Panther G,urban camo': FINISHED!!!-8 pics

mg42gunner · March 25, 2008, 7:45am

Wow SMJ, I wasnt sure what you could do with the red brown, but that squiggly line camo is perfect! Exactly what the tank needed. Very cool looking.

Anonymous · March 25, 2008, 9:25am

I actually love the look of this scheme!!! However, I am not too crazy about the area where the tactical numbers are…it sorta detracts from the overall scheme and I believe I can see raised decal film…I think that maybe you should have not tried to “mask off” that area so much/neatly and maybe have free-handed the camo close to the numbers…just an opinion…

the_doog · March 25, 2008, 9:37am

I gotta say I agree with Manny here, Steve–the tank looks great in those colors, and the painting sceme looks totally cool!

But the spot with the markings bare like that–it just doesn’t hit me there; and I can see the film as well…if I were judging this at a show, and didn’t explicitely know what you were specifically going for here, I would wind up thinking that it just looks like a modeling experiment gone wrong…

Do you still have the DY mixed up? I would remove the decals with some judicious sanding, and respray the area, and then just tack on the other colors.

SMJmodeler · March 25, 2008, 11:00am

mg42gunner: Wow, and thanks…glad you like it!

manstein/doog: Glad you guys like it too, and thanks! Couple responses: the film you see around the numbers is a coat of future. I see what you mean about them kinda looking like a “mistake”, I don’t think I will sand them off and re-do the DY, but rather bring in a small brush later and do some touch-ups. I masked them thinking that they needed to still be ledgible…in hindsight given the desperate situation in Berlin it wouldn’t have mattered much, huh[%-)]

disastermaster · March 25, 2008, 1:07pm

Obviously we modellers are masters of our own canvasses. However, if you’re an AMPS member, know that in the Mar/April issue of Boresight is the first installment of my interview with Wolfgang Kloth, veteran of the 2nd PD who fought in Mk IIIs, Mk IVs and StuGs from 43 to the end – all in the East.

I am not an AMPS member, that sounds interesting…can you post it here in the forum?

He gives fascinating mintuae about the daily workings of his crew and vehicles. When asked about his recollections of camo schemes or paint colors on this vehicles he laughed heartily. He said that his tanks oftentimes just smeared with earth/mud. He said they were painted in earth tones. When pressed further he gave these two (hilarious) insights: “Soldiers are lazy. We wouldn’t paint anything. The tank came painted and we left it like that” and “Who painted our tank? I’m not a painter, I’m a tanker!”

With all due respect T26E4, and I don’t want to start the weathering debate, AGAIN, I would guess you are in the “less is more” and there wasn’t much rust on vehicles because the amount of down time the soldiers had, and how the “tank is their home”, their “lifeline”, etc…and hours were spent keeping it in tip-top shape…kind of goes against the “lazy” soldier qoute.

I think we can talk ourselves into imagining a crew repainting their Panther into an “urban scheme” but in reality, the crew was more concerned with a fresh can of water and if a hot meal would be gotten that day or when will fuel and ammo come in. We modellers in our workshops contrive all the fancy camo schemes that, while artistic and aesthetically pleasing, may not have that much to do with the vast majority of what actually happened. Sure, we get excited when we see an oddball paint job (e.g. the “Picasso” Stug IIIG) but we can get carried away a bit.

My two cents

I started this thread to see if this was anywhere near an authentic scheme, no evidence was given either way. I wanted to get a real good feel for the Dark Yellow base color so I spent a lot of time on it and was real pleased:

The other camo’ (below) is mostly for fun, and it gives me some practice with the airbrush…heck, it looks cool too! Thanks for your input T26E4, and I look forward to that interview!!![tup][tup][tup]

Guys: Here is a WIP pic’ with a red brown zig-zag/cargo net camo’ look. Somewhat like the AC guys do…MAN it’s tough getting those thin lines…ANOTHER reason I build tanks[(-D]…I’m having a lot of fun with this build!!!..let me know what you think.

The image “http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8399/thumbsup4kk.gif” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors. Some really good discussion here.

Anonymous · March 25, 2008, 1:57pm

Like I said: I love the scheme and colors but the area of the tactical number area kills it…as far as, "in hindsight given the desperate situation in Berlin it wouldn’t have mattered much, huh"…if this were the case, probably painting their Panther in a three-tone scheme wouldn’t have been their priority either…not trying to give you a hard time, SMJ, just trying to play a little devil’s advocate on the logic behind the scheme using your own reasoning…IMO, masking wouldn’t have been a priority at all, they would have just sprayed around the insignia…still, a striking combination of colors!!!

somenewguy · March 25, 2008, 5:45pm

Is this the 1/48 Tamiya?

SMJmodeler · March 26, 2008, 8:34pm

Guys: Here’s a WIP, I “fixed” the camo’ around the tactical numbers and added filter washes of raw and burnt umber:

disastermaster · March 26, 2008, 8:51pm

The image “http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8399/thumbsup4kk.gif” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors. A very well dressed tank in a desperate situation. !http://www.pretticons.com/s/d/62a82059.gifHandsome fella.

Don’t forget the bare-metal on the inner rims.

the_doog · March 26, 2008, 8:52pm

MUCH BETTER, Steve!

I like the look of the “fix” much better!

Now just take a small detail brush and outline the whites of the numbers and fill in the reds inside–don’t worry too much about the straightness of the lines, it’ll look cool if they’re a little crooked, like they were really painted on “in the field”. You also won’t be able to tell that yo painted over them to “fix” them.

It’s really coming along! [:P]

Anonymous · March 26, 2008, 10:46pm

Looking good…nice “save”! I wouldn’t necessarily touch up the numbers; they could just have easily been sprayed over when the crew applied the brown in the field…either way is cool, IMO…very original scheme…

SMJmodeler · March 26, 2008, 11:26pm

huh…[%-)] Help me out with that one[D)]

the_doog · March 26, 2008, 11:37pm

Paint these silver/chrome, Steve. The inner road wheels rub bare on the guide horns…

SMJmodeler · March 26, 2008, 11:44pm

Hey doog where did you get that cool "tele-strator’…you’re like the John Madden of the forum…BOOM!!! Thanks for the help…consider it done…later.

SMJmodeler · March 26, 2008, 11:46pm

Hey doog where did you get that cool "tele-strator’…you’re like the John Madden of the forum…BOOM!!! Thanks for the help…consider it done…later.

disastermaster · March 27, 2008, 12:44am

The image “http://livinonaprayer.superforos.com/images/smiles/nana.gif” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors. Well heil,
The image “http://pics.miarroba.com/caretos/lol.gif” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors. he beat me to the wheels, so…

You can “telestrate” by editing the picture on photoshop.

Of course, there are other ways I suppose.

MrSquid2U · March 27, 2008, 12:48am

SMJ,

Just remember, he said SILVER, not red as illustrated!

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

BTW- It’s coming along great and I can’t wait to see more!

SMJmodeler · March 27, 2008, 1:03am

MrSquid2U: Why not, that red looks kinda’ cool!!! Glad you like it so far, thanks, I should have another progress pic’ posted soon.

check your PM’s too.

wing_nut · March 27, 2008, 6:20am

Most excellent Steve. Looks like it ready for a fight. And I agree the numbers look better.[tup]

panzerguy · March 27, 2008, 10:16am

Steve nice job on the “Fix”. Think you should take doog’s suggestion on the tac#'s.

Looking foward to seeing this after the weathering is done.I plan on starting my Tiger in a couple of week’s should be done with my 251 by then.

Welcome to the East side maybe I’ll see you at one of the show’s, like the AMPS show in Danbury CN.