21st Panzer Division Pz.Kpfw III Ausf M Build

Tim Bowman · Post by **Tim Bowman** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 3:43 pm

Hi Antony

Your turret looks excellent! Especially with the primer on it. Great job on the light texturing. How about just a piece of "L" shaped brass for the rain guard?

Your build looks great! The PIII is really starting to grow on me.

Regards
Tim

Antony Rowley · Post by **Antony Rowley** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:22 pm

Hi Tim,

Thanks alot

.

I thought of the brass but the round cover on the top has a rain guard around it as well which needs to be round. Also the cover over the doors is sloped at the ends not straight. I'll go to B & Q tomorrow (DIY store) to see what I could use.

Thanks Antony

Antony Rowley · Post by **Antony Rowley** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:16 pm

Just noticed a mistake

. I'd put the RHS doors on the wrong way round. Luckily not a big problem and now fixed

.

Thanks Antony

Steve Norris · Post by **Steve Norris** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:17 pm

Antony
Your right

. When i first saw your pictures i thought they looked wrong and had a quick look on Lee Sellers site were the door stops are on the other way round. I have now looked at some war time shots and you are quite correct in the positioning of the stops.
Lesson learned :-check the facts before making a statement.

See you soon

Steve

Antony Rowley · Post by **Antony Rowley** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:24 pm

Hi Steve,

No problem, if you hadn't mentioned the door stops I wouldn't have noticed I had the doors on the wrong way

. I would always prefer someone to tell me my errors now rather than waiting until I'd finished. It makes it easier to fix them now rather than later

.

Thanks Ant

Dave Dibb (Armorpax) · Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:36 pm

Hi Guys,

Reason for the door stops being that way is they are actually a sprung loaded ball that sits out the top of the cylinder. This allows the door to run over it and be held open. Without a good tug it won't swing back and crush your fingers!!!

Anthony if its not too much of a problem drop the commanders periscope guards out and turn them up the other way

Cheers

Dave

Antony Rowley · Post by **Antony Rowley** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:42 pm

Hi Dave,

Will do and thanks for the explanation as it didn't make much sense to me too.

Antony

Mike Kasputis · Post by **Mike Kasputis** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:08 am

Turret is looking good.

As Tim said you could use a piece of brass, just don't use a thick piece then you can make the slope on the ends.
Are you going top add the pistol port to the turret doors?
Here are 2 pictures showing the rain guard.

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For the signal port you may want to make it out of plastic, easier to work with.

[/img]

Antony Rowley · Post by **Antony Rowley** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:37 am

Hi Mike,

Great photo's, Thanks.

I spoke to Dave @ Armorpax and he said he maybe adding the pistol port to his parts to make but he was sure the later models didn't have this extra port. I must admit I have not seen a photo of one with it not installed so if he does make it I will certainly add them. I too thought it would be easier to work with plastic for the signal port. Thanks.

Thanks Antony

Dave Dibb (Armorpax) · Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:21 pm

Hi Anthony,

The pistol ports were deleted on late version Panzer IV's such as the J (which these were originally made for) but I am not sure they were ever deleted on Panzer III's. Will try and get these done soon.

Cheers

Dave

Antony Rowley · Post by **Antony Rowley** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:25 am

Hi Dave,

Great

. I'll have a pair there ready

. Thanks.

Antony

Antony Rowley · Post by **Antony Rowley** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 1:31 pm

Adding the rain guards over the turret doors and roof vent. Also turned the periscope guards round after Dave's advice. Thanks.

Decided in the end to use some aluminium conduit, cut and shaped to size.

Decided on 3 nuts as I've seen some photo's with 2, 3, 4 or even 5.

Roof vent rain guard made from lampshade rings. Perfect size too

Sloped the ends so the vent opens freely.

I'm pleased with the end result better than I thought they'd look

Next to start on the welds.

Thanks Antony

Dave Dibb (Armorpax) · Sat Jun 20, 2009 3:04 pm

Cracking job Antony, I'd better get on with those door ports for you

Cheers

Dave

Allan Richards · Post by **Allan Richards** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 8:00 pm

Anthony,

One could argue you have not followed the original basic build. Only joking the rain gutter looks really good and I like the texture you have on the turret.

Robert E Morey · Post by **Robert E Morey** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:09 pm

Nice Details Tony. For a minute I thought your turret pix were ones from the Aberdeen tank with the rust all cleaned off and re-primed. Your turret looks great, I am still amazed how nice the P3 model is stock or nearly so. Adding the details you have make it really pop. Fantastic.
Bob