I’ll make this Tamiya German type III tank. This kit is unusual in Tamiya, including photo-etched parts and a metal barrel. The illustration of the package is that the coloring seems cold, but we can choose a tank of the Afrika Korps, too.
The lower body is being assembled. There is no difficult part in this area.
It was a turret that could be assembled relatively quickly compared to modern Russian tanks built several times.
These are photo-etched parts of the grill. It is saved to be attached from the beginning. Many kits need to be purchased separately from other Tamiya kits.
(20-January-2019)
I don’t know the selection criteria of Tamiya, the proper use of the belt caterpillar, and the partially connected caterpillar. I think the type III tank is an item perfectly matched for the connected caterpillar. The backside of the belt caterpillar is well molded, and it seems not to be so bad.
It is a caterpillar for the late type of the III tank released from the AFV Club, which I had owned for several years. III tank can be used after J type; IV tank can be used from type G to H type. Or this caterpillar was seen in Hummel and Nashorn a lot. There are exceptions in maintenance on the way, so we may not need to worry too much.
These separately sold track parts must be detached from the runner.
The condition of the sag of the caterpillar was reproduced well. The direction should not be wrong…
(22-January-2019)
Well, the assembly was completed. I used Aber photo-etched clamps for the exterior accessories.
Because the inside is not much reproduced, the open hatch state is suitable for the leaning-out position crew set up.
This III N-type tank kit includes a metal gun barrel, and the rifling is molded inside the gun barrel.
The hatch on both sides of the turret and the round hatch on the top were changed to movable with metal wire loaded. It wasn’t easy.
(24-January-2019)
A tank soldier in a usual black uniform was attached.
This tank soldier is a signal pistol shooting pose.
There was another tank crew of the Afrika Korps with goggles and wearing an M43 field cap. I think this III type is the Afrika Korps tank at this stage. I tried to make both figures.
I just blew a surfacer.
(26-January-2019)
I’m now painting them in Vallejo Acrylic with a brush. The face is sprayed with Tamiya acrylic, fresh at the moment.
Generally, the uniform was over when I avoided painting the face. And only the detailed face painting is unfinished.
Tamiya’s painting instruction recommends the two-color camouflage of buff and 5:2 fresh, red-brown. I wonder whether an orthodox dark yellow or sandy yellow painting is better. I cannot imagine a tank color in North Africa.
I tried using the hair spray technique for the first time. When spraying too much, it isn’t easy to control the stage of peeling off. The rust became more like the destroyed vehicle as soon as the adjustment was overdoing.
(28-January-2019)
The Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. N was completed. Equipped with a 24 caliber 7.5 cm cannon, it had the main task of supporting infantry. Type-N is a model developed at the end of III tanks. As the IV tank changed the role of the primary vehicle of the antitank weapon, the III tank became insufficient in terms of performance and switched to a tank of infantry support.
There were many diversions from III tank type-J, type-L, and type-M. Around 700 tanks in total have been produced. Many tanks have been converted rather than built.
According to the instruction of Tamiya, it was also used in antitank combat by using the high-explosive antitank warhead beside grenades. One hundred fifty tanks of Type-N fought in the Kursk tank battle of 1943.
I like this photo taken from this point looking like the most realistic.
It might be incorrect to paint a fire extinguisher red. If it is in the tank, it’s OK; OVM will be too noticeable. But I painted it red and dropped the tone to dark color with a bit of weathering.
Rather than being orange, it became a dark yellow, like a little bluish. I didn’t mix cool colors…
Marking was chosen from Leningrad, Kursk, North Africa. This tank was in 1943, in North Africa, in the 8th Panzer Regiment, 15th Armored Division in Tunisia. The mark of the spade is characteristic. I painted it dark yellow, my preference.
This is a German tank crew wearing a regular black jacket.
And here is a tank crew of the Afrika Korps with a signal pistol. African corps uniforms are the same color for both infantry and tank soldiers. However, it seems that the fading condition of clothes is different between veterans and recruits. This may be similar to the field gray uniform of the Eastern Front.
Even as an Afrika Korps tank, I wonder if it suits the black uniform crew well.
I did not exchange it with the resin head, but maybe the face could be painted as well…
Even though they wrapped a scarf around the neck on the North African front, I heard that the whole body was full of tiny sand.
I have been making Panzerkampfwagen III twice; they were both dark yellow. My image of the Afrika Korps tank is only dark-yellow.
I made Tamiya’s tank kit after a long absence. It is effortless to build. It is lovely that there are two types of tank soldier figures. I had a good time.
(30-January-2019)
