"The Hunters GB" (2/1/08 to 6/1/08)

Thanks i think i can handle that scheme. Scott do you know if the Elefants wore a camo such as that?? I think what i'll do Tiger is use your pattern but reverse the colors like this marder from April's issue

i don't have the proper tip or the skill yet to get those fine lines with the airbrush yet. here is the Elefant back in her base color ready to go. i'm going out for easter dinner so i'll hit this up tonight

This is the scheme on my Marder. I think I've seen it on the Elefant. Maybe Scott can verify that. Also, I've seen green and brown squiggles or little patches sprayed all over. That might be more accurate. Turn down the pressure on your compressor and get real close to your kit when spraying. Make sure the paint is well thinned.

Luftwoller wrote:

Looks like a nice job Cruzr. Like it with the rear doors open. Not seen them posed open. Shows the thickness well. As for the demarcation between the camo colors. If you use blu or white tack then you get a fairly soft edge to the camo. I too have never seen one with that camo before, but im no expert. I thought that all elephants were zimmed, but again, what do i know.  Espins is the Elephant man (That sounded wierd, hes not that fat) . Are you going to throw a wash or two at it? Great job fella, be proud. ...Guy

In the immortal words of John Merrick "I am not an animal!" 

The Elefant has always been a favorite research topic of mine. 

Yes, all Elefants had zimmerit.  After the Kursk offensive, there were only 48 remaining Ferdinands in working order.  These were eventually pulled off the line and were "converted" to Elefants, so to speak.  There were several significant modifications done to them, including a new Commanders Cupola (from the StuG IIIG) a bow machine gun was installed along with another 100mm armored plated around the machine gun ball mount making for a total of 300mm of armor in that spot , and zimmerit was applied to them all.  As a side not, the tracks for the Elefant were wider, 640mm (Ferdinand 600mm).

I wouldn't lose any sleep over not having put zimmerit on your Elephant.  Heck, just look at some of the Verlinden books with all the diorama pics in them...... Francios Verlinden didn't put any zimmerit on his Italeri Elefant and I've never seen the scheme that he used either.  But it still looks great!

Your camo is a bit heavy handed, but that's due to the limitations of your airbrush.  You might want to try some masking to get more of the effect you're looking for. 

I really like how you left the back doors open and set the tanker in the opening, really gives it some life!    Nice work!

Luftwoller wrote:

Looks like a nice job Cruzr. Like it with the rear doors open. Not seen them posed open. Shows the thickness well. As for the demarcation between the camo colors. If you use blu or white tack then you get a fairly soft edge to the camo. I too have never seen one with that camo before, but im no expert. I thought that all elephants were zimmed, but again, what do i know.  Espins is the Elephant man (That sounded wierd, hes not that fat) . Are you going to throw a wash or two at it? Great job fella, be proud. ...Guy

The Elephant has always been a favorite research topic of mine. 

Yes, all Elephants had zimmerit.  After the Kursk offensive, there were only 48 remaining Ferdinands in working order.  Eventually they were pulled off the line and were "converted" to Elephants, so to speak.  There were several significant modifications done to them, including a new Commanders Cupola (from the StuG IIIG) a bow machine gun was installed along with another 100mm armored plated around the machine gun ball mount making for a total of 300mm of armor in that spot , and zimmerit was applied to them all. 

I wouldn't lose any sleep over not having put zimmerit on your Elephant.  Heck, just look at some of the Verlinden books with all the diorama pics in them...... Francios Verlinden didn't put any zimmerit on his Italeri Elefant and I've never seen the scheme that he used either.  But it still looks great!

Your camo is a bit heavy handed, but that's due to the limitations of your airbrush.  You might want to try some masking to get more of the effect you're looking for. 

I really like how you left the back doors open and set the tanker in the opening, really gives it some life!    Nice work!

Thunderbolt379 wrote:

Scott -- I picked up another StuG III/G on ebay this afternoon, this kit builds so easy and there are so many options I can't make do with just one! (Skirts, no skirts, zim, no zim, winter markings, standard schemes, optional 105 barrel to build the StuH 42 instead...) BTW, I researched Echelon decals online. Standard US price seems to be $14.95 for a very small sheet... Go to: http://home.pacific.net.sg/~kriegsketten/ in the company's native Singapore and order online, they're only $6.50! TB379

That's exactly where I got them from.  I ordered two sets of StuG decals, the set I scanned and posted and another Das Reich StuG Scheme, that of Ernst August Krag's Command Vehicle with "Gotz von Berlichlingen" on the sides.  They only took about a week to get here, all the way from Singapore!  And only $6.50 each, really good deal compared to "retail". 

Looks like a nice job Cruzr. Like it with the rear doors open. Not seen them posed open. Shows the thickness well. As for the demarcation between the camo colors. If you use blu or white tack then you get a fairly soft edge to the camo. I too have never seen one with that camo before, but im no expert.

I thought that all elephants were zimmed, but again, what do i know.

 Espins is the Elephant man (That sounded wierd, hes not that fat) . Are you going to throw a wash or two at it?

Great job fella, be proud.

...Guy

T-man -- thanks for the tips on mud and grass!

Scott -- I picked up another StuG III/G on ebay this afternoon, this kit builds so easy and there are so many options I can't make do with just one! (Skirts, no skirts, zim, no zim, winter markings, standard schemes, optional 105 barrel to build the StuH 42 instead...)

BTW, I researched Echelon decals online. Standard US price seems to be $14.95 for a very small sheet... Go to:

http://home.pacific.net.sg/~kriegsketten/

in the company's native Singapore and order online, they're only $6.50!

TB379

well here is my Elefant about 97% done. still needs the decals and a few coats of flat to hide the glue marks from the acc. as well as some final weathering and attach the extra track links. I'm not happy with the tool box but that was my fault cause i built it inside out at first ( i know brain fart) I might pull it off an install the kits closed version and lay the tools out somewhere. The base is somthing i threw together a few weeks ago, never built one before and was just messing around to see what i could come up with. let me know what you think and if there is anything else i can improve on. thanks

Cliff

Hi Scott,

Same kit -- she's a beauty, one of those where you flow a few drops of glue into the box and a finished tank rolls out all by itself! Love the scheme and decals, BTW! I've not heard of Echelon before, I just found them in stock in Singapore...

TB379

Alright Gentlemen, I'm starting my 1/35 Tamiya StuG III Ausf. G Early today!  I just received the decals I ordered from Echelon.  Cool stuff! 

I'm doing my StuG as one that served with SS Sturmgeschutz Abteilung "Das Reich".  I included an edited scan of the decals with adjustments so you can see the white decals more easily.

Thunderbolt379 wrote:

Hi all, I cleared another 15 parts on my StuG III today and put my first WIP shot up on Photobucket, I think I've figured out how to post it... " border="0" /> Success! Okay, that's the lower hull, drives and idlers and the gun assembled. I thought I'd wait now for my references and stuff to arrive so I don't muddle up any orders of priority, and also so I can choose my final version and finish. I was thinking of trying my hand at dried mud -- acrylic paints thinned and mixed with fine sand is a formula I've read. What other clumping agents would work -- talcum powder? Something by Woodland Scenics, or railroad ballast? Cheers, TB379

   Try using real dirt or potting soil and mix a little white glue in with it also.

Dougums wrote:

I just got a good deal on a 1/35 Dragon Marder II and was wondering .... is there room for another Doug?

I think we can accommondate you. Welcome.

Hi all,

I cleared another 15 parts on my StuG III today and put my first WIP shot up on Photobucket, I think I've figured out how to post it...

" border="0" />

Success! Okay, that's the lower hull, drives and idlers and the gun assembled. I thought I'd wait now for my references and stuff to arrive so I don't muddle up any orders of priority, and also so I can choose my final version and finish.

I was thinking of trying my hand at dried mud -- acrylic paints thinned and mixed with fine sand is a formula I've read. What other clumping agents would work -- talcum powder? Something by Woodland Scenics, or railroad ballast?

Cheers,

TB379

Dougums wrote:

I just got a good deal on a 1/35 Dragon Marder II and was wondering .... is there room for another Doug?

Sure Doug, hop aboard. I built the little guy many moons ago.

I got some work done today......on my Cromwell. Yah, I hit the wall on my Jagdpanzer for the moment, needed a diversion. I'm almost tot he painting on her though. It's going to be a ton of work, especially the 5 million tracks and wheels.

Too late to get in on this? Just bought and Italeri Hetzer should get it within the week. Just to let you know I'm super slow and only do one project at a time. (limited space and have been banished to paint out doors)

 Thanks! Doug 

well here it is my first figure in about ten years. all comments welcome please

everyones builds are looking great. I have been slacking aswell, just been swamped with work but i'm now on some days off so hoping i can wrap it up this week. here is a figure and coat i stole from my "drilling " kit. have not built many figures so painting it is gonna scare the hell out of me but we will see how it goes. i'll post more pics later today cause as you'll see i bought a new camera after my dog cleared my old one off the table. 

Cheers

Cliff

i stole the legs from the driver and made a smoke from a piece of wire. Im cleaning up the mold seams right now, meh we will see how it turns out later today lol

Changed to the Tamiya StuG III and it's just falling together: in two sessions, not even working that hard, I've cleared 40 parts. I'll need to wait for the PE and such to arrive before I can close up the rear end. Should haved progress pics tomorrow.

TB

Nope, they just won't heat-stretch far enough, nor without shrinking again. It was a good try but I don't think it's gonna work. I've shot a message off to Trumpeter to see if I can buy a spare set of tracks to section and splice in.

TB379