1/25th scale Panzer III Ausf L, early

[thug626]

Well apparently I have missed a step or two. You've been slinging paint! Hot damn! That looks good.

[panzerjager2]

Thanks Dave......  I'm currrently NOT as happy as I could be with her BUT........

[thug626]

Feb 8, 2018 7:36:47 GMT -5 panzerjager2 said:

Thanks Dave......  I'm currrently NOT as happy as I could be with her BUT........

Nah....I get it. It is after all, a work in progress. For what it's worth, when I got the base coat laid down on my Abrams, I thought "this looks like crap! It looks like a toy!" Then The other hemisphere kicked in and reminded me, "It ain't done yet!"
I've seen your work my good man, and you ain't done yet.

[panzerjager2]

Thanks Dave.... I am guilty of not being able to see the forest through all the damn treesssssssss 
PJ2

[panzerjager2]

So this post is a "two parter"..... 
1). I worked the primer, Panzergrey, plus 1st and 2nd washes on the wheels..... They are most certainly a WIP. No weathering/chipping/or damage to them YET.

2). So this leads to my question.... (and I think I do know the answer but I like to hear from you guys)... How much paint chipping, damage and or tyre damage do you think there would be..... I mean they replaced wheels fairly often, and heck tracks were only good for about two months, PLEASE Base your answer on the concept captured in this actual wartime photograph on tracks....

[joelsmith]

A few nicks should suffice. Don't forget that the tires were solid, and the vehicles lifespan would be measured in months. Hope this helps, Joel.

[deafpanzer]

Wheels on sticks... yummy! Looking good buddy

[Steve Zuleski]

Sounds like you already have your answer PJ. I say go with your gut feeling on this one, how you intend to convey the story, always a safe bet.

Ruck On Bby! Cheers, Ski.

[thug626]

Feb 8, 2018 21:32:59 GMT -5 joelsmith said:

A few nicks should suffice. Don't forget that the tires were solid, and the vehicles lifespan would be measured in months. Hope this helps, Joel.

What Joel said. If you wanted to represent one later in the war (i.e. a fighting retreat), some of them would be missing the tire, or the whole wheel. I can't remember where, but I saw a picture somewhere that showed both wheels missing from one boogie on a Panzer. That rig looked flat-out used up.

In short, built what you want how you want.

[panzerjager2]

THANKS Guys for the feedback............. 

[panzerjager2]

Well, as "they say"..... a little research goes a very long way. So i spent a couple hours re-reading a book on Operation Zitadelle  "the Battle of Kursk" by David Glantz and Jonathan House. When I was slapped back into "historical reality". It rained the day before the operation began, and during the course of the battle. SO........ muddy wheels

[Leon]

Well that's a problem solved PJ!
Nice work.

[panzerjager2]

Leon, it's kinda funny how things work out....

Started cleaning track links......

[deafpanzer]

Man, try not to have way too much fun with those... good luck!

[panzerjager2]

Well kids I have been sick.......  No not with some life ending ailment.....  but a sickness known to the armour modeler.... I am suffering from "track-link-ittis" or is that "ittus"... anyway, it's symptomology is well known.... Narrowed vision, increased irritability, pain in the far extremities...in this case the fingers.... and lastly little progress to show for the pain and suffering..... I give you Track-link-ittis 2018:

[joelsmith]

Assemble the tracks 10 links at a time, and take a break between blocks of 10. I find that makes it easier.

[Leon]

I'm with Joel on this one PJ! Your off to a good start on these little buggers.

[panzerjager2]

Thanks for the input gentleman..... I went with 5 at a time then quickly moved to 25 at a time.......

[panzerjager2]

So after the "sickness" cleared up I did a lil work on detailing the upper hull,  specifically the third wash, with dark green. For me and me alone... I have found that on German Dark Yellow if you add a traditional black wash it turns the base Dark Yellow into a "baby poop" green that you can't dry brush out of... So I went with a highlight Dark Green wash.... I like the combination.....

[panzerjager2]

OOPS... I forgot to add, I still have detail dry brush, so the wash may appear over the top in some areas..... 

[panzerjager2]

Well to say I am unhappy with my first step at weathering and or chipping paint would be a GREAT UNDERSTATEMENT.....

[Leon]

Your weathering looks fine PJ!

[panzerjager2]

Thanks Leon......

[panzerjager2]

Well after "muffing" the upper deck, i thought i would regain my self-respect by doing the drive wheels..... I am only half done with the battle damaged side.....but I think it looks OK.

[thug626]

A boat load of great progress since I last looked in.

[Steve Zuleski]

Good progress PJ. Question, do you normally pre-weather wheels?, never seen this before. All lookin good, Ruck On!

[panzerjager2]

Steve, GREAT QUESTION...................... For me and me alone.... I do "pre-weather" the sub-assemblies.  I think I started to do it because I wanted to get all the little details. Which as you know when "scratching" you can easily miss, and or skip over details... Now I just do it out of "muscle memory"....

THANKS

[TRM]

Outstanding progress....the PM makes complete sense now! I'm on it brotha'! Great looking camo and lovin' the weathering!

[adt70hk]

Hi PJ

Apologies for the lengthy absence! It seems you've been quite busy whilst i've been away.....

Stunning, stunning, stunning - did I say stunning!

Did you make the track links yourself or have you managed to find someone that does them in 1/25 scale?

ATB

Andrew

[panzerjager2]

Andrew, Thanks for looking in..... Great question. The guys who did the tracks, road wheels, and drive wheels are in Poland, Panzer Hobby Art. I highly recommend them. Their stuff is awesome 
PJ2