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On Dasher, on Dancer, on Panzer and Vixen!


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Hey All

Hot on the heels of my Bf 110 Nightfighter, I present to you Tamiya's Golden Oldie 1/35 Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.J. Enjoy...

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Yes, I know that the paint scheme, markings and composition of the model are all incorrect for the Ausf.J version, however, I have an excuse ready...

This had started off with three tone camouflage and a full set of side and turret skirts. I wasn't happy with the way the camo turned out (making it up as I went along might have had something to do with it), so instead of respraying everything, I decided "what the hell, why don't I try a winter camo?"

So lets just consider this a depiction of a generic, nondescript German tank roughing it out, somewhere on the Eastern front.

What can I say about the build? Its a Tamiya kit, although an old Tamiya kit at that. Aside from a lot of mold lines to clean up, everything went smoothly. This build was 99.9% out of the box, with only a few small scratchbuilt items. Firstly everything was primed with Vallejo Panzer Grey Primer*. Initial camouflage consisted of Model Master Dunkelgelb, Olivegrun and Schokladnbraun. This was subsequently over sprayed with quite thin flat white, all the while attempting to keep it patchy and random. The tracks were painted with Tamiya Dark Iron, a colour I find perfect for tracks, exhausts and other things that have oxidized way past simple rust. The spare tracks however, were treated to a light wash of rust colors. The entire tank was given various washes/filters using Vallejo Grey and European Dust Washes to tone down the brightness of the white and further the streaky, rough, patchy look of the colour. Tools and other bits were painted with Humbrol Metalcote Gunmetal and various Vallejo colours. Recesses and details were picked out with MIG Productions Dark Wash. After a quick Google search for "Panzer IV, winter camo" I came across a profile that suited the build and cut the appropriate markings off the (quite old, but still usable) decal sheet.

Now you can't have a German tank in the Russian winter without that beautiful, dark Russian mud. This was achieved with none other than MIG Productions Russian Earth pigment with a little Dark Mud for variation. After an initial coating of dry pigments, they were mixed with Vallejo Flat Varnish (the thick stuff, not the airbrush ready one) and slopped on with an old rough brush. Just enough to look muddy, but not so much as to obscure detail. With the weathering finished, the lower half of the tank was lightly sprayed with gloss varnish to give the mud a nice wet look, while the upper half was shot with flat varnish.

Overall, quite pleased with this one. First time doing a winter scheme and first time doing thick mud.

Bad camo job + white paint = pretty darn good looking winterized Panzer IV if I do say so myself

*Note: With reference to Vallejo Polyurethane Acrylic Primers, you must, I stress must let these primers dry for at least a full day or two, or until they no longer give off a strong smell. I see too many people bashing these primers. They are quite good if you give them a chance and treat them properly. If you let the primer fully cure, not just dry but cure, you will have very little to no problems.

Thanks for looking

Regards

ANS

Edited by ANovaScotian
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That's one superb looking Panzer, the winter camo works brilliantly. Been a while since I've done any armour, this is just the inspiration needed to kickstart me into a new build!

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I like it. A nice sharp build and a tidy paint-job.

And that leads to my one criticism. As the winter camouflage scheme (whitewash) was applied by the tank crew out in the field and not at the factory, I doubt they would have painted around the insignia/markings so neatly They would have applied it by brush or even just by sploshing it on straight from a bucket. A few runs, trickles and streaks would be the icing on the cake.

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That's one superb looking Panzer, the winter camo works brilliantly. Been a while since I've done any armour, this is just the inspiration needed to kickstart me into a new build!

Thanks Doozer, best of luck with your build. I trust we'll see it on here when its finished?

I doubt they would have painted around the insignia/markings so neatly

This crew had access to a lot Tamiya Masking Tape... a scarce commodity on the Eastern Front :winkgrin:

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