Global Scale Modeller

Hello, it's me again with a new build. This time I wanted to use the Tamiya figure set "German Assault Infantry w/ Winter Gear" in a diorama. While inspecting the contents of the box I saw that the inside flap of the box had a picture of the Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. L, and it sparked with me, so I decided to go ahead and combine these two on a diorama.

The Diorama



(Photo courtesy of Worldwarphotos.info) So for the diorama, I was initially inspired by this photo of a blown-up ISU in Finland. It seemed to me like it had blown up while driving over a tunnel in the trenches, and I wanted to do a similar diorama base. (Upon closer inspection, the "tunnel" is probably just the ISU having driven over a regular trench.)







Here you can see the original diorama, where I had built and planked a small bit of diorama. I used insulation foam to create the majority of the ground shape, and then added the first layer of ground with DAS air drying clay. However, I started thinking, did they really make such tunnels in World War 2 or have I just been watching too many World War 1 videos? I asked some friends for opinions, and since the exit hole of the tunnel looked so stubby and cut off, I decided to fill in that end.



I decided to then to change the tunnel into a regular old dugout. I fashioned a door from a bit of wire and some Popsicle sticks, which I have loads of. I intend to write something in Cyrillic on the plank above the door, like "stavka" or "склад боеприпа́сов". I don't speak a bloody word of Russian though, so I'm not sure what would be appropriate. I intend to have the soldiers inspecting the trench and door while the Panzer III looks over them on the top.

The Tank

This kit is an old classic from Tamiya. I think the detail still holds out (at least if you buy the optional photo-etch kit) and you get a lot of good plastic in it. In my opinion this kit is better value for your money than the Dragon offerings. Now if only Tamiya produced more variants. I'll be surprised if I won't get this kit to a paint able state tonight.



I found this bit in the instructions a bit odd though. They call for you to paint a tank from the 18th Panzer Division on the Russian front in Dunkelgelb, even though that colour wasn't issued until spring/summer 1943. Incidentally I think this is the tank I will paint, albeit in Panzer Grey with a whitewash. I would have liked to post my reference photos here, but I haven't managed to find a picture of a Panzer III with the turret number 200.



Of course there are plenty of winterized Panzer III photos available. I chose most of my options based on this picture, and plenty of other model builds you get when you google "Panzer III Winter"



Overall look of the hull with the bottom hull mostly done. I'm gonna have to fit the suspension to the diorama, so I haven't fitted the torsion arms in yet.



As mentioned, I got the Tamiya Photo-etch set for this kit. I love this grille in particular. You'll never see it when looking at the tank from above but just knowing it's there appeases me. I also think it adds to the identity of the Panzer III.





Here's some more shots of how far I've gotten in the build. The Tamiya Photo-etch is simple but effective. As always, I've left off the tools that I want to paint in colour other than the hull colour. Incidentally, I don't believe a word of that hogwash that the tools were left on the tank while it was being painted.



Here's the detail on the other side of the hull. About the turret spaced armour: the only thing I knew for sure before building this tank was that I wanted to leave off the front spaced armour from the turret. I love the look it gives this tank. It kinda reminds me of some British mantlet designs from the desert war.



Is this a cool look or what?

As always, comments and criticisms are welcome. Cheers!

Well, you're off to a great start. That diorama set looks nice and should complement your build nicely.

I'll follow along. Looking forward to more.

Thanks SCAR!

I managed to finish the building of the tank.







Here I'm setting the suspension to the diorama and marking where I want the tank to sit. The wheels were stuck on with blue tack so they would set on the diorama properly. You can always tell when I've been modelling because my hands get covered in paint.



Here's a mock-up of how the diorama will look. These figures look a lot better on the faces than the German Frontline Infantry I built for my last diorama.
Hopefully I will start doing the ground work on the diorama and paint on the panzer grey on the tank tomorrow.

Very nice like the theme you've chosen.

Regards, Paul

I've managed to do quite a lot this weekend so far. I think I've finished the tank almost completely, aside from some weathering. The diorama is in good shape too, the only part I'm lagging on are the figures.







I did an absolutely perfect pre-shading job on this tank, and the German Grey went on looking great and varied. I then gave it a filter of Vallejo's blue grey wash and a pin wash with Tamiya's Panel liner. At this point it was almost a shame to give the tank a whitewash!
For the tracks I used AK Interactives dark track colour, and then added Vallejo Titanium White pigment with pigment binder.



I'm very pleased with how the rust effects on the tank turned out.



Here's a quick look at the diorama base with the first layer of earth effects on. I added some Gale Force 9 Winter dead grass on the ground in case something showed through the snow.











I was in too much of a hurry so I already mounted the tank on the diorama base. I gave it two coats of Vallejo and Tamiya snow effect paints, which seem to be pretty identical to me.
For the tank, I painted the white on with AK Interactive's washable white camo paint. I tried thinning it out with Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver, which didn't really work because the paint has some sort of a chipping fluid included with it. I then took normal water on a brush and brushed most of the whitewash off, especially from around the decals and tools. Lastly, I added some small chips with a tiny brush. Now all that's left is to add some weathering.
I also added a rock on the Diorama base to add some variety.



In an effort to add more variety, I ripped some bits off a mystery sponge that was in my apartment when I moved here, which I thought looked a little like dead undergrowth.

very cool!!

Thanks for the comments guys!







Just a quick update here, the diorama is almost done. I've only done a very, very, very basic paint job on the figures and I'm really not satisfied with how they turned out. I don't know if I have the mental fortitude to paint the rest of the figures, although I do feel they're needed since the lower right of the diorama looks pretty bare otherwise.

I have to rescind what I said about the figures' faces being any better than the German Frontline Soldiers', the expressions are still pretty bad on them. Of course my paintjob isn't doing them any favors either.

Feel free to point out any mistakes I've made, as that's the only way I'll improve.