Panther Ausf. F - A Prototype for the Darkness

The Panther Ausf. F (Sd.Kfz. 171) represents one of Germany’s late-war attempts to regain battlefield advantage through technology rather than numbers. Developed during the final months of World War II, the Ausf. F incorporated plans for an improved Schmalturm turret and experimental infrared night-fighting equipment intended to allow armored units to operate effectively after dark.

This particular vehicle never saw combat. It was discovered by Allied forces while still undergoing night-fighting trials, equipped with infrared vision devices, subdued markings, and finished in a solid off-black scheme intended to reduce visibility under low-light conditions. With the collapse of Germany’s industrial and logistical infrastructure, the program was abandoned before it could be fielded operationally.

The weathering on this model reflects a vehicle left unused and exposed after the war—rust staining, accumulated dust, and rain streaking dominate the finish. Following its capture, the Panther was reportedly used for Allied ballistic testing before ultimately being scrapped, bringing an end to one of Germany’s more ambitious late-war armored concepts.

This build focuses on atmosphere and narrative as much as accuracy, portraying the Panther Ausf. F not as a frontline combat vehicle, but as a technological dead end - an advanced machine overtaken by events before it could prove itself.

O-I - The Imperial Japanese Army’s Super-Heavy That Never Was

The O-I super-heavy tank represents one of Imperial Japan’s most ambitious armored concepts of the Second World War. Planned as a massive breakthrough vehicle weighing an estimated 150 tons, the O-I was intended to dominate fortified positions and counter increasingly heavy Allied armor. In reality, Japan’s limited industrial capacity, material shortages, and the changing nature of the war prevented the design from ever progressing beyond the planning and prototype stage.

This model is based on the Takom kit and was approached as a blank slate due to the speculative nature of the subject. Several modifications were added to enhance realism and narrative, including additional front plate armor, a rear crew telephone, a front track holder, and a replacement left-side skirt panel depicted in partially rusted primer, suggesting prolonged exposure to tropical operating conditions.

Weathering became the primary focus of the build, reflecting a vehicle that might have existed in limited trials or limited active service. Each rivet was individually hand-shaded to emphasize the tank’s massive construction, and the headlight lenses were scratch-built from resin. The finish combines heavy wear, grime, and subtle corrosion to convey the sheer scale and impracticality of the design.

The O-I remains a fascinating example of wartime ambition outpacing reality - a super-heavy tank conceived during a period when Japan no longer possessed the resources to bring such an idea to life.

 

The Char B1 - Powerful, Complex, and Overtaken by Events

The French Char B1 was one of the most heavily armed and armored tanks in service at the outbreak of World War II. Designed as a breakthrough tank, it combined thick armor with a unique dual-gun layout: a hull-mounted 75mm gun for bunker busting and a turret-mounted 47mm anti-tank gun. On paper, the Char B1 was more than capable of defeating contemporary German armor and often proved nearly impervious to early Panzer weapons.

In practice, the tank’s complexity worked against it. Limited range, high fuel consumption, one-man turret workload, and poor tactical coordination reduced its effectiveness during the 1940 campaign. Despite these shortcomings, individual Char B1 crews achieved remarkable success, with several documented engagements where single tanks knocked out multiple enemy vehicles before being disabled or abandoned.

This 1/35 scale Tamiya Char B1 was finished using acrylics and oil paints, with weathering kept grounded and realistic to reflect a vehicle operating during the opening phase of the war. Subtle wear, accumulated dirt, and restrained chipping were applied to emphasize the tank’s heavy construction without overstating battlefield damage. The build focuses on form and mass, highlighting the Char B1’s distinctive shape and imposing presence.

The Char B1 remains a fascinating example of a technically impressive tank whose design philosophy was overtaken by the realities of modern, fast-moving armored warfare.

German E-100 - Exploring the Krupp Center Turret Concept

The German E-100 super-heavy tank fitted with a Krupp-designed center-mounted turret represents one of several late-war and postwar conceptual directions explored for Germany’s E-series heavy armor program. While the E-100 chassis itself progressed to limited construction, turret configurations varied widely on paper, with centralized turret layouts proposed to simplify production and improve weight distribution.

This 1/35 scale model depicts a “what-if” interpretation of the E-100 using a center-mounted Krupp turret. The build incorporates scratch-built infrared equipment on the turret roof along with a remote-controlled Goliath tracked mine carried on a cradle and winch assembly. Weathering was completed using acrylics, oil washes, clay-based washes, and selective pigment work to convey a vehicle that saw active combat.

WW2 Italian Lancia Armored Car Balkans 1943

The Lancia armored car served the Italian Army primarily in secondary theaters such as the Balkans, where terrain, climate, and anti-partisan operations shaped both its use and appearance. By 1943, many Italian vehicles operating in the region carried locally applied camouflage patterns intended to break up their outlines in rocky, arid landscapes rather than formal parade-ground finishes.

This model is finished in acrylics with light oil washes to reflect a relatively dry operating environment. Weathering is restrained, focusing on dust accumulation and subtle wear rather than heavy combat damage, consistent with a vehicle used for patrol and security duties rather than frontline armored combat.

 

United States M3 Lee - A Stopgap Tank for a Global War

The United States M3 Lee was an interim tank design developed under urgent wartime conditions, intended to place a powerful 75mm gun into service before a fully turreted solution could be fielded. Produced by five different manufacturers, a total of 6,258 M3 Lees were built and saw service across multiple theaters, most notably in North Africa during the early stages of U.S. involvement in World War II.

This model represents my first olive drab U.S. armored vehicle and required a slightly different approach to weathering compared to European camouflage schemes. The finish emphasizes subtle tonal variation, restrained wear, and accumulated grime rather than heavy chipping, reflecting the practical, utilitarian nature of early-war American armor.

Queen of the Desert: The British Matilda II

The British Matilda II infantry tank depicted here represents service in the North African theater, where its heavy armor proved highly effective during the early stages of the desert war. Although slow and lightly armed by later standards, the Matilda’s protection made it exceptionally resilient against contemporary Axis anti-tank weapons.

This build is based on the Tamiya kit and was finished primarily with acrylic paints, using a deliberately restrained weathering approach. Only two weathering media were employed: VMS Black Steel pigment for subtle metallic wear and Tamiya panel liner to enhance surface detail. The result emphasizes accumulated dust, operational grime, and tonal variation appropriate to desert conditions without overwhelming the underlying paintwork.

Where Armor Was Born: Britain’s Mk.I Tank of the Great War

The British Mk.I was the first tank ever used in combat, marking the birth of armored warfare during World War One. Developed in 1915 and first deployed in 1916, it was designed specifically to break the deadlock of trench warfare by crossing barbed wire, trenches, and shell-torn ground that had stalled infantry advances.

This model represents the “Male” version of the Mk.I, armed with two 6-pounder guns mounted in side sponsons along with multiple Hotchkiss machine guns for close defense. Its distinctive rhomboid shape and track layout allowed it to climb obstacles that were otherwise impassable on the Western Front.

The kit is Takom’s 1/35 scale Mk.I and was finished using acrylics with restrained weathering to reflect the harsh operational conditions of early armored warfare. Mud, wear, and surface texture were emphasized to capture the crude, experimental nature of these pioneering machines and their place at the very beginning of tank history.