I’ve been waiting for this kit to come in plastic for awhile now. I picked up this one and the E-75 also at my local hobbyshop last weekend. I tore into the box as soon as I got home and started building right away. I have to say a very nice kit, I’ve had no problems whatsoever( hardly or no flash at all, great fit, no putty needed at all, some nice PE, and a couple of different options to build up different versions, basically different gun and mantlet). Happy to say that clear periscopes for all the openings are included unlike the E-100(missing periscopes for the cupola openings). And the tracks are of a new material, GLUE ACTUALLY WORKS on these unlike some of Trumpy’s other offerings, the detail isn’t too bad either, but I orderd the Hobbyboss’ individual link Late King Tiger tracks anyway, detail was a little better. I started this last Saturday afternoon and by Sunday afternoon, I was done with all the major building. I haven’t done anything since last Sunday except adding the kugelblende to the glacis today. A very fun and easy build.
Wow, didn’t think we would get any of these this soon, they have only just come out over here, i have ordered both kits off E-bay. I am hopeing Voyager bring out some PE as they did for the E-10 and 25.
Well I’ve been able to basically finish all the construction and get some paint on this bad boy. I used the Hobbyboss AM tracks on it also. Ok, here is the scenario, since this is a “paper panzer”, I went with a non traditional camo. I used Pollyscale’s Panzer Olive Green as the base color and Tamiya’s Dark Green for the camo. I was wanting something different, so I borrowed from the wingy side of things, I liked the way the splinter camo looked on luftwaffe planes, so I took that idea and added my spin on it. Now I’m just not sure how I like it. That’s where you fine gentlemen come in. Please let me know what you think. Thanks.
How about adding some ‘ambush’ type camo. in red oxide and desert yellow? Keep with the ‘splinter’ theme, the ambush style would really break up the large machine more. Possibly hide the barrel like they did on the Sherman Fireflys? The hybrid theme can be called ‘Splinter ambush’ and take a step further with a 'molted pattern, lighter on lower surfaces and darker on the upper…. ‘Molted splinter ambush’ 1946 issue?
I like it alot. I have been trying to think of schemes for the paper panzers i have but hadn’t considered getting ideas from aircraft. I know it doesn’t have the lighter areas that German aircraft had on the sides and tail, but maybe you could add some motteling. Maybe a third colour on the green areas.
I got both these kits a few days ago and was dissapointed that they didn’t come with indy link tracks as they had done with the E-10 and 25. I am going to get some Fruils for my two.
Hard-edged splinter camo patterns are certainly within the realm of possibility in a “'46” type of scenario for these paper panzers. I like it although I would recommend perhaps breaking up some more of the outline especially on the glacis and around the crew hatches on the top deck.
Gents , a very big thank you!!! Both the mottleing and ambush idea are very good ideas. Along with those I’m contemplating doing some more splinter but with red brown, I think the dark yellow might be too much of a contrast. Decisions,decisions.
Bish- If you want to save some money, the Hobbyboss tracks are quite good. That’s what I used on this build and I have another set for the E-75 .
Bill- Thanks for the input, I didn’t want to overdo the fist color camo, as my original intention was to do another color also, but I hesitated, so I could see how I would like the look of this type of camo first.
Interesting take with the splinter pattern. I just have a thing for an ambush scheme. I wonder if adding triangles or spots to it would be over the top or not?
I will try to have a look for those tracks, see if they have them over here. You say the dark yellow might be to much, how about a different shade of green, maybe darker.
It’s been awhile, but here’s been some progress. I’m now at the beginning of the weathering stage. I have two different shades of green for the splinter camo (dark green and olive green) and the panzer olive green base. I tried the red brown as the second color, but that made the tank look like a christmas tree, so I decided on Tamiya’s olive green, almost used olive drab, but I like how the olive green looks. I added a coaxial mg in the turret along with a mg-42 to the kugelblende( Figured they would have switched over to them replacing the mg34, and having more firepower than the mp-44).The shiny sheen is a gloss coat, that will be taken care of shortly. Here she is.
Nice job! It is refreshing to see someone refrain from the over-chipped techniques that are common on armor builds these days. I like the splinter pattern.
