Tamyia Hetzer (mid) 1:35 WIP

Hinksy, Vetteman,

Thanks alot guys! Maybe not contest winning material but i am having a blast with this one. A true "shake 'n bake" kit.

Well, i am calling this light tank destroyer finished. I went ahead with drybrushing, washes and pastels and also tried the dot filter technique for the second time. As per a tutorial on the subject i chose not to coat my model with future or the likes prior to decals and weathering and i must say that both times that gave me some issues with silvering.... I do love the way this technique looks on a model but for a next time i think i will adapt the steps a bit:

Funny how pastels fade away on photographs... But i assure you it's pretty dusty

As i kinda like the way the model and figure turned out i decided to have a go at putting my work on a base. So scavenging my stash and dio supplies i came up with some stuff i can use:

Only my second attempt at ground work so i should be having fun fiddling around and learn some stuff

See you soon gents,

Richard

Richard the Hetzer looks great buddy. I like the places where you get the hint of brush painting and the way you make the surface detail pop out like the rivets and such. Cant wait to see the base looks like you have a good start on it going.

I have to ask whats this trick of applying decals over  flat paint ? I cant see any silvering of the decals at all.

Good looking Hetzer Richard. I really like the camo. Probably the flash and or lighting that's affecting the finish. I'm no camera expert either. I wish I had photoshop installed on my Mac.

Hi Richard,

Great work buddy! Really great work

A great Ambush scheme, the washes have really toned it down and took the edge off the brush marks and overall it's loking superb

The only tiny little nit-picking things that I can really see and this is really scraping the barrel is:

• I'd have a go on that rear mounted tow cable again. Sorry if you still mean to work on that but it's a uniform colour all over so I'd perhaps get a small brush and paint the clamps and the bit that holds the cable ends together where the cable comes back around & wraps together to make the loop Paint that Dunky to and add a bit of colour to it and perhaps a bit of VERY light rust to the main cable. Remember the cables would have been well looked after so you wouldn't have seen much rust on them. Either way it's a bit too 'silver' for a battlefield tank tow-cable so at least an Umber wash should help.
• Where's the blue convoy light that should be at the top of the stem behind the muffler pipe on the rear on the left? You really need to get that back on there - if you've lost it just scratch one from something.
• Erm, is that left hand track joint at the rear going to hold? I'm really struggling now!

Straight up, that's a great job. The silvering is nothing to worry about and can't be seen from the usual photographs and is barely noticeable in the bigger photo so don't spend any time worrying about that!

I'd definately look at that tow cable and the convoy light but apart from that it's a very much faultless build!

Convoy light below - paint it in a light/bright blue:

Anyway, I'm about to start a base for my StuG III B. Check out my WIP for a base update. I'll start it next week so I'm at exactly the same point as you re this build - my build is complete and I'm about to start the base (it's only my second ever base too). I've got the base and a good selection of scenics and I'll be really interested to see what you do with that huge base of yours!

I'm limited to a small Walnut base and a figure as I haven't got room for anything bigger in the cabinet or anywhere else as I hate getting dust on a matt surfaced model as it's a real PITA to shift!

What have you got planned Kermit?

All the best matey,

Ben

I like the subtle weathering.  Some folks with great modeling skills sometimes, IMAO, over do the mud, rust and weathering.  Great step-by-step WIP thread.

kermit - great looking Hetzer!!  Fine job with the camo and weathering, and I love that figure....hmmm, where have I seen that before?? 

Question:  Does the Tamiya kit come with a photoetched mesh screen for the rear deck air intake? 

Great looking Hetzer Richard. Will keep an eye for the finished dio.

Hinksy,

Thank you for pointing out three, might i add obvious, flaws in my build. Each and everyone is a very valid point and i will act accordingly!

Kinda forgot to weather the tow cable... Painted it with humbrol gunmetal, the "clamps" in olive green and that was pretty much it. I will weather it a bit because it does look rather shiny now that you are mentioning it.

The blue light is something that doesn't show up on the colored painting suggestions or the instructions. I just checked. So ignorant about german armor as i am i wasn't aware of this. Easily solved though

And the tracks..... I was kind of stupid in gluing the entire suspension on so i can't roll the yucky spots on the tracks to a less visible place. But i will take it off and reattach it more carefully this time. I guess behind the sideskirts would be a more obvious place to have the joints end up.

The base does look quite big but i occupy an entire attic as mancave so i have ample space to put my models. I have some scenery stuff, modeling snow and extra figures as well as sandbags to fiddle around with. Just poured some plaster of paris into the frame this morning and will let that harden out for a day or two/ three before i really start some ground work.

Maj, Mike, Bufflehead, Bish,

Thank you guys for your comments! This kit certainly wasn't hard to build. Fit was excellent without any putty needed and the camo was a nice challenge for me as a first timer. Sadly the kit doesn't come with any PE. Just the option of vinyl tracks or link and length ones i believe theyre called.

In the mean time i can show you something for Otto to look at, his head turned like that suggests he is looking at something of interest. I give you.......Sascha the german sheperd:

More to follow!

Richard

To be honest i don't think i have ever had to use filler for any armour kit i ahve built, not that i can think of. And deffinatly not on a tamiya one.

On the PMMS review for this it shows a pic of the camo scheme. For the vehicle you did, it just has the 3 colour scheme without the spots. Were they an option or did you just decide to add them. I only ask because when i get this kit, i will be building the same vehicle as you due to its unit.

Umm.... Artistic freedom...?

I just thought it would look cool so i added the spots. . I am not that much of a sucker for 100% historic accuracy you know....

Richard

Theres deffinatly no harm in it. You have deffinatly done a good job on it.

kermit

Hinksy,

Thank you for pointing out three, might i add obvious, flaws in my build. Each and everyone is a very valid point and i will act accordingly!

Kinda forgot to weather the tow cable... Painted it with humbrol gunmetal, the "clamps" in olive green and that was pretty much it. I will weather it a bit because it does look rather shiny now that you are mentioning it.

The blue light is something that doesn't show up on the colored painting suggestions or the instructions. I just checked. So ignorant about german armor as i am i wasn't aware of this. Easily solved though

And the tracks..... I was kind of stupid in gluing the entire suspension on so i can't roll the yucky spots on the tracks to a less visible place. But i will take it off and reattach it more carefully this time. I guess behind the sideskirts would be a more obvious place to have the joints end up.

The base does look quite big but i occupy an entire attic as mancave so i have ample space to put my models. I have some scenery stuff, modeling snow and extra figures as well as sandbags to fiddle around with. Just poured some plaster of paris into the frame this morning and will let that harden out for a day or two/ three before i really start some ground work.

More to follow!

Richard

Good stuff Rich!

I was only messing re the tracks - Shame you can't roll them on round but I wouldn't worry. They look like they are about to come apart but I doubt it! You could add some more CA and clamp them up while it dries?

Definately get the blue convoy light fitted though - they look great and add a dash of real colour to the build.

I wish I could get some big bases on the go but space is at such a premium big dioramas ets will have to wait until I get my own place. I'm happy enough with an occasional small base, scenery and a figure.

The dog is great btw!

Keep us posted - top notch work my friend!

ATVB

Ben  

You have done a nice job on your Hetzer, Richard! I am building Tamiya's 1/48 and currently masking it for the "ambush" camo.

Nice to see and read your techniques and how they turned out. Will follow suit.

wbill76

Off to a good start! Videogames are notoriously sloppy/lazy when it comes to depicting WW2 gear accurately and will recycle/re-use their coding models rather than come up with newer/better/accurate ones if they don't have to. Hetzer production ran from roughly April '44 to the end of the war so you wouldn't have ever seen one on Panzer Gray...although I agree they would look awfully menacing in that darker color for sure.

Yes, it does:

(best pic I had...)

Hinksy,

Thanks for the compliment. Just trying to have a good time with a good kit for a change. Usually i try to get the most out of budget priced models but i kinda treated myself to a good one after being in a severe modelling block phase. It's working...

Ibuild,

Thanks my friend. It's an honour to hear one is an inspiration to a fellow modeler (probably about how NOT to do it...)

Klik,

I knew it! Looks very agressive in panzer grey. Is that a brush painted finish? Very nice work!

Well,...

The plaster should be fully dry by now so i grabbed it and tried to make some sort of rough composition with the stuff i am planning to use. Without grass, paint and all the eye cany ofcourse but it should give one a general idea of what is in my head:

Tank destroyer at a field "base" with the commander taking a little breather outside while looking at a rifleman with his dog, warming up near the stove.

Richard

Woops,...

I was yacking so much i forgot to put in the pictures Sorry bout the double post.

Richard

Gentlemen,

Working on the "boo boos" that Hinksy mentioned i am trying to figure out where the formation light should be located exactly. My best guess is this:

If so, what part of this should be light blue? A picture if anyone has it, of a model would be very helpful...

Richard

Hey Richard,

I like where you are going with this one matey

The field base idea works well with the large area that you have to work with.

I'm thinking churned up grass, a nicly painted stove with blackened, scorched grass around it, a pylon maybe and perhaps even a radio operative? Perhaps even a second piece of armour

Looking forward to more - so far, so very good!

ATVB

Ben

Richard,

I answered your question in the other section of the forum, but the convoy light is the cylindrical part D66 which is mounted on the "T-shaped"  part of D36 behind the exhaust pipe outlet in your pic.

Hi Richard

I haven't checked in for a while,,, and wow, have you made some progress. It is looking great. I like the proposed scene too. I'll be watching for your further posts......

and,, thanks for sharing

Hi Richard,

Re the convoy light location it's exactly as Phil_H said in his last post above buddy.

You see the vertical little stem that stands proud of the rear of the vehicle just behing the exhaust outlet? The light blue convoy light should be on top of there.

It's about the size of a hand-held glowstick that you see at nightclubs/raves and is mounted at the top of that stem horizontally. I'll see if I can find a photo of mine - I'm surprised you can't see it in the build guide?

Honestly, it's nothing major and not a huge mistake whatsoever - I suppose they could easily have been lost in action etc? Knocked off or pinged with a bullet? They do add a tiny little splash of colour imo though.

ATVB

Ben

Hi Richard,

Here's my Hetzer with said Convoy light - I think I painted it with either Vallejo Periscope Lens Blue or plain old Tamiya Sky Blue:

Hope this helps! How's the dio base coming on btw. I've got all my stuff (base, scenics etc all ready to go but I need to wait on my figure before I put it all into place - I can't see it being any more than an afternoon job. It's going to be pretty basic.

Kind regards,

Ben  

Hinksy, Babill, Phil,

Thank you for your patience gentlemen. I was at a complete loss for awhile there but appearantly i made a beginners mistake by completely missing a part in the instruction sheet. I feel like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar...

But i will change my evil ways now and add the part ASAP.

Right now i have been working on the base by adding some lumps of clay to make the ground more bumpy and adding track marks, covering it with color, grass, pebbles and some bushes and also started paintwork on some extra figures. Might add em, might not.... It's just fun to do

Pictures will tell alot more than my endless yacking so i will post some very soon

Again thank you for your help with my boo boo. I love this forum...*sniff*

Richard

great work on the tank friend!!

as i see i'm not the only that use "das" to setup diorama base

I see that vinyl tracks are easier to put instead of normal molded tracks (or not?) ,but for some reason i prefered the non vinyl tracks by my great experience about armor kits (5 builted in 20 years... ) .

I'll follow to see the complete diorama

Richard I am lovin watching this come together man. Makes me more and more afraid to try a tank build my ownself. This ones gonna be over the top for sure.

Bsyamato, Vetteman,

Awww.... You guys are making me blush... Always nice to hear someone likes your work! Usually i do use the vinyl tracks if they are in the box. You can get a slight sag in them if you put in some work. But for this build i thought i could get away with it since this tank is pretty light and the tracks pretty narrow. Not alot of sag in it i guessed...

Been working on the diorama some more:

Added one figure in winter dress:

Also added some scratch built fences out of some scrap wood:

I do have some fake snow in my stash and wanted to add some sparingly to make it look like it's cold but no blizzard conditions lol so i can explain the tank not having whitewash and the tank commander not wearing anything winterised. Should work out fine.

Also the area behind the fence is kind of barren so i am going to add something there too... Stay tuned

Richard

Your Hetzer looks real good.  I can't believe I still don't have a Hetzer in my 40+ kits stash!  

Love this shot... looks pretty realistic!

Like what I'm seeing   The Hetzer looks good should be right at home on your base.  Figures are very well done and the ground work is very conveincing!

and come great Kermit! need to steal some idea from there really like the grass/stones mixing

Problems about vinyl traks are the paint and seams to remove, it's hard for me to get it good painted, firstly i  resolve with a humbrol black 33 layer then i paint the metal paint with drybrush.

Last tank in my stash is an old Esci Jagdphanter 1/72 reboxed from italeri, fortunately have hard plastic tracks but lots of subject i like have vinyl tracks .

Bsyamato,

I can't really remember what brand it was but the grass/ pebble surface you see was a box of " forest ground" meant for railroad hobbyists. Found it a while ago at the local hobby shop. Those railroad dudes and dudettes use lots of interesting stuff ya know...

The vinyl tracks like tamyia or trumpeter makes them usually require little cleanup. My usual attack is to coat them liberally with flat black, then drybrush with humbrol gunmetal 53; afterwards a rust wash using watercolors. Lastly i like to coat them with earth color chalks, depending on how weathered i want them to look. I found that the ladies use really convenient boxes of little chalks to use for their artful greeting card making....

Thank you all for your comments. This Hetzer (although quite pricey at around 50 euro's) just begs for a good dio.

Richard