Hi guys,
Another quick update - the Zim has dried nicely so I’ve given her a light layer of Vallejo Grey Primer so she’d ready for painting tomorrow.
It definately looks a lot better now there’s a uniform colour all over it (the photos may seem a bit glossy as the primer had just been put on.
Thanks for looking guys - I’m a lot happier with her now [Y]
Not easy this Zim lark is it!
ATVB
Ben [t$t]
You’re definitely braver then I am. I can see how tight of a surface you have to work with doing a waffle pattern.
Everything is coming along swell. Good luck on the finish.
Kudos to you Ben for tackling such a difficult zim pattern! One small nit-pick, the roof MG shield didn’t stay up on its own, it was secured in the upright position by a hook on the hatch when it was in the open position, so for it to be the way you have it installed, the hatch behind it should also be open, otherwise the shield was folded down against the roof. Since you’re at the primer stage only, this shouldn’t be too hard to fix.
As to your question about the exposed color on chipped zim, it would in theory be primer red depending on how deep the chip/damage was. [B]
Cheers guys,
Thanks for the kudos Bill, that means a lot matey - I bet many people haven’t tried Zimming this kit, especially as a first ever Zim attempt. It wasn’t that bad applying the putty (apart from the the area where the two front hatches are, that was VERY tricky as I had to leave one hatch off as there is a screw hole under it that attaches to the base so I had to mind that I didn’t get any putty in the grooves where it sits - the hard bit was getting any sort of decent pattern in it. The tool kept clogging up and I had problems with that front area which didn’t dry (weird) but the second attempt worked fine.
A more basic pattern would certainly have been easier to work with. I’d like another crack at it on a 1/35 build some time! Perhaps Tamiyas Tiger I as it has plenty of big flat surfaces- I’ve had their Zim Applicator kit for ages now and I’ve still not opened it! I’d like to try your ATAK method too Bill as that looks great.
As for the MG shield - DAMMIT [bnghead] I didn’t know that and the instructions just have you plop it on, mount the MG and be done with it [:(]
The flaps behind it come moulded as a single piece and the only way to pose it open would be to take it off and chop it in half and they aren’t going anywhere now - it’s well stuck and I don’t want to risk messing it up. I wouldn’t normally do this BUT it’s a little quick build which will go straight in my cabinet and as I like the MG mount/MG I’ll stick with it. A bit naughty as I like to try and be at least a bit accurate but just this once I’ll use a bit of artistic licence just to show how it would have looked? Good enough excuse? [whstl]
Anyway, the plan is to get some colour on her tomorrow and as I have the rest of the week off I reckon I’ll have her ready for the cabinet on Sunday.
Cheers guys,
ATVB
Ben [H]
We won’t tell the model-accuracy police this time Ben, don’t worry! [;)] It’s a mistake that is often made with StuGs because of the Tamiya box-art and just general assumption that it was a fixed shield type of mount vs. a simple hinged arrangement.
Cheers Bill [whstl]
Funnily enough I looked at a stack of completed photos of this kit and the 90% of the people who did use this MG shield used it in exactly the same way. Hatches shut and MG mount raised!
You can understand now how I thought I was doing right. The proper photo research I did showed a gunner in the hatch actually manning the MG - no photos of it with the shield down and hatches closed.
I’ll look for a proper photo now with the shield folded down. I’d be a tiny bit annoyed if this was one of my ‘proper’ builds that I’d spent some proper money on! That Tamiya cement wouldn’t budge without breaking the hatch and I’m not risking it!
I’m going to get a basecoat on her today and also paint the wheels. I’m going for a DY plain base with the remnants of an old whitewash just visible.
ATVB
Ben [t$t]
Hi guys,
I’ve been and got the airbrush out and got the bulk of the basecoat work done (I’m undecided on a whitewash scheme yet - I might go with the look of remnants of an old, faded whitewash perhaps).
I used my usual DY mix for the basecoat (50/50 mix of Tamiya Dark Yellow & Deck Tan) and I painted the rubber on the tyres using a 50/50 mix of dark grey and flat black. I’ve got the tracks started with an all-over coat of Flat Earth.
Excuse the rubbishy Zimmerit pattern which I know is pretty poor - it’s my first attempt and is a big learning curve but I learnt so it was worth it. I’m actually thinking that she’s looking pretty good now and this could be a very nice little build once complete.
I tried for a pre-shade which worked but black didn’t look right against a DY basecoat so I gave it a few more passes which just left a bit to show through. I reckon a dark brown might make for a good DY pre-shade colour.
I’ll get the hubs painted tomorrow using my circle stencil, fit the wheels and get the tracks on too - then it’s time for decals.
Today’s work:
Pre shade lines and running gear:
Basecoat on and looking ok:
I hope you like her so far guys.
I’d love to hear any suggestions re the paint sheme and general comments. I know the Zim is a bit rubbish but it’s my first ever attempt so go easy with me!
WIP update tomorrow!
ATVB
Ben [t$t]
Ben- always liked the looks of the StuG, kinda squat, brutal, and no-nonsense. Great work on her so far and looking forward to seeing how she turns out.
And thanks for the temptation guys- all this talk about zimmerit and I pulled out my Dragon Royal Tiger last night and pawed though it. Last thing I need right now is start another model… [whstl]
This has been a helpful WIP for those who want to apply Zimm on 1/48 scale armor. You are braver than I am… no way I will ever try that! [:P]
Now it is starting to look better after its base coat of paint… I can’t wait to see how it comes out after weathering stage.
Cheers Andy & Gamera,
Like I said I really do like her. I’m kicking myself for not practicing enough with the Zim and ending up in a bit of a mess with it BUT she looks a lot better now with the paint on her [Y] If I was to Zim her again I’d try rolling out super thin ‘putty sheets’ and fitting them that way.
I’ve decided that I’m going to go on a bit of a StuG fest and build a few variants ie StuG IV’s etc. I also want to build pretty much every thing that sat on the basic Pz. III chassis which should be interesting - I’ve got a few pieces of British armour in my stash which I’m going to be building after the Panzer III GB so I’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming up!
I don’t build many 1/48 kits but this little kit is a real gem and comes highly recommended imo.
ATVB
Ben [t$t]
I’ve got a couple of those 1/48 Tamiya armor kits in the stash. Haven’t built one yet though.
Yours is looking good. I’ve never done zimm by hand so I can’t offer any advice there. I do want to try it some day. NOT ON 1/48 THOUGH!! Lol. I’ve also never built a German tank that didn’t have Tiger in the name…lol…although 3/4 my stash is non Tiger German stuff…hmm…maybe a Stug after my Sturmtiger??
looking nice Ben, and deffinatly a brave man to try this Zimm pattern. hannants do/used to do a set of stamps for 4 Zimm patterns, which includes this pattern. If you plan on doing alot of Zimm, might be worth looking into.
Cheers Bish,
I have got the Tamiya Zim Applicator rake set which is still unopened but after doing this little StuG I’d lo have another go on a bigger 1/35 build. My cabinet is still without a Tiger I so I may get the Tamiya Tiger I late version at some point and zim that up using my applicator set.
It’s good fun but not something I’m planning to do regularly! At least I know how to do it now!
Cheers matey,
Ben [t$t]
An armor modeler without a Tiger on their shelf!??!! BLASPHEMY!! PURE BLASPHEMY!!!
[whstl]
Yeah - I must build one! It’s terrible!
Saying that my first EVER armour build about 2 and a half years ago was the Tamiya Tiger I in 1/48. It was okay but as I learnt it ended up being a test bed for new methods.
I did attempt to re build that exact same kit this year, this time with Friuls and a replacement barrel but didn’t have much luck with that. Paint problems and a Die-Cast hull that wouldn’t take glue properly ended that one - another test bed.
I want to build a 1/35 Tiger now. I’m quite liking the Dragon ‘Leningrad’ box art Tiger (I can’t recall if that one is a zimmed Tiger or not - unzimmed I think) or failing that I’ll go down the the Tamiya route and build their Late version with Friuls and new barrel and do my own Zimmerit.
I know it won’t happen this year but that’s a good idea for a christmas present - a Dragon Tiger I [H]
All the best,
Ben [t$t]
Ye, an armour modeller without a Tiger, thats just not normal.
The Leningrad Tiger will certainly not be Zimmed.
I agree wholeheartedly,
Like I said Bish - I’ve had two and one became a test bed as it was my first ever model and pretty messy and the other one was just a disaster from the off! [00ps]
I’ve been wanting to build a 1/35 Tiger for ages but this year it won’t happen - again, like I said it will make a nice Christmas present and new year build for me.
After this StuG and my Panzer III for the GB I have two Allied builds (Dragon Firefly & Bronco Comet) as all I’ve been building lately is German Armour. I’ve far too much OD green on the paint shelves and it needs using up!
Now will you lot give me a break about not having a Tiger in my cabinet!!! [;)] [;)] [;)]
Cheers guys,
Ben [Y]
two Allied tanks [:(] Traitor
I have a better idea. Why not build a Tiger.[;)]
Hey Bish!
The Tiger is on the list! I’ve looked into it and am either going to get the cheaper Tamiya Late Tiger I and do a putty Zim job and use Friuls with an AM barrel or get that Dragon Early Tiger I with the Leningrad Winter box art - I like that and think a Tiger from Dragon woud be a good choice - do you get Magic Tracks or DS tracks with that (out of interest - not that it really matters? All I’d need is a replacement barrel for the Dragon offering. I do like my replacement barrels!
The last time I built an Allied tank was when I built my old Tamiya Cromwell (Below)! Back in the days of being a true newbie using brushes and Humbrol Tinlets and thinking that a ‘wash’ was something you had in the morning! LOL!
Below: My Tamiya Cromwell from my Newbie days. Brush Painted with Humbrol Enamels!
These are the two Tigers I’ve built:
This was my first EVER Armour Model built around 2-3 years ago when I first started out in the hobby! It’a bit ‘rough’ and 1/48 hence why I want a new one in 1/35!
When I started out I also built the Tamiya 1/35 Pershing which is a great kit and the Tamiya 1/48 Firefly:
Since the building of these early kits all I have built is German armour with a Russki JSU-152 thrown in for good measure (one of my best ever builds) hence my need for a couple more Allied builds on the shelf!
I know my Grandad either drove or commanded a tank in the later stages of WWII but the family can’t find his old documents, photos or what company he served with.
I’d love to build ‘his’ tank with the correct markings but more research is needed.
In the meantime the Comet will be a good build after this Panzer III Ausf. N which is my first entry for Andy Deafpanzer’s Panzer III variants GB. I remember seeing a Bronco Comet at my very first show which my mentor, John, took me to. I fell in love with it and knew I had to have one.They were a lot more expensive back then 2.5 years ago? Mine was £25 from my LHS on special order a couple of weeks ago which surprised me as I was expecting a real wallet hammering!
Back ‘on topic’ I’ll post a StuG wip update later on.
All the best,
Ben [t$t]
If your talking about the kit that Aaron built, i am not sure about the tracks. I have the earlier kit of the same kit, the all Pz Grey one. Of course, it can be done at the white washed one as well. That has magic tracks. As for the barrel, like you i am a fan of metal ones. But i would get the kit before you decide. Mine has a metal barrel, with a 3 piece plastic muzzle brake, so goes together the same as metal ones. I am applying the same rules to these as to tracks. Why spend the extra money when the kit one is just as good.