DML Pzkpfw IV Ausf C---COMPLETE 01-20-12

Slick building there cowboy

Wish I could see it in person Bill

Thanks for the showing

Tony lee

Wow!  Really nice build Bill!  Perfect weathering for the France Campaign, luv the two-tone grey/brown camo scheme!  I'm also a participant of that GB, but haven't been checking in as I should.  I totally missed you WIP posts, sorry.  I need to get involved, I'm missing too much good stuff!

Good Job Bill!

I like the two tone scheme. I do have one question. The way I understand it the brown over gray was used during the Polish campaign, was it still in limited use during the French campaign? The only reason i ask is Poland is East... lol! :)

Again, good job on a doozy of a kit...

Tony, thanks as always my friend! Maybe someday you'll get the chance if you're ever in this neck of the woods.

Ernest, thanks as well. The GB has kind of slowed down a bit but still some good work getting done there...check it out when you can.

Kenneth, the two-tone scheme was the standard authorized scheme from Nov 1938 until July 1940 and there are plenty of photos (even color photos) showing units running around France in the two-tone scheme since that campaign ended in June 1940. The monotone Panzer Gray scheme wasn't ordered until July 1940 and while there's some debate/controversy depending on who you talk to about whether or not units were already using straight Panzer Gray prior to the July order but the paper trail of documented orders supports it's standardization only after the Battle of France was completed.  This is compounded by the long held view based solely on black/white photos that Panzer Gray was the norm for BoF and all the major kit makers kept stating monotone panzer gray in the finishing guides. Only recently have manufacturers like DML (as evidenced in their recent Pz III E, Pzjgr I, and Neubaufahrzeug kits for example) changed that based on the actual orders and timeline established by Jentz/Doyle in their research of the original order documents and timelines for scheme adoptions.

I personally take the view based on the evidence currently available that the two-tone scheme was the standard for both Poland and Battle of France and that Panzer Gray vehicles, if they did indeed exist at the unit level prior to July 1940, were in the minority and not the majority as previously believed (especially since you can never say "never" or "always" when it comes to German gear in WW2!). The two tone scheme is very hard to detect in black/white photos even under optimal conditions...add in poor lighting and a layer of dirt/dust and the contrast between the two virtually disappears.

So much new information comes to light all the time even after all these years and the great thing about the hobby is that yesterday's doctrine or accepted practice can be disproved or updated as more and more people continue to dig into the past. It keeps the hobby alive and dynamic IMHO.  

Good enough for me, Rock on! :)

Great work as usual Bill,I plan to build #6301 this year.I know your blog will be a great help

I've seen this baby when it was just a little tyke ,,,,,,,,,,,,     Superb job wBill  !!!

bufflehead

Wow!  Really nice build Bill!  Perfect weathering for the France Campaign, luv the two-tone grey/brown camo scheme!  I'm also a participant of that GB, but haven't been checking in as I should.  I totally missed you WIP posts, sorry.  I need to get involved, I'm missing too much good stuff!

Ernest, you're under house arrest until you get cracking on that kit.

Bill, another superlative build. Glad you were able to get her done. 

You're going to have to share your method for wood. I'm still working on it myself. 

Very beautiful finish Bill (as always). I saw the beginings of your work on this but after my build was complete have I not checked in there as regularly to follow this ones progress. Very impressive work

Thanks tojo, glad the log will be of help to you! I think #6301 is the Ausf E kit, correct?

Babill, that's the trouble with panzers...they grow up so fast! Appreciate the comments and support along the way.

Eric, thanks as well. My method for wood tools is fairly simple. I start by applying a light tan base color (any similar color will do, I use a 50/50 mix of MM enamel Light Gray/Panzer Dunkelgelb) and then let that cure up 24 hours. Then I apply a very thin wash of MM enamel Leather over the base color and let that dry. Lastly I apply a very light dusting of burnt umber artist pastels (not pigments!) to tie it all together and tone down as needed. HTH!

Stik, totally understand, it's tough to keep up once you've already crossed the finish line yourself. I knew this one would take some time to get done but 4 months turned out to be longer than I anticipated. Glad you like the end result!

Thank you Bill.

I agree, Bill--perfect for this tank, this theatre.

Gray tanks are hard to make "pop" but this is about as good as it gets! (Up to your usual standard!)

Always my pleasure wBill,,,,,,,,,            always

Good comments on the scheme---even in color photography in "studio" conditions I had to look hard for the "brown" pattern over the grey...no wonder it is so hard to see in period pics...I saw many of these M0J0's stirring up the dust during Case Yellow in the Spring of 1940...thanks for the memories...

Bill - It is always hard to work in monotone, especially dark monotone like this Grey (or OD ) You have made the monotone look multi-tone. Outstanding work as usual. The tools and all the other details stand out and add dimension. Another great finish!!

Now....get started posting here....it's old timers month, Karl is back.....Tony is posting.....I will hopefully have an update this weekend....we need the Bill WIP going again!!

Always a pleasure to see your works of art.

Rounds Complete!!

Thanks Karl, it's like an armor forum reunion of sorts going on here!

Manny, I'm sure anything that conjures up memories of summertime in France is top of the list...especially after your ordeals in the Russian winters! Just as a whim, I converted one of the finished shots of the build into a monchromatic shot...and the two-tone virtually disappears if you don't know where to look for it.

Mike, Pz Gray definitely poses its own set of challenges but offers a lot of room to get creative as well! Gkad you like how it turned out. I already have my next victim picked out and as soon as I clear the workbench a new WIP thread will be forthcoming back here in the goold ol' Armor stomping grounds.

NIce to see this one at the finish line Bill. I cannot tell you enough how much your blog site is a great help to me... I check VERY RELIGIOUSLY, I only wish we could post on your blog site... I think at one time we could.... Hope all is well...

NICE

Jim, glad to hear from you and thanks for the kind words. My site is read-only for 2 simple reasons. 1) I don't want to have to police/moderate others in their posting activity or interactions and 2) the purpose of the site is to serve as a "clean" reference both for myself and others (believe it or not I will check back on the techniques I document as using on certain builds/finishes as references for current builds!) who are interested in the projects I've completed. It also serves as a kind of WIP notebook for when I do the write-ups for publication. I post the same threads here for feedback and engagement so that I'm not working in a bubble so to speak so feel free to post anytime or contact me through the message system here if needed.

ps1, thanks as well, glad you like how it turned out!  

Very nice indeed, awesome job!

I've followed your painting progress on the GB thread and noticed the dry brush technique wasn't used.   Is that just your style to omit that method or is dry brushing no longer popular?  (yes it's been a few years since I last built a vehicle subject)

regards,

Jack

Fair enough I understand...

What's on deck Bill??? Or is that hush hush...

Jack, drybrushing still has its place and use as a finishing tool, I just don't apply it to the general overall exterior as the practice used to be employed. Dry brushing within the hobby as kind of fallen out of favor in relation to other techniques, but I still use dry-brushing for adding depth or effects to interiors, on tracks, tools, etc. HTH and thanks for the comments!

Jim, no never a hush-hush secret about what I am building. Next victim will be DML's recently released Bison II that I received as a Christmas present.

Well Alright a DML Bison II

Tony lee

I am definitely looking forward to that one...

Bill, that's one real good looking Panzer III!  Oh, I meant to say Panzer IV!   It was fun following your WIP in Eric's GB.   

Looking forward to see your next build here in Armor... that new Bison kit is going to get some guys especially Tony happy. 

It's a whopper Bill most impressive and as I said over on the GB thread you nailed the panzer grey. Inspiring workmanship all round.

Terry.

Very nice indeed! You did an excellent job on it Bill!

Andy, thanks for the kind words and support, glad you like how it turned out! I'm looking forward to the Bison II and definitely have to tip my hat to Tony's recent build...he's part of the reason I ended up getting the kit.

Terry, thanks my friend, glad you were along for the ride!

Ogrejohn, thanks as well!