Fiddlers Green

Hello and Happy New Year to everyone!

During the past year I've tried my hand at building about a dozen WW I aircraft models and found it to be quite relaxing (although I must admit to using harsh language on occasion to get some rather intricate parts to fit properly - lol).

I now have my sights set on building the Panzer Pz III -- anything I should be aware with regard to building hints?

I'm wondering if I need to reinforce the tread/bogie-wheel sections with stiff cardboard in order to properly support the treads.

Has anyone built this model, if so, can you offer any suggestions or tips?

Thanks in advance,
Willie

_________________
Everything should be made as simple as possible... but no simpler!
--Albert Einstein

Willie,

I haven't built this one, but I have built a few tanks.... Since you are not building the road wheels, what I would do is laminate a piece of card stock behind the large flat panels. This stiffens them up and makes them easier to work with, with less chance of collapse. I would do this on the hull also. I would also make some little bulkheads (for the want of a better name) or square tubes that I would glue between the tread and bogie sections to keep them a consistent distance apart.

It should be a fun build.

Good Luck,
Beard

_________________
More Scotch and stogies for my wingman!

Thanks, Beard.

I'll follow your advice regarding the reinforcement via stiffeners and bulkheads.

Again, thanks for the help.

Regards,
Willie

_________________
Everything should be made as simple as possible... but no simpler!
--Albert Einstein

Willie,

One other tip that may make it a little easier, the cardstock you laminate on the back of the pieces does not have to be the same size as the piece. I usually trace the piece and then cut the laminate about 1/8 the 3/16 inch smaller (all the way around) the glue it centered on the piece. This way you have room for the glue tabs and such to be glued to the original piece.

Beard

_________________
More Scotch and stogies for my wingman!

Great advice Beard on the reinforcing the paper. I have had to do with a few models. I never know going into a model which thickness of paper to use on model parts.
Another question I have is when sealing paper after printing the model out. What is a good spray to use and will that add any strength to the paper? I have a few different types of sprays and I have ask this question over on PM but the answers I sometimes get doesn't really answer my question.
When I was making tires for the Piper Cub I glued several pieces of card stock I had and cut a circle as close as I could then I placed the tire into my Dremel and sanded it down to the size the model called for. A hint I got from Willygoat. That really mad tire making a lot easier. wc

I'll be interested to see how your tank comes out. I've been thinking about using the same model and modding it extensively to fit a working tank chassis kit I have from Tamiya.

Waddy- I have found that the Krylon line of acrylic sprays work well. I have a matte clear and a gloss clear. 3-4 VERY light coats work very well. Just have to be careful spraying evenly and let the coats dry in between.

What Willy said Waddy, I use Krylon or Rustoleum.

Beard

_________________
More Scotch and stogies for my wingman!

Here are some photos of the Panzer Pz III.

Here are the parts and the stiffeners... I created a light cardstock by ironing two sheets of plastic wrap between two sheets of ordinary 20 lb printer paper for the model. The stiffeners (the white components) were cut from 110 lb cardstock.



Here is the finished model.

_________________
Everything should be made as simple as possible... but no simpler!
--Albert Einstein

Two more photos of the finished model ... I couldn't include them in my previous message -- too many files perhaps. Anyway, here they are:




This was the "regular" size model, which is about 1/48 scale.

Willie

_________________
Everything should be made as simple as possible... but no simpler!
--Albert Einstein

You did a beautiful job Willie.

Beard

_________________
More Scotch and stogies for my wingman!

Thanks, Beard.

Your suggestion regarding stiffeners in the "track/bogey" panels was really helpful.

I don't think they would have allowed me to wrap the tracks around them smoothly without buckling if I didn't reinforce them.

The added reinforcement around the turret area of the deck and hull proved to be a good idea as well.

I'll probably try the T-60 as my next tank project.

Willie

_________________
Everything should be made as simple as possible... but no simpler!
--Albert Einstein

Exhalant build of your Panzer tank Willie, it came real good. I look forward to your next tank and see your progress. Keep those photos coming. Thank you guys for the tips on spraying. I use that same company for sealing the prints but every time I go on there web site to see if anything new has been added it gets confusing to say the least. One spray I did pick was the UV one because I noticed the coloring of the Flying Gold Finch I'm working on had the yellow on the wings change from one another. It just seems like that do have a ton to pick from. Thanks again. Keep the models coming Willie. wc