Hello! Very good work and comparison! Can I post a photo on my facebook and put the link to this topic?
2 Likes
@HMJuanjo Juan, thank you! Sure please feel free to share link and pictures on your Facebook etc.
1 Like
Very nice job on the tracks and suspension!
2 Likes
Muchas gracias!
I pass the link to the post. If it bothers you in some way, please tell me and delete it.
2 Likes
Wade I’m gonna make your head so big you won’t get out the door, but as far as I’m concerned you’re consistently producing some of the most convincing replications of the real thing I’ve ever seen. Battered, used, perfect. OK just to be picky I’d bend a few mudguards but overall… 
3 Likes
@Johnnych01 John, thank you! 
@SSGToms Matt, thank you! I really like Ryefield Model’s plastic track.
@HMJuanjo Juan, WOW! That’s a very professional looking Facebook link and layout! Thank you!
@taylorrl Rick, thank you very much for the kind words.
@Dioramartin Tim, That’s incredibly kind of you. Thank you positively made my day! Agreed, the mud flaps should be beat up.
The forum is well blessed with fantastic model builders like Matt, Johnny, Rich, Tim and many many others!
If my head swells definitely pop that bubble. Humble origins with humble tools should make for a humble model builder on my part.
The Pz III was stippled with this…
…a chopped .50 cent Testor’s nylon paint brush…also perfect ego checker.
6 Likes
Absolutely fantastic, the sag, paint colour, chipping, weathering…are spot on.
This has really inspired me for my next build, thank you.
Watto. 
3 Likes
Worked on the markings and the Academy Pz III Ausf J edged closer to the finish line today.
Tested on scrap and discovered while the white & yellow pencils will wash off with water and little hassle, that isn’t true for the red pencil. It left a noticeable pink 
stain. With five of nine of markings in red, practiced a fair amount on paper before applying to model.
The 15th Panzer Division had it’s own version of a wolfsangel that was applied to some tanks. Tamiya hasxa decal sheet with the symbol #33. Also number 41 & 42 are the 15th PD’s division symbol.
While I can’t find the photo at the moment I recall seeing one 15th PD Panzer with a red or black wolfsangel so the Tamiya wasn’t what I wanted on this model.
11 Likes
Experimenting with turning an old Italeri jerry can rack into stowage rack for Pz III today.
Will slap some paint then decide if it’s useable.
7 Likes
Looks good to me Wade
2 Likes
Oh, that’s superb! The close ups of the rear look real.
2 Likes
@Hohenstaufen, thank you very much! I greatly appreciate your thoughts the build.
Didn’t expect to be posting Pz III updates but my T–55A is waiting on parts.
So they exchanged places.
The Dragon Pz III ausf N seems like half of a tank after working on the T-55A.
Painted assorted tools, return rollers, tow cables, mufflers, MG’s etc. Mapped in a little Panzer gray paint as chipping.
Had no intention of “chips” when painting the modle but a couple of photos from this book changed my mind.
Examples from above book for discussion purposes.
Decided for better or worse, increase the suspension weathering otherwise this Pz III will just look like the other one above. Both are 15th Panzer Division, so I want to try to get some distinction.
Going very much against my inclination, applied MiG’s Sand mud paste to suspension, a dust wash and a little mix of MiG pigments 
After applying wash.
Needs to cure overnight.
10 Likes
Good call Wade. Fantastic effect, impressive results.
2 Likes
Matt, thank you very much. It’s interesting to try a few new (to me) techniques and revise a couple of old one.
Had a minor mishap breaking one of the tracks. I pulled one run too hard and tight and broke several plastic pins in the RFM Pz III/IV tracks. Solid reminder that 3D printed or plastic neither are as robust as a set of Fruilmodel’s or Sector35 or other metal & wire track.
Anyway repaired the issue and installed tracks today.
7 Likes
What Matt said, and more. Further proof right here that (as far as I’m concerned) Youda Man for AFV painting/weathering. You do your research diligently, you really, really, really look at the visual references, and you replicate what you see so accurately. Seriously, you keep on hitting bullseyes and few (not including me) get anywhere close to your overall effects.
So, now that your head’s too big to get out the door, some rectifying pickiness: in the 2nd of your 3 latest images, the front plate with bolts – there’s a sliver of a gap along the top that starts just right of the MG, fixable. Also, the track from the rearmost roller to the rear wheel looks too straight compared to your reference photo, any chance of sagging it a tad? By all means ignore all of that, because otherwise it would be perfect - and that’s just not allowed 
2 Likes
Thank you, Tim. I appreciate the kind comments on the paint but I value your excellent constructive criticism even more.
That’s a good catch on the front plate & PE cover, looking top down usually at the model, I completely missed it. 
Will attempt to fix.
The Chieftain might say, “Oh Bugger! The tracks are too tight.” Agreed. I broke five links replacing one that sheared its pins earlier. Afraid to risk adding the needed extra link to each. I probably should accept my screw up…but what sort of xPanzer Police would I be letting my goof 
slide?
Stay tuned, will see what can be tweaked.
2 Likes
Tweaked track and working on plate.
Decided to add a fire extinguisher decal. Used this as guideline.
Discovered my Tetra dry transfer marking for the early style was too big to fit the kit supplied fire extinguisher.
Anyway, the later style marking fit. I think it’s wrong but close enough to be sort of in the ballpark.
11 Likes