f matthews

Avoid the old Tamiya and whatever kits were out before 2000-even the first-issue Dragon ones are not great as they use a lot of the old 1989/90 Gunze Sanyo parts, which were great then, but not worth building today imho. The 2007-ish Dragon PzIVs are really nice builds and are just great kits. The new Tamiya kits are a bit simpler detail-wise, but well-researched and beautifully engineered.

I decided I really wanted the interior version when it first came out, then realized that I’d never get to it either, so I ordered the non-interior one when it went on sale for 20% off a couple weeks back. The box on the interior kit is immense!

Fantastic work! The figure is excellent and the tank is expertly executed as well. I have the Border IV Ausf. F/G that I’m hoping to get to later this year-it looks really nice in the box.

Was having them done at a local trophy shop, but they are OOB, so now I get them from vendor(s) on eBay.

I posted in the Gallery, but never posted a finished pic in this thread to “close it out”. More shots in the GB Gallery-thanks for watching this space, this was a fun first group build experience!

I used to source mine from a local trophy shop, but they went out of business two years ago. I ended up using a few different vendors on eBay-some better than others. The old trophy shop’s font was one I preferred and now I can’t find the equivalent online (old font below):

THIRD?! Spectacular!

I’ve built both the Gecko and the Bronco. While the Bronco is an easier build, the Gecko is a good bit better detail and accuracy-wise and was fun to do (even with the tracks). The Bronco A10 by comparison:

Spectacular as-is. Fantastic work!

I used to get them from a local trophy shop, but they went out of business, so I’ve been getting them on eBay.

This was my project for the Panzer III Group Build which also happens to be my first Group Build. This was a lot of fun not only for the building of my project, but also all of the encouragement and camaraderie that is exhibited to say nothing for watching all of the other impressive projects going on. Thanks for making my first GB NOT my last! The newer Dragon Panzer III series kits are quite good and while this was one of the first out and dates back to 2007, it is still state-of-the-art in my book. Now I want to build another Pz III...

Dragon 1/35 Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J (Early)-2d Pz. Division on the road to Moscow, 1941.

Base is finished and project pretty much complete. I still have some touch-ups here and there and will take better shots in the next few days and post them to the Gallery. Found a few things that I needed to fix in the above photos. More work than I thought (I keep seeing things in photos that bug me). It is now complete as much as it shall be. Better pics when the weather is good enough for more. The finished project:

Working this up for the Pz III Group Build:

Thanks! I haven’t built much German stuff in many years and no Pz III/IVs since the early-mid 1990s, so this was fun. I wanted to do some of the more flashy markings and this just about takes the cake for German stuff in WW2.

OK-the tank is finished. I still need to add some groundwork to the base then weather/dirty up the wheels and tracks. I’d almost forgotten to add the spare wheel secured by the tow cable that 2d Pz. Div. used in conjunction with the large stowage box on the rear hull.

Not on this one. I can never properly gauge how long figures will take me to complete so I usually avoid them when I have deadlines, although they usually don’t take too long for one or two.

OK-I’ll stop with the incremental progress shots after this ..! Spare tracks finished and mounted. Wheels removed to add some dirt. I’ll add dirt/mud/dust to the wheels and tracks when I install the tank on its base. I have since finished all little touch-ups and other than the tracks (which are painted), this one is complete and ready for its display base.

I reapplied some filters today and did some panel accents. Some of the final filters are not completely dried in these pics. Tires then tracks and some small detail painting to go...

Just about there. The build is now complete and I just need to paint the tracks and tires, some small details and touch-ups, then re-do the filters and weathering. I’ll most likely put a base together for this one before I call it complete.

I actually built out the whole interior/driver’s compartment and transmission, but only have this pic at the moment.

As a kid, a visit to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in 1976 permanently fixed my interest in armour modeling. One of the vehicles I always photographed on the numerous return trips I made was the Japanese Ho-Ni self-propelled gun and after a visit in 1994, I bought the 70s-issue Tamiya kit. I didn’t get around to building it until 2017 and when I pulled out my Aberdeen reference photos, I decided to build it not as it would have been in WW2, but as I remembered it from Aberdeen. The Tamiya kit is actually pretty nicely done, even for being almost 45 years old. And what the real thing looked like in the 2000s:

I think the build, painting and weathering effects all look great-my only comment would be that the photographing does not do your work proper justice. Everything looks overly dark and muted-looking. Try shooting outside when there is not direct sunlight and the results will show off your finish work much better I’d think.

The fact that you refer to the Tamiya 2.5 Ton Truck as a “very old kit” is a bit frightening for me. Old Tamiya kits for me were new when I started building as a kid in the 1970s-this one is from Tamiya’s “new age”! Very neat subject matter and execution!

Looks great to me! Nice work.