This is my first weekend painting and weathering session of the new year and I'm moving on a project I started around seven years ago! This will be a quick paint and weathering exercise on a kit already fully built and primed. This is one of four Flakpanzer IV variants that Dragon released. Kit 6342 was available in 2011 and labelled an Ausf G 'Early production'. Although as you might expect, the box is crammed full of sprues of which some are also marked Ausf H, the Aufbau moulding is an Ausf G so I would guess you could portray both an early and late Ausf G out of the box. However, zimmerit should be present if representing a post Sept 1943 vehicle. The instructions have you add the front and bow plate bolted additional armour.
Two early 12th SS field applications, one with just frontal flak gun armour
One of the first prototypes built on an Auf G hull
Ausf G hull without zimmerit. Notice the Notek light on the vehicle above and below
It's been a while, but I don’t recall any issues with construction. I did damage and remove areas of the track guards and I'm pretty sure the brass barrels are aftermarket. I also added a few parts from the spares bin to improve a few areas. Many Ausf G hulls were repaired and re-used to accommodate the Wirbelwind open turret, so it was highly likely that they were at least partly re-painted when construction had completed and before any camo was applied. I plan to ensure the Aufbau paint covering has a much older look than the turret. Dust layers will help in that department too.
Under construction in 2018
Although stored in a plastic storage box the first thing I did was to give it a good blast with an empty airbrush to remove any dust buildup. The slight sheen of the rattle can red oxide helped in this respect as any small particles had limited adhesion.
Tamiya rattle can red oxide primer
Always wanting to try new techniques and having never tried it, I first pre-shaded using Mr Surfacer 1000 Mahogany (dark brown base) to add depth to shadow areas. The exhaust muffler and spare track links were totally covered with the dark brown base and then the two darkest Lifecolor shades of their rust set was stippled on. Once cured, two fine coats of hairspray were added. Both the exhaust muffler and spare tracks then received a light airbrushed coat of Vallejo Track Primer followed by more hairspray. Tamiya Lacquer LP55 dark yellow was airbrushed as a Dunkelgelb base coat and then slightly modulated to lighten upper areas of the vehicle. Raised details were then brush painted with Vallejo Iraqi sand and buff and care of the hairspray layers, fine chips were made on edges and damaged areas. Another two fine coats of hairspray followed.
Two early 12th SS field applications, one with just frontal flak gun armour
One of the first prototypes built on an Auf G hull
Ausf G hull without zimmerit. Notice the Notek light on the vehicle above and below
It's been a while, but I don’t recall any issues with construction. I did damage and remove areas of the track guards and I'm pretty sure the brass barrels are aftermarket. I also added a few parts from the spares bin to improve a few areas. Many Ausf G hulls were repaired and re-used to accommodate the Wirbelwind open turret, so it was highly likely that they were at least partly re-painted when construction had completed and before any camo was applied. I plan to ensure the Aufbau paint covering has a much older look than the turret. Dust layers will help in that department too.
Under construction in 2018
Although stored in a plastic storage box the first thing I did was to give it a good blast with an empty airbrush to remove any dust buildup. The slight sheen of the rattle can red oxide helped in this respect as any small particles had limited adhesion.
Tamiya rattle can red oxide primer
Always wanting to try new techniques and having never tried it, I first pre-shaded using Mr Surfacer 1000 Mahogany (dark brown base) to add depth to shadow areas. The exhaust muffler and spare track links were totally covered with the dark brown base and then the two darkest Lifecolor shades of their rust set was stippled on. Once cured, two fine coats of hairspray were added. Both the exhaust muffler and spare tracks then received a light airbrushed coat of Vallejo Track Primer followed by more hairspray. Tamiya Lacquer LP55 dark yellow was airbrushed as a Dunkelgelb base coat and then slightly modulated to lighten upper areas of the vehicle. Raised details were then brush painted with Vallejo Iraqi sand and buff and care of the hairspray layers, fine chips were made on edges and damaged areas. Another two fine coats of hairspray followed.
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