Pz III (tp).......a quick fix!!!

[`Boots`]

Hi chaps........thought i`d have a go at doing this little Pz III to get me going after my sulking from the M2A1 catastrophe!!!, i decided that i wasn`t in the mood for doing a full blog on this so it is basically a quick fix!!!

The kit itself is the Cyberhobby Smart kit and i gotta say it is absolutely ferkin` superb!!, the fit quality, detail etc is some of the best i`ve built IMHO, i know it ain`t a full blown Dragon and these come up a bit cheaper but having built this i`d quite happily buy the Smart kits again.........for someone who doesn`t build a great deal of armour and also on a bit of a budget this kit fits the bill superbly, if you see one of these at your local model show etc then grab it and stick it in the stash......especially if it`s at a knock down price.



I did have a spare `Cupola` in resin but the kit one far exceeds this in quality so i`m gonna save the cupola for another day..



The only downside is the `Magic Tracks`........i hate them but i can`t afford the Fruils for this (they want £28.99 +p&p), so i`m gonna have to use these for this build..

there is also some etch but it is quite thin so you need to be a bit gentle with it!!



And here we are so far.......the build is finished and ready for primer (and those ferkin` tracks), the Ausf L was fitted with the additional armour over the mantlet and front drivers/gunners plate......this is included in the kit but Dragon tell ya not to use it, i`ve checked loads of pics including ref pics from Chamberlain and Doyle and all pics of the `L` have it......so i`m fitting it!!









All the little detail on the rear deck is individual.........thats what i mean about plenty of great detail



Even got some nice detail on the cupola...



The fenders have plenty of stowage and the little jack was a kit in itself........

The only other gripe is as you probably guessed with Dragon is the misleading crazy instructions.....had a couple of moments whereby they had they`re usual stupid moments but nothing too serious........

Next up primer and stuff.

Cheers fellas

[Deano]

You dont have to ask me twice , Im in for this one buddy great progress. Tis one of those kits thats hard to stop once you started .

Deano

[AndyArgent.]

Looks excellent Boots really nice.

[Leon]

great progress Boots.Really like all the detail.Looking forward to seeing primer.

[TRM]

Beautifully done so far Boots!! Love these little guys!! That's how it's done brotha'!!! Quick-N-Dirty!!!

[deafpanzer]

YUP... world is really coming to an end. Dicky and Bill doing a ship... Mr T a bulldozer... Rob is building something with wings. I painted my duck. Now you a tank?!?!?

Love 'em little panzers! Looking great...

[`Boots`]

Thanks fellas and good to see ya`s all again , sorry i didn`t do a full blog on this but i just needed to tuck meself in a corner and build something OOTB without having to keep updating.....my enthusiasm kinda waned and i didn`t wanna start something and then have another run of s*** luck on somink.......that`d be well embarrassing ferkin` up two builds in front of a live audience

On a serious note.........a great kit!!!, now i`m orfe to do those friggin` tracks

[406 Silverado]

Very clean building Boots. This baby is gonna look good with paint on her. I love those Dragon III kits.

[Deano]

I do the exact same thing sometimes Boots , just wanna get stuck in and get it built for maximum enjoyment .... fair play mate!

Deano

[wbill76]

Got to love the CH/DML Pz III family of kits. Looking forward to seeing this one with paint on!

[Deleted]

Off to a flying start with this one buddy    I'm not a German armour expert but this one is one of the better looking Pz III variants,  IMHO anyway 

[Deleted]

Looking good. Good call on the armor bracket. I've seen all sorts of pics of these in Africa with the bracket in place with no armor attached.

I have this in the stash, may have to get on it with this for inspiration.

G

[`Boots`]

Boss......thanks fella, looking forward to getting this one in her colours....been a while since i`ve done a tank and this little gem made the whole build a delight

Deano......exactly mate

Bill.....hopefully not too long buddy

Steve.....i could certainly do more of these but this one has just the right amount of interesting features which suit my needs

G......thanks fella, yeah i had to go the additional armour route for sure, the only thing i would say is..........the indy links are a PITA IMHO, as i`ve found out the last 3 hrs ........and i`ve only gone round the drive sprocket and top rollers, talk about test ya patience!!!!!!!!!!!

[wouter]

oh yeah, Bootsey is doin' a panzer again!!!! These Dragon PzIII kits are fun to do ey?
Looks great mate!

Cheers

[`Boots`]

Wouts..........thanks matey , yeah tis nice to be amongst the Pz`s again i have to say, better not make a habit of it tho!!

Dicky.....whooop, cheers mucka........like to keep ya on ya toes , just gonna be a worn/weathered finish over a faded Des Yellow, as for the base....got nothing planned for this one at the mo, i may just do a tiny bit of somink to stand it on but no exuberant finishes on the base unfortunately mucka

[Mence]

Well done mate, looking splendid already, nice clean build.

[`Boots`]

Thanks Prof............if i can control meself during this mundane track lark it may live to see paint , gawd they`re doing my head in!!!!

[`Boots`]

Ok fellas..........sag check, gotta say i`ve never had so much fun!!!

I`ve spent the afternoon doing one side as i`ve built these up in small sections for ease of handling and shaping, i wasn`t sure if the kit provided enough links to allow for any sag or whether they were going to be guitar string tight..........luckily enough there is plenty spare so i took a chance and added some slight droop!! Being as they are all individual it became quite a challenge being as i`m outta practice so i just want opinions on if it looks ok............if it don`t it`s TOUGH!!.......coz i can`t alter them now . Many pics i`ve looked at show many variations of sag from almost non too considerably stretched!!

I`ve opted for a little of each







Cheers fellas

[beast]

I'm in on this one mate. 
Never built a panzer II, III or IV so be watching with great interest as one or all will be on the hit list in the future.
Nice clean building mate and the tracks are perfect, spot on, exactly the way they should sit. You goin for a tri camo scheme on this one?
Stuart.

[`Boots`]

Hey Stuart many thanks bro ...........i`ve built a IV and a few other variants but this is the first III, they are a lovely little tank i gotta say and i can see the attraction , thanks for the thumbs up on the tracks (they ain`t the easiest to work with )

As for colour......this one is the tp (tropical) and featured in Libya, it had some extra filters and suchlike as far as i`m aware which made it suitable for desert environments!!, so this is gonna be a weathered/faded Desert Yellow bud

[bullardino]

Simply wonderful, mate

I really love every single detail of this PZ

[`Boots`]

Thank ya kindly Lui .................i`ve grown rather fond of this one i have to say , it was only supposed to be a `quick fix` ..............all the detail is added fella and even the two turret hooks came in two parts , the suspension was almost a flippin` `snap together kit as it was so precise , gotta give this one 9/10............it would have had 10 if the instructions were a bit more clearer in stages!!

[`Boots`]

Thanks Dicky , yeah thats what i was a bit worried about and if there was enough to give any sag at all!!.........seems to have worked out tickety boo but i still got the other side to do yet , cheers mucka

[bullardino]

Dragon = great kits with poor instructions....

[ogrejohn]

Very nice work Boots! The tracks look just right on the sag.

[robbo]

Good choice of kit Mark. Good idea leaving the sides off for painting. Did I miss something or did you not use the resin cupola?

[`Boots`]

Thank you very much fellas

Robbo..........the kit one was better than the resin one, and in less pieces , also makes it easier to do the indy link tracks mate if i leave the fenders off, i can then paint the hull, add the tracks (coz they are dry fitted)once they are painted and then pop the fenders in afterwards!!

[Leon]

Nice work on the tracks Boots.The sag looks spot on buddy.

[`Boots`]

Cheers Leon

Right.......t`other side done , tried to replicate the sag as best i could on both sides but it ain`t ferkin` easy with these things........they`re so brittle but i`ve left enough flex to remove them for paint, i think it`s about `er 95-98 per side.....can`t really remember now as i got board after about 10 .

Next up i`ve seen a rear rack i wanna scratch so that`ll be my next challenge!!









There`s a bit too much droop in the second pic on the darker grey links.......if i try and straighten it i risk snapping them, i could re-soak it with some extra thin and chance it but at the end of the day it is hidden under the fender!!...........i think i`ll leave best alone after the last bit of persuasion on the last build!!

Cheers all

[Mence]

Leave it mate, tracks look bang on to me!