"WIP winter Pz IIIs" Topic

Hi guys

I'm printing the Panzers for the 1/72 Dak project, we have a mix of Pz III G, J and Ls, and some Pz IV F1s, I'll be adding some Pz IV F2s soon, whilst I was at this I decided to make a start on my own Winter Heer project, which I will make units for that will cover 1941-44, I started with these 3 Pz IIIs, 2x Ls and a J (although, one of the Ls has a J turret just as a place holder until I print another L turret) with winterketten tracks, I've always wanted to do some winter tracked tanks but for whatever reason I have never bought any aftermarket tracks for that, these lovely winterketten tracks come with Counlane models Pz III L STL, and I just had to give them a go, and they turned out lovely, crew figures are AB and are just lose in the turret at the moment. I hate to interrupt the progress on my 21st Pz Div project, but I might just have to finish these 3 off first.

I have opened various hatches on the Dak panzers, unfortunately this was not an option that came with the Counlane files, only an open commanders hatch is an option, so if you plan on having other hatches open you'll need to do that in your favourite CAD software.
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Very impressive with the number. Is that one vehicle painted for North Africa and if so what paint did you use for it?

I like the color of plastic you used to produce them.

Does anyone know if the III's tracks were ever this wide? They are protruding beyond the fenders, perhaps 1/3 wider than in all photos I have seen.

Otherwise, great looking models!

GdeP

GdeP – Gunner wrote in his post that they were winterketten tracks. I had to look that up – were basically track extensions. Learn something new everyday.

The Allies used them too. Commonly seen on later war Shermans. Smaller and fragile, so usually quite a number were missing. Adding a spacer to shift the wheels away from the tank allowed them to be used on the inside as well.

Grousers were another winter feature, but, in model form, they appear more as hull and turret storage items than track fittings.

" Very impressive with the number. Is that one vehicle painted for North Africa and if so what paint did you use for "
Just an undercoat, Tamiya light sand.

" I like the color of plastic you used to produce them."
Yes, it's good, helps with pre shading, I undercoat my vehicles black when I paint, with the black resin I can skip that step.

" Does anyone know if the III's tracks were ever this wide? They are protruding beyond the fenders, perhaps 1/3 wider than in all photos I have seen.

Otherwise, great looking models!"
They are winterketten tracks, they were used in Russia during winter, to stop the Pz IIIs and IVs from sinking in the snow and mud.