Achtraden! 8x8 Group Build '09-'10

Looks good TD4438........you going with panzer grey or dark yellow?

Nate

TD -- fantastic, good looking build! Looking forward to the paint and weathering!

Bob -- got your turret plans, where shall I send 'em?

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Mike, great job with the badges!  I like it because it will give us the better options to match ours between WW2 and modern builders.  Please give your sister a big hug from all of us!  I have been out sick with a bug for last 5 days but now I am almost fully recovered. 

Guys, looking forward to see many more! 

Okay, so I have a question for you guys about the wheels on this model.

If you look at this picture of a Btr-80:

You notice that the wheels are kinda sort fat. Its the same onethe box art.

Howerev, the wheels supplied with the model ar thin

(not my model, just a pic I found)

So, what do you guys think? Are the kit supplied wheels to thin, or is there some kinda reason?

If anyone knows, info would be appreciated.

Thanks

Hi Axel -- that's a knotty one. If they were too narrow sideways you could have inserted a plasticard shim between the halves, if they were molded like that,to bulk them out, but the proportion in the kit is that the hubs are too large and the tire too shallow. They're probably the same parts as in the -70 I have, which shows the same proportion (Dragon or Zvezda, right?) That means single-piece hubs and vinyl tires, and there's not much you can do with that short of have a corrected hub and tire patterned by a machinist and produce a custom set in resin, which would be a LOT of money. All I can suggest is that somebody like Mig Productions or Coree or one of those might have already produced a set of accurized resin replacements.

Happy hunting!

Mike/TB379

Bob -- the plan shots are scaled, cropped and enhanced, all ready to head your way. Guess what? I was busy clearing today's slew of emails out of my system and, um... I had a senior moment, and erased yours too! Um, could you let me have that addy again?

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Nachtflieger wrote:

Looks good TD4438........you going with panzer grey or dark yellow? Nate

I'm gonna try the salt weathering technique with dark yellow over German grey.It's kind of a tough decision.It would look great in either color.

TD4438,

         Looks really good. Excited to see the paint. This one looks like a great kit to build.

-Ryan

Thanks.Here are a few WIP shots of the base color.

Looking very,good!

Nate

Current progress.A bit of salt weathering.Didn't want to over do it.I also did a bit of scraping with the back side of an Xacto knife.

Looking good TD

Bob

Goodevening, or morning is some parts of the world.  I ave some shots of the PUMA and progress to date.

Some initial suspension shots:

got some primer on the beast:

There was a slight gap on the rear seam, so a little squadron putty fixed that right up:

more later

Bob

TD -- I like the salt treatment, it really creates the appearance of the top coat of paint being ruptured through to the bottom coat -- because that's exactly what it is!

Bob -- terrific work, I'd better get a move on and get mine into the spray bay! Well, the StuG is within an ace of being ready for paint, so they'll hopefully both get their basecoats this weekend.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

TD: The salt treatment came out looking great! It really looks like scraped, and chipped paint......I've got to try that sometime.

Bob: What can I say.....you're a machine! Looking good!

Nate

Hi Guys,

Here's a few pics of where I'm at with my Puma. I had hoped to post more WIP pics, but I got carried away with the build, and before I knew it, I was done! There are a couple of seams that I need to address, mostly around the mufflers, but It's basically ready for paint. 

I actually got this kit as a birthday present from my brother a few years ago. I bought the Griffon Model PE set for this kit right after I got it, but I have to say I am more than happy with the plastic parts in this kit. I ended up not using the Griffon set at all.  About the only thing that might NEED pe would be the jerry can straps, and IMHO, the kit parts are pretty darn good! The PE and brass you see in the pics are included in the Dragon kit itself. Thanks for looking, and as always comments welcome!

Nate

Nacht, sweet build bro.  Which kit is this? Detail is superb .

Bob

Thanks Bob! This is the 1/35 scale Dragon kit, straight out of the box.

Nate

Sorry bout the double post this one was just a screw up and i didn't want to look too bad.

[See Post Below]

Sorry Guys...

Okay, so I found these on the internet for about $20 with shipping

Nice score Axel.

Bob

Hello all, I got most of the little fiddly bits on and got the beast primed, with the exception of the turret which I am working on now.

Noticed that there seems to be a seam that needs to be filled so when the primer drys Ill attack this as well.  It goes around the whole turret mounting plate.

more to come later

Bob

Hi Bob -- looking good under a coat of primer! yes, that seam around the top plate of the hull, I was thinking about that too. It's a natural division of the faceted plate structure, and you'd expect some sort of detailing. If I'm thinking correctly it was either afixed permanently or could be pulled for maintanance access to the interior. The Dragon kit has the junction line but there's no weld bead around it, and I se what looks like recessed fasteners of some sort at the rear, so I'm going to guess it was a detachable plate. That would mean it is appropriate for the joint line to be there, so long as it's a close, flush fit.

I'm hoping to prime mine tomorrow and maybe get the wheels sprayed too!

Cheers, Mike

Thunder, you make a valid point.  I would think that with three of the four variants having almost the same turret design, ease of removal and install could facillitated rather quickly. So it would make perfect sense to me..........but what the heck do I know, my wife swears Im a dumb a$$................LOL

Bob

Hi Bob -- well, re the turret designs, not really -- the /1 had the Haenglafette (sp?) 2cm turret with the grenade screens and open fighting compartment, and it was more or less luck that the vehicle dimensions were suitable for mating on the turret of the abandoned Leopard light tank project for the /2. /3 and /4 returned to open hulls with semi-fixed armament like StuGs, so in their cases the hull top plate would have been configured differently. Still, it's a good bet that the plate was removable. I got mine to fit fairly snugly so I didn't bother with any filler.

I had hoped to get some paint on today but instead found myself doing all the masking where the external fittings go, jerry cans, jacks, fire extinguishers, shovels (not one of them with a positive locator), and redressing the joints that needed a lick of filler. The StuG is nearly ready for paint too, so I'll prime the 234 in enamel before changing to acryclics and base coating both in one operation.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

He Mike, well so much for that theory.............LOL.  I did however simulate the holes on the plate so it will look a little better, the Italeri kit is void of detail but it looks somewhat better now.  All is primered and base coat gos on today.

Bob

Well I got some base coat and cammo on.  Did some washes and dot filtering, more weathering to follow.

Before wash:

After wash and dot filtering, it still dryng and Ill start with pigments later on:

enjoy

Bob

Great work, Bob! Looking sweet! The weathering will draw it all together and she'll really look the part! Good definition on the spots too, no overspray!

You're running a couple of sessions ahead of me, I just got the masking done for the tools, axles and turret ring. I had meant to be painting today but real life has intervened as usual!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thanks Mike, pigment weathering and some more streaking should do the trick.  Im still painting the wheels and getting the tools and such done as well.  Ill tinker around this evening a little.

Cmon Mike GET-R-DONE!

Bob