Pz.III Ausf.H - COMPLETED! (04.01.14):

[Hinksy]

Hi guys,

Sorry I've not been on here hardly at-all for the last 5 weeks but work has been mental and I've got a current blog on the go in the 'Post WWII Section' where I've been building Dragon's new M48A3. The M48 build is about complete now and the Legend Mantlet cover is on but I'm not 'feeling' that build at the minute and will wait until the new year when the time is right to finish it off. I've got some plans for her so watch this space!

No more overtime now so things are back to normal!

Basically I'm missing my usual German builds - these modern builds really lack character imo!

Anyway, one of Dragons newer kits caught my eye the other day - their 6641 Panzer III Ausf. H. A real early 1941 Panzer III that looks killer. I've got that now and will be starting this little beauty on Saturday.



modelingmadness.com/scott/misc/military/previews/dragon/66/6641.htm

My new light tent arrived today too to go with my camera!

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008V645ZG/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Update Saturday!

Ben [/b]

[TRM]

Lovely choice there Ben....looking forward to the build!! Nice addition too, with the tent!!! Way to go!!!

[wbill76]

Looking forward to this one Ben! Congrats on the light tent and camera rig, will definitely make a difference in your photography once you get it all dialed in.

[bbd468]

SWEET!!! Im in brother Ben! I kinda though it wouldnt be long till someone jumped on this kit on blogged it, im glad its you bro......BRING IT ON!!!

[Hinksy]

Nov 7, 2013 22:39:40 GMT -5 bbd468 said:

SWEET!!! Im in brother Ben! I kinda though it wouldnt be long till someone jumped on this kit on blogged it, im glad its you bro......BRING IT ON!!!

Happy to oblige brother Gary!

The light tent looks great. I bought some replacement LED daylight GU10 bulbs to go in the lamps which should help big time.

The kit looks superb. It's a right old mix of sprues from various other recent kits but there are plenty of new ones too which have some interesting new detail on them.

Update tomorrow!

Ben

[heico]

I'm in! I believe this kit is a relative new one too right?

[Deleted]

Looks to be interesting Ben.

[ceresvesta.]

This one is bookmarked Ben!

[Hinksy]

Nov 9, 2013 5:47:20 GMT -5 heico said:

I'm in! I believe this kit is a relative new one too right?

It's marked '2013' so it's very new - the internet shop that I ordered it from had them on backorder when I ordered mine but it only took 5 days to arrive. That said it's a mix of very new and older sprues so not totally 'new' if you want to be picky!

Anyway - DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!

Someone has phoned in sick at work today. It's only the person who's supposed to be working this afternoon so I will be working this afternoon 2pm-10pm so I'll be starting tomorrow now.

You can't turn down double time before Christmas! I'll have to change the title now!

So, I'm going to get the usual boring suspension stuff out the way tomorrow and will post an update tomorrow night.

One thing I have noticed is the box-art. It's stunning!

Cheers lads,

Ben

[Deano]

Really enjoying this flurry of Panzer III's .

Deano

[ceresvesta.]

Hold Fast Hinsky!! One day it will be YOUR time to take a `sick` day to get some bench time.

Phil.

[Hinksy]

Nov 10, 2013 9:32:27 GMT -5 ceresvesta. said:

Hold Fast Hinsky!! One day it will be YOUR time to take a `sick` day to get some bench time.

Phil.

Cheers Phil,

Everythings ready to go but yet again I just can't get in time at the bench. Mum's feeling cr@ppy, the dog has an inflamed eye and with several visitors coming and going today I have had to yet again abort but all set to start next week.

Sorry guys - I've made sure that work knows that I'm totally unavailable for overtime work next weekend!

Ben

[Deleted]

No worries Ben........ we'll still be here when you get back.

[deafpanzer]

Ben Ben Ben! You know how much I love those Pz IIIs! If course you have my attention... hang in there!

[Deleted]

Well I hope all turns out well with mom and dog Ben .

[Hinksy]

Cheers guys,

Mum is feeling better today and the dog can open her eye today - the vet thinks she scratched her pupil when out shooting or something (she's a gundog).

All set to go next Saturday!

Ben

[ceresvesta.]

Glad everyone is alright Ben!
Phil.

[Hinksy]

Nov 11, 2013 8:31:05 GMT -5 ceresvesta. said:

Glad everyone is alright Ben!
Phil.

Cheers Phil,

Well, yet again, life in general has screwed my weekend over with 'multiple issues' and as a result no bench time

Sorry to let you down guys I know a few of you wanted to see this kit come to life but we'll have to wait ANOTHER week now

I have told them that I'm unavailable next weekend and definately have nothing else planned so the build will start next Saturday now!

Sorry lads

Have a good week y'all!

I'll be dropping in regularly but it's going to be one helluva busy week

Ben

[wbill76]

Sorry to hear you're being kept from the bench Ben, but that's life, no hurry!

[Hinksy]

Hi guys,

It's been a mental week with work and ferrying parents about a very bad back causing me problems!

ALL I WANT IS SOME BENCH TIME FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

I was off work yesterday and today with a torn Metatarsal which is are the muscles between your ribs (I think that's the name), an occasional zapping pain down my right thigh and general inability to sit in any one position for more than 5 minutes. THIS SUCKS AS IT'S GOING TO AFFECT WHAT I CAN DO THIS WEEKEND TOO!

Anyway, build starts tomorrow so first update - hold your breath!

It's all OOB except for Friul's and an RB Antennae. I'm taking the lightly weathered route this time with just pigment, AK Effects and a bit of lightly dried on mud with grass in it showing clogged around the Suspension/Idlers etc.

I might take a bit of time with the interior and do some scratching leaving a couple of doors open exposing the interior. Maybe a figure?

This time Dragon have left the escape hatches off the lower hull and they fit on by means of a non-working hinge. I reckon this could be made to work with a pin-vice and thin wire in the middle of the hinge? A nice touch all the same.

So, like I say, work begins tomorrow and if anyone has anything to add to help this build fit the 'time of war' (France 1941) that would be good!

Speak to you in a bit guys - I'll have the computer on in the background now seeing as I'm unable to do anything right now - here's hoping I'm a bit better tomorrow!

Take care lads,

Ben

[bbd468]

Hiya Brother Ben, been wonderin where ya were. Its good to see ya back on the forum. Man, Family and Health come first bro, so when your ready....were ready. Take your time buddy.........but hurry up!

[deafpanzer]

Hey buddy! Welcome back! Quit working too much... I thought Brits don't work too hard! Look at Dicky and CeeBee!!! LOL

Can't wait to see you tackle your Pz III! You remember how much fun we had at Pz III GB a year ago... speaking of GB, there has been little change of plan. Guys here want to do 234 or 6-8 wheeled GB first in January then North Africa GB later in 2014. Hope that's cool with you?

[wing_nut]

Ben if I was ever here i might have noticed you weren't . I'll try to follow once ya get it going.

[Hinksy]

Hi friends,

As some of you will have noticed I went from being a prolific site user to being almost totally absent!

I've had a few 'issues' lately i.e. work, personal, life which have now ALL been addressed and, I'm VERY glad to say I'm able to focus a lot more on my modelling now. I'll be away for 12 weeks around February/March time but that's all.

So, I have my new camera, my nice new light tent and a stash of cracking models so it's time to get my butt in gear and think about getting this Pz.III H started!

Checking out the stash I've currently got:

From DRAGON:[/b]

*Pz.Kpfw.III (5cm) Ausf.H (Smart Kit #6641)
*Flakpanzer I with ammo trailer (Premium Edition Kit #6577)
*s.IG.33 auf Fgst.Pz.Kpfw.III (sfl.) (Smart Kit #6713)
*El Alamein Sherman (Smart Kit #6447)
*Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. G Kharkov 1943 (Smart Kit #6363)
*StuG. III Ausf.G w/Zim July 1944 Late Production (Smart Kit 6633)
*Panther G Late Production with Friuls (iirc the MAN version with the single steel wheel each side - Smart Kit 6268)
*The new M48A3 with Legend Mantlet upgrade.

From Tamiya

*Marder III (the earlier one) I have Friuls and Dragon Magic Tracks for this - the Friul Guide Horns are a VERY tight fit inside the Drives and Idlers but I dare say a bit of filing will sort that problem.
*Willys MB Jeep.

From Bronco

*Comet Tank with Friuls and Accurate Armour Mantlet/Barrel Resin replacement.

So, I need to get cracking and hope to start tomorrow. As per the title I had planned to build the Pz.III H BUT if you should like to see one of the other builds on the bench please let me know!

Cheers lads,

Ben

[bbd468]

WOOHOOOO!!! Tha Hinsky returns.......about darn time!  

Great to have ya back in tha fold my brotha! Lookin forward to see that sweet Pz. get some bench time. Bring it on Ben!

[dupes]

Shoot, I'd like to see just about everything in that stash list get built! Although that Panzer III does look pretty frickin' sweet.

[Hinksy]

Dec 7, 2013 12:23:49 GMT -5 bbd468 said:

WOOHOOOO!!! Tha Hinsky returns.......about darn time!  

Great to have ya back in tha fold my brotha! Lookin forward to see that sweet Pz. get some bench time. Bring it on Ben!

Cheers Gary and Dupes,

Dupes - even if I say so myself it's a tasty little stash I have going on. The Sig 33 and the StuG with full interiors will both be great builds but will take a lot of time and I won't manage to get them completed before I'm doing this training thing with work next year for a few weeks (12 weeks approx) but I think I could easily rattle through the Pz.III H and have plenty of proper time when I'm back to really concentrate on the 'big builds'!

There's not much choice for marking etc and Panzer Grey it is - I've decided on the box art vehicle 1.Pz.Diz., 1941 - turret number 323.

I think we are good to go!

Ben

[Leon]

Looking forward to the start on this one Ben.

[wbill76]

Glad to hear you're getting some bench time again Ben, looking forward to this one progressing.

[Hinksy]

Thanks Bill,

It's true that during the last 3 months I haven't been in a good place but things are on the up-and-up and I'm a helluva lot better now.

Anyone can feel free to pm me for a friendly chat-I'd like that.

It's so nice to have my hobby to come back to and even better to have all my friends sound so pleased to have me back here. You're a great bunch

I'm going to start the Pz.III after lunch. I don't know how far I'll get as my head is a bit overloaded but all the same even I get the hull prepped and the road wheels, idler wheels, and drive sprockets done then I'll be happy. Even if I manage an hour or two a day that's good going as I'm signed off work until the end of February next year!

QUESTION:

I'm planning to build this kit complete with the tools on it prior to painting her. This is a new thing for me but there aren't many and I reckon it might be a lot better - it's worth a go?

I've looked into painting a model with tools on it and it's been suggested that I slide 'Onion Skin' paper behind the tools before painting them to keep paint off the tank body. I haven't heard of of this stuff - is it like Tracing Paper (i.e. very thin paper to slide into the gaps between the body and tools to stop making a mess).

Thanks guys,

Ben