Jason Sloboda
Bearberry, Alberta, Canada
Inspired by a photo, Jason converted Alan’s 1/35 scale
Marder II Ausf D to a self-propelled anti-tank vehicle, arming it with a
scratchbuilt PaK 36(r), a conversion of the Soviet 76.2mm anti-tank gun. He
writes, “With an immediate need for mobile anti-tank weapons on the Eastern Front,
Germany pressed conversions into service.” A length of 1/8" aluminum tube was
the basis for Jason’s gun. He cut the breech open to show the bore of the
barrel, which he further shaped with Tamiya gray putty and sanding. He also
added rivets and other details to the gun mount and made cleaning rods with
needles and a wood base. Brass tie-downs and styrene framework detail the armor
fighting compartment, with extra rounds cut from 1/8" brass rod. Jason sprayed
Tamiya Panzer grey straight from the can, weathering the base coat with salt
chips and white paint to show a shoddy whitewash. “When using spray cans, keep the
layers thin,” he says. He finished with acrylic washes.