Panzer III E to N (28mm)

My interest lies in France 1940, so after scouring the Internet I was delighted to find the Panzer III ausf E (3.7cm gun) in 28mm. BPM provides several options for the Panzer III and the website included several notes about each variant for clarity, which was helpful and reassuring. On receipt, I checked the length and width. Few things ruin my joy like unboxing a 28mm (1/56) model only to find that the manufacturer has sold me an oversized 1/48th. BPM's model was PERFECTLY to scale for 1/56th! This was my first 3D printed model and so I cautiously removed all of the supports. (One of them came already cleaned up, which was helpful. BPM has a video.) Like all preparation steps, here is where you will want to spend some time to remove all unwanted bits; it isn't difficult but it is tedious. Most of the undersides will be a bit rough but can safely be ignored. I spent a bit more time smoothing out the edges beneath the track skirts. The model itself is nicely detailed and has a generous supply of grooves, ridges, and small details. To bring these out, I started with black primer and then dry brushed on a grey main coat followed by a selective dose of Army Painter strong tone, finishing up with a lighter highlight coat. This was enough to bring out the textures and details to give the model depth. The tracks and suspension were pretty well detailed, though the vertical portion of the tracks at the very front lacks one or two links (probably due to the printing process) I just dry-brushed in some texture. If I were a fusspot, I could have used a bit of Green Stuff. The turret fits nicely and rotates smoothly. However, it does not come with an open cupola. Lately, I've been playing the "What a Tanker" rules by TooFatLardies and un/buttoned status is an important part of the game. I got around this by fabricating a new hatch (using an acrylic mold maker and some Green Stuff), drilling out the cupola, and then installing magnets to hold everything together. All in all, BPM provides a correctly-scaled, nicely detailed model at an affordable price. Excellent value! They were quick to respond to a follow-up email that I sent and I was entirely satisfied with my transaction. My impression is that they are passionate about getting the details right and that they care about what they produce. BPM has become one of my top go-to sources for miniatures.Craig Murray (6 May 2018, 16:16)