"JAGD"- KAMPFWAGON 173 REDO

[HERMAN BIX]

Let me tell ya Doc -I'm useless with timber. Be it plastic imitation or the real thing !. I mucked around with a bit of scrap to try get timber effects and then used what I thought would suit paint wise. Safe to say more practice required. The build is lacking in the details-detail as you guys would know being seasoned customisers, so this one will have to join that list for now. I think I would have got it right, but with the impending "veterinarian's visit" fast approaching, decided to leave it until a more opportune moment !
Placed all the accoutrements & tools, got the matt sealer onto it. Used an aerosol product from a place that deals with art & paintings restoration and preservation. Stops light fading, dust, and the dreaded finger oil from ruining art work. huge can cost $8 bucks, and came with a "no-tears" guarantee from the lady in the shop. My tears mind you, last thing I needed was to start again on the paint !!
Sealed it up and allowed to dry. gave it 3 days to fully cure. Made the colours very bright but at the same time dark-really hard to describe.
Anyway, once that had successfully cured, on with the final dusting over all surfaces with extra attention paid to the lower area that would be prone to the finer mud misting when travelling fairly quick over unsealed roads . kind of the way your car or 4X4 looks after bad weather & dirty roads. I happened across a handy shop on day during the pre xmas rush for gifts. took daughter into this place to look for a secret santa gift and low & behold- there on the wall was all size of chains on endless rolls. From extremely fine to coarse, silver through to a bronzey rusted aged patina. Perfect size for this project. cost me $6.80 for enough to do 5 models. Costume jewellery and beading, couldn't help myself when the girl asked what I was looking for- told her- and then explained this & that will make great track towing chains and that will do for the jerry can retainer on a tank !

[HERMAN BIX]

The crew of this behemoth spend a day on a farm restocking & cleaning before the next round of life changing events & the driver made friends with the farmers daughter, as you do. she gave him her bucket that she used to bring the milk to the house in. They parted with a smile and never met again. Beats a stoic grey bucket anyway. !!

[dgsselkirk]

Love the bucket idea! Yes, I am going to steal it....
Promise it won't look the same.

[palepainter]

Yes. Perfect little touch on the bucket!

[HERMAN BIX]

Thanks Gents, Ive been to Germany & seen lots of painted buckets around, so the idea just came to me, the story on how that weapon of war came to have one on the ass end of it was just a passing whim of the missus when she saw it getting painted.!
I perhaps would have gone with the "Lothar the driver wrenched the bucket from her hands with little pity & stormed off to the stream to fill the radiator" type of line, but hers is a different touch so the story can stay . Perhaps she might choose the vet with the small hands not to one with a fist like a bunch of ladyfinger bananas to get me moving on finishing it if I cut her some cultured input eh !

[HERMAN BIX]

Took the prodgeny outside. It was a hot day on the Gold Coast, record breaking hot, dragged the sun down to surface of the earth hot
So, all the smart people took their models outside !
I would have had to spray paint the dead grass to get any form of blending or integration.
The benefit of hindsight, and daylight showed many flaws, and the conditions & a profound lack of skill showed up the fact that Mr MIG 'J' will remain the new king of pigment weathering & I will not take out the Natgeo Photograph of the year award.
The poor thing lookes like an Eastern Brown snake looking for mice

[cupoftea]

now that looks really good - you should be proud sir!

[HERMAN BIX]

cheers 'Cuppa' me ole mate, sure scared the crap out of the dog !
Have done some roadwheel axle hub seal weeps and fitted an aerial since these, might go find a side armour set & see how it can be included, but if not, i will go get a Panther to use them on - just, well, because.

[Panther Ausf G]

Herman as the others said brilliant work. I also like the little touch with the HE impact damage.

[HERMAN BIX]

Much appreciated team, Ive had a chance to look at the works of art that are displayed in this forum with a humbled respect for what is clearly a profound statement of patience, skill and application of knowlege.
I reckon when I get the next one to do, which wont be long , i will just get glasses, and calm meself down & just get on and do it.
The bloody 'Vet' can just wait !!
I have test driven it & was really happy with the outcome over all for the first go, but when the right side gearbox made the "squark-of-doom" during a gradual slew turn on soft ground, I knew the lesson was to do the basics first. Steel tracks & drive/idlers do not assist plastic pinions - they kill them. I reckon I'm going to have as much fun as when I once changed a Tri-matic trans in my CF Bedford van on Christmas eve very shortly !!