1/48 Armor GB (Non Aircraft)

I really like it Waikong. This will be another really nice model for your website.

My Stug has been primed grey now, but I haven't bothered to post a photo this time. That can wait until the real color goes on.

Cheers

Tony

Dupes, you're right abou the name, so I've renamed it to now the 1/48 Armor GB (Non Aircraft). Hope that's okay with everyone.

Mg, looks like you made major progress there. The photo has a orange cast to them though and its a bit hard to see your paintwork.

I've made more progress on my little kit, gave the 4x4 an oil wash, light chipping, and some light flat coats to vary the color a bit. The canvas top was painted khakhi and weathered a bit. 

I skipped masking and painting the tracks, and decided to touch up the already painted parts like the roadwheels. Then I went straight to the main body construction. The parts all fit together flawlessly, so I was able to get alot done, from the seats to the engine. The seats were painted with a mixture of Testor's Enamel Flat Black and Flat Brown. The green on the hull is MM Acrylic Olive Drab. 

Thanks Waikong! I'd love to be the reason some people join the GB!

To be quite honest, I think the change of title from "1/48 Armor GB" to "1/48 Non Aircraft GB" may have thrown a few people off.

Mg, Good luck with the tracks. I know Fighting 48th used to make replacement tracks but I think they are OOP now. But looking good so far.

Dupes, your Hezter's camo paint job is looking really really good. I live the scallop edges and the little rectangles. I'll check out your WIP in the armor forum, maybe more people will join afters seeing your work there.

Alright fellas - more Hetzer updates. For a full explanation, head to my WIP thread in the armor forum. Pics are here:

Finally, here's my first update/w pics. Started putting the main body together, and filled in some deep ejector pin marks. Other then that, the hull pieces have gone together smoothly. As for the tracks, where to begin. Terrible seam, the roadwheels and tracks are all one piece, no detail on the tracks, and it's gonna be a pain to mask off the roadwheels from the tracks. UGH Hopefully I'll overcome these tracks, if I can do that this build will go together quickly.

Jeeves: Your Tiger's coming along nicely. The detail sure looks crisp on that kit, I built the Tamiya 1/48 Tiger and the detail simply doesn't compare to your AFV kit.

taxtp: That Stug III is lookin' good so far. Sorry to hear about the blistering heat. .....wish we had that heat here in Chicago, it's been below freezing here since last week.

dupes: Lookin' forward to seeing that camo!

Continued progress on the Hetzer:

Today the green goes on, and perhaps the brown as well should I have time - looks like I will.

Great work, fellas!

Hi Waikong,

This is the hottest spell here since records began in the 1850s.  I can remember it getting to 45 once before, but it was only for one day. Absolutely stinking, all you can do is lay low.

That's the cutting mat that I reserve for when I need a really clean surface, my other is far more weathered.

Your 'B' was a great model, and your website is excellent too.

Cheers

Tony

Tony, good progress on your Stug. I had the same problem with fit on my Stug III B of course, but I used a plastic strip and filler to bridge the gap instead. 43C, wow that's hot! Its a high of 0C here in the New York area, US. BTW, that's the cleanest looking cutting mat I've seen in a while!

Hi Everyone,

Here are some WIP photos of my Stug III Ausf G. I've just blanked off the see through look. I don't really understand why Tamiya don't do this for you given the excellent quality of the rest of the product.

I've epoxied the upper hull to the lower as well as using the screws, as the upper hull sits up off it a little just forward to the middle. The clamps are there to hold it in place whilst it cures for 24 hours or so.

I've been tossing around whether to go for an aftermarket barrel or not, and also etch. In the end, I'll stay with the kit parts on this build. The Tamiya barrel is pretty good, but the two part muzzle brake will need a little cleaning up.

I could spray this thing tomorrow, but we've just come off an unprecedented 3 43+ degree celsius days in a row, including 45 today. Tomorrow will be cooler, at 37 degrees C. Still waaay to hot to spray, so it might wait for a few more days.

Next update then.

Cheers

Tony

Dupes, your Hez is coming along very nicely.

Jeeves, that's a nice kit. The engine and exhaust details looks great and I agree about the one piece barrel. No need for a metal barrel if the plastic was molded in one piece in the first place. That's always been a bit of a 'luxury' aftermarket item for me anyway. The PE screen are very nice also, were they part of the kit?

OK-- some progress on my AFV Club Tiger...

Pretty good amount of detail on this one-- I am pleased with the progress so far...I should be priming her up within a day or two...

Rear side looks pretty busy...

And the turret...I love the one piece barrel-- why doesn't Tamiya do it this way?

Hauler is releasing a bunch of new accesories for some 1/48 armor, here's the link for those intrested: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/hauler.htm

waikong: That Kurogane is coming along nicely, lookin' forward to you next update.

dupes: That Hetzer looks like it went together like a dream. My bren carrier is ten times smaller in size, yet it will take me ten times longer to complete. What is up with that? 

Allllllrighty. Progress report for the day - did end up adding a scratched screen over the engine intake, then went down to the basement for some primer. After that (not represented in this photo) I hit the tracks/roadwheels/nooks-and-crannies with a coat of Floquil Grimy Black to get the rubber the right color, basecoat the tracks, and provide some shadows underneath the skirts. Once I'm out of work, the dunkelgelb is going to fly!

Wingy - what were you saying about "getting crackin'"?

Assembly is complete on the Hetzer (24 hours! Including tracks!)...thinking about adding a scratched screen over the intake this afternoon, then I'm going to hit her with some primer. Hopefully my basement isn't too cold - about 5 below zero out right now. Meh. Tried to get a pic of the scheme I'm going with in the background - this one is going to be FUN!

Ho ho! Cracked open the Hetzer box last night and started in on her. This is going to be a speedy build - the Hetzer is not a large vehicle to start, and in 1/48 it's quite wee! Plus I appear to have re-found my motivation!!! That's a lot of exclamation points in one paragraph!

Plan on doing the complete build, then painting everything in place...and I mean everything! Tracks, roadwheels, tools, all of it. Never done that before, and figured this would be a fine time to give it a shot.

The start:

Taxtp, I looked around, but couldn't find a replacement barrel for the Stug III G, only the short barrel for the B.

Mg, sorry about he difficulties you had with the tracks.

I've made some progress, finished the main body except for the windshield and headlights. I've given it a wash and a flat coat. Next up is some pigments weathering and perhaps a bit more 'staining' for the doors. Then I'll add the canvas top, the open door, and a figure.

Finally got around to starting my Tamiya Bren carrier. Geez, the tracks were terrible. Since the idler wheels, sproket and tracks are all molded together, it will be hell to weather and paint. I see alot silly putty masking in my future. I was able to sand down the annoying mold seam that goes through every single track link, but it took me a good forty minutes and I damaged the edges of my sanding sponge.

 Sorry no pics in this update, hopefully the build will get better and I'll get some pics up soon.

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone know of a turned barrel for the 1/48 Stug III Ausf G ? I can find a few other sets for it, but no barrel.

Whilst on holiday, I'm building a 1/48 Panzer IV Ausf J for the 1000 Roadwheels GB, construction should be completed this morning, then I'll make a start on the Stug.

Cheers

Tony

I'm actually in between builds right now...sort of. Just finished a 1/72 Jagdtiger for Red Storm On The Reich, so now I have options galore. Either I crack into my 251/2, this here 1/48 Hetzer (should be a quickie), or try to tackle some "leftover" builds that are languishing on my shelf and/or closet...namely the Corsair I have to finish for the Corsairs GB, or the three half-finished builds that I've got in the No More Excuses GB (1/35 King Tiger, 1/48 P-47D, 1/48 La-7).

I need to make up my mind! And get on something!

Hey Wingy! Let me know when you're starting your build...perhaps I'll try to finish a GB at the beginning (a la YOU!) instead of scheduling it for the end.

Hetzer!