Thanks you guys!! :D The comments mean a lot as a beginning modeler (somewhat). Even though I've finished a couple and worked on building several more, I feel like a puppy compared to a dog. Even if the puppy is fully grown in size, it has yet to mature and reach "doghood."
I got a small update. I primed everything, but with difficulty. I have to prime outside because my brother doesn't want it in the house (fair enough) and the garage is full. It was very windy yesterday thanks to a big storm that rolled in. I was in the middle of priming when it began to drizzle rain!! Some drops got on the wet primer, forming bubbles and whatnot. Even the parts that weren't rained on had bubbles or bumps, probably due to the wind or humidity. This is Florida after all. :eek:
Everything all together.
Here is a close up on the areas I had to sand down due to bumps and bubbles. Thankfully the side skirts didn't have much wrong with them in the way of bubbles.
The texture issues that persisted will be eliminated by the time I paint everything, I think. The gun barrel had a massive buildup on the end that has been nicely sanded down too, but it's hard to see in pictures because of the curvature of the barrel and the lighting.
So now my plans for camo schemes... I've decided to go with an octopus scheme, with a base coat of black to darken all the colors I will put on top. Here's my logic behind this: The octopus pattern was slated to be introduced in June of 1945. However only ONE vehicle was ever painted with it by war's end, that being the famous King Tiger of Kassel. It was built with parts presumably lying around the factory, and sent out to defend that very factory. Images are on Google, just search "Kassel King Tiger" if you aren't familiar with that tank.
Anyways, since Panther IIs "would" have gone into production in late 1945 or early 1946, it makes sense that this one be painted in octopus camo. HOWEVER, mine will differ from the Kassel KT in that I will paint it in a tricolor octopus pattern, not the bicolor as seen in the photos of that tank. I think I'll go with green base coat, then stripes/curves of yellow and red-brown, with green circles. I had two other ideas on how to make it a tricolor scheme, but ask if you want to hear them. c:
That's all for now, I will work on this as much as I can! I LOVE this tank! :p