Tamiya Panzer II Ausf B - COMPLETE! (19.09.12)

Looking forward to this build. I only realised the other week that i don't have an AM barrel for mine. Is the RB one upto its usual standard.

Looks like this will be one great build will be watching with interest ..... I'm right on the verge of the dark side ..... need guidance

Hey Bish,

The RB options is ideal - although there is an antennae trough there is no antennae so the brass RB one is a good choide for only a pound if you hate stretching sprue like me!

I use Steve at Armour Models for my RB stuff and Friuls too. Google Armour Models if you don't use them already. His site is great.

Ben

I haven't used Armour Models since the new guy took over, so this will be a good excuse. I have a shed load of those antennas in my AM box as i am going to use them on all my builds. I think i will order those barrels next month.

The new guy at Armour Models called Steve is a truly top bloke. I chatted with him at the Hinckley show. As soon as he toon over from Lou he reduced the price of Friuls by £5!

He know his stuff too - give him a try Bish.

Ben  

Ben,

Carl's got you covered for the little PE bits...they are what locks the muzzle brake on the barrel end.

Don't trust the Tamiya markings guide to the letter...unlike other manufacturers, they are still holding to the straight panzer gray scheme when French campaign vehicles like the Pz II would most likely have had the two-tone scheme of 1/3 dark brown and 2/3 dark gray. While others (and I don't want to get into another debate here on the subject and distract from your build ) think that panzer gray is also viable, you will have a much more visually interesting subject in the 2-tone scheme vs. what Tamiya indicates.

Look forward to seeing what you do with this one!

This is an ausf . F with the brown over gray that Bill mentioned

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt5yMGKo_rQ

I will Ben. I just haven't needed any barrels for a while. It was only the other day i realised i didn't have one for the Pz II. I'm with Bill on the paint scheme, while the Pz Grey is an option, the two colour scheme would look much better and be more likely. He has convinced me of this over the couple of discussions on the subject.

I wondered what those PE parts were for as well. RB barrels don't come with any instructions, but usually its quite self explanatory.

Hi folks,

Bish - check out the new site:

http://www.armour-models.co.uk/

Regards the paint scheme it was a thought that crossed my mind yesterday - early war Panzers in France? Grey and Brown was the common scheme and I made a mental note to make further enquiry when the time to prepare paint came closer.

I understand that the scheme is about 1/3rds Chocolate Brown and 2/3rds Panzer Grey. From what I've seen the Brown is quite faint and pokes through the Grey like a strong pre-shade?

I'm going to paint my Pz II like this as it's a scheme I haven't tried yet and would look right at home amongst my other early war Panzers.

Perhaps someone can provide a decent layout of the scheme for me to follow and also a recommendation for the corret shade of Brown paint i.e. Tamiya (XF-?) or a Vallejo shade would be extremely helpful.

I know you favour this scheme Bill so I'll have a look at your BP Models website and the link posted by Shellback, too.

I'm going to make a quick start now and will post a few photos later.

Thanks guys,

Ben

Ben,

The Dark Brown was applied over the Panzer Gray in a 1/3 disruptive pattern and there wasn't a set pattern as some vehicles were painted at the depots as they were produced when the scheme was in effect and others, like the Pz II, that had already been produced received the scheme in the field or when sent in for uparmoring or repairs. I've got the Polish Campaign Pz II kit from Tamiya on my site as a build log and you can see an example there of how I did the scheme for reference if it helps. www.bpmodels.net/.../viewtopic.php

Bill , i didnt realize you had your own site ...............looks great ! I'll start visiting it also . The Pz. II looks sharp . Weathering works real well on it . Thats cool having it in the magazine also !

Hi guys,

I have to hand it to Bill, he's got on helluva site there! His site has been a MASSIVE help to me as he's built a lot of the builds I have and he always covers the stuff I have problems with! For example I was thinking about Friuls for my build but I think the kit link and lengths will be fine so I'll have a crack at assembling them on the build then removing them in one piece for painting. As Bill also mentioned the poly-cap fixed drives and idlers will permit easy removal and re-fitting.

I've got the basic assembly well underway as you'll see. I'd rather not use Friuls on this build so next weekend I'll try and get the link & lengths assembled and then once they have set I'll remove them for painting off the vehicle and for fitting later on.

Some filler will be needed on these little gaps between the plates prior to painting: 

Off to a good start. A lovely kit!

If anyone can make a suggestion for the best shade of brown for this cammo scheme (in either Tamiya or Vallejo) then that would be great!

Cheers guys and have a good week!

Ben

Thanks Carl!

Ben

looking good so far!

Cheers fellas

Generous comments  much appreciated guys!

I've looked into shades of Brown and apart from the various shades that I already have in my rather large collection of Tamiya and Gunze Acrylic colours and apart from a basic Tamiya Flat Brown nothing really takes my fancy.

I've looked on a website that I use for my Vallejo Colours and they do a shade called 'Chocolate Brown' that can be found in their Model Colour range so I reckon a bottle of that might be a wise investment - especially seeing that I have another Panzer IA variant in the stash to be built after Tigermans 'Steel Cats' GB.

Not having seen the actual colour in the flesh can anyone say if this would be suitable or do you know of a Tamiya colour that would be an almost perfect match. After weathering this Brown is going to be really toned down anyway so perhaps a Tamiya Flat Brown would be ok?

Onto the build: The Panzer II/Wespe Friuls that my buddy swapped with me for some Hetzer Friuls arrived yesterday so with the aftermarket Brass RB antennae and the replacement RB 20cm cannon and MG34 barrels we are rocking and all set to go!

It's been one Hell of a busy week at work so I'm using today to just chill and watch some Olympics and You-Tube Tank Footage etc as I want to do some Pz II research for my build. I've got Monday booked off as holiday (YEAH! ) so today the most I'll be doing is assembling some Friul links. Tomorrow I'll completethe hull assembly as there isn't much left to do in regards to the main hulluand on Monday I'll replace the kit barrels with my RB ones and get the hull built up in sub assemblies.

There is, of course and unfortunately, not a hint of any interior detail but the Turret has a bit (gunner seat, gun breech detail and detail inside the turret hatches themselves). I'm planning on posing them open with the pads fitted of the insides of the hatches so they'll be exposed and painted with Vallejo 'Leather Belt' colour. The Turret interior will be painted Off White and the seats again in the correct shade - something I need to look up on the web when I do some research. Padded Leather maybe???

The tools will be left until after the basecoat has been applied. I'd like to show some additional stowage too. There is limited space but the nice flat section on the rear deck ofers some useful opportunity. I recall seeing a Pz II build that was detailed in a magazine recently where the modeller had assembled a small base with low sides in which sat three Jerry cans - he'd used PE or Foil to make a convincing strap to hold them in place. I'll be doing that and will probably also try to find a good spot to stow some spare track links too.

Finally, as for the spare roadwheel that is usually seen on the Glacis I'll make up a small tow-cable to sit there instead as I haven't any spare wheels. Tbh the cable will probably look better anyway.

Wip update and photos to follow!

Cheers guys,

Ben

Hello folks,

A quick update:

The entire lower hull is now complete and looking spot-on. What a simple build - after several mind-bending Dragon assemblies this was a nice break!

As I've mentioned before it has no interior but there is a basic interior in the turret and I'd like to leave that visible via open turret top hatches so some off-white will be needed for the turret interior plus the seat will need to be made to look presentable.

My Friuls from my friend are here now and ready to go so next weekend it's Friuls and turret assembly (plus I'll have to lop of the kit gun barrels and put on the RB metal ones.

I've left all the tools for hand painting and fitting after the basecoat is on. The plan is to basecoat and I'm going to try some modulation plus I'll be attempting the grey/brown early war German Panzer scheme. Decals can go on then tools then the usual washes and weathering etc.

The thing which I really like about this kit is that all of the road wheels, the idlers and drive sprockets are fitted via polycaps so can be popped on and off at any time.

A lovely little kit let down by them solid headlights - I think I'll just put the blackout covers on them!

Here's a few photos - nothing great as they were taken quickly using my phone camera:

PE Muffler Heat cover and Smoke candle rack which will need some chain adding for pulls:

All wheels fit via polycaps - very handy!

Friuls! Yeah!

RB barrels ready to swap for the kit ones (antennae too):

Thanks for looking guys,

I'll be hoping to get the turret completed next weekend and the Friuls assembled too which just leaves the painting and weathering.

All the best folks,

Ben

Looking good Ben, i must get those RB barrels next month.

Looks great Ben, I build the TAM Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.C Polish Campaign and it was an absolute gem.  For the brown, I just used some Lifecolor Signalbraun and added a couple of drops of black as the original color was quite dark from my understanding.  

There was a thread that talks about the brown color here

Hi guys,

Cheers for the comments. I've been looking at shades of Brown and think that Tamiyas NATO Brown looks perfect? I have about 2 bottles unopened in the paint drawer and it looks ideal.

Any thought chaps?

Anyway, making great progress. I've not had masses of time to expend on this build recently so it's been nice to get this turret out of the way - it was an enjoyable assembly and I'm looking forward to getting some colours on this now.

I know I had planned to have the turret interior visible but have deided to keep it simple.

As you can see the tools remain unattached as do the two large tool boxes, antennae and antennae trough. I'm going to paint the basic assembly and wheels as you see her now (the antennae can be painted off the tank to be fitted later to prevent damaging the Brass RB antennae getting bent) then I'm going to decal her and handpaint the tools and trough - the trough has a woodgrain effect that might benefit from some tidy brushstokes.

Following the grey and brown scheme I'll put the tools on and weather it as one. There are two large toolboxes that I plan to paint with a bare metal finish to add some visual interest.

Anyway, the replacement barrels look great and dropped straight on - you obviously just need to snip the plastic barrels off and drill a small hole in the gun breeches to drop the new barrels in.

Tomorrow I'm working from home so I'm going to be pressed for time. I plan to fit the two main headlights with the blackout covers on them and also fit the wiring to them and I'll lay down a layer of primer to harden up nicely during theek. After that I'll start on the Friuls - hopefully next weekend the build will be ready for some paint.

• Some photos:

Upgrading the barrels: 

The build, antennae and antennae trough. Also the wire for use on making the headlight conduit runs:

Looking good I think? The new barrels definately do the trick!

Cheers guys,

Ben

I was quite happy with the original Tamiya gun barrells but those metal ones really do add a real finesse to the model which looks great. I look forward to the rest.

Nice work Ben, ye, those barrels deffinatly do add that little bit extra.

Thanks guys,

The RB stuff is so cheap it's a no-brainer if you want this kit to look a little better. The kit barrels are fine and slide moulded so have open barrels but are lacking detail In particular the cannon only has dimples and no holes on the pepperpot muzzle brake. The antennae, of which I have several in 1.4m and 2m lengths are only a pound or so each. If you are crap at strectching sprue (like me) they are perfect and have the required taper to the tip like these German vehicles would have had.

I'll be working from home this afternoon so will only be starting the Friuls. If it's not busy I cann see a few areas that need a tidy-up and some filler.

I might prime her too but depends on time. I'll post an update later.

Ben

great work Hinksy. i'm with you on the RB barrel, i get them every chance i get. and stop builds till i get them. again AWESOME WORK.

Clay

Got to love the RB stuff, I'm a big fan of what they have to offer...nice work Ben!

Cheers guys,

Can any of you give me a final pointer on the brown to use. I have Flat Brown and NATO Brown (Tamiya) and others which are waaay off.

The was going to try some Vallejo Model Colour 'Chocolate Brown'?

Have a good week guys - I'm now halfway there with the Friuls and painting starts next weekend!

Ben

I found one site which suggests for Tamiya useing XF 10 and XF 1 mixed in a ratio of 5:1. They also suggest Vallejo 822. But i have no idea what vallejo range that is. I will be very interested to see what you come up with as i have been trying to decide what to use for this as well. I don't think any of the Xtracolour range will be suitable, so i will have to go Acrylic.

Cheers Bish,

Obviously I'll be laying the Panzer Grey basecoat down first so I'm going to paint the base of the tank and use that as a test bed. I'll try Tamiya Flat Brown, Tamiya NATO Brown and Vallejo Chocolate Brown.

Bill is a source of good knowledge re this shade so hopefully he'll help.

I think it need to be very dark brown which really rules out the NATO (unless I add some black to darken). I have Gunze Wood Brown which also looks like a 'possible'?

Update for yesterday:

Just quickly I assembled and teste fitted the Jack and toolboxes, fitted the headlights and added some basic fuse wire conduit runs to the headlights - basic but look fine.

Friuls have been started and are damn tricky being so small!

Hope you like her so far (sorry for the slow build rate) and painting commences next weekend!

Cheers guys,

Ben

Ben,

I can't offer any advice on acrylics unfortunately. All I can do is point you to the actual color chips of the Dark Brown used and then it would be up to you to try to find a close match either with an existing paint line or by mixing your own. FWIW, I use Testors Panzer Schokoladenbraun (enamel) straight out of the bottle for when I'm applying a 2-tone scheme. It's a very dark brown to begin with so if you start there with that tone you may wish to lighten it depending on the weathering you apply afterwards.

Of course if you apply lighter shades in your weathering vs. darker, you work in the reverse. That's what I did with my Tamiya Polish Campaign Pz II and it ended up like this.