Giving My Old Panzer II A New Life - Restoration, Repaint & Upgrade - Part 1

My friends, tonight we'll take a look at that one model everyone has in their display case - old, damaged (some parts are probably missing), covered in dust (real dust, not the "modelling" dust!) and overall just something you're not really proud of, but at the same time you don't want to throw it away. So why not give it another chance and restore & repaint it?
Next part: • Painting And Weatherin...
Final part: • Let's Paint Some Stowa...
Patreon: / nightshiftmodeller
Instagram: / nightshiftscalemodeller
Enjoying this type of content? Well, if you're new here, then don't be shy to subscribe and maybe even turn on notifications because I keep posting stuff like this every week!
Disclaimer: Most of the weathering products I use in my videos such as Ammo by Mig Jimenez, AK-Interactive, Wilder and VMS were sent to me for free, but with no obligations to promote them. I received a lot of them a long time ago, even before I started this channel. VMS is also one of my Patreon supporters. Being independent from big and exclusive sponsorship deals and showing you a wide variety of different brands and products was one of the founding ideas of this channel and I will always stand by this.
Music: Quincas Moreira - Scratch the Itch - KZbin Audio Library

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

The old one looked better tho

[@hendrikschultze9978]

:D

[@jacobhoekman6865]

Sad I don't have an airbrush.

[@douglascampbell9809]

I'm going to need to get a couple litters of that Clean Slate. I have about 100 armor kits and 500 miniatures that were under water from my basement flooding. (all Warhammer 40K) I've been putting off fixing the mess because of how much of a pain in the ass stripping models and minis is.

[@Snoopmasta]

Are you trolling yourself now? XD

[@jameslawrie3807]

Long way to go yet though. I wonder sometimes if I should clean off old kits and totally redo it exactly the same and compare effects as I (hopefully) get better in skills.

[@flyingscotsman9657]

who else remembers the 'stowagephobia'.........now it's the more the merrier!!

[@insomniacbritgaming1632]

I wish someone did decent stowage for german tanks in 1/100 scale in the UK

[@radimziegler7079]

@@insomniacbritgaming1632 Yeah... that´s probably not gonna happen, considering how small it would have to be.

[@insomniacbritgaming1632]

@@radimziegler7079 PSC does 15mm/1:100 stowage already, but there isn't enough variation... oh and BF provide some stowage with their models

[@randomcanadianeh1291]

Watching your videos is helping my recovery so much better. Keep em coming!

[@screwthebobbin]

The finished Panzer grey looks amazing

[@SimeonCogswell]

I think restoring your old model is really cool.

[@greedlike]

More like this please!

[@jameslawrie3807]

In Australia we can strip models down in Dettol, a disinfectant. It just needs to soak for 12 hours and then get cleaned under water.

[@dirtyd2316]

I e been using a lot of VMS products lately and I gotta say I really like them. Just wish more places carried it here in the states

[@allys537]

your restoration of a built armor model is way better than my from new armor models, as an aircraft modeler I want to make some armor but haven't yet, I'm learning a lot here.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Uncle Martin ,

[@babayfrommars7856]

Great result

[@chrisj0]

those weld details look great!

[@carolusrex4008]

I got a Panther A from tamyia and building the turret was a nightmare, the back plate of the turret didn’t fit properly without excessive sanding and I kid you but there was a sad face on the underside of the lower hull

[@BOT_Phoeba]

Maybe I should use these techniques to revive my M48A1 Patton and Centurion Mk 5/1. I built mine 10 years ago, when I was 13, and it really shows.

[@stephaniecandelaria7234]

You should make the takom 1: 35 scale konigstiger its rly neat! :)

[@OrinAdamthwaite]

Its looking better already, and it ain't even finished. Cheers.

[@warroomscale]

Really good job ❤️

[@nah_bro_really]

Man, that's amazing work. I'd love to see what you could do with Machinen Krieger!

[@fishnchips5826]

I would love to see you build an OIF/OEF vehicle 👀

[@jantimmer5558]

Great work. Finnished this a while ago. Didnt come out nearly as good tho.

[@PeteGay]

From the comments I would say you have new slogan for your brand t-shirt (front) NIGHTSHIFT (Back)_"Scale Modelling, doing pointless stuff so we can sleep better" :-)

[@jacobhoekman6865]

Plz update on the power armor. Thanks. Ps anybody that says save your old models are wrong.

[@tasketehimesama]

Amazing concept, you chance totally my expectations and I like it! Attention fixed

[@magicnorm2036]

Great work! I am new to modeling and I would like to know approximately how many % of White, Grey and thinner you use when post shading for the light, medium and dark. I understand that this is like a feeling for you, but for a novice, it is nice to have a approximation. Thanks.

[@Krzysztof_z_Bagien]

It looked better before!1!!!11!!!1!!1111!!1!11!! :D But more seriously - it's better to support your 3d prints where it won't be visible, eg. those helmets could have supports inside, this way you don't have to do anything if there are some support remains. Also, I found that pure ethanol is way better (and cheaper) for cleaning resin prints than aceton, and it doesn't smell that bad either.

[@eugenerudman]

Uncle Night Shift, do you know regular brake fluid also does a great job of removing paint from old kits?

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

It does! I've been using it a lot in the past. I didn't enjoy the model falling apart though.

[@alesstrem]

Dobro brate!!

[@gruntking111]

Beautiful work, would you be willing to make a USMC M88A2, as the Marines no longer have this vehicle

[@asparagus7014]

restoration channels: I found this very rusty brand new hot wheels that I rusted to the point that it looks like a kid digested it. Night Shift: my friend had a painted panzer 2 and got destroyed when I was getting it back from a show.

[@davidstrainsandlego]

I just finished painting my first model, and watching your channel makes me sad, : (

[@vernebeck8108]

Does that track blackening , from vsm have a strong oder?

[@efeyigit6766]

I recognized this bad boy from the blurred patreon thumbnail... real wehraboo hours

[@clm-lupin-njust5690]

Never noticed that you've got the capability to 3d print some small kit

[@somedude621]

Where can you get this new slate stuff?

[@daniilbordanov3361]

Hi, can you do on this diorama explosion effect! please =)

[@rexbow3799]

poggers

[@Modkits131]

Now everyone is going to ask, “can you please restore my model Nightshift”.

[@TheModelGuy]

"Can you restore my miniart T-34/85? It's still in the sprues" lol

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

tfw you realize we're all doing a reverse restoration of sorts. We take a squeaky clean model and mess it all up.

[@TheModelGuy]

@@NightShiftScaleModels or greatly improve a cheap kit. Your vids have been a heavy resource for my KV-2 build :)

[@sonnyd.6777]

Can you restore that beat up Tiger in Vimouter, Normandy?😀

[@samuelsocha8384]

@@NightShiftScaleModels can you pls build an fv4005? it's a British tank with a REALLY big gun lol

[@angusrendall2554]

The start result looked much better than anything I’ve made! 😂

[@ndewingful]

I know lol, I'm 27 and it's nuts he did that at 17!

[@gto1066]

Outstanding and mesmerising stuff.

[@burntbybrighteyes]

I just wanted to make the exact same comment.

[@blusoda0021]

Join the club

[@sausagefingers1272]

The damaged one was better in my opinion . But your renovation was incredible but would cost a fortune

[@Panzermeister36]

Yeah, the Friulmodel molds are very old now and they're getting very flashy and sloppy. They've also cut costs by only using half the molds for some sets (so you see the exposed wire on one side, rather than the wire being on the inside on both sides). Big sad. But now we have R-Model and many other good options.

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

This makes me big mad... at least these have the wires pointing towards the hull. I'll just stick with rubber bands from now on

[@Panzermeister36]

@@NightShiftScaleModels H E R E S Y

[@jacobkingsford5209]

@@NightShiftScaleModels get masterclub. I just made their KV tracks, and absolutely brilliant. Didn't have to drill out any hole, only about three were even bent, but I had so many spares I made add on track armour and still had leftover. The resin pins, fit perfectly, and very tough against chemicals, even lacquer thinner did nothing. And quite affordable (for metal tracks)

[@mikehufnagl8696]

Panzermeister36, hope school is going well for you. Missing your videos too! Both you and Night Shift get me back into modeling after 35 years. Both of you guys are very inspiring.

[@darronhedges5873]

Since Ryefield have invested in moulds for PzIII w\interior and a PE set,be a waste not making a stug kit,or range of them.

[@ryanbruner8928]

"doing pointless stuff so that we can sleep better",LOL, your sense of humor is one of the main reasons that I follow you...the insanely rad modelling does help though :)

[@EricWild]

I 1+ your post and saved the time from posting it again. Great line

[@conwayplays6610]

Panzer 2 electric Boogaloo

[@red-se2bx]

The type of weld on the side is just what we call a “corner weld.” Honestly very simple lol Edit: you’ve been enlightened by a welder.

[@asparagus7014]

all the weld patterns he made has a name?

[@jameslawrie3807]

@@asparagus7014 Welding is a full-on science. Every weld joint and pattern has a name and a method. Some welds are always only ever done downwards so the coin pattern will have the "scale shape" pointing down. Thin metal has different sorts of welds to thicker metals. Dissimilar metals can't be welded at all and you should fashion bolts and brackets for joints. Most online welding manuals have short descriptions of techniques and diagrams of how a weld should be made so you can easily follow their methods. If you're going to do field modifications that might have been done by unskilled welders you can just have little blobs around the joint that looks suitably dubious, this is how I intend to do some field-expedient bustle racks on my current project.

[@asparagus7014]

@@jameslawrie3807 wow, videos make it look easy but in reality it's actually very complicated.

[@MatthijsvanHalteren]

@@jameslawrie3807 to join some dissimilar metals like aluminium and steel you can use triclad, which is metal and aluminium "exploded" together. I used to work on a yacht shipyard were the hull is metal and the housing is aluminium and they use triclad bars to join the 2 with welding. Now I work as a TIG welder in a workshop which makes HVAC units for yachts and weld stainless steel pipes for said units. Very fun work to do and every 6 months I have to do a photoweld test to renew my photoweld certificate.

[@jameslawrie3807]

@@MatthijsvanHalteren Does triclad create oxidisation problems? I know I'm getting way off modelling here but that's fascinating, especially in a salt water environment.

[@plastikpanzerfactory6733]

Fantastic looking panzer II. Absolutely no one: Uncle Nightshift: let's make it better.

[@neilwilson5785]

Just the sight of those unassembled metal tracks filled me with dread.

[@republicf-105dthunderchief4]

Nightshift: Panzer II is good, Also Nightshift: But it can be better

[@localpanzer2775]

panzer 2, FUCK YEAH!

[@klubfumble8606]

My daughter loves your channel. Always on a Friday morning its " Can we watch Uncle Nightshift now?" lol . She also keeps saying "Ma Friends".....alot. Keep up the good work.

[@phillydcinematics2543]

The one dislike was from his friend who was mad that night shift removed the paint job

[@draxusdemos8266]

When you said it was a Tamiya panzer 2 I was wondering why my kit looked a lot different with the storage and gun barrel and stuff then I realized mine was really old and I mean 1970’s old lol

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

Yeah this is the newer Ausf A/B/C, you have the legendary F/G ancient kit, I built that one in the past!

[@jacobakana5649]

Same, I bought the f/g as a practice kit because it’s on Amazon for $15 usd. It was a lot of fun though!

[@mayakaini9472]

@@NightShiftScaleModels considering this model was released in 2008, and you were 17-18 years old by then, now you should be 30-31 years old, is it correct?

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

@@mayakaini9472 Yeah I'll become a 30 year old boomer in a few months :(

[@JrgPt96]

They either are still making it, or the stocks still haven't run out, because I remember I saw one on the shelves in my local hobby store before the lockdowns. and at something like a consistent €14, it was the first 1/35 kit I've bought.

[@rolandzuber2856]

"...but hey, that's the beauty of modelling - doing pointless stuff so we can sleep better." - You just made my day! 😄 Amazing video, inspires me to fix my Panzer III Ausf L I screwed painting job on. Thank you! 😉👍👌

[@tate_g]

The tracks turned out great. You don't get nearly the recognition, for the effort and attention to detail, that you deserve. Simply put, this is beautiful art!

[@tabe8850]

2:09 “modern technology from the future” 🤔

[@aaronblake8987]

8:42 looks like the world's weirdest edible arrangement.

[@jacobakana5649]

I have a LOT of models I want to restore. This is great to see! Nice work! Edit: I’m painting a panzer grey StuG III in a few days, this makes it a lot easier, thanks!

[@HappyDude1]

hey eum i want to re do my tank also its made out of metal can i use aceton to remove the paint ? its an rc tank 1/16 and the water paint from the airbrush is so fragile i think im going to use real army paint if anyone got any tips pls share :)

[@utkua.8474]

"Doing pointless stuff so we can sleep better" well said...

[@dirtpotato8788]

Woooow a redesign, I am so excited for the solider and the diorama

[@thelittlebird69]

After useing a airbrush doesn’t it make your hand sore. I was building a F-18 and after I used the airbrush it made my hand sore.

[@mansbergdahl5427]

Week 3 of geting ”Nihgt stift” to try ”revell” one more time. Please!

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

Everything needs time, I'm still recovering from the T-90!

[@Pickledog2005]

because you have a resin 3d printer, could you 3d print your own stowage?

[@Igzilee]

Now if only I could pick up a good Tamiya model for only 15-25 dollars

[@warrelics779]

Thanks for these videos

[@leutnantin408]

Hey night shift. Today I was looking for some interesting references for king tiger and I found one. The particular porsche king tiger is called "swedish king tiger" and has only markings of S2 I hope you will like it. Also I later found out that mark felton did a video about it.

[@joecoulson2904]

I'm in the process of making one in 1/48, it's quite a unique vehicle as it was a very early model with a few prototype upgrades

[@michaelmcclaryjr3752]

There is no such thing as a bad model kit all you have to do is make it better you can get parts for it to be better

[@Evelc67]

love the comment "doing pointless stuff so we can sleep better"

[@flying.models1136]

I've got some flashbacks to my recently finished mader 3. I used for the first time tamiya paints, because I saw that you are mixing all colors Individually. Well I bought 2 colors... White and panzer grey and I did something like you. And I'm feeling good now that I did everything right and it's the best model I've ever done! Thank you for your great videos they are helping me aaa lot!

[@WelderART]

Welder ? Present :) ......u doing it good :) xd

[@joshuahoffmann2913]

build a winter leopard 2a6 with a diorama

[@toby6326]

Never laughed so much that friul model track quiz laughing out loud 😂😂. Great work!!

[@sonnyd.6777]

those toy restoration vids? You noticed that too, eh?

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

Some of them are really excellent. Well worth a few wasted hours.

[@bryanmatthews8248]

I was so happy to see you doing a panzer grey tank. Mind blowing how great this looks with only 2 tamiya colors.

[@JedenSiedemDwa]

Looks very good! Much better than previous. And all my models, of course... ;)

[@stefanrobinson3819]

rescuing badly painted ebay models could get you some good views

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

Night Shift is such a perfectionist he would want to strip the model and then disassemble it into its component parts.

[@stefanrobinson3819]

@@sirrathersplendid4825 i suppose most poorly pained ones would more likely be cheap lower quality kits as well... since nobody who isn't good at painting is gonna spend £50+ on a kit.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

@@stefanrobinson3819 - I dunno. My younger brother got a hugely expensive model car for his 10th birthday. It was beyond him, so I offered to do it - at age 12. Needless to say I ruined it.

[@benward5732]

"It looked better before" ;) Seriously good job and as ever I impatiently await the next video

[@nickbutler7935]

Nice job so far Martin. I am a fan of 'Clean Slate', it's saved my butt many a time. I watched the latest release from LPJ and it was nice to see your battle damage technique applied to the KV1, and favourable mentions of your channel. Nice to see how we still learn from each other. Looking forward to part 2. Cheers, and stay safe.

[@Absaalookemensch]

The obligatory bucket because no German WWII tank model is authentic without it. Great job.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

I’ve only ever seen a few original photos of German tanks carrying hanging buckets. Mind you, most photos don’t show the rear of the tank.

[@Absaalookemensch]

@@sirrathersplendid4825 Any German tank without a bucket hanging from the back was an imposter.

[@justinlee864]

Hi Uncle Night Shift! Can you build the 1/16 Takom Panzer 1 ausf. A? I would love to see a large scale build like that!

[@jasemac5391]

Awesome work as always my Brother 👍🏻🇦🇺 would you consider building a WW2 USMC Sherman tank in the Pacific ;)

[@ZAKU-GD]

I just bought a Tamiya 1/48 crocodile Churchill tank kit at my local hobby for 20 bucks nice tank project to keep me busy, soo bored when your waiting to start on a 1/8 scratch build custom modern rc tank. The "waiting" of real hobbyists struggle is DAMN REAL!! =/ #waiting also love watching your vids while i model my tanks, keeps me company sire

[@brittonshinn9939]

Quick question Martin, what PSI are you using for your Tamiya acrylics? I think you are at roughly 1:1 paint to thinner. I ask because I can't seem to get things right (thinner & PSI wise) when it comes to Tamiya acrylics - but so many people love them...Finally, love your content. A must watch for any AFV modeler. Cheers!

[@gwiazdapioun2127]

I have one important thing to say about VMS Clean Slate if anyone would like to use it: it eats right through Tamiya Putty. I have a 1/72 scale T-34 and I decided to re-do the paintjob, because this was my first attempt at painting something with a new airbrush and compressor after a long while, and in some places the paint layer (Mr Surfacer Black and Ammo MiG modulation set for Russian 4BO) was way too thick. Before painting it though, I applied thinned Tamiya Putty to make the rolled steel texture on the hull, and cast stell on the turret. So after I soak the model with Clean Slate, after a couple of minutes and a bit of work with the toothbrush, the paint was gone, but so was the putty I used for the hull texture. Sadly, I cannot restore it anymore, because all the handles and stowage are now in place and would make it impossible to sand the texture. Glad I didn't start with the turret, because I put way more effort in that cast texture and weld lines...

[@timothywood4402]

Awesome job Uncle.Really like your 3D printing...you thinking on selling small batches of items ??? Hint-hint..

[@tomaszkwiatkowski4163]

Dear Mr. Martin aka Night Shift , maybe one day you can show us how to make completely and perfectly HASEGAWA Operation Omega ? Plizzzz

[@maiconwerplotz7206]

Finally some panzer gray!

[@gousmc1983]

It's a single fillet edge joint weld

[@TheQueer23]

I have a challenge if you want something new. make a M4 Tipo IC from scratch using a M4 kit and a M4A1 kit for the hull, but use the normal 75mm turret to make the 17 pounder turret. I think it would be fun to make one, but I don't have the supplies. could you try?

[@anderty4088]

Actually, suddenly I want to know, what is your experience painting skirmish or wargame miniatures? Like Infinity (the game) soldiers or, perhaps?

[@aaronmoore7674]

Obviously finish this series first, but ever since your video showing off your finished/past models, I've been wanting you to paint that Object 279. Maybe just an idea for your next series?

[@daveabobda6239]

Hi night shift, I don't know if you do many Aircraft, but I was wondering if you could do the Meng Me 163 "Komet"?

[@pmp0giboy]

Hi Nightshift. I'm sorry I did not catch the model of the 3d printer. May I ask the model? I have been wanting to purchase a 3d printer. Thanks

[@profbanzai]

Does anyone have a good online source for the VMS Clean Slate product in the US? It's not on the US Amazon, and the only other site I could find does not have a secure ordering page (not using HTTPS). Thanks in advance!

[@russouk]

Sub`d awesome skillz just watched the easy 8 sherman vids and crusader dio...must say they are amazing..love the crusader 3 colours and weather etc...looks real if you look close up...used to acheive similar results though not modelled for over 25 yrs and just resumed...wish me luck lol....btw love your english its perfect and you make me laugh as I watch and pick up tips...stowage looks fine btw ...your rejects look better than some peoples best works lol

[@lordzombey1337]

Such Restorations are amazing!!!

[@samuelsteffen4491]

‚But that‘s the beauty of modelling: Doing pointless stuff so we can sleep better‘ 14:11 This is truly the case for me! 😂😂

[@darronhedges5873]

VMS 'CA glue filler' is good for creating 'welded' mounting for PE parts.

[@Emtbtoday]

I can't get any VMS products just now they emailed me back saying they were taking a vacation just now and have pulled all there stock off of ebay too! So no VMS just now so use your stuff sparingly

[@decnet100]

That's a surprisingly clean tank you have there... Wouldn't it be a shame if something "happened" to it?

[@janreznak1433]

Selling DOT3 brake fluid in other bottles. Love it. Btw restoration was done brilliantly.

[@Gothmetalhead13]

"This was one of my earlier models" Coool, cool "When I was 17" Nani the hell?! Man I am behind.

[@Herbybandit]

Lychee slicer??? Cheeto box??? I thought this was a modelling demo not a cookery class!

[@thebunkerparodie6368]

trying to do that with my ammo mig tiger II,I messed up the color scheme so I decided to repaint it (I did the 10,5cm version, since it's jsut a scheme, you're not obligated to correct the turret roof), and with a beobachtungspanzer panther

[@callumboyd5122]

I'd be asking for my money back for those crap quality friulmodel tracks, you can get cheap Chinese knock offs with far superior quality.

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

It's not that horrible but it gets really tiresome after 3 or 4 sets which were like this. Instead of another Friul set I ordered Masterclub tracks for a Panther, I don't even want to bother with Friul anymore.

[@callumboyd5122]

@@NightShiftScaleModels Yeah I understand, it's just when you buy a product you expect a certain quality, you'd think that when the holes aren't even drilled out properly that it wouldn't get past quality control. Just a thought. Especially when a lot of people regard Friul as the go to brand for metal tracks.

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

@@callumboyd5122 Same here, I've been buying Friul stuff for years and years because they have tracks for pretty much every tank and there used to be a certain level of quality you'd expect from them. But now it's just disappointing, especially when you want to work somewhat efficiently. It can't be even blamed on old moulds - I remember buying their Maus tracks when they were a brand new release and they needed to be drilled out as well.

[@callumboyd5122]

@@NightShiftScaleModels I've ordered some Masterclub late version Churchill tracks. Looking forward to using them as I've only heard good reviews of Masterclub tracks to far.