Dragon 6543 Pz III J early DAK variant

SteveH

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From lurker to worker

Not too many builds on the interweb, and only a few reviews, so here we go

Dragon 6543 Pz III J kit review

The kit was a cheapy on E-bay but was smoke damaged and never felt comfortable in the "life" stash of kits for the next millennia of building.

3xlPdkG.jpg


It has sat by/near/on the build pile for some time, and has now hit the top of the list.

As the build is so vanilla, sorry Steve, some slightly interesting trivia, I am trying a Dunkelgelb and also a weathering experiment, and a DAK Pz III was just the ticket.

I did attempt to upgrade the gun from L42 to L60, but it didn't happen so not a winner, and here is the build with only 2 little tweaks for those that might be interested.

Now for the pictures and this will bring this part of the project up to date.

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reference books, I guess I haven't shared some of my motivations, building kits is part of the hobby, buying kits and buying reference books are all equally part of the hobby for me too.
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The basics wheels all primed on the interiors so I dont miss them when I paint them, love building tracks too magic or otherwise,
I know, weirdo or what :surprised:
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Interior primed too, so no plastic showing
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My building tray,
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as I can't get Sky on my desk any more, Sky Q upgrade!
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1st of only 2 dragon instruction upgrades
The track supports are better installed at the same time as the track guards, though I am sure they were as level as I could get them, when I installed the completed track guards, they needs some trimming for a level and smooth fit,
A4m77l8.jpg

I will do that on the next Pz III build, as I still have a lovely L60 turned barrel to use.
The next upgrade would be a clearer guide with the engine access covers
I went for the DAK and later upgrade which has raised air circulation, the flat access plates are for the earlier models and the pre J ausf's
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Otherwise straight out of the box, easy to build and a real pleasure.

Primed
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And the next part of the experiment, one of 5 different Dunkelgelb Air Brush paint sets
the DAK one at the top.
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And a coat of paint after 2 coats of hairspray

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I have added some modulation with a 2nd coat, as the crackle is due to a little reaction to the hairsparay, and is now OK with a 2nd coat.
The Hakata paint is super to use, straight out of the bottle, no thinner and 1.5 bar pressure on a H&S AB.

This does complete the very brief build as it is built.

It will return on my bigger blog, which with be dunkelgelb and multiple weathering techniques,

A little teaser of some of the players with primer
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All my album photos, since the photo Bucket disaster, are open access on Imgur, and I shall start the bigger blog soon.

Hope this might have been of some interest?

More soon?

regards

Steve H
 
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D

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Blimey, where did this all come from Steve? Some great looking stuff there too - very neat and tidily done. More please.
 

SteveH

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I tend to tinker, Peter,
A little at a time, 30 minutes here an hour there, then take photos too.
I'll add the Pz IA Breda, StuG III G 10:5, SturmTiger prototype and L4500 Maultier, as part of the full Dunkelgelb blog, later this week.
Should be fun
Regards
Steve H
 

Steve Jones

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You have been busy Steve. Thanks for letting us in on your bench work. Looking forward to seeing the next update.
 

SteveH

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Thanks chaps

A little more as this is front and center until I get my head around the 14-18 build

decals on and a little chipping A'la too much hairspray,

The first layer of pigments to get a base and texture on the tub and wheels

It is a on off, wash, pigment and chip process, I have to rustle up some baggage too, as the kit came with nothing

I have a Pz III stowage set somewhere in the attic, but no spare tracks or spare wheels!

Time to order a cheap donor from E-Bay, hopefully.

There are occasionally built kits, which will do for bits

I am hoping for a recently arrived and just getting weathered in look, not a completely battered and bruised ;)

Where we are so far
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More soon

Regards

Steve H
 
D

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Nice work that man, and good to see a clean and organised work space - I can only dream.
 

SteveH

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Evening

You should see my desk at the moment, but it will have to wait for better light

Pigment for the running gear
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Same kit, different lighting
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Start of the weathering journey, no more chipping as I think its enough?

More soon

Regards

Steve H
 

JR

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Steve.
Just catching up, yes that chipping looks enough.
I did smile at the box lid. " even the box comes weathered. " came to mind.
Will take a seat at the back .
John
 

SteveH

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Evening one and all

Tidy Peter?

The state of my desk after the weekend

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A little update

Tracks on and different lighting, again

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Time to think about the 14-18 GB inbetween washes and weathering

More soon?

Regards

Steve H
 

Si Benson

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That’s a beauty Steve...I’d be really happy with that :smiling4:
Si
 
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Fantastic work Steve. Looks great under both types of lighting (which certainly isn't the case with my own stuff). And that desk still looks pretty neat to me!
 
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JR

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Nice. Steve.
You'll never get into the Tidy Bench Club, along with many more of us. I work most of the time in a complete mess, only tidying up when I fail to find things.

John
 

SteveH

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Nice. Steve.
You'll never get into the Tidy Bench Club, along with many more of us. I work most of the time in a complete mess, only tidying up when I fail to find things.John

SNAP:smiling4:
 
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Jim R

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Hi Steve
Someone's been busy. Great builds. Paint work looks good. The use of pigments on the running gear is particularly effective.
Jim
 

Snowman

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Excellent work!!:thumb2:
 

Steve Jones

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Nice to see the hatches open. This always adds interest to a model. Nice work with the pigments. Nice to see the bench in a well used state:cool:
 

SteveH

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Thanks everyone,

Much appreciated, and a little update, as I shall park this one for awhile so I can get onto some of the other projects and the 14-18 GB.

The light isn't good so it might not seem like there has been much progress but several layers of washes,
the accessories base coated and some pigments to even out the finish.

I need to source "stuff" which I have somewhere in the attic.

I have "remembered" I have plenty of wheels as I have the bases of 2 Imperial Stug A's which I kit bashed!
One went onto a MiniArt Pz III B for a Stug "0" and the other was put on a Dragon Pz III G for as an alternative Stug A, Alkett production, if I remember!
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Having seem the photos, they are pants, it does look better in the flesh.
I'll have to redo them in better light!

Found the Stugs!
"0"
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Alternative A
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Back to my other stuff for the next few months

Regards

Steve H
 
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