Panther Paint and weathering

[Robert E Morey]

Tim,
The wash really makes the detail "pop". I love the close up of the wheels - the dark grease stains covered with dust are really tight. I like the (real)scraped paint from the rims too. Combined together the effects are truely stunning. Are you sure that's not Jacques' (real) Panther?

[Derek Attree]

Hi Tim
Its a big step weathering down a nice paint job and an even
bigger step doing the camo.
Yours is looking first class.
I did mine a while back and I like the result. I am now going over it with a faded out winter white wash effect that lets the camo come through.
My Panther was the first time I ever used an airbrush I have always used brushes or spray cans in the past.
If I could get pictures and had more time to post I would do so as I have lots.

I will have to do something about that.

Keep up the good work

Derek

[Tim Bowman]

Hi Derek. Would love to see photos of your new winter scheme. Bob, I wish it was Jacques'

Picture for Jeff

I seem to have somehow misplaced two schurtzen. But here's the nearly-complete right side with them installed.



Will be testing camo patterns/airbrush skills tomorrow.

Tim

[Jeffrey Goff]

Hi Tim, thanks for the pictures, it looks like you could have fun with these, if they just clip on, put the originals to one side, make a set out of mild steel, and distress them all you want, they will also rust quite quick and look authentic
regards
Jeff

[Tim Bowman]

Hi Jeff

I was thinking about making a set of skirts, side fenders and front fenders as a "banged up" set. Not sure I'll ever really get around to it though.

Well, here's the first go at the camo pattern. I wasn't feeling real great after the green but then when I started in on th ered/brown I was pretty happy. Looks like a convincing Normandy panther. Sorry about all the pictures. Now on to the balkan crosses and tactical numbers. Then weathering.

Green applied




Red/Brown applied














regards

Tim

[Dale jordan]

Tim this is very good . Put the air brush away . It's nice to see and model painted to scale ... In the past I have seen to many models paint like toys ... Tim are you going to do the white border around the black turret numbers ... Dale

[Tim Bowman]

Hi Dale

Thanks. I wasn't going to put the white border around the numbers as many examples of 1SS Panthers had them all black. I liked the simplicity of it and that you don't see plain black ones that often on models.. But now that I've seen it with the borders, I'm up in the air again. It does add some more interest.

They will be covered with spare links.





tim

[Dale jordan]

Hello Tim ... Either way will look Good . Tim I've used number 3' before on my Panther , And when I did some checking most German 3's where flat on there top .,.. Have you looked at this in your books . Dale

[Tim Bowman]

Checking through some reference, there are both round "3"s used and the flat style "3" you describe as well as blocky styles. Six out of twenty two illustrations of specific panther tanks with the #3 in their turret number were the "flat-top 3"

I'm actually not set on the number as I'm not doing a specific, actual tank I have reference on. I couldn't come up with one I liked yet so I just asked my five year old son to say a random three digit number and that's what he said.

Tim

[Antony Rowley]

Hi Tim,

Stunning so far. Love the camo pattern . Not too dark . Keep the photo's coming.

Thanks Antony

[Kent Wiik]

Tim I am deeply impressed by your paint job!
Absolutely first class and spot on a Normandy Panther look - I love it!

Also impressed how that tiny table can hold the Panther weight...

If you are aiming at a 1SS one I have reason to believe the big turret numbers was red outlined in white, at least for some company in that unit
(look at the well known befehlsPanther #R02)
But not sure as photos of confirmed 1SS Normandy Panther are rare and often seen with the spare tracks hanging and hiding the numbers. There are also reasons to believe that unit simply did not have other side numbers then the smaller ones at the mantle sides.
They did how ever have the small numbers also at the rear of the turret.

Here is a photo of the Panther seen at War and Peace last year numbered as a 1SS one.



To confuse you even more the 1SS had definitely black numbers outlined in white during the Ardennes.


I think you shall go for the white outline but if red or white numbers I leave up to you...

Cheers
Kent

[Tim Bowman]

Thanks Antony

Kent,

Thank you for the info. Looking at illustrations of Panthers from the unit(unfortunately only illustrations and from the Ardennes not Normandy) some have large numbers on turret and small on mantel both in all black. Others are black with white outline. Maybe mine was a trend setter the summer prior.

I'm assuming the large number would have been painted on prior to the field mod, track hangars and the mantel number applied after the larger one was obscured by spare links. Big assumption, I know.

I was planning on the smaller number, upper left rear turret. Slightly larger then in the photo you posted though.

Red numbers/white outline test



Although this does look very "Normandy", I'm leaning towards all black. I have some time to think about it while I do the crosses.

Tim

[Adrian Harris]

> Also impressed how that tiny table can hold the Panther weight...

I worry about that too, especially given the amount of track in contact with the table.

Almost as impressive a feat as the model itself

Stunning paint job Tim

Adrian.

[Tim Bowman]

Thanks Adrian.

As far as the table goes, don't worry the model's tracks are not contacting the table as the panther is balancing securely on top of two small soup cans. (not really)

Actually, it is sturdier then it looks.

[Robert E Morey]

Tim,
Colors are looking great, I concur with everyone else. Really nice execution on the whole paint/weathering. I like the black numbers.

Fantastic job.
Bob