Scale 75 Lt. Dick Winters - Part 2

Read Part I Here

Part 2 of the excellent Scale 75 Lt. Winters (of 'Band of Brothers' fame) kit. The kit is cast in white metal and is sculpted by Fernando Martin. Box art is outstanding and is the work of Samuel Perez.

I've had this one sitting around finished for about a year now and haven't gotten around to taking photos. Not the best photographic work I've done, but will pass I think. 75mm, painted with Vallejo acrylics and mounted on Rosewood by Ken Thomas Art Bases.

 Read Part I Here 

Tamiya 1/48 BF109 E3 - Part III

Read Part I Here
Read Part II Here

Final pictures of the completed project. III JG.26, August 1940 - Major Adolf Galland

Read Part I Here
Read Part II Here

Tamiya 1/48 BF109 E3 - Part II

Read Part I Here
Read Part III Here

Two years ago I was inspired by the great collection of aircraft I had seen at Eagle Quest to start the build of the Tamiya BF109 E3. Unfortunately the inspiration didn't last long, and after building the cockpit she became a shelf queen.

A month ago I got her back out and decided to press on and finish, inspired once again from reading the book A Higher Call by Adam Makos. I didn't get a chance to blog the assembly of the kit other than the building of the cockpit in Part I - but here in Part II I cover the painting and decaling process.

 

After priming the plane with Tamiya white primer, I used Tamiya XF-1 Flat Black to outline and pre-shade all panel lines.

Using Model Master acrylic paints, I began applying the main colors, starting with RLM 65 Hellblau for the areas on the bottom of the aircraft and the sides. For this model, I shot all of my main colors with an Iwata at 20psi. I thinned my paints using Model Master acrylic thinner at a ratio of about 20% thinner to paint.

In the next step, I cut out masks using printer paper in order to be able to create a "soft" hard edge scheme, as I'm building the Adolf Galland version of the plane that comes in the box (same as the box art). The light color in the camo is Model Master RLM 02 Grau while the dark color is Model Master RLM 71 Dunkelgrun.

For all of the three base colors I have allowed the pre-shade to slightly show through (not too strong!) and I shot the middle of the panels with lightened versions of the base coat colors to begin a bit of a contrast/weathering effect. I kept both of these techniques to a minimum as this plane was still relatively new when it saw service.

After a coat of gloss using Future floor wax, I applied the decals over a three day period using a mix of decals supplied with the kit and decals from my aftermarket stash. Micro-Set and Micro-Sol were used to ensure snug decals without silvering.

Once the decals had a day to set, I re-applied future to lock them in and gave it another day to dry. Using MIG dark wash and MIG thinner for washes, I spent a few days bringing out all of the panel lines. This was allowed to dry then followed with Vallejo semi-gloss varnish thinned with Vallejo thinners (and with a drop of slow dry added to help avoid "white specks") shot through the Iwata at about 20psi.

I hope to complete the model this week and Part III will cover final assembly, weathering, and some shots of the finished result.

Read Part I Here
Read Part III Here
 

Scale 75 Lt. Dick Winters - Part 1

Read Part II Here

Part 1 of the excellent Scale 75 Lt. Winters kit. The kit is cast in white metal and is sculpted by Fernando Martin. Box art is outstanding and is the work of Samuel Perez.

At this point I have assembled the kit using 5 minute epoxy and have attached it to an African Rosewood base by Ken Thomas Art Bases. I have begun the Vallejo base painting and outlining process on the body, but have yet to start painting the head and face. More to come as progress is made!

See more on this exceptional kit at Scale 75.

Read Part II Here
 

Jagdtiger - "Eine Fliege in Meinem Kaffee"

Sd.Kfz.186 Jagdtiger 3./Schwere Abteilung 653 - "Eine Fliege in Meinem Kaffee" ("A Fly in My Coffee") - March, 1945 - Two 3./Schwere Abteilung 653 Jagdtigers were abandoned on Landauer Strasse in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse. Jagdtiger 331 was left in the middle of the street, while Jagdtiger 323 was parked in a courtyard opposite. Both vehicles had been abandoned due to damage to their final drives, probably as a result of a battle in Neustadt on March 22.

Jagdtiger 331 was captured, inspected, then famously shipped to Aberdeen Proving Grounds for study, trials, and eventually public display.

 

This is the Dragon 1/35 kit (#6285 - Review Here) with Eduard Photoetch, an Eduard correct length metal barrel, Fruil tracks, Tamiya motorcycle, Verlinden cobblestone street, lamp and sidewalk, and a mix of Verlinden and Warriors figures. It was built to model the less infamous of the two Jagdtigers found in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, #323 which was abandoned across the street from #331.

Modifications include the removal of the front and rear mud guards (fenders), and weld beads added in the correct areas of the entire vehicle using Evergreen styrene, Tamiya cement, and a Dremel tool. The model is painted with Tamiya acrylics in an ambush scheme, and has been finished and weathered with a combination of homemade filters and washes, and MIG pigments. The figures are finished with Vallejo acrylics and Archer transfers.

With this model, I attempted to set the hypothetical scene in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse on the morning of March 22, 1945. The Jagdtigers are positioned in strategic locations in the village awaiting orders for the day. Enjoying their morning coffee, the crew of #323 visits with a Feldgendarmerie, discussing the strategic situation, when the Jagdtiger commander realizes he has a little more than he bargained for with his sugar and cream...

#331 and #323 in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse

Jagdtiger #323

Jagdtiger #331

Jagdtiger #331

Jagdtiger #331 (Real color photo?)

 

Jagdtiger #331

Jagdtiger #331

 

Jagdtiger #331

Jagdtiger #331 (1950s/1960s repaint?)

 

 Jagdtiger #331

Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F2(G) - Tunisia, 1942

DRMM presents the Pz.IV F2 of Pz.Rgt.8, 15.Pz.Div., Tunisia, 1942.

This is the Dragon "Smart Kit", painted in a 4:4:3 ratio of Tamiya Desert Yellow, Tamiya Dark Yellow, and Tamiya Deck Tan. The decals are from the kit, with the exception of the Afrika Korps logos which are from the Archer Dry Transfers range. Fruil tracks were used in place of the Dragon Magic Tracks. The model was weathered with a various combination of MIG filters, washes and pigments.

Finally, the figure is from Doug's Original and is finished in Vallejo acrylics.

Panther D - Kursk

The Panther tank was seen as a necessary component of Operation Zitadelle, and the attack was delayed several times because of their mechanical problems, with the eventual start date of the battle only six days after the last Panthers had been delivered to the front. This resulted in major problems in Panther units during the Battle of Kursk, as tactical training at the unit level, coordination by radio, and driver training were all seriously deficient.

It was not until June 23–29, 1943, that a total of 200 rebuilt Panthers were finally issued to Panther Regiment von Lauchert, of the XLVIII Panzer Corps (4 Panzer Army). Two were immediately lost due to motor fires upon disembarking from the trains. By July 5, when the Battle of Kursk started, there were only 184 operational Panthers. Within two days, this had dropped to 40. On July 17, 1943 after Hitler had ordered a stop to the German offensive, Gen. Heinz Guderian sent in the following preliminary assessment of the Panthers:

Due to enemy action and mechanical breakdowns, the combat strength sank rapidly during the first few days. By the evening of 10 July there were only 10 operational Panthers in the front line. 25 Panthers had been lost as total writeoffs (23 were hit and burnt and two had caught fire during the approach march). 100 Panthers were in need of repair (56 were damaged by hits and mines and 44 by mechanical breakdown). 60 percent of the mechanical breakdowns could be easily repaired. Approximately 40 Panthers had already been repaired and were on the way to the front. About 25 still had not been recovered by the repair service ... On the evening of 11 July, 38 Panthers were operational, 31 were total writeoffs and 131 were in need of repair. A slow increase in the combat strength is observable. The large number of losses by hits (81 Panthers up to 10 July) attests to the heavy fighting.

During Zitadelle the Panthers claimed 267 destroyed tanks. (Wikipedia)

This is the 1/35 Dragon Panther D Premium kit, modeled to represent one of these brand new Panthers that was sent to the Kursk front, as it may have looked after only a few days off of the train. It is finished with Tamiya and Vallejo acrylics and sparingly weathered with MIG products. I have added a few mods from Tiger Designs (turret hatch and rear turret armor), and Fruil tracks.