Tamiya Marder II - NOW 100% COMPLETED! (10.02.12)

Ought to be just the ticket to fill your time gap on the Tiger I Andy...the key to avoiding burnout is to not put any undue pressure on yourself and enjoy the build. Look forward to see what you do with this one as an OOB effort.

Will be nice to see one of these old kits come along.

Ye, i reckon we all feel like that from time to time. I tend to get like that when i have been on tour for a few months and away from the bench. You would think i would be rearing to go, but i find it can be such a struggle to get in the mood. I have also been jumping from one GB to another, so building to a deadline rather than for myself. That doesn't help either.

But we all get over it.

AHHH!  Now I understand why you are not doing Tiger.  As usual please count me in!  I had fun building my Marder II using Dragon.  I have a great reference book on Marder II D only so don't hesitate to holler if you need help.

Love those old kits!

Cheers guys,

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels a bit 'lethargic' occasionally but yes, I've been doing as much as I can and burnout is inevitable I suppose.

Anyway, I'm feeling a lot better now so the plan is to have a crack at this little Marder II (I did say OOB but I'll be replacing the tool clamps with Brass Dragon Clamps - I've got a big fret and can't find the relevant instructions.

The fret was from the Dragon Marder III M Befehlsjager and I can't find the instructions and I've never used Brass clamps before! Can anyone assist? I could do with finding an on line instruction sheet for that build.

After that I'll be finishing the Tiger I - it's coming on so nicely I don't want to mess it up feeling a bit like I do at the minute.

Andy - if you look at the box art for my Marder you'll notice it's the same as the photo as on your blog - they've just chopped one of the crewmen out the photo.

The kit doesn't come with a radio - only a radio rack. Can you find a photo of your radio as I have the bits here to make one up from my Marder III that never was.

Thanks guys,

WIP update tomorrow,

Ben

Hi folks,

First WIP update - I always love the first one!

Oddly enough this build guide has you start with the gun assembly - Tamiya usually has you tackle the running gear and suspension first but that is the next step after full completion of the main gun.

I was quite impressed with the gun assembly - plenty of parts to keep you busy and overall a detailed little gun.

I'll get cracking with this tomorrow and really get things moving. I only had 2 hours spare this afternoon and that was just enough to get all of the parts on the 'A' sprue cleaned up and assembled - 'A' sprue containing all of the gun parts which is handy - most of my previous builds have had parts for one assembly scattered over every single sprue Dragon are terrible for it!

Tomorrow It's the interior i.e. flooring, racking etc. then the main side walls. The wheels are staying off for painting with the circle template later on in the build. I'm going to use the hot lamp method to soften then beat up the fenders a bit.

I'm thinking of a Summer Setting so I might make a small Photo frame base for her as she's a small kit.

Here's a few photos:

Sprues & Decal sheet:

Main Gun Assembly & Assembly Dry Fitted on Hull:

Thanks for looking guys,

I'll post another update tomorrow.

Take care fellas,

Ben

Good evening guys,

It's 10:30pm here so we are going out at 11pm to see in the New Year followed by a nights clubbing - NICE!

I'm all ready to go so I thought I'd update the wip - I did this work a bit earlier on. All the Road Wheels are assembled along with Drives and Idlers. They are are all polycap push-fit which is handy.

The basic floor interior is assembled - there is a seat and Transmission box which is just dry fitted so I can pop them out later for detailed painting.

As you know the gun is assembled and the upper hull now has a few bits added like the shell holder and other 'boxy things' - I'm not sure what they are for! Tomorrow the real fun starts with the main side walls being fitted and some proper detailing being done like making a radio up from the spares tub (the kit only comes with a radio rack?) and various other bits and bobs.

Work so far (note the upper and lower hulls are dry-fitted): 

I'll need to drill that Muffler out:

Thanks for looking guys,

This build is just the ticket for getting back into the swing of things. No fitment issues (yet) and a really enjoyable little kit.

I'll get cracking on them side walls tomorrow.

Take care and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ben 

Hi guys,

Just a quick update. I'm actually nearly there now where the assembly is concerned

I've made up the radio rack with some bits from the spares box - it's not accurate but it won't be very visible so it will be fine.

Everything else is assembled now apart from the crates shown on the box art and the two travel lock bars for barrel support. There's also the tools and I'll probably paint up a couple of the spent and live shells that come with the kit.

The only item to be glued in place is the side wall on the right. Everything else has been dry fitted for the benefit of the photos and ease of painting next weekend.

Here she is so far:

That piece mounted on the inside left wall with two holes, like a bracket thingy? What's that for?

Radio Rack with some 'radio looking' bits mounted in it and headphones too (my thanks to Deafpanzer Andy as I printed off the picture of his Dragon Marder II radio to give me an idea of how it should look:

Thanks for looking guys - any comments very welcome!

She'll be finished tomorrow and painting will commence next weekend.

All the best, 

Ben  

Gosh, that was pretty quick!  That's what I like about Tamiya kits.  The gun alone took me several hours unlike yours.  Glad the radio diagram helped... wbill was the one who sent me the diagram.  You have to buy him a too one day.  Your radio looks real good!

I can send you a copy of color plate provided by the AM decal maker to help you paint your 'Coal Thief' accurately if you wish. 

Looking nice Ben, love the radio set up. And nice work on the gun, i hate doing these barrels, i am just grateful for Metal ones.

deafpanzer

Gosh, that was pretty quick!  That's what I like about Tamiya kits.  The gun alone took me several hours unlike yours.  Glad the radio diagram helped... wbill was the one who sent me the diagram.  You have to buy him a too one day.  Your radio looks real good!

I can send you a copy of color plate provided by the AM decal maker to help you paint your 'Coal Thief' accurately if you wish. 

Hi chaps,

Thanks Andy - I'd love to see what you have re the paint scheme etc.

Also, on your blog, you showed what looked like some black tubing looped inside that bracket on the left wall on the inside - what is that?

The part count was very small so it was always going to be a quick build. I'm really going to go for a scruffy looking interior and a chipped, mucky exterior and I might beat them fenders up a bit after gently softening them with the hot light bulb method.

At about 90 minutes the gun was by far the longest part to assemble - for an older build it was nicely intricate. I wanted no hint of a joint line along the barrel where the halves met so I spent ages with a super smooth sanding stick getting it perfect. The super smooth sanding stick took a lot longer but left no rough surface or flat spots.

All I've got left to do today is assemble the figures and the crates and I'll start painting her next weekend.

I highly recommend this kit if you want a cheap relaxing build with lot's of extra potential for detailing.

Update later,

Ben

Looks like you're going to have this one done in no time Ben, assembly is coming together nicely!

As to your question about the hose tubing, that was used to exchange the coolant fluid on the engine...because of where the ammo boxes were mounted, doing maintenance on the engine was a tougher job than on a standard Pz II and the hose helped with that particular task.

wbill76

Looks like you're going to have this one done in no time Ben, assembly is coming together nicely!

As to your question about the hose tubing, that was used to exchange the coolant fluid on the engine...because of where the ammo boxes were mounted, doing maintenance on the engine was a tougher job than on a standard Pz II and the hose helped with that particular task.

Thanks Bill,

So does that hose need to be connected into anything as if it's serving a purpose or is that just a roll of spare hose that is supposed to go there for storage?

Cheers buddy,

Ben

... it's a pitty, because this kit still waits to be assembled including infrared-fighting-gear ! Unfortunately no time for this kit until today.

Ben,

Coiled and stowed in the holder is the normal mode for it, it doesn't connect up to anything in terms of keeping the vehicle running/operational.

Hi, Ben, I'm glad your enjoying this kit, up until dragons new offering it was the only game in town and allowing for its age it was a good game. My memories of this kit are all good. Nice clean build so far and I look forward to seeing you finish it.

Terry.

Yep, Bill has answered your question.  I didn't like the kit part as it was in styrene so I stole the tubing from Tamiya Flak 88.  If you have that kit, it has plenty of tubing you can use for your Marder II.  It helped make it look alot better that way...

Sure I will scan and emal the color plate when I have the chance. 

Love that radio-setup!! Looks really cool!

Huxy

Love that radio-setup!! Looks really cool!

Hi chaps,

First off, thanks for the hose info, Bill

Also, a very nice surprise to see you on here again Lasse. It's been waaaay too long old chum

I'm very pleased with the radio setup. I know it's totally innaccurate and looks nothing like the radio on Andy's Marder II from his actual kit but when in place it won't be that visible so it's turned out well.

I'll be getting the basecoat on this weekend. I'm going to have to paint it in sub assemblies I think i.e. the main gun, the fighting compartment floor, the upper hull and the side walls.

I'm going to make the gun a nice centrepiece and then concentrate on some serious weathering.

What are you building now Lasse? Wip update please!

All the best,

Ben

Hi guys,

I'm off to pick up my new car now (yippee) and expect to back for 1pm (it's 10am here now).

I've been trying mega hard to get some interior shots of Marders, in particular the actual guns. It's going to be very visible so I want it looking really good.

Can anyone help with additional shots of these guns (models/real thing) as I'm really only finding exterior photos?

Thanks chaps,

Ben  

Congrats!!!  Hope it doesn't mean you can not buy a new kit for next 4 or 5 years...

Everything is looking good.  Sorry it took me long to send you pictures of the Marder II.  Check your PM! 

Here's great pictures of the gun and the interior around the gun... it helped me a lot.  FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSE ONLY...

=

Here's pictures of my interior... hope they helps too,

Again, don't hesitate to holler if you need my help.  It will only cost you couple of if my wife and I ever come to England again. LOL

Thanks Andy,

That's great. I haven't had time to get to the bench today but will have about 3 hours to spare tomorrow.

Next weekend is totally clear so I reckon we'll be getting close to weathering by next Sunday - I've just had so much to do so next weekend will be a good time to get stuck in.

I've sorted some hose and have dug out some Gunze Buffable Stainless paint for the gun recoil slide and breech block. I've also found a decent fire extinguisher in the spares tub and some thin tube for Carp fishing which will be ideal for the hose.

Anyway, I have my new car. With the price of petrol so stupidly high I decided to get a Citroen C1 as they have some great reviews, are the cheapest you can get to tax and the petrol consumption is unbelievable. My 'old' car was a 2002 Ford Ka (do you have these cars in the US).

My now 'old' car cost £200 a year in road tax and did about 35 mpg. My new C1 costs £20 per year in road tax and does about 68 mpg

I ended up with a Citroen C1 VTR+ which is the top spec model, full electrics and part leather interior - it's a 2010 car and has only done 8,000 miles, it's in near perfect condition and is a real blast to drive. Obviously it's a small car but it's really punchy and soooo much fun to drive. They are VERY popular in the UK.

The Range Rover in the background belongs to my Dad. That is new too. One day I will own one of them - it's like a futuristic space shuttle and cost him nigh on £60,000

Right, back to IMPORTANT business - wip update to follow tomorrow!

Take care,

Ben 

Congrats!!!  Nice looking car.  Too bad it didn't come with Zimmerit.  Maybe next time?  I think my aunt drives same car too.  She lives outside Exeter where my grandma was born and raised.  Fortunately she got out of England... she met my American grandpa during WWII at a dance while he was serving in the Navy.

Glad my pictures helped!  Looking forward to your next update... 

Hi chaps,

A bit of a disaster today in as far as that I got roped into covering a colleagues shift this afternoon between 2pm and 10pm (yes, I'm still at work - it's 7:30pm here now!) so my afternoon which I had dedicated to the assembly and painting of a certain Marder II was severely affected

The good news is that it has been a quiet afternoon and I've got everything primed and ready for paint next weekend

Everything apart from the right hand wall of the fighting compartment has been left in sub-assemblies i.e. the left hand wall, the gun, the upper and lower hull sections and all the wheels are mounted on painting spikes. All the tools and  extras have been left on the sprue and primed as I won't be using them for a while yet.

Here are a few up-to-date photos:

The final sprue with the two figures on and the wooden crates:

The Commander figure which I'm going to at least try and paint. I didn't think the detail was that bad for an old kit: I've got some more figures in the spares tub - I think I have a Dragon one minus a headset. Seeing as I have a radio with headphones mounted on it it raises the question? Would there have been more than one pair of headphones in this vehicle?

My faithful foam block with wheels on sticks, left side wall of the fighting compartment (with Dragon Periscope that you can just see), MP40, the drivers seat, kit supplied live shells and spent cases, tools and all the other bits left on the sprue primed and ready for colour:

DAMMIT!  I've missed one of the seam-lines off a wheel (right hand side)

Upper and lower sub-assemblies with gun in place (sorry for the poor photos today):

Fighting Compartment view - note that I've drilled the muffler out as it was solid: 

Thanks for looking guys,

I've noticed a few areas that will need a little tidy up and a couple of ejector marks that will require attention but she is looking ok.

My intended 'hose' is too big and the best I can find instead is some thin black cord but I'll find something to do the job. 

Thanks guys - any advice, comments or general 'stuff' please throw it my way

All the best and have a good week,

Ben  

Hello Gentlemen!

I hope you are all very well. I've had a particularly busy weekend and up to midday today, a busy weekend too. I've started to do some very basic painting on the Marder so the wheels have been done (a bit slapdash as I don't have Panzer II Wheel Masks and my circle templates were way off so the rubber was done by hand) but this won't matter as they are going to be well 'muddified' anyway!

I'm building and painting her in the sub assemblies that you see her in now and then the final filters, washes, decals & weathering will be done when she is all tied together. I've painted the lower hull, inside and out and the main gun. All ok so far

When the interior fighting compartment is complete and detailed but prior to 'proper' weathering I'll do some external pre-shading and do the exterior walls etc in one hit. I want the interior sorted first.

She's coming on ok. I'm very pleased with her (ignore the wheels at this point as like I say they will be well caked in mud at the end)!

It's been an enjoyable little build so far but I'm looking forwards to getting stuck into my Initial Tiger I again! 

Todays work:

Wheels and MP all ready for fitting:

Main gun painted - the whole exterior will be painted using the pre-shade technique:

Hull interior - as you can see it has received just a very basic paint job at the moment:

The main gun (still fully removable btw) - I tried using a touch of Gunze Buffable Metallic Stainless on the breech block and recoil slides as a tester - I think it will need something a little 'shinier'? What do you think?

Thanks for looking guys. I'm off work on Tuesday and Wednesday this week so hope to get really stuck in on painting the interior details, adding some washes/filters and generally getting her looking like somewhat respectable!

Any comments or suggestions? Please, chuck them my way!

The main question that I have is how to really knock that gun about and chip it up - any advice on obtaining a good looking effect on the gun? 

Have a good week folks,

All the best,

Ben

Looking good Hinksy!  Gotta luv them Tamiya kits for their simplicity and building ease!  I was going to ask if the Tamiya Marder II was the only game in town for 1:35 but my question was answered earlier in the thread.  Keep up the great work and enjoy your new Citroen!

Coming along nicely Ben...I don't think you need to go with anything brighter/shinier on the recoil slides...they would be left in bare metal but weren't chromed, so a dull steel look is appropriate unless the gun has just been in use in which case it would be somewhat brighter from the contact/friction action.

Agree with guys here... great process on your Marder.  Hope you still have the pictures I sent you earlier... I don't think they were too shiny.  I am sure it will be taken care of after a coat of dark wash... 

Cheers Bill and Andy,

Looking at the photos the you sent and other pictures of PAK's too they don't show a bright, mirror-like finish. I think a second coat (which it needs anyway as the Gunze Buffable paints are very watery) and a good second 'buffing' should look just right.

As you say Andy, should the second coat appear too shiny after buffing the washes will take the edge of them anyway. The paint colour is called 'Stainless' so I imagine it could buff up pretty shiny so I'll take it easy.

Off work tomorrow so hope to get things moving on nicely..

Cheers chaps,

Ben

Congrats on your econo-car. I wouldn't mind getting 68 mpg compared to about 18.

Your little marder is shaping up nicely. I thought it was a decent kit when completed, but the MG sucks.