StuG III

[Paul Senter]

I have almost completed the Dragon Smart Kit 1/35 StuG III. Just needs a little touching up, cables and tracks and then weathered. All looks a bit 'factory fresh' at the mo.

I have attached some phots so please feel free to comment. Any suggestions to increase my limited abilities is gratefully received.

Paul

[fatfingers]

Nice, very nice ;D

Neat work with the airbrush on them stripes, not quite mastered that myself, yet

Which paint did you use, pressure etc?

Cheers,
Steve

[Paul Senter]

Steve

Thanks - I used an Iwata Revolution but with a air canister so your guess is as good as mine with the pressure. The base coat was laid down first, then the stripes and then a second layer with a thinned base cost to take some of the sharpness out of it.

Paints were just Humbrol Stone (I think) and Humbrol Olive Green - as I said the second layer takes some the harshness of the OG away.

Paul

[fatfingers]

Thanks Paul.

I use a Badger 150 and always spray Acrylics. I tried to spray Humbrol once, but after stirring the chuffin' stuff for about half hour I gave up! I've had a look at them Iwata airbrushes and have to say i'm tempted, but my concience (Mrs fatfingers) keeps telling me no ;D

For me the best part is the weathering, always enjoy that bit.

Cheers,
Steve

[Paul Senter]

Definitely concur with that.

I only managed to get the revolution because I retired from the army last year and I received my pension and lump sum. Have also graduated to a compressor now.

Take your point regarding Humbrol. I have to admit getting the right consistency is very hit and miss - had to strip a Spitfire back to plastic a little while ago because the mix was pants.

Have bought myself some Vallejo Model Air and going to have a bash with those - see what happens.

I still have some touch up work to do on the StuG but I am chuffed with what I have done so far. The Smart Kits from Dragon are excellent - metal cable, loads of bits and PE. The moulding is superb too with welds and screw heads at different angles - level of detail is outstanding - cant wait for the next one.

Paul

[fatfingers]

Keep up the good work!

I use Tamiya myself, might have to give the Model Air paints a go in the near future!

Look forward to seeing your finished Stug.

The Dragon Pz.kpfw IV F2 smart kit is supposed to be the dogs! Might have to put it on my Christmas list.

Cheers,
Steve

[Paul Senter]

Steve

Yes - drooled over that too, but it may have to wait - I am starting to stack up. I have the StuG to finish with 2 crew, there is a B-17 (american wingie thing) with my name on it and I have also committed to throwing a Me 262 (Recce Variant) together which will have to take precedence over the bomber.

Quite enjoy the Dark Side! although lately I am firmly in the slate grey middle bit. Even done a boat once - never again!

Paul

[bugace]

Love Your Stug. I'm mostly building cars, 9 of 10 models, but have stacked some 1/35 scale and 1/72 scale stuff on the adic as well. Has one built Stug, but hardly as nice as this.

[Don Cabriolet]

senter104 said:

Take your point regarding Humbrol. I have to admit getting the right consistency is very hit and miss - had to strip a Spitfire back to plastic a little while ago because the mix was pants.
Paul

Enamel is hard work to thin and spray. I use Tamiya and Games Workshop acrylics now for spraying, but I reserve my enamels for brush painting as you can't beat the texture of enamels.

Thinning is a must for acrylics 'tho. I'm developing a mix - 50% Halfords windscreen washer, 50% isopropyl alcohol and a drop or two of cheap washing up liquid diluted 70% thinner to 30% paint seems to work for me. My airbrush has recently been cranked up to two bars, and I spray a lot closer than I used to to avoid the paint drying too fast.
Having said that - I airbrush Humbrol Matt acrylic 29 - a nice general mid brown - which looks good as road dust if you spray it just that bit too far away and it settles as a powder...
Any advice you want to share on your thinning methods - enamel or acrylic? I'm always up for a tweak on my own mix

[Paul Senter]

Happy to although I am still experimenting myself - with the enamels i literally drip thinners into the spray cup until I get a thinnish consistency. I test it by dragging the mixture up the wall of the cup to see how easily it runs down or not as the case may be. Haven't sprayed acrylics yet although I have some model air paints from Vallejo and they dont require thinning apparently - we'll see.

If I come up with the enamels version of th holy grail ill let you know.

Paul

[The Hooded Claw]

I just got around to priming my current armour digression. I intend to spray using Tamiya Enamels Dark Yellow. I'll advise as i go.

H

[The Hooded Claw]

fatfingers said:

Thanks Paul.

I use a Badger 150 and always spray Acrylics. I tried to spray Humbrol once, but after stirring the chuffin' stuff for about half hour I gave up! I've had a look at them Iwata airbrushes and have to say i'm tempted, but my concience (Mrs fatfingers) keeps telling me no ;D

For me the best part is the weathering, always enjoy that bit.

Cheers,
Steve

Just for once I agree with your beloved, you don't need the Iwata Badger 150 more than capable of all but the very finest work.

H

[fatfingers]

ianh said:

fatfingers said:

Thanks Paul.

I use a Badger 150 and always spray Acrylics. I tried to spray Humbrol once, but after stirring the chuffin' stuff for about half hour I gave up! I've had a look at them Iwata airbrushes and have to say i'm tempted, but my concience (Mrs fatfingers) keeps telling me no ;D

For me the best part is the weathering, always enjoy that bit.

Cheers,
Steve

Just for once I agree with your beloved, you don't need the Iwata Badger 150 more than capable of all but the very finest work.

H

Ian,
Mrs fatfingers will be pleased that you do ;D
To be honest, I think its more a case of 'want' and not 'need'
I reakon I'll stick to the 150, I've had pretty decent results with it so far.

Cheers,
Steve

[fatfingers]

ianh said:

I just got around to priming my current armour digression. I intend to spray using Tamiya Enamels Dark Yellow. I'll advise as i go.

H

Im intrigued Mr H,
Tell us more!

Cheers,
Steve

[napoleon]

Steve

is there something here we don't know about?

didn't go to dangerous went to wfd and came away with panzer grey and an anti pesto van.

John