Dragon 1/35th Jagdpanther WiP

Barrett, to the best of my knowledge, all Zimm was factory applied. But as Karl says, only StuG's had a pattern that was stamped. The problem I am having is not the pattern I am trying to replicate but the tool I am using which creates the impression of a stamped pattern. I do try and replicate an actual vehicle but within reason. I think tying to replicate the exact zimm down to the last detail would drive anyone mad. But even though the second attempt looks better, I am still not happy.

Sorry for the cluttered background, but I just wanted to get a quick pic. I started to remove the zimm straight after my last post. But rather than remove it all, I thought I would take off the pattern and try scoring in the dry putty. Took me about 10 mins, but wanted to see what you think before I did the rest.

Bish, THAT is the ticket, man---whatever you're doing there, keep doing it. That looks entirely correct, no matter how you got it.

Those stamps are a mystery to me. I see what you mean about the pattern in them. I just don't know of any actual pattern in zimmerit that could be correctly or convincingly portrayed by that method? I've seen the "Waffle iron" stamps, and they are indeed a "negative" of what you have there. How strange, a real mystery..

Looks good,  Bish.

I've read on another forum that the pattern you are replicating is actually the undercoat roughened up. The top layer was suppose to go on the following day with a proper pattern, but many vehicles left the factory without the finished layer?

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/thread/1209024588

regards,

Jack

Thanks doog. I did think it looked much better, just wanted to see what other thought.

The stamp pattern I have used before does work quite well, and I do think the waffle pattern stamp will also work. But clearly this one is a no go. I tried it twice, so they can't say I didn't give it a go. There is a fourth pattern with quite large squares within the square of the stamp, no idea what that's for.

But its all a learning process right, and I will know next time. I'll get the rest of the zimm done tonight, its only really the other side and front I need to do. Will get some proper pics up later in the weekend as I have been working on the magic track and really impressed with that.

After an interesting week trying to get the zimm right, I finally have something to show. This was the first time I have used magic Tracks and I really like them. I did the first by building it around the wheels, and then used that as a guide for the second. But I do have one question. What exactly is the difference between magic tracks and other Indy link tracks as you might get in a Tamiya kit.

These first pics were taken before my final zimm attempt

I also got on with adding more of the detail after the top and bottom were out together.

 And then after the zimm was re done, some of the tool clamps and also using small bits of styrene rod to replicate  the weld residue that may have been left behind after the tool holders were removed. I am going to sand those down a bit and then add some plastic weld before shaping them

I am made a best guess on the relocation of the tool holders, putting them where it seems to make sense. There's still a few more to add.

You may have noticed the absence of the roof.  While the gun does move up and down it does spring back up, but I need to fix the gun at the right angle and before I do that I need to get the figures assembled. So this week will be mainly focused on getting those together and staring on the base, especially the trees

And Karl, I would like to thank you very much for your perseverance. I think I was so determined to make those stamps work, I was loath to admit they were not. I know not everyone admits advice like that, but as you know me well enough, you know I do. So thanks again, and the same to everyone else who has been helping out.

Now, to go build some trees.

Zimmerit looks good now.  The difference between the "magic" tracks and other individual links is nothing.  It is a marketing word used by DML because you don't have the cut the track links off the sprues.

Thanks Bronto. And I was wondering if that was it. The Magic Tracks do hold together nicely while being glued which certainly helps get the right shape. I certainly will have no concerns in using them in future.

Bish,--the big cat looks is REALLY looking awesome now. It's going to be a mean looking beast when you get the paint on it. The zimmerit honestly looks just as it should, and it's to your credit as a modeler that you went the extra 10 miles to laboriously remove the first application and slog through both the labor and unpleasant mental process to get the right look. I've been there enough times to know how that feels, and it's exactly what I would have done. Isn't it amazing how fluent in "French" you become in times like that? lol

I know we say this a lot here, but I genuinely can' wait to see how this turns out. One of my favorite tanks of all time.

That's nothing compared to the anguish I would have gone through every day I looked at it knowing it was wrong. I can live with some inaccuracies, especially when its something small or tucked out of the way, but this is right there in your face, there's no getting away from it.

And thanks, I am rather looking forward to seeing how this comes out as well. The dio and the scenery is something new for me, so looking forward to how that comes out.

Home made zim is something I've never tried. Always looked too difficult. You make it look actually doable 

Thanks Sprue. I think its one of those things that's not as hard as you might think. I have found that with a few things over the last couple of years, things i have always put off.

Fantastic work on those tracks and the PE Bish, I think theres some frustration in every build, this might be one of those you'll look at over the years and remember. I agree with Karl, it has all the making of a real beast when finished.

Thanks terry, I do have high hopes for this as long as I can get the weathering right. But I think I know what I need to do.

And it wouldn't be so much fun if it was all easy would it

Bish

That's nothing compared to the anguish I would have gone through every day I looked at it knowing it was wrong. I can live with some inaccuracies, especially when its something small or tucked out of the way, but this is right there in your face, there's no getting away from it.

LOL. I always have to ask myself one question. Can I live with it. If the answer is yes, fear enough. If the answer is no, then I have to ask can I do anything about it without making it worse or that justifies the commitment. If the answer to those is yes, then I do it, if its no, then I guess I will have to live with it.

WOW Bish, that is some seriously great work you are doing there!

Eagle90

Thanks buddy.

Got some more progress on the Jagdpanther. With the gun in the right position I was able to get the roof on. I also got the rest of the clamps fitted. I got a set of fire extinguishers from Royal Model rather than try and modify the kit one. For the tube that holds the barrel cleaning rods and spare antenna's, I had to make a guess of the mount. At first I thought it might have been the same as that on the later vehicles, but closer inspection of a couple of photo's showed what looked like an improvised bracket. I also have a problem to solve with the rear. The support brackets for the exhaust don't fit with the towing clevice in place. I can only guess that the mechanics altered the support braces, so I will have to do that.

Now, a question. The inside of the tube for the cleaning rods, do you guys think it would be red primer or bare metal.

So with all that done, I can now move on to the primer and painting.

I also got the tracks and wheels primed and painted black, using Tamiya NATO black

 In the past, I have done the road wheels by spraying the metal and then hand brushing the tires. But finally I have got a circle template to mask the wheels, so I am trying that method instead.

Of course, that's not all of them, but you get the point.

And here is the first of the trees. I am using floral wire coated in flexi bark. I still have some more branches to add but wanted to see what the flexi bark was like

For the second tree, I intend to have a thicker trunk and am going to try tile grout for the bark.

That's all for now.

Freakin' COOOL! The model looks slammin', and that tree is coming out great!!

One question--what is "flexi bark"? I've never heard of it.

Bish,

      Consider adding one or two longer roots to the trees also.  The roots of many mature trees often snake along the surface of the ground before going deep. I really like the wire method for trees; yours are looking very nice.  Will be interesting to see what you do with your plan to add bark. 

Don

the doog

One question--what is "flexi bark"? I've never heard of it.

Flexi-Bark
Is a water based textured and rubberised material
A water soluble light brown rubberised plaster. It contains a fine grit which gives a bark-like texture to your trees. The flexibility of this product allows you to bend your trees to shape without risking the material breaking off.

You can pre-order it here.

I'm going to be paying attention to this.  :D

Not the best photo, but it looks like red oxide primer inside;

Thanks guys.

Don, ye, I am trying to do that to the second one, but I didn't think of it in the first so will try and add those in.

Karl, I came across it a couple of years ago but only got some recently and finally have a chance to try it. The small grit that disaster mentions is I believe cork. As it dries it shrinks a bit bringing out the small pieces, but of course this means it hugs the wire and exposes those, so several layers are needed. I can confirm what disaster says about it being flexible. The first tree is now covered and I can bend the branches nicely. And as it is, I think it would make a good dead tree, i'll get some pics before painting.

Mike, glad to have you following along.

Ixion, thanks. I didn't think it would be un painted, but wanted to check.

Bish that PE is some really nice work and you can't beat the one piece barrels. No matter how hard you try with the kit ones, they never turn out no where nearly that good. Money well spent I think.

Terry

Thanks terry. Actually this kit come with a one piece plastic barrel. But the barrel came with the Voyager PE set along with the tube for the antenna and side skirts. A lot of newer Dragon kits have these barrels and they are really nice. But ye, I do like those metal barrels.

That's a lot of brass work,looks really good.

Thanks Tojo. Ye, there is quite a bit on this one, but still lots left over. just got the DY on today, so will try and get some pics up in a day or two once the rest of the camo is on.

Glad I got caught up on what you're doing with this JP Bish! Looking mighty fine with all the work you've put into it.