The Ostfront (eastern front) GB 2010/11

kermit

Doogs,

You know how they always say that you are your own worst critic and every build you did yourself makes you look at the yucky spots first and foremost.

However, i noticed that alot of the times when you think a build is just mediocre in your own eyes, people around you seem eager to declare them the best you've done sofar It is all relative and if you ask me, both of these builds are Gallery material. My best wishes and congrats on the completing of these two superb builds sir!

Thanks man! I'd agree, I'm definitely my harshest critic. I think a big part of it stems from seeing what I want something to look like, then having something kinda unforeseen go wrong (paint dusting, play-doh sticking to the paint, decal silvering) and just turn things on their head.

That and it pushes me to do better the next time around. These are probably my best-masked canopies to date. I'm way happier with the exhaust stains on these two than on the P-51 I built this summer. I think the La-5 is probably my best cockpit yet (though we'll see what I can make out of the Revellogram P-38's pit!). I discovered some new techniques to add to my arsenal. The thin oil wash of transparent white came out better than I could have hoped and I will probably be using it a lot in the future. 

Now, if I could only build a kit without any unforeseen disasters...

Finally got some pics up. I added an MP40, ammo case, some brackets using spare PE and some wiring. I may or may not add any wiring to the radios- I wish I had a headset or two to add. I also used Fruil winterketten tracks- I'm going to do the winter whitewash scheme of the Totenkopf option. I'm going to try the "Blacken-it" wash for the tracks.

Thanks,

Rob

Doogs, Don't be so hard on yourself those planes look fantastic to me.

Rob, the Stug is on my to do list. Love those tracks.

Jeff

I'm working on the DML Stug III F.  Do you think the block mantlet is too far forward from the superstructure?  The F fits the same way. 

Did the kit come with the interior?  Looking awesome.  I think I might just have to have a collection of Stugs.

Hello Satch

It is a little far, but I don't think it is too far in comparison to real life. I have one photo from the roof looking forward in a walkaround book, and there is a significant gap, which seems to be much greater in the F version. I'm just going to keep the gun slightly elevated- it closes it up much more. Another option would be to place a tarp, which was I believe was common to do.

Maxfax I am liking your Stug, very nice work and love all the detail you have added to it. A top notch build in progress me thinks.

Doogs, Very nice mate well done considering the problems you had along the way you should be proud of those two VVS hunters...Thanks for sharing it with us

Rob, dude i have to look twice at all your builds lately, the fine detail your acheiving is fantastic those tracks do look very cool don't they....

Thanks guys for the nice comments. Got it all together and painted yesterday, so I'll start on the whitewash soon, then add all of the tools- just have to figure out how I'm going to do it. I have also read about using "Blacken-it" for the tracks to weather them, but can't find it anywhere- maybe it is sold as something else in Canada- if anyone knows, please do tell!

Satch: I am wrong with the F being more open- I got my letters mixed up! The photo I have shows the Stug with the Sauerkopf(?) mantlet has more of a gap- but I have no idea if this is really the case.

Rob

I plan to use both methods.  I elevated the gun and I have some flag cut outs that you mix with white glue to make flags.  That will cover the gap nicely.

AMAZING work all around gentlemen!! Just been away from a couple of weeks and off you guys go and build contest winners... It's not fair!!! Really really impressive!

When i came back from work today i had received my goodies:

With extra PE goodies, aluminum barrel and tow cables as well:

Taking a first look at the instruction booklet (first kit i ever done with colour instructions mind you...) it seems that the parts are present to build a "normal" russian tank. I am bound to have a few stars and things in my decal drawer... Still thinking about that:

Really looking forward to play wi....ummmm....build this one

Richard

Interesting instructions- I haven't seen them like that in a Dragon kit before. Are the tracks a band or Magic tracks? I really hate those "magic tracks"- usually end up screwing them up!

Rob

maxfax

Interesting instructions- I haven't seen them like that in a Dragon kit before. Are the tracks a band or Magic tracks? I really hate those "magic tracks"- usually end up screwing them up!

Rob

Umm, that's the one thing that slightly worries me.... lots and lots of single links to assemble:s Never done that before myself but i like a challenge every now and then

Richard

Ok,... Time to save this GB thread from page two...

Started my T34 last night and have to say..... WOW!! I have never before touched a Dragon armor kit before but im happy i bought this one. It's just amazing even after a few very good tamyia ones i had. Detail and fit is nothing but of the very highest standard.

Reading through this kit on the www i found out that it DOES offer all the parts to build an early 1941-42 style tank and right now i am inclined to do just that. A few pics to show what i have on the bench right now:

This kit comes with PE. Took a pic to show the difference between the injection molded part and the added PE enhanced one. Looks very good doesn't it??:

And finally the suspension. Those springs just look so lifelike... A whole world apart from the Tamyia T34 ive done as a first armor build a while back:

Conclusion sofar: I am very pleased that the hobbyshop i bought this kit from had a 50% off deal

Richard

Now your hooked and life will never be the same again. Those type of instructions seem to have been the rage for a bit with Dragon. I haven't used them yet but have got a couple of kits with them. The reviews i have read all seem to hate them. So what do you think of them.

Bish

So what do you think of them.

I think theyre just as good as the usual exploded drawing style. Everytime i wanted to see a different angle on a given part i just read ahead. Both the "old" and "new" styles have their ups and downs i think. Its just different. And we all know some (if not most) people hate change.

No, nothing wrong with it i would say. You just look at them differently.

Richard

Ye, they don't look that bad when i have checked them out. I know the reviews on PMMS dont say much good about them, and i am sure i have read dab comments on other sites. I will see for myself soon enough.

Hi Kermit -- I'm most interested in your Dragon armor perceptions here as I'm breaking my Dragon virginity for this GB too (on their StuG III/Ausf. F/8, #9021), and have somewhat different feelings so far.

Different eras, perhaps, and different approaches -- I'll have to source PE for the grills, and while the overall detail is great I would have to say that it's over-engineered and fiddly in pursuit of getting the maximum number of variants from the moulds. I'm building up the superstructure at this time, in places fit is poor and many parts have no alignment devices. In any other company I would call it amateurish to have only a raised outline denoting a part's location and leaving alignment up to the modeller's eye and hand. I know all of these approaches are a compromise to get the maximum number of vaiants (there are so many leftover parts that if I was to purchase a select batch from Dragoncare I'm sure I could build a whole extra tank!) but it strikes me there are too many compromises for the exhorbitant shelf price, and certainly at this point Dragon had by no means pipped Tamiya at the post on sheer building pleasure. My -- and I'm confident that the model will be a good looking addition to the shelf when it's finished all the same!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Had a minor catastrophe yesterday.  I took my Stug III to the AMPS meeting and afterword I put the box on the back of my car while I chatted in the parking lot.  A gust of wind send it crashing to the pavement.  Some broken suspension parts and a lot of track links scattered about, could have been much worse.  I think I can fix it since I have an extra set of the indie links from my spares stash.

Well to be fair Mike you do have a kit from the Imperial series, which ain't known as being the best. They have improved a bit since. They have improved a bit then. Though on the parts count, theres still alot in there alot of which you don't use. That bit does annoy me.

Hi Bish -- yes, it does say Imperial Series on the box -- I must confess I'm no expert when it comes to the various series and production incarnations of Dragon kits, and picked up a batch of Imperials on eBay last year for what seemed like a good price. They're pretty impressive in the box but from the outset it seems Dragon were inclined to be overcomplex. If they've mastered that urge in later series then that would be great!

Right now I have a conflict, two parts trying to occupy the same space, which means something gets filed!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Any thing with a 9*** number is from the Imperial series. I think these were the first armour kits Dragon did. I ahve built one and have another in the stash, but thats only because they are both oddities that are not available in any other form. Personally, i go for the newer Dragon kits, anything with a 6*** number, the higher the better. But of couse, you pay for it.

As for they mastering the urge to get over complex, i wouldn't count on it.

Time for a lil update and to save my GB from the deep dark abyss called "page2" LOL...

First a few pics... I've been tinkering and gluing for days now and this is what i came up with. Note the PE and metal barrel:

Now a question...

If you look at my instruction sheet and see what they want me to attach to the tank as far as tools and boxes and stuff... Is this typical german stuff or can i attach all of this f i want to model a standard russian T34? The Tamyia one i modeled had fuel barrels to the side... This dragon kit doesnt provide these. Thats what makes me worry...:

Looking forward from some info from the experts...

Richard

I am no expert on the T-34. I just did a google search and found alot of pics of them. And i only found one with the same boxes as on the left side of yours. Alot of the others had a long slim box on the front left.

If it was me and i could not get deffionate proof that Soviet T-34's carried them then leave them off as the photo evidence seems to suggest they didn't carry those boxes.

hey guys!

Kermit: I'm calling this Stug finished. I didn't take any photos after the last set, I just plugged ahead to finish it. I did a winter camo finish that has mostly worn off.

Thanks Kermit for hosting this GB! i am again impressed with all of the excellent work!

Rob

Rob - as usual your build is excellent! I can only hope my attempts at armor are as good when I finally get around to them!

Nice StuG, i like  the tracks.  And the white wash is very niced.

Doogs Once you go to the Dark Side, theres no turning back.

StuG made in heaven!!

Very well done indeed!

Richard

Very nice, maxfax, lovely build, with a balance in the finish between clean enough to see the details and scruffy enough to fool the eye! Top stuff!

Your skill and perseverence are my envy, sir -- I'm still struggling with the Dragon engineering, cutting bits off and adding scrap plastic to make things fit...

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Maxfax I agree with all said above a very very nice StuG indeed. Love the worn winter camo, gotta tell us how you did that BTW And the weld beads really make the look of the model, I am gonna remember that trick for sure.

Thanks to everyone for commenting. After the basecoat of Dark Yellow, I pretty well completely weathered the tank, placed all the chips with flat brown or burnt umber oil paint, did a few washes with burnt umber, then lightly sprayed on a thin coat of flat white. Added the tools etc, washed it again, lightly drybrushed with basecoat. I then used various Mig pigments for the hull and lightly on walking areas on the rest of the tank.

I picked up a 1/48  Pro-Modeller He-111H-22 with V-1 rocket a few weeks ago, and I am looking forward to starting that tomorrow. I think it was used on the Western front, so unfortunately I can't add it to this GB.

Rob