Pzkpfw III Ausf L in 1:72 scale

Been a while since I last posted anything because I was working on two projects simultaneously. One of them is now ready and is a Panzer III Ausf L from Dragon in 1:72 scale on a resin diorama base from Black Dog. According to Dragon's leaflet, it bears the colours and markings of Panzer Regiment 33, 9th Panzer Division, South Russia in Spring of 1942.

Since the base is moulded with deep-set AFV track markings I thought to give a fresh mud look - the kind after all the thick Russian winter snow has melted away and leaves a quagmire behind. So I dished out a generous splashing of AK Fresh Mud weathering on the underside, wheels, lower hull, and the road base itself. Ak's product remains glossy to give that wet, muddy impression so I tried to avoid hitting the muddy areas with the final matt coating as much as possible to retain their wetter look. The kit itself was built straight from the box and I only modified the turret handes by replacing them with 0.3mm wire. The extra tarpaulins, sandbags, oil drum and spare tracks are from Black Dog and I feel they give a bit more 'oomph' to the end result. The resin base is an excellent rendition of a Russian hovel. I wanted to give a plain, weary look with wooden planks weathered by the elements.

I enjoyed making this one and hope you will enjoy the pics as well. Until next time!

Forgot to paint the tail light!

Turned around to view starboard side

Airfix DAK Pzkpfw IVF2 diorama in 1:72 scale

I am by no means a WW2 armour expert, having only a slightly above-average knowledge of the weapons used in that conflict but my favourite AFV by far is the German Panzer IV. I don't know why but I find the lines of that tank captivating. So it came as no surprise that once I was in modelling mode, I got the urge to dig deep in my war chest and fish out an old Airfix 1:72 scale specimen bought on ebay that had been lying there for years. Having added on extra equipment from Czech company Black Dog, I also decided to try out some weathering and rusting techniques (using very easy-to-apply AK Pigments) on the model and fit it into a diorama base to enhance appearance.  I discovered a great Dutch company called Diodump (www.diodump.com) who supply ready made high quality diorama bases. Great service too. Thoroughly recommended!! Found a set of detailed (but expensive) Nikolai resin 20mm Arab civilian figures and got a box of excellent German multipose tank personnel from Preiser and voila'! - a Deutsche Afrika Korps Panzerkampfwagen IV F2 rolling into a North African village looking something like this:

I tried to go for that dry dusty look normally associated with desert terrain, giving particular attention to lay heavy dust on the tank's tracks, wheels, and rollers as well as on the civilians (particularly their lower limbs) and on the building's surfaces.  I yellowed the tips of the palm leaves to give them that partly-wilted, thirsty look (a sight we are very much accustomed to in my native Malta). I particularly enjoyed painting in the tiles in alternating colours on the building rooftop giving that distinct Arab look. Thanks for visiting!