Tamiya Panzer II Ausf B - COMPLETE! (19.09.12)

Hi chaps,

As you probably know I’ve been working on and off on my Tamiya Jeep and I had to pop up the LHS yesterday to buy some 1/35 German and US Jerry Cans. Foolishly I took my wallet instead of a ten pound note so when I saw them re-stocking the shelves with a new delivery from Tamiya I saw they had in stock the newer Tamiya Panzer II depicting the early A/B/C versions I had to buy it. I say I foolishly took my wallet as I know every time I go there for paint or scalpel blades etc I usually end up buying a kit! This has been one I’ve been looking at for a while now and will be a perfect cabinet addition to sit between my Dragon Panzer IA and Tamiya Marder II. I’ll be looking at the late version Dragon Panzer II as a future purchase too.

So, The Jeep is on hold again as I really wanted to build a German Kit. I’ve got Tigerman’s much anticipated ‘Steel Cats’ GB starting in September for which I’ll be building Dragons Late Version Tiger I with Zim. This Panzer II will make for a great little project to fill the time between now and early September when the GB starts. I could finish the Jeep but like I say I’m really looking forward to building another early War Panzer. The Jeep can wait a bit although I did once say I wouldn’t ever be one oth those modellers who has several builds on the go at any one time! [whstl]

The build: It’s Tamiya’s 2008 release of the Panzer II which depicts the A/B/C version. The kit looks really well laid out - no nasty ejector marks that are very visible but I’m sure I’ll come across a few during assembly. PE is supplied for the Muffler heat guard which is a nice touch - Tamiya are obviously learning as their solid muffler actally has a hole in the end and won’t need a pin vise taking to it. The barrel is okay and slide moulded so it’s a one piece tube with a visible bore and the MG34 looks fine too but both are bog standard all the same. I’ve replaced these with RB offerings which are very cheap and a real no-brainer when attempting to improve the looks of your kit so I’ll be lopping off the plastic barrels, sticking the metal RB barrels on the plastic breeches as there is plenty to see and a seat for the gunner so the main hatch will be open exposing the turret detail contained withing. I’ll be using the kit Link & Length tracks as they look fine and well detailed.

Apart from the new barrels I’ll be adding an RB brass Antennae and will be doing away with the bulk of the kit tools and instead using Dragon tools from the spares tub and Dragon PE clamps - it will make a big difference. The kit tools aren’t great, just ‘suitable’ and the Dragon tools are required to really improve the look! Overall, a lovely looking kit that is only let down by solid moulded headlights and not hollow headlight cases that can be painted silver inside and then clear lenses just dropped on top. I’ll probably cover them up with tissue paper soaked in PVA & water to make it appear as if the crew have attempted to cover them with rags up in an attempt to black them out? Any suggestions chaps?

I’ll be starting the build tomorrow - in the meantime here are some sprue shots etc showing this lovely little kit in greater detail:

Dragon Tools and PE Clamps:

Sprue shots and other box contents:

The moulded headlights without lenses (items 11 & 12):

Hull Tub and PE Fret/Decals:

Kit weaponry for the turret:

RB upgrades (20mm Pz II barrel, MG34 Barrel and Brass Antennae) - what is the little PE Fret with the 20mm cannon for?:

Turret guide on the instructions - a bit of extra detailing and painting will allow the main hatch to be left opened showing off the seat and gun breeches (I’m not sure about using the figure yet):

I’ll be building this version (there are 4 choices). This is the box art version that depicts 6th Panzer Division, France, 1940 - this version also allows for use of the rear smoke candle rack:

Finally, I got several items through the post the other day and am really looking forward to trying this AK stuff out instead of Hairspray which it is intended to replace:

I hope you’ll follow along on this one guys.

It certainly looks like an enjoyable build!

Thanks for looking - I’ll provide a proper wip update tomorrow as I just haven’t had time to get this build started properly today!

Take care,

Ben [Y]

Looking forward to this build. I only realised the other week that i don’t have an AM barrel for mine. Is the RB one upto its usual standard.

Looks like this will be one great build will be watching with interest … I’m right on the verge of the dark side … need guidance

Hey Bish,

The RB options is ideal - although there is an antennae trough there is no antennae so the brass RB one is a good choide for only a pound if you hate stretching sprue like me!

I use Steve at Armour Models for my RB stuff and Friuls too. Google Armour Models if you don’t use them already. His site is great.

Ben

I haven’t used Armour Models since the new guy took over, so this will be a good excuse. I have a shed load of those antennas in my AM box as i am going to use them on all my builds. I think i will order those barrels next month.

The new guy at Armour Models called Steve is a truly top bloke. I chatted with him at the Hinckley show. As soon as he toon over from Lou he reduced the price of Friuls by £5!

He know his stuff too - give him a try Bish.

Ben

Ben,

Carl’s got you covered for the little PE bits…they are what locks the muzzle brake on the barrel end.

Don’t trust the Tamiya markings guide to the letter…unlike other manufacturers, they are still holding to the straight panzer gray scheme when French campaign vehicles like the Pz II would most likely have had the two-tone scheme of 1/3 dark brown and 2/3 dark gray. While others (and I don’t want to get into another debate here on the subject and distract from your build [:)] ) think that panzer gray is also viable, you will have a much more visually interesting subject in the 2-tone scheme vs. what Tamiya indicates.

Look forward to seeing what you do with this one!

This is an ausf . F with the brown over gray that Bill mentioned

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt5yMGKo_rQ

I will Ben. I just haven’t needed any barrels for a while. It was only the other day i realised i didn’t have one for the Pz II. I’m with Bill on the paint scheme, while the Pz Grey is an option, the two colour scheme would look much better and be more likely. He has convinced me of this over the couple of discussions on the subject.

I wondered what those PE parts were for as well. RB barrels don’t come with any instructions, but usually its quite self explanatory.

Hi folks,

Bish - check out the new site:

http://www.armour-models.co.uk/

Regards the paint scheme it was a thought that crossed my mind yesterday - early war Panzers in France? Grey and Brown was the common scheme and I made a mental note to make further enquiry when the time to prepare paint came closer.

I understand that the scheme is about 1/3rds Chocolate Brown and 2/3rds Panzer Grey. From what I’ve seen the Brown is quite faint and pokes through the Grey like a strong pre-shade?

I’m going to paint my Pz II like this as it’s a scheme I haven’t tried yet and would look right at home amongst my other early war Panzers.

Perhaps someone can provide a decent layout of the scheme for me to follow and also a recommendation for the corret shade of Brown paint i.e. Tamiya (XF-?) or a Vallejo shade would be extremely helpful.

I know you favour this scheme Bill so I’ll have a look at your BP Models website and the link posted by Shellback, too.

I’m going to make a quick start now and will post a few photos later.

Thanks guys,

Ben [t$t]

Ben,

The Dark Brown was applied over the Panzer Gray in a 1/3 disruptive pattern and there wasn’t a set pattern as some vehicles were painted at the depots as they were produced when the scheme was in effect and others, like the Pz II, that had already been produced received the scheme in the field or when sent in for uparmoring or repairs. I’ve got the Polish Campaign Pz II kit from Tamiya on my site as a build log and you can see an example there of how I did the scheme for reference if it helps. www.bpmodels.net/…/viewtopic.php

Bill , i didnt realize you had your own site …looks great ! I’ll start visiting it also . The Pz. II looks sharp . Weathering works real well on it . Thats cool having it in the magazine also !

Hi guys,

I have to hand it to Bill, he’s got on helluva site there! His site has been a MASSIVE help to me as he’s built a lot of the builds I have and he always covers the stuff I have problems with! For example I was thinking about Friuls for my build but I think the kit link and lengths will be fine so I’ll have a crack at assembling them on the build then removing them in one piece for painting. As Bill also mentioned the poly-cap fixed drives and idlers will permit easy removal and re-fitting.

I’ve got the basic assembly well underway as you’ll see. I’d rather not use Friuls on this build so next weekend I’ll try and get the link & lengths assembled and then once they have set I’ll remove them for painting off the vehicle and for fitting later on.

Some filler will be needed on these little gaps between the plates prior to painting:

Off to a good start. A lovely kit!

If anyone can make a suggestion for the best shade of brown for this cammo scheme (in either Tamiya or Vallejo) then that would be great!

Cheers guys and have a good week!

Ben

Thanks Carl!

Ben glad to hear the site’s been helpful for you…it’s the whole point behind why I started keeping build logs…I figured if it helps make another builder aware of issues or increases their ability to enjoy their own build, so much the better! Looks like you’re off to a good start so far. Can’t help you wint Tamiya or Vallejo colors as I’m not familiar with their lines. Look for something that’s a good chocolate/dark brown and go from there…it will inevitably change as you weather and detail stuff anyhow. [:)]

looking good so far!

Cheers fellas [Y]

Generous comments [:-*] much appreciated guys!

I’ve looked into shades of Brown and apart from the various shades that I already have in my rather large collection of Tamiya and Gunze Acrylic colours and apart from a basic Tamiya Flat Brown nothing really takes my fancy.

I’ve looked on a website that I use for my Vallejo Colours and they do a shade called ‘Chocolate Brown’ that can be found in their Model Colour range so I reckon a bottle of that might be a wise investment - especially seeing that I have another Panzer IA variant in the stash to be built after Tigermans ‘Steel Cats’ GB.

Not having seen the actual colour in the flesh can anyone say if this would be suitable or do you know of a Tamiya colour that would be an almost perfect match. After weathering this Brown is going to be really toned down anyway so perhaps a Tamiya Flat Brown would be ok? [:S]

Onto the build: The Panzer II/Wespe Friuls that my buddy swapped with me for some Hetzer Friuls arrived yesterday so with the aftermarket Brass RB antennae and the replacement RB 20cm cannon and MG34 barrels we are rocking and all set to go!

It’s been one Hell of a busy week at work so I’m using today to just chill and watch some Olympics and You-Tube Tank Footage etc as I want to do some Pz II research for my build. I’ve got Monday booked off as holiday (YEAH! [:P]) so today the most I’ll be doing is assembling some Friul links. Tomorrow I’ll completethe hull assembly as there isn’t much left to do in regards to the main hulluand on Monday I’ll replace the kit barrels with my RB ones and get the hull built up in sub assemblies.

There is, of course and unfortunately, not a hint of any interior detail but the Turret has a bit (gunner seat, gun breech detail and detail inside the turret hatches themselves). I’m planning on posing them open with the pads fitted of the insides of the hatches so they’ll be exposed and painted with Vallejo ‘Leather Belt’ colour. The Turret interior will be painted Off White and the seats again in the correct shade - something I need to look up on the web when I do some research. Padded Leather maybe???

The tools will be left until after the basecoat has been applied. I’d like to show some additional stowage too. There is limited space but the nice flat section on the rear deck ofers some useful opportunity. I recall seeing a Pz II build that was detailed in a magazine recently where the modeller had assembled a small base with low sides in which sat three Jerry cans - he’d used PE or Foil to make a convincing strap to hold them in place. I’ll be doing that and will probably also try to find a good spot to stow some spare track links too.

Finally, as for the spare roadwheel that is usually seen on the Glacis I’ll make up a small tow-cable to sit there instead as I haven’t any spare wheels. Tbh the cable will probably look better anyway.

Wip update and photos to follow!

Cheers guys,

Ben [t$t]

Hello folks,

A quick update:

The entire lower hull is now complete and looking spot-on. What a simple build - after several mind-bending Dragon assemblies this was a nice break!

As I’ve mentioned before it has no interior but there is a basic interior in the turret and I’d like to leave that visible via open turret top hatches so some off-white will be needed for the turret interior plus the seat will need to be made to look presentable.

My Friuls from my friend are here now and ready to go so next weekend it’s Friuls and turret assembly (plus I’ll have to lop of the kit gun barrels and put on the RB metal ones.

I’ve left all the tools for hand painting and fitting after the basecoat is on. The plan is to basecoat and I’m going to try some modulation plus I’ll be attempting the grey/brown early war German Panzer scheme. Decals can go on then tools then the usual washes and weathering etc.

The thing which I really like about this kit is that all of the road wheels, the idlers and drive sprockets are fitted via polycaps so can be popped on and off at any time.

A lovely little kit let down by them solid headlights - I think I’ll just put the blackout covers on them!

Here’s a few photos - nothing great as they were taken quickly using my phone camera:

PE Muffler Heat cover and Smoke candle rack which will need some chain adding for pulls:

All wheels fit via polycaps - very handy!

Friuls! Yeah!

RB barrels ready to swap for the kit ones (antennae too):

Thanks for looking guys,

I’ll be hoping to get the turret completed next weekend and the Friuls assembled too which just leaves the painting and weathering.

All the best folks,

Ben [t$t]

Looking good Ben, i must get those RB barrels next month.

Looks great Ben, I build the TAM Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.C Polish Campaign and it was an absolute gem. For the brown, I just used some Lifecolor Signalbraun and added a couple of drops of black as the original color was quite dark from my understanding.

There was a thread that talks about the brown color here