Mobile Modelling: Tamiya 1/35 Semovente (WIP 04/10/11)

tigerman

Nice kit Ryan. I wanted the updated version, but I couldn't resist an older one for $5 at the last show I went to. This is a subject that sorely needs to be done by one of the big boys. Bronco, are you listening?

Yea they definitely need to put out more newer and updated Italian armor kits before putting out these paper panzers and one hit prototype stuff.  I was glad Find Molds were doing their parts for the Japanese armor with the new Chi-Ha's and Chi-Nu's (crazy price though).  

Huxy

And how do you like the kit? What did you pay? Know what retail is? Worth the retail money?

-Lasse 

n Huxy, sorry to have kept you waiting on that one.  I opened this kit up because I got frustrated while building an AFV Club 38(t) Ausf G.  Vintage Tamiya kits actually became such a breath of fresh air after these high part number mega kits saturated the market.  This was of course the re-issue of the old Tamiya kit with some updated parts.  It's still listed on Tower Hobbies as 33 bucks.  I got it for 22 from my local hobby shop, which sadly, has been closed since a year ago.  If you have to have Italian armor, well, this and the Italeri are the only games in town, and both are just about equal in age and in price.  The Tamiya one now has an edge with some of the much better detailed parts upgrade (I will show pix later).  I would spend my 22, not even 33, on a Dragon T-34 on sale if I gotta do this again.

Nice kit Ryan. I wanted the updated version, but I couldn't resist an older one for $5 at the last show I went to. This is a subject that sorely needs to be done by one of the big boys. Bronco, are you listening?

Wow, I can't believe how long I've let this project sit there.  I think I got the majority done over this weekend.

This is what it took to get the halves tight together.  The upper hull was slightly bent and I didn't have a vise in the office.  [Yes I built it at my office, so it still counts as mobile modelling! =P]  Two ref books and a 10in carbide saw blade...

The everything else was easy to fit and clean, the worst being the leaf springs.  The mould was slightly offset so a little shaving and cutting was needed to plane the surface.

After Saturday:

I got big plans or these spare tracks from the old kit parts

After Sunday:

Still got exhausts to putty and clean up and Link & Length Tracks to build up.  Gotta putty up that officer's shoulder too.  From the back it fitted okay.  =(  

More to come, hopefully not another 2 years!

Some of the best kit scores I've made have been on business trips. Still remember the look on the desk agent when I checked 2 boxes scrounged from the hotel full of kits when returning from the Philippines and had to shift a couple from one box to another to avoid being over limit and paying excess baggage fees!

Looks like a good find, keep us posted.

Weeee! I love mobile modelling... I'm about to make my own suitcase and modify it to be a mobile workbench, as I love travelling!  Now keep on building and enjoy the mint chocolate which are to be found on the bed pillow

And how do you like the kit? What did you pay? Know what retail is? Worth the retail money?

Many questions, jupp.. But you're off to a great start!  Especially once you sand down that minimal seam there And really, it doesen't look like two halves... Looks like one solid thing with the regular mouldseam!   Oh, is there a muzzleflash??

-Lasse