Tamiya Pz II (French Campaign 1940) Complete!

[Hinksy]

Hi lads,

I haven't blogged this build on here due to problems with posting photos but here's where I am:

I replaced the turet MG barrel and 20mm cannon barrel with RB metal versions - the antennae is also RB Brass too.

I painted her with Vallejo Model Air. Basecoat was bog standard German Grey - the early brown cammo scheme was finished with small sections of Model Air 'Tank Brown'. It's great paint to airbrush with.

I'm in the middle of assembling the second run of Friuls right now.

As you see her now she's really glossy because the decals haven't been on long and I want a glossy surface to aid the pin washes.

I'll be keeping the weathering light - just washes, AK streaking effects and MIG pigments with the occasional light chip.

I hope you like her - remember she's FAR from complete!

The RB accessories:



The Friuls and some stowage items:







I added PE tool handles to the Tamiya tools to help make them look a little better!



First run of fiddly little Friuls in place!





I hope you like her so far. Lot's more to come!

Cheers guys,

Ben

[TRM]

I like her a lot Ben!!!

[spud]

Very Cool ben

[deafpanzer]

Now you are trying to influence me... I think I might build Pz II right after my Tiger I build. Pz II and Panther are the last two I haven't build since my return to the hobby. Looking great!!!

[multicam]

Looks great, Ben. What a cool little tank:)

[panzerjager.]

Looks great, nice details with the tool clasps.
Darío

[406 Silverado]

Very nice work on the little II Ben. I like the camo of the early tanks.

[Hinksy]

Hi guys,

a VERY quick update!

Erm, both links of Friuls are complete! I'd have a lot more done but an unplanned day out yesterday and having to work today as someone phoned in sick left me enough time to assemble the entire second run from scratch.

These were the fiddliest Friuls I've worked with so far-even worse than the Pz I's or 38T's!

At least I can get really stuck in now! I have the blemishing fluid so the tracks are good to go.

For those thinking of building this kit with Friuls I used 103 links on one side and 102 on the other. I'd have liked a saggy look but it looked odd and they wouldn't sit right. Add one extra link and it really messes things up on both sides!









Now, lets see where some light weathering takes this thing!

Update next weekend!

Ben

[bbd468]

Lookin' nice Ben! Love the little Pz.II's and yours is comin' along just fine.

Gary

[panzerman75.]

Hey Ben looking great love the camo job on the II can't wait to see some more

Phil

[robbo]

Very nice, bring on the weathering

[wbill76]

Nice work on the tracks Ben! I've heard (but never tried it myself) that you can "stretch" Fruils just a bit once you've got the full runs done to get another extra mm or two out of them to produce slightly more sag if you wish. I would do it after you've put them through the weathering process though vs. before. Like I said, only anecdotal info that I'm providing an my attorneys at Dewie, Cheatham, and Howe have advised me to provide that disclaimer should your tracks suffer harm in the process.

[Hinksy]

Hi Guys,

Well, apart from taking a file to the Friuls and showing some bare metal on the horns and adding some stowage later on, she is complete - and dammit! This is my best model yet - I'm so pleased with how this has come out! The weathering looks perfect and after adding a link to each Friul run - it's turned out so well! This will look great sat between my Pz IA and Pz III N!

I followed Bills advice re the chipping which helped a lot and hit her with a very watery buff (9 parts water to 1 part buff) which dries to leave a great dusty finish. I got October's FSM with Bill's Wespe on the front and copied (ahem) his recommendation to use 4 particular types of pigment that I have and apply onto the wheels and running gear, allow to dry and then scrub off with a stiff brush - I used an old toothbrush.

After that some more streaking, mig engine fluid effects around the filler cap and engine/gearbox housing hatches, more pigments and to finish her off I added some small chain onto the towing hook. The Friuls were treated with AK's Blemishing fluid but they didn't look too good so I added some Russian Earth Pigment to some AK Odourless Thinner and allowed it to soak around the links which blackened them perfectly. Some Dry Mud pigment was then brushed on. A Graphite stick was used on wheel rims and exposed edges after weathering to show fresh wear.

I'm planning to go back to this to add a little bit of stowage and spare track but I'm keen to get going on my Tiger I for the Steel Cats GB!

Btw - the barrels and the antennae are from RB Models.

I also need to sort out some smake candle pulls but have nothing suitably small enough to use! Suggestions.

Well, I hope you like her guys - I know I do a lot. Thanks for all your advice along the way lads!























I hope you like chaps - I'd love to read any comments.

Next up - Dragon Late Tiger I Ausf E for Tigerman's 'Steel Cat's' GB!
Cheers guys and have a great week,

Ben

[bigjohn]

Congrats on the finish! She looks sweet all weathered up!

[wbill76]

Nice and dusty, good work on this one Ben!

As for the chain pulls, you might look into some of the scale chain that's available from railroad or ship-builder suppliers. Look for something in the 40 links-per-inch or higher range and you should find something useful and in-scale. HTH!

[Hinksy]

Cheers Bill,

The Chain that you can see on the rear tow pin under the muffler (9th and 10th photos down) is pre-blackened, Tank Workshop 46 Links Per Inch but I'm not exactly sure what sort of chain was used on these early smoke candles. Was it really tiny thin chain? I can't imagine it being heavy chain like the stuff I used for my tow pin?

Ben :-)

[bbd468]

Ben, The Pz.II turned out Awesome. Love the weathering bud. Very nice indeed!

Gary

[wbill76]

Ben,

The smoke chains were very fine "dog lead" chain type and were actually the same type of chain used as the retaining chain for tow points. So you wouldn't be wrong in using the same stuff for consistency sake. HTH!

[Hinksy]

Cheers Bill,

That's handy to know - I thought it would be much thinner. I'll use my chain then!

Cheers buddy,

Ben