RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

But after looking at a panther my dad built including installing zimmerit I can’t see on which part of the panther a weld line would impact separation

Messrs. Max, Jarndice and Brute,

Good and well made points all--which I will take to heart despite the fact that this particular tank's garden running days have come to an end. She has earned a more quiet retirement. Nonetheless, I see what you are saying, Mr. Brute, and realize that my eyes and my mind may not have been working in sync as I now see where the hull separation is likely to be, not where I thought it was. I'm glad you took a close look at your Dad's Panther.

Thanks chaps. Now to the opthalmologist!

Glad we could help.

So gentleman I should start a new thread but as this is a question and the title here is suitable.

This. Should the photos display is the crusader that I’m working on.

My question are. Skirts or no skirts. Cammo or no cammo.

Since there are many photos of crusaders including and excluding these. Your opinions please.

Also coming soon to a forum near you.
The recently finished first build but not yet weathered su-85. (Once the light has been replaced where I painted over it using car primer. Not easy to get off. Whoops)

As a side not. I did not build this. I bought it from Ludwig ready built as it is currently above my talents.

I have however carried out a few alterations and repairs.

Like it with no skirts better.

I think with the skirts on it would need cammo to break it up a little. It’s a bit much in one colour although they where like that.

Without skirt I think it will be ok as it is.

I will see how a few more vote and take it from there

Whilst there were a lot of Crusaders in service they only saw action in North Africa so any change to the overall desert sand paint finish would need to be well researched,
It is worth reminding yourself why is camouflage applied,
It is to disguise the presence of a particular item from the enemy,
In many environments a broken finish with varied colours is the most effective way of achieving it but within a monotone background a single colour or shade will be the better choice,
It is worth looking at the paint scheme of the SAS Iraqi war Landies which were overall pink and in the field from no distance at all they were pretty much invisible
As to the sideplates I have mixed views on such fittings,
The Centurion and the Crusader look right with them the Panzer 4 looks wrong with them, of course the two British Tanks sideplates are an integral part of the design whereas the PZ4s are an obvious addition,
From a modellers viewpoint it is nice to be able to have a choice.

The paint will stay the same base colour but would have the black cammo markings added if I go ahead with cammo. If not or will just be weathered. I have used the kings Portland stone spray paints on it to get the closest match possible if not the exact match to what was used. As for the cammo markings I would use again as the closest possible match Tamiya nato black

As for the skirts my theory is that they are built in to the design as some armour protection for the tracks and in place of using canvas skirts seen on the Sherman’s. But it would still need the skirts to be removed for track maintenance or in some cases and a not confirmed but likely possibility cut up for field repairs

I have been using photos of the one at bovington for reference so quite confident I have the alterations right but now it’s just deciding on the finishing touches