B1 bis German Army - Kit Build Photos

This kit goes together really well, in fact it is one of the best engineered kits I have ever built. Everything just fits and is really clear how it should be done. As assembly isn't my favorite part, I really love this.  

The running gear is a bit of messing around. Attaching to the lower hull took a minute to figure out. Secret is to raise the road wheels up a bit (used a very thin sanding stick) and the hull drops right into place.  

 

 

It is in the temporary attachment phase (hence the tape) will likely finish assembly tomorrow and then decide on the route for tracks (have a Friul set, a ET Models resin set and Tamiya has individual tracks for this one. Going to take some thought on this and based on how good everything else has gone I may just use the kit parts. 

 

 

Need to pick a scheme. I think the French with the Star will be a later build (I have a couple of these). So Panzer Gray or Fall colors? Leave your choice in the comments. 

 

Lots of work done today. Many things buttoned up. A bit more to do on some fiddley bits. Decided against doing photoetch on it and doing the more difficult scheme. It has been a quick and enjoyable build to this point and don't want to screw it up.  

 

 

Also using the kit tracks. Individual links that build up pretty nice. 15 minutes worth of work putting them together.  

 

Everything in prettier in Primer! 

 

 

Top is Tamiya suggested color of the tracks. Bottom is the Lifecolor rust set with AK Dark Aluminum paint pen for the silver.
 

 

 

 

 

 

First coat of darker Panzer gray using Panzermeister36's formula. 

First coat of darker Panzer gray using Panzermeister36's formula. 

First coat of darker Panzer gray using Panzermeister36's formula. 

First coat of darker Panzer gray using Panzermeister36's formula. 

First coat of darker Panzer gray using Panzermeister36's formula. 

First coat of darker Panzer gray using Panzermeister36's formula. 

First coat of darker Panzer gray using Panzermeister36's formula. 

Lightened highlights added, ready for gloss coat and next stages of weathering. 

Lightened highlights added, ready for gloss coat and next stages of weathering. 

Lightened highlights added, ready for gloss coat and next stages of weathering. 

Lightened highlights added, ready for gloss coat and next stages of weathering. 

Lightened highlights added, ready for gloss coat and next stages of weathering. 

 

Bit of rust on the exhaust. Lots still left to do.
 

Some panel lines and staining.
 

 

 

Panel lines, oils and some other things done. On to chipping, painting tools and details etc. 

 

 

 

 

Just couldn't get behind the rust on the exhausts. Overcoated with AK Crusty Dark Rust and then speckled with Lifecolor various rusts to break it up a bit. Much happier now. Probably too longer to mask than to actually do the work. 

Just couldn't get behind the rust on the exhausts. Overcoated with AK Crusty Dark Rust and then speckled with Lifecolor various rusts to break it up a bit. Much happier now. Probably too longer to mask than to actually do the work. 

 

Demasked. Most all of the chipping is done beyond some of the silver on the running gear. Satin coated it in order to put decals on.  

 

 

 

Just a bit more work done. Decals on but need to be weathered, tow chains are on the back and attached. Treads off to the side waiting for the final painting to be done and a satin coat and a dull coat to finish it.  

 

 

 

So all that is left is some weathering and a flat coat. This has been a really fun build that I learned a good deal on. The Tamiya kit goes together really easily so not a ton of time was spent on the assembly. The color came out a bit bluer than I really wanted for a Panzer Gray. Followed Panzermeister36's formula and not 100% I would do that again. But overall, it looks like a Char B1 bis in captured German markings. I have two others that I will eventually build, one in a camo German marking and one that is French or possibly a Russian marked one, not sure, that is a ways down the road. This will be finished this weekend and work will resume on the Japanese Type 89 and I just fired up a Capture Ki-84 project. Next new armor project will be a Rye Models KV-1 followed by the gate guard from the French D-Day museum which is mostly rust.  

 

 

 

 

 

And with a little dust and some flat coat, calling it done!