Heng Long/Taigen Panzer III (Das Reich, Kursk)

[MrChef]

First, thank you all for the support.

I like the crusties on the lower hull behind the suspension. I have tried that with AK and Vallejo "mud" of various sorts, but it smooths out and takes a millennium to dry.

Howja doit?

How I dunn it,

I had found this AK diorama acrylic mud/earth product when I did the Tiger 822 project-



It's cool stuff, provides volume and texture and can be thinned with water. Since it's acrylic it firms up and sets much quicker than enamel products but can be worked as it sets to make clumps and textures. The color is dark on this but they offer many colors and textures. I changed its basic color with a spray of Tamiya Flat Earth.



Next layers started with enamel Kursk Soil and pigments.



The larger bottle is the paint thinned into a slurry.

Then it's pigments. I adopted from Mike Rinaldi to make mixes of Dark, Medium and Light Pigments.



He starts with the lightest pigments then takes a bit and mixes with the medium pigments then takes a bit of medium and mixes for dark. I find it blends better. As you can see the Medium pigments get used the most.

[MrChef]

delete please

[MrChef]

she's lucky i'm married.

nice work. subtle but 100% effective.

how did you get the turret hatches to open?

The Taigen Turret has all the hatches that open-



I swapped to a more scale barrel as well


Here's a link to the full build-

viewtopic.php?t=37686

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Thank you for the tips on how to create more convincing crusty-muddy on the lower hull. I like the idea that the stuff is acrylic and dries faster. I will get some a.s.a.p.

[MrChef]

Thank you for the tips on how to create more convincing crusty-muddy on the lower hull. I like the idea that the stuff is acrylic and dries faster. I will get some a.s.a.p.

Absolutely Sir. FYI that is the larger 250ml tub it's about 2 years old about half used. I make sure to add a few drops of water to rehydrate it and seal it with that piece of plastic as a gasket before I store it again, as when it cures its hard as a rock.

[Martin2556]

MrChef, your Panzer III is looking great, love the camo & weathering, you’ve done an excellent job.

[michaelwhittmann]

I have the Heng Long.

Live and learn.

[MrChef]

Fantastic work! It has a very real look to it.

Thank you that's a top compliment sir. Now don't you have a PZ III you were working on as well?

Ya got it goin on Mr Chef, nice PzIII
I dont have an actual PzIII gun tank in my collection, always used them for other mischief !
Would love to do a late version with full Schurzen & the long '50.

Thank you sir. I'd love to see that. Let's Go!

Thats looking really good mate

Thank you Alan

[MrChef]

Nice track droop--not too much, not too little, just like a PZIII. Kursk dusty, too!

Mike.

Yeah it may only be for the pics though as I see how the tracks may shed this way just running on my carpet. Yep Dusty and gritty I tried some more finesse methods this time around.

Now take her out for some nice pics in the open!
Will look great!
Rob.

Thanks for the continued support Rob. Unfortunately no fun runs any time soon. Work has me busy. Took 72 days to finish this one.

Show off a bit? Well she really caught my eye. Subtle, but very alluring. Nice work.

Thank you sir.

[MrChef]

MrChef, your Panzer III is looking great, love the camo & weathering, you’ve done an excellent job.

Thank you Martin. She took some time but I'm pleased with the results.

I have the Heng Long.

Live and learn.

TBH, I bought the turret while researching the recoil unit because it was on a deep sale. I didn't get the tank for another 6 months. I didn't have plans to build it. But I really got into the research and she just took hold. She is a scout tank attached to the same division as my S13 Tiger at Kursk.