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Visual makeover for 'Gunther', my 1/6 Armortek Panther G!

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 8:38 pm
by Marco Peter
I recently got my newest German Big Cat, and I love it! I named him 'Gunther'.

This Panther was previously owned by Olaf Piekenbrink, and the builder did a really, really nice job. Lots of extra parts, great weldlines, and after Kees van Rijswijk worked on it it no works with a LifePo4 accu, a Beier sound module, a custom smoke generator, working convoy light, etc.

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But that camouflage pattern, those dots! Arrrrghhh MY EYES ARE HURTING!

Well, after a couple of weeks it now looks like this:
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It's not entirely finished, but I love the new look!

If people are interested in the process, I will in this thread post almost 200 photos of what I did and share some techniques I used. I am very much open for tips and comments (just realise that most of the work is already done and it will be in hindsight). But anything I can learn will be used for future projects! Never stop learning! :-)

Re: Visual makeover for 'Gunther', my 1/6 Armortek Panther G

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 8:38 pm
by Marco Peter
My first concern was how to remove the dots... The paint used for the dots was thick, you could actually feel the dots!

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This is a quick test: In the red area I sanded the dots away, in the blue area clearly not...

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Unacceptable of course. I did not want those dots to hunt me forever every time I look at the tank!

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Much better!

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Even after just a first layer of dunkelgelb it's very promising!

Re: Visual makeover for 'Gunther', my 1/6 Armortek Panther G

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 8:39 pm
by Marco Peter
I never liked the killrings. Not killrings in general but how but the way they were executed. Too wide, too thick.

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The cupola was already nicely detailed:
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My reference photo:
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So I liked to have a slightly more 'cast' look.
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I used Mr. Surfacer500.
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Better!

Re: Visual makeover for 'Gunther', my 1/6 Armortek Panther G

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 8:39 pm
by Marco Peter
Time to start on the rest of the turret!

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I even find some older turret-numbers...

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705?

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God I LOVE dunkelgelb!

Re: Visual makeover for 'Gunther', my 1/6 Armortek Panther G

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 8:41 pm
by Trora
wow

like the size 1/6 , you have a great looking model

Gr Ralf

Re: Visual makeover for 'Gunther', my 1/6 Armortek Panther G

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 8:48 pm
by Marco Peter
Trora wrote: like the size 1/6 , you have a great looking model
Thanks Ralf!

Here you can check out my Tiger 1. :-)
viewtopic.php?f=150&t=24999

Re: Visual makeover for 'Gunther', my 1/6 Armortek Panther G

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 2:32 am
by PainlessWolf
Good evening,
Hey! I have a 321 Panther G as well. Nowhere near as big or heavy as yours.. Loaded with eye candy, your tank is really a beauty. The dots were distracting to say the least.
regards and following along,
Painless

Re: Visual makeover for 'Gunther', my 1/6 Armortek Panther G

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 10:13 am
by Marco Peter
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First color: Brown! I used the AK Real Color-serie for that.

If you look closely you can see the faint lines of pencil I put there to loosely determine a camo-pattern. Big mistake. Pencil shows through!
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Adding the second color: Green! I also used the AK Real Color-serie for that.

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It's hard to get the shapes right, especially where the color come together. This side was bugging me, I didn't like it...

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Small corrections made to the shape. Better.

Re: Visual makeover for 'Gunther', my 1/6 Armortek Panther G

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 10:13 am
by Marco Peter
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I liked how this turned out. The mantlet is divided in three colors but it seems natural.

Time for a quick try on the dotted Panther!
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Looks so squeaky clean! But no weathering can start until the turret numbers are there...

Re: Visual makeover for 'Gunther', my 1/6 Armortek Panther G

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 11:44 am
by 43rdRecceReg
The 'new look', as seen in pic number 2, is superb! This is one drool-worthy tank, Marco :thumbup: ;D