Tamiya Panzer III Ausf L 1/48

Post by **spruecutter** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 1:27 am

Part 1

This group build is a great idea so I've decided to join in and build this:-

Here's what's in the box:-

A quick preview of the sprues,

Turret

Hull

Wheels x 2

Tools, poly caps and decals

and a die-cast hull

I'm now reviewing the instructions and will return with the first stages of assembly.
Good luck to all with your builds.

Pete

Part II
Here's a pictorial guide to my build following the style of the Tamiya Instructions:-

Step 1 Rear Panel and Rear Grill

Step 2 Lower Hull

Step 3 Return Rollers

Step 4 Wheels

Step 5 Attaching Wheels

Post by **Paul** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 1:42 am

Nice entry Pete, look forward to seeing it come together :thumb:

Post by **DC87** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 2:23 am

Nice subject, best of luck.
Do you have a particular paint scheme in mind?

Post by **Lee** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:12 am

Look forward to seeing it built

Website · Post by **Gav0909** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:51 am

I like the idea of the metal lower hull these 1/48 kits come with, quite unique. Looks like a nice kit to build up.

Post by **UKscalemodeller** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 1:13 pm

not seen much 1/48 armour. looking forward to it.

Post by **spruecutter** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:04 pm

Thanks for the comments.

I'm not certain yet about the paint scheme, I'll probably go with something similar to the box art.

Pete

Post by **bullgill67** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:15 pm

good luck with your build

michael

https://www.youtube.com/user/bnealuk · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:22 pm

I another thread I'm looking forward too!!

Post by **Bagpiper** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 5:30 pm

...and another Tamiya model. Wonder how many of the builds are Tamiya? But I digress! Looking forward to seeing this progress. Good to have you with us on the GB.

Cheers
Jim

Post by **Tamiyasnob** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 5:36 pm

This look,s an interesting build, gotta love Tamiya 48th scale armour. I only hope they bring out some modern armour in this scale as the only one,s I have built are the Zhengdefhu stuff and they don,t cut the mustard, anyway an excellent choice and looking forward to more build thread,s, best of luck with it

Post by **Tiger131** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 5:38 pm

hats off to you for building at this scale..looking forward to seeing this get built

Post by **gosselin2112** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 8:17 pm

Sweet! Have any idea what theater of operations it will be in, yet?

Post by **spruecutter** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 2:31 am

I think I'll paint it for the eastern front around 1943. To be honest though I don't usually plan the paint scheme until after the build has been completed. (whisper) -In fact I've never actually completed the paint job on a tank before. So this will be a challenge for me to see it through to the end. I am endlessly Mr 'work in progress' Don't tell anyone in case they ban me from the site.

Post by **spruecutter** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 12:04 am

Part III

Step 6 Attaching Tracks (left)

Step 7 Attaching Tracks (right)

Step 8 Upper hull assembly

Step 9 Attaching upper hull

Step 10 Hull parts assembly

Step 11-13 Attaching hull parts

Additional step - plastic strip inserted into hull gap

Step 14 Cupola and storage box assembly

Step 15-16 Gun mantlet and Gun barrel assembly

Step 17-18 Turret and attaching turret parts

Step 19 Attaching turret and other small parts

Completed assembly

Generally this went together nicely with no major issues. I found that assembling the tracks was the trickiest part and used Tamiya tape to keep the various sections held together. Also due to the cast lower hull the wheels don't have a secure fit and care is needed to keep them aligned. I've enjoyed the building phase and logging the various steps for this post.
Next it's a coat of primer and time to plan the painting.
Pete

Post by **Paul** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 12:07 am

Great progress Pete, brilliant work on the tracks

Post by **chief5437** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 12:09 am

Like!!

Post by **Tamiyasnob** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 12:48 am

Like the look of this mate, cool idea to lay the build over the instruction sheet, very clever, best of luck with the paint job.

Post by **Bagpiper** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 4:49 am

Coming along nicely mate.

Cheers
Jim

Post by **Lee** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:02 am

Great progress Pete and love the way you're doing your photographs

Post by **Nige201980** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:44 am

We need a LIKE button looks great mate.

Post by **spruecutter** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 1:00 pm

Part IV

Just a quick update this time for the primed model

I used Vallejo Acrylic-Polyurethane Surface Primer: German Red Brown.

It's intended to be used straight from the bottle with no thinner, and whilst I've found that with the Black primer from this range, you can do just that, and it's excellent; the Red Brown seems thicker, and if it's not thinned it will spatter, and clog up the airbrush. I had to thin to around 40% thinner to make it workable.
Once on though it provides a very nice, durable finish. I'll leave this a few days now to fully harden.

Thanks everyone for your comments and encouragement
Pete

FoxyRommel · Post by **FoxyRommel** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 7:25 pm

Spruecutter,

That is an extremely well conceived and thought out presentation of a build; I'm guessing this will surpass a video.

Here's to an enjoyable build for you and those watching it

FR

(I had only seen page 1, when writing this.... after page3

Post by **DC87** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 7:52 pm

FoxyRommel wrote:That is an extremely well conceived and thought out presentation of a build; I'm guessing this will surpass a video

I second this as i love the overlay of the build over the instructions

.

Post by **chief5437** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 7:04 pm

^^ I agree! IMO I prefer the pictoral updates on here. I watch the videos on a tv in a different room.

Post by **Tamiyasnob** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:54 pm

Very impressive, a great build all round, I am building the 35th scale kit , after seeing this I think I will prime with this stuff it look,s to have flattened out nicely, great work. Might hang back on my paint scheme see how your,s go,s( get a few pointer,s) good stuff.

Post by **Bagpiper** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 12:42 am

Coming along very nicely indeed.

Cheers
Jim

Post by **spruecutter** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:51 pm

Part V

Base coated

A thin layer of Tamiya Desert Yellow XF-60 was applied over the primer, building up the lightness on upper surfaces to give some subtle highlights. More highlights and shadows to follow

Post by **Paul** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:04 pm

Looking good

Website · Post by **Gav0909** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:07 pm

Looks great. I do love the PzIII and IV, lovely vehicles.

Look forward to seeing this progress.

Post by **PhildaFish** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 11:27 pm

Great looking model, really shaping up into a cracking build.

Post by **spruecutter** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:40 pm

Part VI

Just time for a bit of post-shading tonight

Again thanks for the comments

Post by **hansolo** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 12:47 am

Looking great mate!
Great photo's.
Love the model too.
Nicely detailed thread.
Exelent first paint stages.
Looking forward to the progress.

Cheers

Post by **spruecutter** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 11:28 pm

Part VII

Camouflage stripes on

I used Tamiya XF-58 Olive Green for the camo.

Struggled quite a bit with this, and I'm not fully satisfied with all of it, but it will have to do. Hopefully it won't look as harsh after some weathering.

Post by **Nige201980** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:23 am

Love the camo mate.

Post by **Lee** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:40 pm

That looks ace mate, look forward to the weathering

Post by **Bagpiper** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:02 am

I am just amazed at the diversity of the builds in this group build. This one is coming along splendidly too. Very nice paint job mate.

Cheers
Jim

Post by **chief5437** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 11:16 am

Camo job looks great from here! Nice one.

Post by **hansolo** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 1:55 pm

Yip, excellent camo paint job!!

cheers

Post by **Tiger131** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 3:05 pm

love the camo work buddy

https://www.youtube.com/user/bnealuk · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 3:15 pm

Very nice camo

Post by **spruecutter** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:07 pm

Found out tonight that ImageShack has been losing some of the pictures included in my build threads. So I've had to go through them and re-insert the pictures. If it happens again I might have to use another site and re-post the whole lot again.

Pete

Post by **chief5437** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:08 pm

^^ Gutted! Hope you've still got them. How's this coming along?

Post by **spruecutter** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:31 pm

Fortunately, it's only copies on Imageshack, I have the originals and uploaded them again. Trouble was the code for each lost image is now different and I had to insert them in the correct order - crucial in a sequential build thread.

Thanks for asking about the progress chief. I put a thin mix of Desert Yellow and Buff as a filter on the camo to soften it a bit and had a little break this week whilst putting together my Sci Fi SIG. Next it's a coat of Clear and then washes and weathering.

Post by **chief5437** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 11:02 pm

Like it! Not being picky, but is there some kind of panel missing from the rear deck? Just to the right, under the turret? Please don't take this as criticism, just incase you'd forgotten it?

Post by **spruecutter** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 11:15 pm

I see what you mean there's a lack of symmetry there, but that's how it comes in the kit - I've checked the painting guide in the instructions just to make sure, and it is the same. I tend to jump about a bit when assembling kits so I can miss off the odd part here and there, so I welcome any comments like this.

Pete

Post by **chief5437** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 11:28 pm

Phew! Didn't want you to take it the wrong way. I'm no expert, so maybe the real thing didn't have it?

Website · Post by **Gav0909** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:16 pm

The filter has blended the camo and base colour together really nicely mate.

If your having issues with Imageshack I would try Photobucket instead, seems much more reliable.

Post by **spruecutter** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:12 am

Thanks, I might try them out.

Pete

Post by **Coen** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:19 am

This is looking really nice Dude.
It's hard to believe that it's only 1/48. It looks 1/35.
Great detail on the kit and your paint job is really bringing that out.