Due to my lack of motivation during the last month I wasn't very productive.
But as it seems the motivation is coming back so I thought I should start with a nice simple kit.
I chose Armorscale's superb "Pantherstellung" (C48-001), my first 1/48-kit.
The kit itself contains 6 well casted resin parts, and an excellent turned metal barrel.
The construction was done in one day, I only replaced some broken parts with plastic sheet, added a few weld seams and rough steel surface on the turret sides and the Stahlunterstand.
I wanted the Stahlunterstand to have a rusty finish (although I'm not quite sure if this is realistic but well...) while the turret should be dark yellow with a camouflaged barrel (maybe "borrowed" from an old Panther tank).
Painting was done with Tamiya acrylics for the base coat, Vallejo acrylics for the chipping, oil colors and pigments were used for the weathering.
The Stahlunterstand's rusty finish was achieved with several layers of dark brown and orange followed by a layer of hairspray. Then I sprayed a thin layer of light grey onto it and removed parts of it again with a stiff brush and warm water. Oil colors were used for the rusty streaks on the sides and the dots on the top. After the oils dried completely I dusted the Stahlunterstand with the same pigments as the turret.
I think it's finished to about 95%, I still have to paint the periscope and make a few touch ups here and there, maybe I will also add a camouflage net to the barrel.
A small vignette will follow later, although I'm not the biggest fan of building vignettes I think the Pantherstellung definatly needs one.
I hope you like my first 1/48-experience and thanks for looking!
