The waffle pattern found on this vehicle was a plaster paste used to keep magnetic explosives from sticking to the tank. It is called 'Zimmerit' and can be found on many ov the tanks serving in the German Army from August 1943 to September 1944.
I simulated road wheel damage by filing on the rubber portions.
I ended up free hand airbrushing the tire rubber and after the gray dry-brush, they turned out OK.
I added some Plastruct railing to the engine deck for stowage. Not thinking about the spare road wheels, I had to modify their mounting.
This vehicle is not weathered, so if it looks "clean", that's why.
Using the Plastruct railing works out nice because everything is "squared up" already. I think in the future, I may add weld marks to the joints.
Here you can see the adjusted position of the spare wheels.
I used Plastruct pre-formed railing on the engine deck to help facilitate stowage.
This kit comes with a fighting compartment interior, and with the hatches open, much of it can be seen. I just painted it without adding details.
Gunzi Sangyo's Mr. Decal Softer, allows decals to conform to the surface detail. This cross looks like it was painted on.
A detail shot of the pioneer stowage.
After installing the railing, I had to modify the placement of the spare wheels.
I started this finish by spot airbrushing Tamiya flat white.
Afterward, I mixed some Doc O'Brien's white and grey weathering pastels with 50% rubbing alcohol. Cake it on good, but go light around the markings.
Here is a nice shot of the stowage. The crate at the rear is a casting from an original sculpt I made. The barbed wire is also scratch made using a technique posted on this site. The other crates and the rolls are from Custom Dioramics, Verlinden and Legends respectively. The bicycle is from Tamiya and the poncho is from Hudson and Allen. I used "Beading String" to lash it all down. Beading string does not fray when cut, and has no "fuzzy" threads to belie it's scale, and comes in several colors.
Let the white wash run into the crevasses.
After the white wash dries, use a stiff brush to take off the bulk of the "chalk". This allows the base camo scheme to show threw.
An MG42 is used from the spares box. It replaces the MG34 supplied in the kit.
Pin striping tape is used for the binocular strap.
Tamiya's bicycle. Bikes are often seen strapped to the backs of tanks on both sides of the war. This particular cycle was in civilian use, shiny green when new, rust has started to take it's toll.
For the "tarp", I glued the front edge to the railing, but everything else is secured with the string.
I printed out this SS patterned poncho on adhesive paper. It was then attached to a sheet of heavy tin foil and the holes punched out with a punch and die set. The roll of barbed wire is "hand spun". It's tedious work, but looks and FEELS like the real thing.
MIG Pigments and static grass are mixed with 50% rubbing alcohol. Brush off what you don't like after it dries.
Tasca jerry cans tied together with thin masking tape.
No German armored vehicle would be complete without a bucket hanging off the back! This was in my spares box, and is REALLY old. I think it was from a Testors kit.
After placing the stowage, it looked "warmer" than the rest of the vehicle. I decided to place another coating of Doc O'Brien's power and alcohol in it. Doing this caused some of the camo pattern to smudge, but I feel is look like ice build up.
