PUMA

spacepacker

Member since
November 2004
From: Essex England

PUMA

Posted by spacepacker on Monday, November 21, 2011 3:24 PM

This Dragon's Sd.Kfz.234/2 PUMA, buit oob.

It's a lovely kit to put together, perfect fit no flash even the instructions were not too bad. There is a nice set of interior but as I had every intention of building this closed up I did not use any.

As I am building this closed up I wanted some animation so I decided to turn the wheels.

Did a bit of reading up on this vehicle, what a brilliantly engineerd machine this was and what a mantainence NIGHTMARE!.

It took me hours to do this camouflage.

I paint with a brush and try as I might I just cannot do a soft edge cammo Bang Head

Then DISASTER, I wanted to spray with Gloss varnish so as to start the finishing, it was a new can and altho' I warmed it up in a bowl of warm water it came out very thick and I lost a lot of the fine detail.

However I used a sharp blade and went around and 'picked' the weld seams.

So, unless you good people find sometthing very wrong, I'm calling it done

Your comments are valuable to me...cheers....Kenny

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Tojo72

Member since
March 2003
From: Western North Carolina

Posted by Tojo72 on Monday, November 21, 2011 3:50 PM

I love that kit,went together like a dream,well engineered and nicely detailed.Your work looks real good,I like the chain on the bumper.Only thing different ,I made some of the gas cans gray to give some variation,maybe a little soot and dents on the mufflers,but thats all personal choice,yours looks fine.

Just see if you can get a cheap airbrush setup if you can afford it,it can save time and really improve your stuff

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stikpusher

Member since
July 2004
From: Sonora Desert

Posted by stikpusher on Monday, November 21, 2011 4:05 PM

Overall a nice build Yes My critiques are small: Like above, some fuel stains on the jerry cans would give them a little stand out factor; the inner face surfaces of the turret grenade lanchers would look better in bare metal or the dark yellow exterior color with a wash; lastly, more dust on the fenders, wheel hubs, and lower surfaces to blend in and tie those areas in with the nose and tire outer sides.

Nice build of a very sharp looking AFV! Toast

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

- Plankton

LSM

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constructor

Member since
July 2006
From: Philippines

Posted by constructor on Monday, November 21, 2011 4:09 PM

Great built spacepacker! I like the way you did your weathering specially the tires. I built one last year and yes, you are right. It was a joy to build OOB.

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wbill76

Member since
July 2004
From: Texas

Posted by wbill76 on Monday, November 21, 2011 4:38 PM

Nothing to add to what's already been pointed out. Nice work on this one Kenny, it's a fun kit to build. Beer

Soft-edge is very very tough to achieve when painting by end...the only way I know to achieve it is with dry-brushing and even that's not perfect. There's just no real substitute for what an airbrush can do in that particular area IMHO. If you can put a little by here and there, you can get a decent set-up without spending a ton and it will dramatically expand your range of possibilities. Until then, don't knock your work, that pattern is still very nice! Wink

BP Models

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 11:52 AM

Nicely done Kenny. I don't know if that chain is accurate, but it looks kind of cool.

Eric

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wing_nut

Member since
April 2005
From: Piscataway, NJ!

Posted by wing_nut on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 7:09 AM

To reiterate what Bill said... absolutley do not knock oyur camo. It looks great. The top shot, last pic, the spots have sort of a soft look to them. Looks spot on to me. (no pun intended Wink ) I like the idea of a little gray for the look of a scavenged part. I put 1 gray whyeel on my 243/3.

My 1 finishing critique would be the need for a dark pin wash to pick out some details and make thenm stand out. Like the the straps/buckles on the gas can etc.

All of that aside, I think it looks sweet.

Marc

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T26E4

Member since
November 2005

Posted by T26E4 on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 9:06 AM

I like the Puma as well! I concur with the remark about the chain. For military vehicles, they serve very little utility (cables are used instead). You really only see them on pre-war French and Polish tanks. Plus, how you mounted yours would be very annoying to take off and use -- always ask yourself how would an actual crewman use/stow/hide items. Just a thought for you. Keep up the good work.

Roy Chow

Join AMPS!

http://www.amps-armor.org

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spacepacker

Member since
November 2004
From: Essex England

Posted by spacepacker on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 2:31 PM

Tojo72,thanks for looking, I do not have space to set up for an airbrush; I don't even have space to have antenna's or even a base for my models. Thanks for your suggestions.

stikpusher, I have given light dusting all over but I have to use 'Flash' for the pics and it kills a lot of the finish,the grenade launchers are fully loaded with grenades thats why you can't see the interier. I am not sure if I have the right colours tho'...cheers.

constuctor, thank you for your kind remarks.

wbill76, 10yrs ago my private pension collapsed and the state pension in this country does leave much to put by and when I can I buy a model, some times an expensive one like the dragon or bronco 'Archer'. Thanks for your support.

Tigerman, thank you.

wing nut, again the 'Flash' has killed some of effects of finishing. Thank you for kind remarks.

T26E4, yes I'm with you regards the chain; I did try a cable but I wanted something more "Macho" so it was the chain. I'm quite often not very accurate Big Smile .

Thanks again to every one...cheers....Kenny

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deafpanzer

Member since
April 2009
From: Carmel, IN

Posted by deafpanzer on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 8:46 PM

I always wanted to say this... I am GODSMACKED! Big Smile LOL Love it when you say this. It looks great. Like other guys, give a dark wash so it can bring out the details. I use heavily thinned burnt umber oil paint.

I have PUMA Dragon kit and I can't wait to build it one day... but don't ask me when. Whistling

Andy

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spacepacker

Member since
November 2004
From: Essex England

Posted by spacepacker on Thursday, November 24, 2011 3:54 PM

deafpanzer

I always wanted to say this... I am GODSMACKED! LOL Love it when you say this. It looks great. Like other guys, give a dark wash so it can bring out the details. I use heavily thinned burnt umber oil paint.

I have PUMA Dragon kit and I can't wait to build it one day... but don't ask me when.

I always wanted to say this... I am "GODSMACKED"! Big Smile

deafpanzer, the expression is "gobsmacked" it is used quite a lot in the north of England and I am very flatterd you felt that the build was worthy of it...cheers....Kenny

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camokid

Member since
May 2007
From: Taxachusetts

Posted by camokid on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 11:59 AM

spacepacker
I'm quite often not very accurate.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with your chain, there are plenty of photographs showing chains on wheeled vehicles in wartime photos. Cables may have been standard fittings on large armor but a tow chain was actually part of the standard equipment on vehicles such as the half track due to space and storage methods as well as other softskins with mounted winches.

Here's a little collage I put together for another forum for a similar reason.