Redcoat2966

Simply superb.....

Thanks Chaps, much appreciated……and yes Francis, I’ll get this one across the line…..I have to after all this painting effort😬 regards Simon

Afternoon all.....I hope you are all well. A quick post and dash on progress on the KT. I took the plunge and popped on a version of late war camo with a late war pattern. I still have to put the Dunkelgelb dots in the green area and brown also. The Dunkelgelb you see below was yet another respray over the images above, due to my first attempt at the camo........ Once the final dots are done, on to pin and detail wash's etc. Anyway, thats all folks......catch you again soon with the next steps done.....

That's some nice weathering and chipping....really nice, subtle and not over the top. Good job, and look forward to the finished article.

Wow Ed, that’s a cracking Panzer IV and diorama……top notch. I need to persevere more to get mine on a diorama base……big thumbs up mate…👍 regards Simon

Mmmmmm, I'm not sure on that mate. I had some issues with fit on some parts, particularly the bodywork.........And I hate rubber tyres. I know they do it to get better detail in tyre tread etc, but give me plastic moulded. My tyres on this kit were slightly narrower than the wheel hub. I had to glue one side and then try and get the other side to pop out enough to fill the gap on the inside......anyway, yes; I'll pop up the finished article by September when the group build deadline come around.

Nice job, love the camo. I'm in the middle of one of these for my local MAFVA club group build....Italian Front 43-45. Mine is the Italian version before the Germans got their hands on them. Couldn't get this version for the right price. Nice job you've done all round.

Nice clean Job John, as always. You ,lot put me to shame, I never seem to be able to finish anything to put it in the RFI section.......😬....I still have a Centaur languishing to be finished. Hopefully I'll be posting it soon along with the many half finished projects...... great job John, love the way you've done the running gear on that ridge line......very dynamic.

Hi Bob, how's things, .........funny man.......I'd say a colour very similar to what we Brits painted our tanks in, dingy dark chocolate brown.....This can had Ronseal on though and not WD and crows foot Yeah, thought it would make a change from the much more complicated jobs in the line up. No interior etc. I've given up Model Kasten myself, for as you say the pins are a pain. As regards camo choice etc. I'm battling at the moment over colour use and what looks good. What I posted above is the second base coat I did in this new scheme. The first one was with Tamiya Dunkelgelb XF-60 with light buff added to do some shade changes. I'm of the opinion now that this may be correct to the period, but it's so dull at 1:35th scale. I'm favouring much more sandy light yellow from now on. Anyway, back at my bench after my chore, so need to mix my colours for the next round.

Nice work Phil, really nice weathering. Looks the part. Regards

Morning all, one of my very infrequent chances to post anything on the modelling front. Summer is always a drag as regards finding time for the modelling projects. I find I'm flitting around from one project to the next. Just came off my group build for my MAFVA club, The Italian Front, and decided to get back to grips on this languishing King Tiger. It's had many incarnations......as you can see from the build blog.....so.....final decision is going to be this one...... I'm going to airbrush the scheme, and not hand paint. I should be able to keep it tight and then finish with hand painted dots. Here's the first base coat of the Dunkelgelb. Need to add a tad more of a yellow hue to the overall and then on to camo. That's my time slot to post anything......off to sand and paint a garden furniture set, not the painting I had in mind for my Sunday.... Cheers all.

Thanks Paul..... Yeah, makes a little easier and not to have to worry about the seam. As I said above, the muzzle break is well done with the internal parts just like a metal one. I intend a plain Jane in Dunkel Gelb with some red oxide parts here and there. Cheers mate..... I'm not set up for painting at present, so it may languish in this state for some time. There again I have to set up to paint the group build I'm in.....so could attempt to finish off a few as regards paint job's. Plain Jane Bob....Dunkel Gelb...maybe a faint green line camo....have to see. Thanks for the thumbs up mate... Thanks Ed..... Yeah sorry Keith. As I said above the kit itself falls together with nothing to report.......other than if anyone does build this Border Panzer IV, you have to put a bracket in styrene to support the top plate......just behind in between the driver and radio access hatch's, as the top plate has a slight warp downward which creates a slight gap. Oh yeah. This was mentioned in build blog somebody did on here. The rear idlers have a square pin, rather than a round pin that actually match's the hole. I had to sleeve them in brass tube, so I can adjust them when tracks are applied later. As regards the Thoma shields........all done... Off to start finishing all the tools and fender details etc.

Afternoon all.....apologies for their considerable time since I kicked this one off, and not posting anything...... It's been a tough first time build of such complicated fenders.....for me that is. Learnt a bit from having a go. I've only at this point done a little damage to the front left. The rest is going to be as is, for now. The Thomas shields have been a handful, I have to admit but I'm happy with the result. The nice fine mesh of the Eduard set I ended up using, rather than the set that came with the kit by Border. The mesh from Eduard was far more accurate. I have the set of R-Model tracks waiting in the wings, but will give the kit tracks a shot first and see if they work out. Hope to post those next. Overall the Border kit is excellent, really nice to build. The barrel come's with it, and all I had to add was the locking clip on on the muzzle break from spare parts. As you can see from the white filler on the turret front, I picked up the wrong one for the J version. Although I have see in some images the only cover for the gun sight welded on - so might make that final amendment and put the old cover on with weld beads applied. Here's where she stands at present....... Both rear mud flaps have the springs that came with the finder set....and working hinges. I added a couple of Heavy Hobby 3D printed tool clamps for the first time....not a bad product indeed. The left hand side Thoma shields are done, including the top grills to stop I imagine hand grenades etc. Anyway, that's it for now and hope to post some more soon; but I have a group build with my MAFVA club that needs to be finished by the 30th September, with a subject of Italian Campaign 1943-45. I've chosen the Italeri Autoblinda AB41# 6591 in German hands after the Italian surrender. Cheers all.....

Here's the best I could find in my archive of research.....hope this helps.

Hi Vaoinas, nah mate.....too far gone. The kit was more salvageable than the PE really....... Never know, maybe another better version might come out by a better manufacturer than Trumpeter......

Cheers Keith, appreciate that. There is another reason for deciding to go round again with mark two.....I had the PE set and no point in trying to sell it on Ebay, you never get the full worth.....so thought "hey, let's give another go around". Also if the first goes to the breakers yard, I have another use for the Pak 40.....my RSO needs it. Didn't like the Dragon quality of the breech block. Cheers Francis,........ should be a pleasant long build, although might have to take a back seat to new Border Panzer IV on it's way.

I'll stat the search to see if I have it at hand. Give me a couple and I'll track it down. As regards the extinguisher. There's actually two in the cabin. One in the location to the side of the shell rack on the left and as additional one which wasn't uncommon in the field. Off to look for the radio reference for you.....

Hi Rob, how are you. Unfortunately mate it had to be canned and to the breakers yard. It was too severely damaged in storage last year when I had to pack up the bench as the room was used for guest to stay. It's on the list to do again though as it'll be a part of the Panzerjäger series I'm working on. The problem being the photo-etch is hard to find now specific to the Trumpeter kit. I still have the barrel. So if I see the photo-etch, I'lll pick one up again and complete it.

Ah, Ok. Must have missed that in your description.......looking forward to seeing it done.

Hi Kel.....yes, it's when you take a closer look, especially when photographed you see the issues. I intend to try and build the set of Panzerjäger's so the Marder I is on the build list too in time. This will be a long burn on the build so hopefully by end of summer...... Once finished, the decision will be made to send the first one to the breakers yard......

Cheers mate..........and yeah, a few projects looking at me to be finished from the cabinet. A few now waiting for paint, but I can't be bothered in setting up the booth etc and have to keep taking it apart. Planning soon a long painting period to finish a few up. This Marder I'll use as a breather project ion the Panzer IV get's a bit much......

Hi John, yes mate. It'll be a long one. It should all be with me by end of next week. Time enough to clear the work bench and clean up ready.....

Another super job Kristjan......... Nice pigment and mud use. Muse keep a not for my upcoming Panzer IV project.

What a lovely little piece that is. Nice job.....

Well, what an achievement with such a crap kit.....really nice job mate. That's a finished piece I'd like in my display cabinet 10 out of 10...... As regards your issue with the metal primer. I have the stuff but don't use it. Tried it once and found it to have similar issues to yourself. Even with all the PE and metal I do on mine, I go without. Never seems to be an issue really. One simple prep is a wash with mild detergent with a soft brush. You might want try getting your hands on the model degreaser by Modellers. I had to get mine from the Greek outlet for their products as it's tough to find. https://modellers.gr/en/thinners/-model-degreaser.html As regards your barrel. I simple wire wool rub down would have been sufficient for paint grip in my experience. As regards PE I rub it down also with a fibreglass pencil and creat a subtle rough surface. Anyway, besides the little issue you had with the primer it's a cracking final product your have there....