SimonL Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 (edited) With the Chaffee just about done, time for the second project of the year. Something a bit different, although keeping with a theme of light tanks, I am sipping my toe in to German armour for the first time. Inspired by @Milan Mynar‘s build of the Academy Panzer II Ausf F “North Africa, a little while ago: I’m going to have a go at building the same one as captured by US troops in North Africa 1943. This was meant to be my Christmas holiday project, but it got sidetracked by the Ferret. From the look of the plastic in the box (see Milan’s build for sprue shots), it will be a fun build. If anyone knows of issues I need to look out for, let me know! Edited March 11 by SimonL 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeff Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 Oh, this will be good! I'll tag along for the build ...... Keith 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 I like your optimism Keith 🤣 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 i'll join Keith @Keeff at the bar and watch this come together, I've not built the Academy Panzer II so can't offer any thoughts I'm afraid. Do carry on in your own time Stay safe Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milan Mynar Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 I am looking forward for your building. I hope your chipping effect will be better than my. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbow Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Simon, these new Academy kits, the Pz II and the Pz III are a real treat. I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy the build, and the weathering options are totally endless. I completed the Pz III build recently, and immediately ordered a second kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 Good to hear @Longbow - I hope to make a start this coming weekend. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 And started. The plastic is pretty hard, but seems to work well with my usual cements. The hull is a flat pack affair that went really quick with no dramas. Academy have engineered it such that everything lines up well. This however is not so good - rather deep injector marks on the rear faces of the sprockets. Greenstuff should sort that out. Idlers were straightforward. Adding the axles and suspension was so easy - this is quite a change from the Bronco Chaffee! In no time at all, here was where I was at (sprocket and idlers are dry fitted). While that dried I started on the top of the hull which required some large got pieces to be added. I used some Mr Hobby Cement I had buried at the back of the draw - worked well for these big flat surfaces. Ran some Tamiya Extra Thin Cement along the edges to finish. So far so good. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 Nice start Simon Stay safe Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted February 11 Author Share Posted February 11 Thanks Roger. Another scorcher of a day, so not much chance to do painting other than a primer coat of Tamiya Acrylic Medium Grey on the suspension and underside of the hull. As expected Greenstuff made short work of the injector marks. Much of the time at the desk was gluing little bits to the top of the hull, I also got the turret sorted (the main armament is a dry fit at present). It’s not a complicated build, but you do need to pay attention as they are lots of little differences between the options you are given. I have also realised I may need to do some scratch building as there are some little differences from the photos of the actual tank I am building a representation of and the kit as provided. That will make life interesting. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 It's looking good so far Simon. Keep going. John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerausfb Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 3 hours ago, SimonL said: As expected Greenstuff made short work of the injector marks. Greenstuff? Is it still available down under? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeff Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 Blimey, you're cracking on with this build! Good work so far .... 👏 Keith 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 Very nice start Simon, looking forward to seeing this develop... Ed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 Thanks John, Keith and Ed. 9 hours ago, Tigerausfb said: Greenstuff? Is it still available down under? Certainly is in my local hobby shop, they have a whole range of stuff from Greenstuff World. This is the actual product I’m using: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerausfb Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Ah, right. I was thinking Squadrons Green Stuff...which used to shrink like anything but was useful. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 I’ve been gradually painting the wheels and suspension each evening - find it very soothing after a long day at work. Also trying something new - Vallejo Grey Primer on the turret. Went on nice and easy - certainly easier to handle than Tamiya paints in the current hot weather. A few blemishes to sort out, but pretty happy with the result. This is the result of two thin brushed on coats. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbow Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 1 hour ago, SimonL said: I’ve been gradually painting the wheels and suspension each evening - find it very soothing after a long day at work. Also trying something new - Vallejo Grey Primer on the turret. Went on nice and easy - certainly easier to handle than Tamiya paints in the current hot weather. A few blemishes to sort out, but pretty happy with the result. This is the result of two thin brushed on coats. Please don't use the vellejo primer... It is terrible, and has the tendency to strip off, if you're too aggressive with your weathering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 7 hours ago, Longbow said: Please don't use the vellejo primer... It is terrible, and has the tendency to strip off, if you're too aggressive with your weathering. Oh oh - bit late for this kit. I use an entirely water-based workflow for weathering so hopefully should be ok. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted February 18 Author Share Posted February 18 Too warm to paint this weekend so I focussed on construction. The captured tank I am building appears to have have some variation to what is presented in the box - which allowed my first serious go at some scratch building. I added another storage box on the right hand side, and a jerrycan holder on the rear left hand side. Latches for the storage box came from the PE fret that came with my recently built Chaffee. It’s a bit beaten up and crude, but to be fair it looks that way in the photos as well. Also in shot is the main hull which I have painted black inside to account for the open grills on the engine deck. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 Beaten up and crude, that's as maybe, but authentic looking, definitely. Nice scratch work Simon. John. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milan Mynar Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 Nice scratch work Simon. I like it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeff Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 Good progress Simon, and nice work on the scratchbuilding too! Keith 😁 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 I can only echo what my learned colleagues above have already said! Stay safe Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 Good work there Simon, keep it up... Ed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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