1,000 Roadwheels - 2009

Here are some pictures of the last few days progress. I apologize for not taking many, it’s just that I’d get into a grove and would find it hard to pull away to take shots.







This one’s kind of a background project for now as I wait for glue/paint to dry on others I have on the bench. Thanks for looking, I know it’s not much yet

 Hey Detail Freak, Thanks, Shep Paine has to be the most influential modeler of all time. His work inspired me when I was but a wee lad. I really liked his work with Monogram Models and Kalmbach publishing.

 hey psstoff, I've had good results using laquer based putties. Just be careful using them because they and the thinner attack plastic. It does bond well and sets pretty quick. Practice on a scrap of sheet plastic until you get the feel of it's properties. I don't know if Squadron White is a laquer base or an acrylic base. I've also seen a WIP of zimm applied with a soldering iron that looked really good too.

Thanks Mobious, I'm pretty sure the White putty's an enamel based system but I’m not positive. I'll make sure to find out first before trying though. Thanks again.

Hi Psstoff995 and Mobious,

I'll be interested to see the Dragon StuG build-up with putty zim, a very different approach to the Tamiya engineering and Cavalier zim. Squadron white contains toluene, so it's a solvent-based formula. In the 1991 article I've been following, Glen Philips used Squadron green and raked it with a razor-saw blade. The result was absolutely spot-on realistic, and he didn't mention anything about the putty attacking the plastic.

Cheers,

Mike/TB379

Hans, that dio looks very ambitious. I was looking at the plans and wondered if the tracks should intersect the roadway, instead of running parallel. Maybe have the plane nose down the embankment on the other side with the tail in the air. Place the AA tank @ the intersection with the Opel turning off the roadway towards the plane. It might reduce the footprint of the dio by as much as a third if not more. Just my 2 cents. I really like the idea you've worked out so far, and will be looking for updates.

I'd have to build a grade-crossing, not sure what Eastern European ones look like.. So that's why the road's parallel to the tracks..  The plane's also parallel because the pilot, I figured, wouldn't want to cross the tracks road bed (it's about three-four feet high ya know) in a crash-landing, and the straight lines of the road and tracks would be an eye-catcher for him to set down between...

Thunderbolt379 wrote:

I'll be interested to see the Dragon StuG build-up with putty zim, a very different approach to the Tamiya engineering and Cavalier zim.

I agree- I've been watching your Tamiya build progress and even with the subassemblies built up, it’s still apparent that the engineering is quite different. I’m looking forward to the fact that you’re having a partial interior placed in there. I think Dragon’s looking to do another StuG IV soon (if it’s not out already?) with detail of the breach and some brass parts etc. but I could be mistaken...

Of course they had to wait and do it until after I bought their old Imperial Series kit at took it out of the stash to build lol

But seeing as how I wanted a nice OOB build for a tank all clamped up tight, I think this’ll work just fine.

 

 Hans, I do like the layout as you've planned just trying to throw some ideas your way.  I was a little concerned about the open areas, but they would make great debris fields for the crash site. Looking forward to seeing updates.

 Hey thunderbolt, Ive used both the razor saw and a sharpened screwdriver to do zimm. Both or a combination of both,IMO, will produce good results. The saw has the advantage on large flat surfaces, but the screwdriver works nicely in tight spots and around compound curves, such as cast mantlets or MG housings. It also works well for pattern changes, like around the gun/vision ports. The razor saw has a more uniform factory applied look to it than the screwdriver applied, but the sublte variations in the pattern from the screwdriver are cool too, more of a field applied look. Another advantage of using a saw is, because the putty is actually troweled or floated, the thickness is easier(I didn't say easy, Just easier) to maintain verses a screwdriver. I have used the Cavalier resin sheets too, and they look as if the molds are made with a razor saw. My attempt at the Cavalier zimmerit didn't look as nice as the job you're doing on the StugIV. I can't get over how clean and tight the edges are. Very nice. I was curious about the zimm pattern on the StugIV's, did any have the waffle pattern that was often seen on the Stug III's?

To my knowledge, no? But that's a very limited knowledge... I think they just had the straight ridges that were most common, here’s what I use for reference

http://www.panzerworld.net/zimmerit

...it’d be nicer if they had those photos on their site that they’ve based their extensive list on...

Hans, I do like the layout as you've planned just trying to throw some ideas your way.  I was a little concerned about the open areas, but they would make great debris fields for the crash site.

 I hadn't forgotten about those open areas... The plane's gonna be in a few pieces as well, plus I haven't started placing figures yet.. There's gonna be about 8 or so, not counting the Wirbelwind crew..

Psstoff995 -- yes, it's amazing how many ways there are to engineer things. Dragon seem to have taken the same breakdown approach at Italeri, whereas Tamiya tooled a whole new upper hull for each variant, avoiding the seam at the base of the superstructure.

Mobious -- I think the secret with the Cavalier is to cit it a fraction large and snug it down into place, then shave the edges with a blade. So long as the glue is right out to the edges they'll handle being gently filed down into their final shape. I've been so impressed with how handy the custom/generic sheets are that I find myself feeling that they're better than the specific packs -- this way, if you have a gluing disaster and end up losing a piece, you can just cut a replocement and go again. I think having a generic on hand when using specific sheets is a good idea for that very reason.

I've been thinking about zimmerit for nearly twenty years, but this is my first go -- what is that, fear of flying?

Cheers,

Mike

Hey Guys here is my update on my Pz IV Ausf D. Let me know what you thing good or bad. The gun, mantel and upper hull is not glued in place yet. As you can see I have had a couple glue malfunctions and need to fill a few seams. 

Bushi

 

 Bushi, The PzIV D is looking nice. The seam on the rear of the turret needs a little attention and the bottom edge of the turret needs to be squared up with a little sanding, but looks like she's just about ready for some paint.  You're really moving right along with this build.

I finally have the dull coat on, decals, did some dry brushing of steel to various edges and some chips as well.  I then tried something new. At least new for me.  I did some dry brushing of the base color over the entire kit.  I like what I see, it has blended the decals further.  The road wheels have been left off but they are finished.  I want to add some mud and it is far easier to do that without the wheels on.  Also the track runs have been assembled but only a base color has been applied.  Dark primer gray this time.

Here are a couple of shots.

Here is a to shot of the H.  I have applied steel to the spots where the hull schurtzen would have moved and vibrated on the real thing.  Also steel as been done to the overlap of the plates as well.

 

 Hey moose, Lookin really good. The drybrushing really has blended everything together. The Shurtzen look great as well. I can imagine the noise, at cetain engine RPM's, the skirts resonated. Try sneaking up with those things rattling! Looking forward to seeing the mud added and the tracks. OBTW, Where is the Ausfpuff?

Gonna hear a lot more noise than the skirts from those things... Just the track-noise is enough to let ya know that the bad guys are out there.. They don't call 'em "Clankers" for nothin' ya know...

I recall vividly the first time I ever encountered M-1s vs M-60s though... We could always hear the Patton's roaring diesels coming, no problems... But by the time you heard an M-1, it was too late... The tracks made more noise the engine did... And by the time you heard the tracks, it was reallytoo late..

hey bushi,and moose your projects are coming along great.looking forward to seeing both complete.

ok,figured i best post a little progress.a few shots,two

side views and one arse end.also one of the turret looking down..the look i am attempting to achieve is one of an up-armored e model that has also had its panzer grey hastily overpainted in dunkelgelb.hope it has the look.the roadwheels are a slightly oof shade or newer looking.where there going it wont matter anywho.keep checking in for further updates.and lastly just a shot to let you know that although you havent seen much progress in the thousand roadwheels gb latley(from me that is)dont think i havent been busy.

Looking good so far! I must have missed your kits look prior to paint, how much interior is in there?

Hey Detail freak, the Paint looks great. Really cool. Is this gonna be a DAK version? Hey, that last photo has only 8 really big roadwheels!

 I haven't started on the Jag yet, have had a very busy weekend with little bench time allocated. Looking forward to updates from all, and getting back to the bench after the dust settles a little.

Talk to me about your turret interior details, DF... Are they AM, scratched, supplied or a combination?

detailfreak wrote:

ok,figured i best post a little progress.a few shots,two

Another nice job of weathering detailfreak!...but what's with the dark blotch above the exhaust......my eyes went straight there...you might want to tone that down, IMO.  The hatch on the side view has a lot of wear too..keep that in mind as you pull this baby together.  I'm sure you'll pull-it-of well!

Great work you guys! I'm working on other builds right now...but can't wait to get back to this one.

PSSTTTOFF,there is not much interior beyond the turret.as most of the hatches will be closed i might save that effort for the next addition to the pz.IV family.VON HAMMER,the panzer 4 e in the photo has the turret interior supplied by the kit minus the traverse and elevation mechanism.i will often build floors ,bulkheads or firewalls from scratch if not kit supplied.good photos are a must.transmissions i will purchase from e-bay or wherever i can get them.i have some resin final drives and turret baskets,radio racks and ammo bins.so i just copy them from styrene plastic.model car wheels actually make good replacements with some scratch detail added.instead of taking photo space here i will start another post over in armor.SMJ,yuo mean you dont know what that is.why its a soot stain ,after some more blending,and shading of course.but i am trying to give the immpression that this old girl has survived three long years of the fight.and is just perhaps a little tired and a little out of tune.i saw a photo of an e model still armed with the L-24 main gun.and the photo was captioned.1944:a rare sight,panzer IV E moving down road.dont even remember if it was oversprayed in dunkelgelb.but there goes that artistic liscence thing.hope i answered everyones ques or comments thanks.last but not least,DUPES,looking forward to you getting your nose back to the styrene grindstone.im going to shoot for one more:Pz.Sfl.IVb 10.5cm le.FH.18/1 Sd.Kfz.165 Ausf.A now thats a name.

detailfreak wrote:

SMJ,yuo mean you dont know what that is.why its a soot stain ,after some more blending,and shading of course.but i am trying to give the immpression that this old girl has survived three long years of the fight.and is just perhaps a little tired and a little out of tune.

detailfreak: I figured it was a soot stain, but it doesn't have the usual look...so-to-speak.  I understand what you're going for though and I trust you'll pull it off...I'll wait to see the final version.

Thanks a lot for the info, DF... I really like reading about what other folks do to enhance their builds, and I figured with a screen-name such as yours, you wouldn't mind expounding on the build a bit more..

Personally, I don't much detail and super-detailing work with a lot of refs... It depends on how much of vehicle's interior is going to be visible, the amount of work I feel like doing, and how much I'm willing to spend.. Of course, the latter is usually "Zero", lol...

I don't buy much in the way of pre-fab detail parts, preferring to make my own from resn or sheet/strip and structural shapes, but I do buy a fair amount of HO scale railroad brake parts to add onto various chunks of this & that to make a fairly convincing part for an interior.  Whenever I get a kit that has a transmission and final drive parts, for instance, I cast several copies in resin for future use on kits that don't include interiors... Same thing for radios and such, and engine blocks come from 1/24th scale cars usually..  Rather than a nut-for-nut/bolt-for-bolt rendition, I go for the suggestion that something's in there... "Creative Gizomolgy" and "Imagineering" are my preferred methods of super-detailing, although that's not a license to invent entire sub-assemblies from my imagination, it DOES allow for approximate shapes and sizes to be constructed with a lot less headache... Suggestion vs. duplication, as it were, with plenty of wire and cables to run along the walls and over & through the "stuff...

Keep up the good work, and thanks again for the information.

 

 

Hi all,

Just looking in -- no progress to report, I'm afraid, but I managed to score Tamiya 35101 Flakpanzer IV (quad 2cm) on eBay for a bargain price, so that's most of their early Panzer IV family. I just need the IVD and the IVH with shields, then the late-tool H and J, possibly the late-tool Wirbelwind, and I've got the lot!

Cheers,

Mike

I got the same Modelwagen kit on e-bay a few weeks back for a good price to. I am notas close as you to completeing my stash of Pz IV's, but i do now have all 5 of the Flakpanzer IV's that the Germans built.

Hi Bish,

I'm only really short the Kugelblitz, I could have bought one cheap from Hong Kong but the traders are royally cheating on the postage these days, which makes savings on the item that much less... I have the Tamiya early Wirbelwind, not their retool, and I have the Italeri Ostwind. Just the late-tool Tamiya Furniture Van needed to round out the batch...

Mike

I am not sure if you have seen it but i have not long finished the Kugel for this GB and will be starting on the Italeri Ostwind soon. There is one other Pz IV AA vehicle i would like to do, the Ostwind II, but i have never even seen drawings of it or have any idea what it was intended to carry.

Hi Bish,

Yep, I was most impressed with your Fireball! And I look forward to seeing the Ostwind buildup -- it's always great to get a hands-on appraisee of a kit before tackling it! Ostwind II? It rings only the faintest bell...

So many great models to build, so little time!

Cheers,

Mike