My First Tank – Remade
09-27-2010, 01:01 AM
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My First Tank – Remade
Some of you might recall I started into this hobby with a Heng Long Panzer 3 a couple of months ago. This is how it started:
I’m sure some will recall my feeble first attempt to dress it up with paint and some modest metal upgrades:
And here she is after a major refit: Replaced the airsoft gun with an Asiatam recoil unit and Tank-Modellbau barrel.I also installed a David’s Battle Circuit/David’s Battle Unit (DBC/DBU) to make it Tamiya IR compatible.The turret number decals horribly silvered after they fully dried, so I’ll have to scrape and repaint at a later date.
I also took lots of pics of the recoil unit installation with emphasis on the many mods necessary to make it and the new barrel fit and function properly.I’ll put together another post detailing that part of the project.
09-27-2010, 06:42 AM
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RE: My First Tank – Remade
Actually Bob, your original post inspired me to attempt to paint and weather my Tiger I ! I thought your low cost approach was inspired, using Sharpies to blacken the tires was really creative. This "new" Pzkw III looks fantastic and I like the iron cross on the IR reciever.
09-27-2010, 08:46 AM
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RE: My First Tank – Remade
Bob,
Great looking PZ III. All my tanks are air soft, but I would like to have an IR so I can battle, and if I enjoy it enough, change over some of my airsoft tanks.
As far as the decals silvering have you tried putting some gloss coat on the areas to be decaled ( some have used Futura floor wax for the same thing). The smoothness of the gloss coat lets the decal adhere better. You may also want to cut the numbers apart to do away with the excess decal film. Don't get me wrong, I think your PZ III is great but, you did mention about redoing the decals so I thought I would give something to think about.
Jim
Great looking PZ III. All my tanks are air soft, but I would like to have an IR so I can battle, and if I enjoy it enough, change over some of my airsoft tanks.
As far as the decals silvering have you tried putting some gloss coat on the areas to be decaled ( some have used Futura floor wax for the same thing). The smoothness of the gloss coat lets the decal adhere better. You may also want to cut the numbers apart to do away with the excess decal film. Don't get me wrong, I think your PZ III is great but, you did mention about redoing the decals so I thought I would give something to think about.
Jim
09-27-2010, 09:07 AM
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RE: My First Tank – Remade
I can tell you had a lot of enjoyment working on that PzIII. That is what this hobby is all about.
It looks great! I want one now.
It looks great! I want one now.
09-27-2010, 11:26 AM
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RE: My First Tank – Remade
Yep I applied two coats of acrylic floor sealant on the turret, but I guess I should have applied four layers to prevent ruining the ultra-fine Peddinghaus decals. My bad. I'll have to remove the turret to scrape and repaint. Thank goodness the other smaller decals didn't silver up.
I've tested the DBC/DBU with a very nice Tamiya Sherman modified into an M36B1 in winter white wash I purchased from a DAK member, and all systems seem to work fine. Recoil and muzzle flash are functional, the Heng Long recoil-dance-of-pain is gone, drive momentum is proportional, and speed reduces with successive hits. This Panzer 3 is evenly matched with a Tamiya Sherman, though I think it has slightly better mobility. I'll find out when I bring both tanks to the DAK battleground in Phoenix on 9 October!
I've tested the DBC/DBU with a very nice Tamiya Sherman modified into an M36B1 in winter white wash I purchased from a DAK member, and all systems seem to work fine. Recoil and muzzle flash are functional, the Heng Long recoil-dance-of-pain is gone, drive momentum is proportional, and speed reduces with successive hits. This Panzer 3 is evenly matched with a Tamiya Sherman, though I think it has slightly better mobility. I'll find out when I bring both tanks to the DAK battleground in Phoenix on 9 October!
09-27-2010, 11:43 AM
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RE: My First Tank – Remade
ORIGINAL: HondoBob
Yep I applied two coats of acrylic floor sealant on the turret, but I guess I should have applied four layers to prevent ruining the ultra-fine Peddinghaus decals. My bad. I'll have to remove the turret to scrape and repaint. Thank goodness the other smaller decals didn't silver up.
I've tested the DBC/DBU with a very nice Tamiya Sherman modified into an M36B1 in winter white wash I purchased from a DAK member, and all systems seem to work fine. Recoil and muzzle flash are functional, the Heng Long recoil-dance-of-pain is gone, drive momentum is proportional, and speed reduces with successive hits. This Panzer 3 is evenly matched with a Tamiya Sherman, though I think it has slightly better mobility. I'll find out when I bring both tanks to the DAK battleground in Phoenix on 9 October!
Yep I applied two coats of acrylic floor sealant on the turret, but I guess I should have applied four layers to prevent ruining the ultra-fine Peddinghaus decals. My bad. I'll have to remove the turret to scrape and repaint. Thank goodness the other smaller decals didn't silver up.
I've tested the DBC/DBU with a very nice Tamiya Sherman modified into an M36B1 in winter white wash I purchased from a DAK member, and all systems seem to work fine. Recoil and muzzle flash are functional, the Heng Long recoil-dance-of-pain is gone, drive momentum is proportional, and speed reduces with successive hits. This Panzer 3 is evenly matched with a Tamiya Sherman, though I think it has slightly better mobility. I'll find out when I bring both tanks to the DAK battleground in Phoenix on 9 October!
I forgot to mention decal setting solution. It kinda melts the decal film to the model. You can snuggle decals over bolt heads etc.
Jim
09-27-2010, 07:20 PM
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RE: My First Tank – Remade
This is a great post!
Shows the newcomers that they don't have to jump into the deep end, but can ease their way in as time, money, and skill(s) permit.
Shows the newcomers that they don't have to jump into the deep end, but can ease their way in as time, money, and skill(s) permit.
09-27-2010, 08:25 PM
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RE: My First Tank – Remade
ORIGINAL: pattoncommander
Final results look spiffy. Very realistic. Are you going to put on a stowage rack?
Final results look spiffy. Very realistic. Are you going to put on a stowage rack?
09-27-2010, 09:53 PM
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RE: My First Tank – Remade
Hi Bob,
I used brass HO scale railway track for mine. The Prime Portal site has some good shots of the rack on the Bovington PZIII and the Squadron PZIII Profile book has some good shots. Here's the Prime Portal link:
[link]http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/john_griffin/panzer_iii/[/link]
The racks were field lash ups so you've got lots of design leeway.
Have fun,
Mike.
I used brass HO scale railway track for mine. The Prime Portal site has some good shots of the rack on the Bovington PZIII and the Squadron PZIII Profile book has some good shots. Here's the Prime Portal link:
[link]http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/john_griffin/panzer_iii/[/link]
The racks were field lash ups so you've got lots of design leeway.
Have fun,
Mike.
09-28-2010, 10:55 PM
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RE: My First Tank – Remade
Thanks Spitvalve for the suggestions! I'll try to make a rear cargo rack blending designs from yours and the Bovington Panzer 3. BTW - did you use dyedcandle wick for your rope? It looks very authentic.
09-29-2010, 01:33 AM
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RE: My First Tank – Remade
Very nice weathering! Where can I get some weathering tips from? I plan to finish my Tiger I soon and I want to use a scheem i have found then use a wash and dry brushing over it is that the correct way to get the effects?
13./SS Pz. Rgt 1, July 1943, Operation Zitadelle
13./SS Pz. Rgt 1, July 1943, Operation Zitadelle
