Project DAK Panzer III Ausf. L

So my first project for you is the Tamiya kit no. 35215 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. L Sd.Kfz.141/1 (phew....). This will be built and painted to represent a DAK tank, in just a straight Dunkelgrau color (no camo pattern). Please see a great video review of this kit by TacticalJackolope  here. Basically I am concentrating on a clean build, easy paint scheme with mild weathering. I will be adding the Tamiya photo etch set #35199 with adds grille covers and some side plates. For paint i will be using Ammo of Mig Gray surface primer, and the DAK color set. I also have ordered the Tracks and wheels set and the Tools color set, which I will use and review when they arrive. When it gets to weathering I will use AK Interactive Afica Dust effects and the DAK Weathering set.

Now let's see all (most) of the goodies!

In no particular order:

Tamiya 35215 Panzer 3 kit

Tamiya 35199 Photo etch set

Ammo of Mig A.Mig 2002 Gray surface primer

Ammo of Mig A.Mig 7102 D.A.K. color set

AK Interactive AK 022 Africa dust effects

AK Interactive AK 068 D.A.K. weathering set.

Box art

Photo etch set

Ammo primer and paint

AK Interactive goodies

See you next time when we get down to it!

Ok, so I am back with some pics of the sprues for our Tamiya Panzer 3 kit#35215

The "A" sprue

You get 2 of these sprues. Has the sprockets, road wheels, return rollers and idler wheels plus suspension arms, final drives and some on tank accessory holding equipment.

The "B" sprue

This one has the upper hull, some upper and lower hull pieces, some tools and extra armor pieces.

The "C" sprue

This sprue gives you the turret parts, the main gun and some hatches.

The "D" sprue

This one gives us the remaining add on armor, more tools and tow cables, the radio antenna holder and a figure.

Lower hull

Tracks

Vinyl/rubberish material. Not sure what they are made of but I will try to make them work.

Decals

These look very good, should look great on finished tank.

Here are some pics of what I have completed so far.

Wheels

Drive sprockets, Idlers, road wheels and return rollers cleaned up and put together.

Lower hull/suspension

On the front where the final drive attaches there is a large seam and gap that will need to be filled and sanded.

Exhaust before

Very bad pic due to reflection, but exhaust before......

and exhaust after some pin vise action. Did not look right as molded, but hey 1997 was a bit ago, so the kit shows a little bit of age.

Lower hull with exhaust and PE attached

Here we attached the exhaust and the PE vent. 1997 be damned!!! this kit has great molded on details!!

The suspension components attached

More great detail here

Final drives attached

Still need to fill that seam!!

Rear deck PE and hatches

Hatches covers and antenna holder

Front with extra armor

missing the hull MG but all of the front hull goodies are attached!

So after a small delay, I'm back at the Panzer 3!!! Got the turret done.

Gun with mantlet

Alot of detail that no one will see after it is installed in the turret.

Business end 

Hatch

More stuff no one will see

Turret

Ready for primer

Next time I will have some stuff primed!

Back with a very small update....still waiting on a couple of items to arrive.  

Got the tracks and some small stuff primed.

Where the metal meets the dirt

Top side of tracks

One of the spare track sets for the front hull.

A test of the primer on a spare road wheel

Wheels ready for primer

Return rollers

Hoping to get some more primed tonight (1/18/15)

So I did get some stuff primed, but then came down with the flu.......not fun. 

Return rollers, jack, pioneer tools and spare track.

Drive sprockets, idlers and road wheels.

Front of the turret.

Turret roof

Side of turret.

I am still very impressed with the Ammo primer. I added a couple drops of ammo thinner, and it airbrushes very easy. I am still waiting on the 2 Ammo paint sets so I can paint the tools, tracks and wheels. I should have the hull primed soon. (tonight?) then it is onto breaking out the DAK set from Ammo!!