I've got that same kit too.

                      

Thanks very much DM

What a lovely kit to build - highly recommended.

As I listed previously, I've got a few little thing to tidy up to make her 100% - I'd say she's about 90% there right now.

I didn't bother with the interior, I just gave the gun assembly a coating with primer to secure it all and for painting the mantlet. The interior is very sparse but could be 'tricked out' to look okay if you go for 'flaps open'.

In the instructions It asks you to use the articulated suspension - in fact just the front and back wheels are sprung and the middle four on each side just flap up and down as they aren't fixed. This is ok for a diorama but if the build is going on a shelf like mine then I'd choose the other supplied suspension arms that have a proper hole in them to allow proper location and forget the suspension. It's a PITA by all accounts!

I just need to look at stowage and tarp to see if it's worth doing plus the tracks will be coming off for proper weathering and I want to show bare metal on the exposed high areas and drive teeth.

Some grease stain on the deck and some super small chain for connecting the locator pins to the towing brackets front and back will look good.

I'll look forward to your WIP!

ATVB

Ben

I've been watching 'ya.

                I've got that same kit too.

Hi guys,

Here's the final update for this long weekend as I'm back at work tomorrow

Cheers by the way Panzerwaffe! You'll have to wait until next weekend for the completed pics because there are a few things that need doing before I'm happy to say that she's finished!

Yesterday I got the Friuls done and put them in the Track Black solutions today - they came out pretty well and I'll definately be using it again. The treatment is size dependant I'm told that big Panther tracks would use up the whole effective chemical treatment but smaller tracks like those of this Panzer III should give enough use for 2 treatments - maybe 3. I'll use it for two treatments and then buy some more as it's very cheap.

This StuG has markings that would put her in Poland during Summer so I'm thinking hot and dusty with some residue of wet mud from the spring. I've built up the layers on the hull walls and it looks good. The wheel walls have also been brushed over with water and a lighter dust pigment - this will brush up to look really nice.

Some light pigments on the fenders and in crevices have worked well and some MIG 'Panzer Fading Grey' pigment has toned down the chipping a little and has given it a uniform look with the pre shade highlights nicely peeping through.

I pinched a Dragon German Antennae of the correct length from the spares tub and fitted that. Tamiya antennae base is on an angle hence the reason why mine is!

She'll be completed next week and I've made a list of final jobs that need doing:

• File the track raised areas to show wear
• Paint the mufflers and add pigment for rust and 'soot'
• Spray shots of acrylic wash onto the lower hull walls using a water & Buff loaded paint brush and the air brush to make blasts to replicate flicked up muck (not sure about this yet).
• Fit the pins on the spare wheels
• I've got about 10 individual links that I also dipped in the Track Black - these will be the row of spare track links at the front.
• Fit a length a tow cable - I'm just going to lay it one cable along the right fender behind the tools.
• Add some spare tools and maybe a tarp and stowage.

Todays work:

Blackened Tracks:

Thanks for looking guys

This time next week she'll hopefully be sat in my cabinet all finished and looking right at home 

Many thanks and have a good week everyone,

Ben

Looking forward for Sunday for those pics.  You have done an excellent job so far.  I'm really digging your Stug

deafpanzer

Love the picture of your dog!  Tell her good dog good dog good dog for chewing up Axis armors instead of Allied... did you train her that way?  You are doing great this time and I am not kidding... I am going to watch your work on the tracks with interest. 

Thanks Andy,

I've got the wheels sprayed so they will be fitted soon - I've just used Vallejo 'Dark Rubber' -  Nothing fancy as they will be well dusted up.

I'm going to give the hull sides below the fenders (behind the tracks) a spray with dull coat now so the pigments will grip better. By the end of play tomorrow the wheels will be on as will the tracks, hopefully my chemical Black Track dip works as well as it's supposed to!

That should set me up for a finishing post of next Sunday all being well - just the slightly heavier weathering to go.

ATVB

Ben  

Love the picture of your dog!  Tell her good dog good dog good dog for chewing up Axis armors instead of Allied... did you train her that way?  You are doing great this time and I am not kidding... I am going to watch your work on the tracks with interest. 

Your really flying along with this one Ben. Looking forward to seeing the effect you get from the Black Tracks set.

Terry.

Hi guys,

Here's the usual Saturday afternoon update:

Apart from painting the mufflers with a rusty colour prior to pigments and darkening the lower hull walls located behind the running gear I'll be leaving the build alone now until the running gear is on.

So, the Friuls are about 10 links short of being complete and the wheels are mounted on spikes stuck in the foam block primed and ready to be airbrushed with my rubber mix - I'll paint the hubs by hand as they are tiny.

I'm actually going to get a chance to try my 'Track Black' which I bought from a buddy on a UK forum at Christmas but I've just not used it as I haven't used Friuls for ages!

It comes in three bottles: Immerse tracks in solution one which is the degreaser then immerse in water and then immerse in solution 2 then finally into three for a great natural effect (apparently)! It's good for two to three uses depending on the size of tracks.

I've made the Friul runs about 5 links longer than the supplied vinyl kit tracks which should give a nice sag but I've plenty spare in the bag if needed.

You'll also see a photo of my Labrador Purdey who chomped my original StuG III not that long ago - I've been promising this photo to Andy Deafpanzer for ages. She's grown up a bit now and doesn't chew now and is doing very well in her career as my Dad's gun dog!

Todays work - I'm nearly there:

One completed run of Friuls ( the other is in the box) along with some more which I'll be using as a spare track run to be mounted on the front of the build - much better than the kit spare track run!

The three bottles that make up the 'Black Track':

Finally, this is 'StuG Dog', otherwise known as Purdey  

Thanks for looking in guys

It's May Day Bank Holiday in the UK on Monday so I hope to have the tracks fitted by the end of Monday - I'll dip them tomorrow and paint the wheels.

Take care,

ATVB

Ben  

tigerman

Looking really good Ben. Gonna be a stunner when done.

Thanks very much TM

I must admit she's coming on better than I had ever hoped. It's not easy bringing a panzer grey build to life UNLESS you manage to get your pre-shade to work and some good chipping effect going.

The chipping will be toned down a bit following the final washes and pigment work. I'm looking forward to trying that MIG Panzer Fading Grey pigment on a few small areas.

I'm currently assembling the Friuls (slowly). As much as I love them fitted GOOD LORD I find them boring to assemble!

WIP update tomorrow - I'm sure you all know what assembled Friuls look like! LOL!

ATVB

Ben

Looking really good Ben. Gonna be a stunner when done.

wbill76

Nice to see you continuing to expand your skill sets and explore new territory Ben! While the chipping is a little heavy for my tastes, I can see where you are going with it from an artistic standpoint in terms of the overall "feel" of the finish. Looking forward to the next round of updates.

Thanks you guys,

Anthony: The is very much appreciated! Cheers!

Bill: Thanks matey. I wanted to try painted on heavy chipping - it's not something I've ever done before (normally I'll dry brush and sponge to get chips) so I had to have a go. The chips will tone down again with the final work and I'm hoping that this is going to turn out to be one of my better builds. I really hope it does.

Basically Ive got to do the Friuls (yes, I've still managed to postpone them), properly paint the wheels and do the final weathering in as far as dusting/mucking behind the running gear area, dipping the Friuls in Track Black (first ever attempt) and final flat coat and light pigments. We have the day off for the Royal wedding tomorrow  and it's a bank Holiday (May Day) on Monday so another 4 day weekend  should see her all but complete. I'm also thinking about a small base for her now!

All comments appreciated guys - I really feel like I'm taking a personal direction in my modelling now.

I've also decided that when this StuG is complete I'm going to back to my Hetzer. If you recall it darkened quite badly (partly due to the over weathering and partly due to the hot rattlecan solvent gloss spray that I 'used' to use) so I'm going for a full on hairspray whitewash! I'm really looking forward to that and it will brighten up my cabinet too!

Many thanks,

Ben

Ben,

That short barreled beastie is looking downright sharp.  I am looking forward to another update.

Cheers

Dave

Nice to see you continuing to expand your skill sets and explore new territory Ben! While the chipping is a little heavy for my tastes, I can see where you are going with it from an artistic standpoint in terms of the overall "feel" of the finish. Looking forward to the next round of updates.

Thanks Anthony,

The chipping came out about right and the selective adding of different washes to different panels has woked well.

I wanted a sun-bleached tatty looking old tub and it's getting there. She'll look better with some wheels, tracks and further weathering. Nearly there!

ATVB

Ben

Looking real good on the weathering.

Hinksy

Hi Karl,

I don't own any white oil paints and haven't used any on this build? I used Gunze Off White Acrylic.

Ben

Sorry, that was rude of me!

Thanks for the buddy. She's really coming on well now and I'm near the finish line. I really must assemble the Friuls which is soooo boring but needs must!

Like I said I'll weather the lower hull and drop the running gear on then coat her with flat coat to bring it all together. Some light pigment work and I'm about there.

I'd like to do a tarp but I'm not sure about ratios of water to glue & immersion times. I'd like a Swastika flag to drape over the rear deck stowage but I don't know how best to do that. I'll look into that this week. I doubt I can buy one-maybe!

The highlighting has really come to life now after the panel lines have been done along with the chipping. I need to weather the fenders a bit but I'll do that next week.

Cheers again Karl,

Ben

deafpanzer

It is really looking GREAT!  Now you can understand why I am a big fan of MIG products especially Fading Panzer Grey.  Can't wait to try Fading Allied green on my Chaffee soon.  I like the chipping and I am sure they will look darker after more washes.

Now I am seriously thinking about moving to England... they have more holidays than work days, don't they?  No wonder you blokes can build more than us Americans...

Thanks Andy,

Much appreciated! I haven't used any pigments yet but have used MIG/SIN Filters and washes for panel lines. I'm really looking forward to trying the Panzer Pigment! I'll be doing that last after the dull coat is applied all over. I was looking at the Fading Allied Green for my Firefly too.

Karl: I've just looked back over what I wrote - yep, it was just Gunze Mr Colour Off White Acrylic so nothing to worry about but cheers for the heads up - I didn't know that!

ATVB

Ben

Hinksy

Hi Karl,

I don't own any white oil paints and haven't used any on this build? I used Gunze Off White Acrylic.

Ben

Oh.....well, then. Good deal! Carry on!

Hi Karl,

I don't own any white oil paints and haven't used any on this build? I used Gunze Off White Acrylic.

Ben

Looking great, Ben, for sure. It's definitely got character now! The weathering is progressing well, and your shading job gave it depth.

Just be aware that you shouldn't weather with white oil paint. White oil paint will, in time, absorb into the acrylic undercoat and one day you'll look at your model and wonder what happened to your drybrushing. Same thing with figure painting--if you shade the face with white oil highlights, one day your figure will develop an unexplained "tan" as the oil absorbs into the color coat.

You might want to redo it in acrylics?

It is really looking GREAT!  Now you can understand why I am a big fan of MIG products especially Fading Panzer Grey.  Can't wait to try Fading Allied green on my Chaffee soon.  I like the chipping and I am sure they will look darker after more washes.

Now I am seriously thinking about moving to England... they have more holidays than work days, don't they?  No wonder you blokes can build more than us Americans...