NinjabreadMan Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Morning all, Its the bank holiday weekend (as much as that means anything nowerdays!) but just in time my next kit has arrived; the Takom Flakpanzer Panther. In addition this will be my first build on Britmodeller so let me know if I've goofed the photos or get anything wrong on the way. As with all of my builds this will be an OOB build, as I make kits for the joy of the hobby, and to help fuel my passion for military history. That said I try to get things accurate where I can... Here we go with first attempt at photos: 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 interesting build and welcome... hotos are showing perfectly. Which version are you going for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjabreadMan Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 Thanks Rob, I’m not sure yet, you get two separate turrets so I intend to build both and see which grabs me- I already think it might be the Coelian though! I’m thinking “Ambush camo” on the hull, but can’t decide wether to have a separate pattern on the turrets or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 15 minutes ago, NinjabreadMan said: Thanks Rob, I’m not sure yet, you get two separate turrets so I intend to build both and see which grabs me- I already think it might be the Coelian though! I’m thinking “Ambush camo” on the hull, but can’t decide wether to have a separate pattern on the turrets or not? Coelian would be my choice... and yes different camo - body a battlefield returnee and the turret straight form the factory (So maybe a base colour with random applied squiggles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjabreadMan Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 Well, the build proceeds at a steady pace, got the suspension and running gear installed. This is my first experience of Takom and I have to say I'm enjoying the quality and intelligent design. An example, the track rig (again a first for me) has alignment slots to check you have the suspension aligned correctly: and here we are finished for the night... tomorrow tracks with individual guide horns! 😒 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjabreadMan Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 OK, todays work has yielded one set of tracks.... a good 3-4 hours (in instalments) of attaching the guide horns, letting them cure, trimming all of the flash and sprue and then putting them together 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjabreadMan Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 Worth the effort and enjoyable though. I really like this 'Track rig/jib' thing, I wonder if this will work for all Panther tracks in the future? It does make indy link tracks easier to put together and paint! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper dog Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 Looks like a good idea, I've some Meng tracks for a Jagdpanther waiting to be done, similar multi part links and cant quite summons the enthusiasm to do them. However the takom idea looks a winner. I've heard good things of these takom Panthers so I'll watch with interest. Cheers Darryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjabreadMan Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 Ok here we are after the last few days! Got up and straight to it on Sunday... managed to get both sets of tracks built and prepped. I will leave them off the vehicle until they are painted. They actually went together really well and look great! My only drama was once I had them together and then a full panic that I had them backwards......a quick google reassured me they were on the right way! (He still hopes!!!) And here we are with a little top up on the upper hull (etch mesh still to go on) and equipment racks. Tools will be left off until the initial paint is on: I am thoroughly enjoying this build and the Takom kit is excellent. Detailed but easy to put together. I am also really enjoying being able to document and the incentive that Britmodeller is providing. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 nice work... yeah i am always worried that tracks are backwards. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjabreadMan Posted April 17, 2020 Author Share Posted April 17, 2020 Ok so here we are, all major assembly's are complete (inc. both turrets) and I've started to prime/undercoat. Wheels are beginning to take shape and I'm adding the rubber rims: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjabreadMan Posted April 17, 2020 Author Share Posted April 17, 2020 When it comes to painting and detail; I don't have a airbrush so it is a case of 'rattle can' spray (I have 4 or 5 cans in appropriate colours) and then use brushes for the fine work and weathering. If anyone has any helpful hints and tips then they would be very welcome. My idea is a Panther Tank that goes back to the factory for a full refit to a Coelian and update whist back at the factory- in preparation for the 1944 Ardennes Offensive. Plan is to paint the hull with a Dunklegelb (approximate) base (as a Ausf D would originally have). Whilst in refit it will have gotten a 'Ambush Camo' overspray, and I like the idea of just painting the hull sides/front glacis/rear in camo with the top remaining in the original colour, with the turret in 'Ambush' complete. I have also found a crew figure that I think will work well. Thanks for sticking with me so far! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjabreadMan Posted April 20, 2020 Author Share Posted April 20, 2020 Ok, I took a deep breath and started the painting. First the hull, turrets will get attempted tomorrow. I went for a 3 colour tan-green-brown, hard edge scheme. I use silly putty to mask off the pattern. Its not quite the Ambush that I was going for but I like it, and given some weathering and blending should work out great! Tan 'squiggles' Green on next Then the brown on top Once dry I unmask and can put on the tracks and fenders 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjabreadMan Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 I managed to get the turret masked and sprayed: Barrels painted and I decided to Red-Oxide the inside of the hatch. And then had a go at the 'Ambush' on the turret. I think I might have added too many dots, at too small a size, but I think its acceptable for a first attempt! Close up of the crewman- some detail work to go but I like the pose and the interaction Next is the weathering to bring it all together 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 nice "Squiggles". What are you doing with the upper surface? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjabreadMan Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 3 minutes ago, robw_uk said: nice "Squiggles". What are you doing with the upper surface? I'm going to leave that in Tan and weather it all together- nothing too dramatic though. I wanted a way to make the turret seem somehow separate but also still a part of the vehicle, so keeping the upper clear highlights the turret nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 nice... other option would've been "hull of old used vehicle so camo'd and weathered, turret in primed (red primer?) finish straight out the factory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjabreadMan Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 22 minutes ago, robw_uk said: nice... other option would've been "hull of old used vehicle so camo'd and weathered, turret in primed (red primer?) finish straight out the factory I have the other turret (the quad 20mm) undergoing the red oxide primer treatment now! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjabreadMan Posted April 29, 2020 Author Share Posted April 29, 2020 Ok, I got the weathering done and everything together nicely. I'm pretty happy and proud of the final result (although I have noticed that the masking tore off one handle from the crew hatch!) I will post these here for comments and then I can move to completed builds pending any last minute touch ups... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 This looks rather good, I can’t say I’m a fan of WWII German armour but this is something a little different, nice work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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