Building the Dragon 1:6 Scale German Panzer IIB Kit

[tmanthegreat]

I've sort of gone off the deep end and have purchased one of the Dragon 1:6 scale Panzer IIB tank kits (should be getting it in a week or so). I'm looking forward to the challenge of building something massive and will document my progress. I plan to keep things simple overall, but we'll see. Tanks aren't that hard to build, right?

Anyways, I'm planning to paint the tank in the early war all-gray scheme and want to use an enamel spray to cover it as much as possible for ease of painting.

My question is: which shade of gray would be the best shade of gray to use?

Either the Tamiya German Gray or the similar Testors Panzer gray look a tad too dark... Then again, they may be the most accurate. The gray seen on the fully built Dragon Panzer II seems to be lighter, almost a gunship gray type paint, depending on the picture. I've provided a couple pictures (with different lighting) for reference.

Many thanks for the help

[pickelhaube]

This is an easy one.

Go to O'Reillys and get the Repli-color brand hot rod gray primer.

Primer and paint all in one

Perfecto !!!

[grunt1]

I've found that the Tamiya German Gray varies a lot based on how you apply it (brush versus airbrush) and the primer used (light or dark gray). When I use a light gray primer I end up having to mix some black in so I generally just use the dark gray automotive primer then hit it with Tamiya.

[tmanthegreat]

Thanks for the responses and the help!

Pickel, is the Repli-color brand hot rod gray primer at O'Reilly's a spray? If so, that appears quite close to the color I'm looking for! My local hobbytown is fresh out of the Tamiya spray and I'm figuring I'll need at least four cans...

Grunt1, I know what you mean with the Tamiya German Gray. When I built my example of Pickelhaube's SDK-222 kit, I got different shades depending on whether I used the acrylic or the spray - I wound up using both with the result that it really came out just a tad too dark... On the Dragon Panzer II, I am considering the use of a dark-based primer with a lighter gray over the top. A similar technique was used to great effect for weathering by boardmember Pizzaguy when painting his Pickelhaube T-34 kit.

Choices, choices

[pickelhaube]

Thanks for the responses and the help!

Pickel, is the Repli-color brand hot rod gray primer at O'Reilly's a spray? If so, that appears quite close to the color I'm looking for! My local hobbytown is fresh out of the Tamiya spray and I'm figuring I'll need at least four cans...

Grunt1, I know what you mean with the Tamiya German Gray. When I built my example of Pickelhaube's SDK-222 kit, I got different shades depending on whether I used the acrylic or the spray - I wound up using both with the result that it really came out just a tad too dark... On the Dragon Panzer II, I am considering the use of a dark-based primer with a lighter gray over the top. A similar technique was used to great effect for weathering by boardmember Pizzaguy when painting his Pickelhaube T-34 kit.

Choices, choices

Yes it is a rattle can.

No mixing

[flyboy_fx]

Testors panzer grey is very nice also. Comes in a rattle can.

[Jnewboy]

I hope someone makes a Sig 33 out of that Panzer II in 1/6 scale

[tmanthegreat]

The Panzer II kit arrived yesterday... The box is nearly the size of the 21c 1:6 Stuart box and there are parts galore! Actually more than I was expecting, but not something out of my skill level by any means - just a big model It will be quite a detailed model when complete, with a near full interior, working tracks, hatches. Off to the hobbystore today to buy out their stock of German field gray paint.

I know there are whole communities of 1:6 tank builders, but has anyone around here attempted anything like this? Pictures to follow.

This will be really fun build

[Threetoughtrucks]

The Pz II kit is not for the faint of heart. A few guys on SAG are building the Pz II. I have the pre built one and bought the kit for a project or investment, whichever comes first.

When I opened the box and saw the half a million parts, I stared at it for awhile, then quietly closed and resealed the box, and put it in my garage storage, next to my unbuilt 1/6 M-10 kit and the unbuilt 1/6 Opel kit and next to the unbuilt 1/6 M4 HST kit (it goes on a Stuart so at least the running gear is no problem). Now, I'm collecting parts for my 1/6 General Patton Scout Car and just finished two days of picture searching.......

When will I ever learn, maybe I'll find another scale.... 1/4 looks nice.

TTT

[pickelhaube]

The Pz II kit is not for the faint of heart. A few guys on SAG are building the Pz II. I have the pre built one and bought the kit for a project or investment, whichever comes first.

When I opened the box and saw the half a million parts, I stared at it for awhile, then quietly closed and resealed the box, and put it in my garage storage, next to my unbuilt 1/6 M-10 kit and the unbuilt 1/6 Opel kit and next to the unbuilt 1/6 M4 HST kit (it goes on a Stuart so at least the running gear is no problem). Now, I'm collecting parts for my 1/6 General Patton Scout Car and just finished two days of picture searching.......

When will I ever learn, maybe I'll find another scale.... 1/4 looks nice.

TTT

[tmanthegreat]

Yeah, the box reads over 750 parts... Kind of like building the tank from the ground up I'm watching my price tag and I've not come close to exceeding the $500 mark in terms of the kit, paints and other materials yet. The goal is not to as then it would have been cheaper to get the pre-built version.

Time might be another factor, lol. I spent a bit of time over the Labor Day holiday working on it and have the lower hull and chasis together now. Some parts have gone together flawlessly and other parts have been a pain. The fenders and rear wall of the hull had just a little warpage to them and were tough to get into the right position and to stay in place. Its funny what one has to build on this thing versus what one doesn't.

But again, fund build

[flyboy_fx]

I would love a PZIII, bet it would be $$$ though!!!!!

[tmanthegreat]

I would love a PZIII, bet it would be $$$ though!!!!!

Some of the items here are a bit out of my price range, but this site has some pretty cool 1:6 custom parts and AFV kits, including the aforementioned Panzer III (and IV, V, VI...) if you have the cash to spare

http://www.steeldragons.net/Germanparts.html

[pickelhaube]

What is the price dif between the kit and the complete tank ?

[B17Fortress]

PMHobby Craft just got a restock of 1/6 items, and with it was a few of the PzIIs, and I have to admit the box seemed pretty small. How big is the tank when built?

[Threetoughtrucks]

The Pz II is 30" long and about 13" high. Dragon wanted to make their first tank a small one at a reasonable price. If sales are good, I hear they may make another small piece (like a Bren gun carrier or WC-52?) before venturing into big tanks. It all depends on sales.

The Pz II kit is around $210 to $230, before shipping.
The built Pz II runs from $530 up to $750 (currently on eBay), also before $30-40 shipping.

The key as far as I'm concerned is to pre-order. You are gambling on a pig in a poke on a pre-order but you can't go too far wrong with Dragon. I paid $500 shipped for a built pre-order and $202 for a pre-order kit before shipping.



You can compare size to a one of my Scout Cars in the pic.

TTT