SoftScience Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 A few other are already showing their Tamiya Panzer IV H kits, in 1/48. But what's just one more? Mine arrived in the mail this morning and I got right to it, while I wait to fix the dubious looking front shackles on my Kugelblitz. I also got the Tamiya zimmerit stickers, which are just brilliant! I have some history with 48th scale armor. I fell for it hard around 2005, when Tamiya was popping out kits about every other month. Between 2005 and 2009, I had built up a small army. The kits were easy to build, and I had much less developed AMS back then, so I would churn out seven or eight of them a year! A few things happened in 2009, including a 1500 mile move, and my eventual disgust in everything I had built up to that point. Most of my collection did not make the move with me, and the few that did we're badly damaged. I continued to build these kits prolifically after the big move, but then sometime around 2010 my interests just went 100% back to aircraft models. I've revisited 48th afvs a few times since then, but just could not relight the fire. In recent weeks my interest has been rekindled by....I don't know what. I just suddenly want to build them again. I only have three left on the shelves from the old collection ( there have been two more cross-country moves since 2010, and they are hell on built models). But it the last two weeks I have attempted to finish an IS-2, I started years ago, and have bought two new kits - including this one. So here we go. First and foremost: this kit is easy! I finished the lower hull in about three hours. Most of that time was spent cutting the zimmerit stickers. These need to be cut by hand, which is easy, but takes some time. Well worth the effort, as they look fantastic, and are infinitely easier than making zimmerit from epoxy putty. Incidentally, the lower hull has much nicer details than the 35 scale Kugelblitz, including proper looking front shackles. The rear hull plate is the cat's pajamas! The only time where the zimmerit stickers are lacking is when they need to go over bolt detail. I tried to drill out the holes, but a punch and dye set would have been more effective here. I added paint to see what they look like painted. Not bad, but the bolts do look a touch sloppy. Sorry about the dodgy photos. I'm about to turn in for the night and the workshop is all buttoned up already. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Nice progress. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Great project! You 're to catch up soon it seems And thanks for the background story!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Great to see another 1/48 Panzer III in progress. Looking very good so far! Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 Moving along (and less blurry). Nothing to really say. Everything fits, through zimmerit works well, what else? Uhhh... I replaced the grab handle on the engine hatch with guitar strings, and added a little lead wire to the headlight mount. More parts adding to come. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 I'm glad those tamiya zimmerit stickers have worked out for you ss, I have a set for a tiger 1 and I've been in two minds whether or not to use them, but from what I've seen here they look good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 12 hours ago, Hewy said: I'm glad those tamiya zimmerit stickers have worked out for you ss, I have a set for a tiger 1 and I've been in two minds whether or not to use them, but from what I've seen here they look good Thanks, Hewy. I've seen others complain that they're not deep enough, but that's precisely why I like them. Some of the zimmerit I have seen has so much relief, that it traps wazhes and makes the model look way too textured and dark, for my tastes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 It wouldn't be one of my models if there wasn't at least one screw up. So here it is. I glued the hinge for the gun (the inside bit) upside down, and had to pull off the front of the turret to get it out. In the process, I ended up snapping it in half. Luckily the zimmerit stickers will cover it up. Jeez! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 All better now. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davek72 Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 Looking v good. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 Pretty close to the paint stage now. I still need to add the brackets to the opposite side. I want to scratch-build better armor skirts, but first I need to figure out what the hell I did with the folder full of sheet styrene that I put away in a perfectly clever place, where it wouldn't be in the way 🤔🙄 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 ....and that went much quicker than anticipated, and I'm ready to begin painting. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 Power modeling! I'm on a roll now. Deep shadows coat applied. Bed time. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Those zimmerit stickers are pretty decent under paint ss, good looking tank, well built 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 Several shades of yellow later. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 (edited) Looking good your shades of yellow!! Wonder if you will have an easier life with your tracks than me... Edited January 19, 2019 by exdraken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 A clean and very well executed work, the detail is very complete ... Cheers mate 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 19, 2019 Author Share Posted January 19, 2019 Thanks much, guys. Here we are with camouflage. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 Nice paint work, the camouflage pattern looks fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plasto Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 Looking good. The red brown was a little over thinned but looks good... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetifan Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 The spider web style camp works really well and the zimmeritt and overall finish looks excellent, looking good 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperService Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 Nice work so far. Looks like another thumbs up for Tamiya zimmeritt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 20, 2019 Author Share Posted January 20, 2019 5 hours ago, SleeperService said: Nice work so far. Looks like another thumbs up for Tamiya zimmeritt. Meh. Maybe half a thumb. It's okay but not great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 20, 2019 Author Share Posted January 20, 2019 Weird...I could have sworn I posted this already, but evidently not. I added a light tan filter yo warm up the tones and draw the camouflage colors together. This was followed by a clear coat, decals, pinwash, some very selective chipping, and a flat coat. The tools and spare tracks are just base coated for now, and will be finished next. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 Your paintwork looks fantastic! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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