Miniart 1/35 Pz III Ausf D

Post by **robwuk** » Tue Feb 02, 2021 7:29 pm

All my other builds are at the painting stage so time to start something new... more photos at the weekend

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:02 pm

Oh boy the suspension is fiddly but it looks really nice. Not finished the first side tho - still a few more parts to add, then on to the second

Post by **aur0ra145** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 6:25 pm

That's some really cool suspension.

Post by **digger303** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:53 pm

aur0ra145 wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 6:25 pm That's some really cool suspension.

I'm with you I love that intricacy

Post by **robwuk** » Sun Feb 07, 2021 6:29 pm

thanks both... more work. Completed the suspension (I think that was one reason the Ausf E+ were more popular) the exhausts, smoke grenades and the rear deck (which will be covered in boxes). Next up will be the wheels....

Post by **BigWall** » Sun Feb 07, 2021 8:38 pm

It's looking great! I really like all of the detail in the suspension!

Post by **robwuk** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 7:47 am

running gear done and the wheels. The pins to put the wheels on are VERY fragile (one has broken and been repaired, two are showing stress points) so will probably have to leave the wheels on once on for tracks - shouldn't be too bad as rubber grey & dunkelgelb aren't too dissimilar so painting on the kit should be ok. May start tracks tonight as think it will be easier to do the first fitting without the fenders on.

Post by **digger303** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:22 am

robwuk wrote: Tue Feb 09, 2021 7:47 am running gear done and the wheels. The pins to put the wheels on are VERY fragile (one has broken and been repaired, two are showing stress points) so will probably have to leave the wheels on once on for tracks - shouldn't be too bad as rubber grey & dunkelgelb aren't too dissimilar so painting on the kit should be ok. May start tracks tonight as think it will be easier to do the first fitting without the fenders on.

Could drill a hole in the axles and put a metal pin in to strengthen them. Or the top return rollers replace all together with metal....brass tube or the like.

Post by **robwuk** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:26 am

digger303 wrote: Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:22 am Could drill a hole in the axles and put a metal pin in to strengthen them. Or the top return rollers replace all together with metal....brass tube or the like.

was thinking of going the other way and making the holes in the wheels a fraction bigger.... not too much but just enough

Post by **robwuk** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 8:59 pm

so a couple of hours tonight... just under half a track run done (and the wheels added - not going to take them off now).... some clean up (5 points per track link) but they will look nice once all done. Plan is to do bits and pieces of them as there is no glue - ideal for lunchtime. No jig so finding it easier to do one link at a time - isn't too slow and found a run of 4/5/6 too fiddly to get the pins in

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Feb 13, 2021 4:59 pm

96 links per side... both sides done.... just another 40 links to do for the frontal armour but they can wait....

Post by **digger303** » Sun Feb 14, 2021 2:11 am

very good looking tracks. It's a real bugger cleaning up 5 spots on every link though.

Post by **robwuk** » Sun Feb 14, 2021 9:15 pm

moved on with the upper hull some what - in fact it is done (barring the fender accouterments)

Post by **digger303** » Mon Feb 15, 2021 12:50 pm

Post by **robwuk** » Wed Feb 17, 2021 7:40 am

more progress on "fender furniture". I have added all that should be grey (apart form LHS fire extinguisher which would block the crow bar location once fitted). Also added the start pf the boxes - the locating brackets on the engine deck. I need to add the tow cable brackets but will leave them til closer to painting. I need to research 1 box on the RHS to see what colour it was and then I think I am on to the turret.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:19 am

Awesome work chap, really well done.
DW

Post by **BigWall** » Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:21 pm

It's coming along very nicely! I know there isn't much of a difference between this version and the later versions but I really like this one! The suspension detail still shows thru quite nicely.

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 5:28 pm

went with the full floor - know it is not accurate but i like it... and rear boxes done (just placed for now).... some small fiddly parts (and more to come with the main gun), not that you will see much of it

Post by **digger303** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 12:06 am

Post by **robwuk** » Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:52 pm

turret done.... well enough as I need to paint it before putting it all together.....

Post by **digger303** » Tue Feb 23, 2021 11:46 pm

Masking the hatch looks pretty neat

Post by **robwuk** » Thu Feb 25, 2021 11:04 am

digger303 wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 11:46 pm Masking the hatch looks pretty neat

thanks - actually the "masking" is photo etch for the hatch edge...

Post by **digger303** » Thu Feb 25, 2021 12:39 pm

robwuk wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 11:04 am
digger303 wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 11:46 pm Masking the hatch looks pretty neat

thanks - actually the "masking" is photo etch for the hatch edge...

Post by **robwuk** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 4:56 pm

quick bit of white, detail painting and grey scuffs... as you can't see a great deal I probably wont do too much more (if anything) on the interior, maybe some dust and muck around the bottom of the supports and box on the floor

Post by **digger303** » Mon Mar 01, 2021 6:17 am

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 5:32 pm

muckied up the turret interior just a little and glued it all together - build now complete so when I get the chance will start painting

Post by **digger303** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 11:33 am

Very nice. That cupola looks like the Germans just threw it together without much thought and chucked it up on the turret and welded her down super fast. Miniart kit looks like it is going together without too much hassle.

Post by **Stokesy44** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 11:39 am

Nice looking build. I like Digger's comment too. That cupola shows off just how small the turret is.

Post by **robwuk** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 4:48 pm

finally got around to priming the exterior... might get to start the dunkelgrau tomorrow (going to try following a NightShift process he posted a few weeks ago)

Post by **Stokesy44** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:43 pm

Primer looks good. Its a Ninja Tank!

Post by **robwuk** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 12:23 pm

grey on... not quite as neat as I wanted but I think a good base. Should be able to gloss and decal this week

Post by **Garion77** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 12:46 pm

really nice build ! always impress by how much work goes into a tank. suspension, wheels and tacks are intimidating to the plane builder I am ; and car builder in an another life a long time ago.

Post by **digger303** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 12:53 pm

Good build and the paint is pretty smooth.

Post by **robwuk** » Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:39 pm

turret numbers on.... now can start weathering

Post by **robwuk** » Sat May 08, 2021 4:51 pm

so finally got some time to do pin wash and add fender furniture... next up some smaller parts and the front track armour as well as painting the wooden boxes for the rear

Post by **robwuk** » Sun May 09, 2021 9:28 pm

more work - tracks on, more small parts on, found out I had only made 4/5 track runs for the frontal armour, 5th made (not as long as it should be) so needs painting... Not going for heavily weathered so matt varnish on body and the wooden boxes to finish

Post by **digger303** » Mon May 10, 2021 12:03 am

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon May 10, 2021 3:35 pm

Amazing works chap.
DW

Post by **BigWall** » Tue May 11, 2021 12:05 am

It's coming along nicely!

Post by **robwuk** » Sun Jun 13, 2021 2:23 pm

not much progress on this one recently, spare track armour on... just the wood to paint up and add then look at final weathering

Post by **digger303** » Sun Jun 13, 2021 2:47 pm

Interesting armor track attachment.
Beaut build and paint it is going to be areal standout by the time it is finished.

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Tue Jun 22, 2021 5:46 am

digger303 wrote: Sun Jun 13, 2021 2:47 pm Interesting armor track attachment.
Beaut build and paint it is going to be areal standout by the time it is finished.

I was thinking that too, never seen that on German armour before

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Jun 26, 2021 5:37 pm

nearly finished, need to do the tyres and the guns then add a little dust.....

Post by **digger303** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 1:50 am

Love the boxes, bit clean but your going to dirty everything up. It's a cracking build as they say.