Panzerjager GB (March 1st - June 30th, 2011)

Well i spent a good hour/half at the bench and had my first WTF moment. There were 3 small parts on the engine deck near the large hatch. Directions were not specific as to had they went on. There was also a piece that went before the mantlet that had 4 pin marks. The boxart didn't show them, so I filled them in. Next I went to a couple of sites and modelers left the marks and others filled them. Some even had the piece turned the other way. So i chose for asthetics to leave them filled.

The rear deck appears finished with grills installed. I left the tools and MG off for now. There are tons of fiddly little parts. Phew. I will try to post a pic or two in a couple of days, hopefully after the entire top is finished.

tigerman

Well i spent a good hour/half at the bench and had my first WTF moment. There were 3 small parts on the engine deck near the large hatch. Directions were not specific as to had they went on. There was also a piece that went before the mantlet that had 4 pin marks. The boxart didn't show them, so I filled them in. Next I went to a couple of sites and modelers left the marks and others filled them. Some even had the piece turned the other way. So i chose for asthetics to leave them filled.

The rear deck appears finished with grills installed. I left the tools and MG off for now. There are tons of fiddly little parts. Phew. I will try to post a pic or two in a couple of days, hopefully after the entire top is finished.

Brother I fell your pain.  I have been WTFing over the fenders on this Stug for 2 days now.  And I though DML instructions were confusing at times.  These Cyber Hobby are worse.   Part numbers that don't exist, part numbers that don't match up with the part they show.  2 totally different set of fenders nowhere say it's an either/or choice.  I finally noticed a very slight difference in the camo profile where i could see different fender for different vehicles.  Now with that knowledge I will probably be able to piece together a set of fenders.

Just like they take sprues form different kit to make a vehicles, they must also take some steps from the related DML sheets as well.  So if they happen to be confusing... read that F'd up...then there is a high concentration of "confusing"  diagrams.

The good news is that when I go to pull out my hair, there is so much already gone the damage is minimal.

[ Please insert a smiley that show someone running off into the night terrified and screaming]

tigerman,

I'd like to join in on this GB as well.

StuG IV Early Type Dragon Kit #9038 1/35 Imperial Series.

More to follow.

Cheers, Thom

Hey Thom! We've met a few times before at AMPS East (and maybe Valleycon, too?). I'm the one always hanging around with Boyd.

Speaking of Valleycon, you going this year?

1. Tigerman-  Jagdpanther
2. Panzerwaffe-  Sturer Emil
3. Bufflehead- ???
4. RMC_Birdunner- ???
5. Big Smitty- ???
6. Wing_nut-  Sturer Emil
7. Bobbaily-  Jagdpanther
8. TigerEp1- ???
9. Nachtflieger- Sturer Emil
10. Terry35- Sturer Emil
    
11. Hinsky- Dicker Max
    
12. Dupes- (tiebreaker)
13. bbrowniii- Jagdpanther
14. Wolfp - ???
    
15. ogrejohn - ???
16. JMart - Sturer Emil
17. tlivansco - ???

Last couple days for the voting until the official decision is made on Friday - shout it out, fellas!

Hello dupes,

Yes I remember meeting you, I have been exchanging emails with Boyd and I am planning on going to Valleycon this year.

I heard you were coming down for it as well, be good to meet up with you again and chat a bit.

Cheers, Thom

 StuG IV Early Type Dragon Kit #9038 1/35 Imperial Series.

Hi, Marc sorry to hear of the woes about theh Stug, any thing I hear about these tends to pop up my ears these days because I'm doing one for Dales Stug  GB.

Nate should be good to see a 1/35th builtt up against the 48th.

Ben great start, are you sure you don't want to try the interior? seems like an awful sheme not to......

Rob that interior is brilliant, thats the kind of start everybody needs for a thoroughlyyenjoyable build.

I got a start on the 48th at the weekend.

Hull plates

They glue up easily enough. Metal bits are included to give a sense of weight.

The smoke candle holder is just a simple piece of plastic so I done a bit to it.

Just some chopped rod.

I made a back to hide the lack of work and just made some simple chains to represent the real thing, mainly something to dry brush.

The tool box does not have the holes opened but 20 mins with a pinvise solved that.

Dry fit of parts so far.

some filling done under the fenders.

Thanks for looking,

Regards,

Terry.

Thom, nice of you to join us. Look forward to the StuG

Terry, goo to see you building. Looks like you spent a little work  boring out the tool box. Good start.

i doubt I will get much done tonight, I'm very tired from an early day. I had to go to work and take a training class on a fork-lift. My coworkers and I laugh that we can add that to our next resumes. Actually, when you think of it, it really isn't funny, but we need to keep up our spirits.

tlivancso

 StuG IV Early Type Dragon Kit #9038 1/35 Imperial Series.

Thom - when I said "shout it out" I was referring to voting for what I'm building for this GB (I can see how you might have been confused!). The choices are as follows:

Bronco 35004 7.5cm PaK 40 Auf GW H38/39 - no aftermarket in stock
Tamiya 35285 Hetzer Mid - Fruil Hetzer Winterketten, JB Model Barrel, Bison Hungarian Markings
Tamiya 35203 Jagdpanther Late - Eduard Etch, old-style Fruils, MK Bosch Headlight, LR Cables
Trumpeter 00350 Sturer Emil - Lionmarc Resin Tracks (line on a RB Barrel, Voyager Etch)
Trumpeter 00348 Dicker Max - no aftermarket in stock

The current standings are somewhere near the top of this page. Voting ends Friday!

More WTF moments, but I think I overcame. I got the travel lock and notek light done, and not much more on the upper-half left except track hangers and tools. A much better day then I anticipated. 

Hey guys,

Terry: I've just seen your post buddy - I'm impressed by the smoke candles! Great stuff!

I noticed you mentioned the interior of my Marder and I agree, it's a shame (and something I'm regretting now) not to use the interior SO I might well be tempted to try and paint up the front drivers compartment. I'm honestly not fussed about the mid-engine as that will be buttoned up fully. I've only done one interior before and that was on my Dragon Panzer I Ausf A which turned out beautifully.

I'm a bit peed off with myself for not doing this anyway as it would have been a hell of a lot better and easier to paint with the parts outside the vehicle before I stuck them down - the photos would have looked better too with a dash of colour!

Here's my only other interior attempt on my Panzer I Ausf A (I think this has to rate as a personal favourite model of mine). I know the interior is pretty basic as it was a real rush job but the build itself turned out really well so I quite fancy another crack at an interior but I need to get the colours worked out - as usual Dragon aren't very helpful when it comes to painting!

Obviously the fighting compartment will be detailed as well as my limited detailing skills allow but I'm now thinking that some a splash of colour on the drivers interior up front will allow me to pose the vehicle with the hatch open. I honestly have no clue about colours for the interior though? My Panzer was painted in a home made off white as I had no proper Elfenbein & with a primer green floor, steel transmission & with a black chair but what about these VERY late war Marders? Obviously the painting will be kept pretty basic and the seating and transmission etc is pretty obvious but what about the interior walls and floor colour? There is also the section of bulkhead behind the driver seat to think about too? I need help!  

Any suggestions chaps?

ATVB

Ben

dupes,

Ah well confusion comes easy, my vote would be for the Tamiya 35285 Hetzer Mid then.

Cheers

Hinksy - nice Pz.I! That interior does look really good.

Thom - vote logged. Only one more day for the stragglers! With 6 votes to go the outcome could be decidedly alterered...

1. Tigerman-  Jagdpanther
2. Panzerwaffe-  Sturer Emil
3. Bufflehead- ???
4. RMC_Birdunner- ???
5. Big Smitty- ???
6. Wing_nut-  Sturer Emil
7. Bobbaily-  Jagdpanther
8. TigerEp1- ???
9. Nachtflieger- Sturer Emil
10. Terry35- Sturer Emil
    
11. Hinsky- Dicker Max
    
12. Dupes- (tiebreaker)
13. bbrowniii- Jagdpanther
14. Wolfp - ???
    
15. ogrejohn - ???
16. JMart - Sturer Emil
17. tlivansco - Hetzer
    

It's looking more like the Sturer Emil, unless the absentees can get their votes in for the Jagdpanther.

Hello All,

Here is a picture of the kit sprues, hope to start this over the weekend.

Are you going to add an AM or build OOB?

Dupes, Tigerman, Nate, Bob, Boyd, Thanks guys.  Only the rear parts of the interior will show when it has it's top on but the pieces were there so thought would paint them anyway.  Not sure if I like the color of green used, has quite a few coats of wash (Raw umber) and still did not darken up as much as wanted.  Lesson learned.

Marc - Nice welds, something I will be trying here soon.  Hope can get mine half as good as yours.

Terry - Thanks.  Thats a nice touch with the smoke candle holder.  Will really add some extra detail to the rear.

Not much to report on for progress, has been a long hard work week.  Looking forward too the weekend to get some more work done on the PZ.  Was able to get the interior into the hull and add the ammo bins.  Put on a few more washes, gray chipping and a touch of burnt metal and steel dry brushing.

As you can see in this pic, the overhead is dry fit and much of the interior will not be visable.

One more day for the weekend

Still too bad you won't be able to see more of this when you're done!

Ever consider doing a cut-away?

BTW, the Voyager etch set for the Sturer Emil showed up today...one of my least favorite parts of modeling is decaling - not because I don't like doing it, but because I can't count the number of times a good/great build has been derailed due to silvered decals. Yeah, I've tried future, micro-sol/set, solvaset, whatever - totally hit or miss, can't find a 100% effective method.

ANYWAY (diatribe over), the Voyager set comes with a set of complete etch stencils for both of the production Emils. I thought that was a pretty nice touch...and totally unexpected!

dupes

BTW, the Voyager etch set for the Sturer Emil showed up today...one of my least favorite parts of modeling is decaling - not because I don't like doing it, but because I can't count the number of times a good/great build has been derailed due to silvered decals. Yeah, I've tried future, micro-sol/set, solvaset, whatever - totally hit or miss, can't find a 100% effective method.

ANYWAY (diatribe over), the Voyager set comes with a set of complete etch stencils for both of the production Emils. I thought that was a pretty nice touch...and totally unexpected!

Absolutely agree with you on decals. That is why I'm focusing on some Archer numbers this weekend at the model show. I'm lazy and they never turn out that great. Of course I have plenty of white numbers, but it seems that the Jagdtiger had black numbers and some balkenkruezs.

I finished the track hangers, so the upper half is now finished with the exception of tools and cables. I'm almost ready to tackle the dreaded magic tracks. Pics TK.

Hey Thom,

Looking forward to seeing this one go together. I've got the STuG IV early with molded zim, that I'd like to start in the near future.

Nate

dupes

Hinksy - nice Pz.I! That interior does look really good.

Thanks Dupes,

Like I say, she's on of my personal favourites!

Has anyone got any info on the drivers compartment colours for my my Marder III M? I'm going to be going all out for a big chunk of building work this weekend and still might paint the front compartment yet but am still stuck on colours.

Any basic Marder III M colour guidelines chaps?

ATVB

Ben

Hey Nate,

Hopefully going to start this one over the weekend, this one does not have the moulded on zimm so I'll be doing it the putty/scrape method .

And I'll post pics of the process for everyone to have a good chuckle at.

I wonder if the StuG IV had a variant with the waffle zimm pattern instead of the raked pattern, have to look into that one.

I see your build is moving along nicely as well great work as always.

tigerman: I'm not sure I might do a AM barrel if anything, but still undecided.

Bob: Nice work as well on your build.

Ben: Great work on your build also, I'm going to enjoy watching this one.

Rob: That interior is great looking, I think the colors really pop on it.

Cheers, Thom

Cheers, Thom

I'm not an expert, but I can't recall seeing the waffle zimmerit on the StuG IV. Maybe check out some manufacturers such as Cavalier and Eduard to see if they produce a set, and if they do, your golden.

Well fellas, the time is here! Looks like the Sturer Emil has won the popular vote. Gotta get an order in to JBModel for an aftermarket barrel...everything else is here. Prepping for a show tomorrow, so no pics yet, but I'll take some on Sunday when I'm in a post-contest modeling frenzy.

Can't wait to get started!

Good luck Marc. Looking forward to the Sturmer Emil.

Have fun Marc. Only two weeks til Valley Con!

Nate

Hey guys,

I hope you are all very well

I've had some excellent news today; the builders have postponed the start of work on the extension until Wednesday so guess what? No emptying the roofspace so a FULL weekend of build time! Yeah!

This weekend I will mostly be assembling the upper sloping armour above the drivers compartment. I was going to paint the drivers compartment but seeing as I'm on a tight schedule the interior will be staying unpainted but assembling it was good practice for me.

When the driver compartment is on along with the hatch etc the fenders will be going on and then I'll either start work on the fighting compartment details or the Pak 40 assembly as it looks fun (and complicated). I haven't got to worry about fitting the Magic Tracks tracks now seeing that I'm using Friuls now. I've got some 'Black Track' from a forum chum here in the UK. It comes in three small 250ml bottles and the assembled tracks have to be 'dipped' stage by stage and his tracks looks superb. I suppose it's a bit like 'Blacken It' that you guys have in the States but it's apparently designed for tracks? I'm not sure about that but am looking forward to trying it out. No paint - just a dip and then pigments.

I do fancy another detailed 'interior' build so when I pick up my replacement StuG III B that got eaten I think it will be a hatches open job with full interior and scratchbuilt details too - my LHS have my replacement in stock now. The interior is basic so additional detailing will be required and I fancy a bit of scratch work. The gun is extremely well detailed for a Tamiya kit so that's a start.

Anyway, I want to see some photos chaps! How are you getting on?

WIP update later.

ATVB

Ben

Just checking in, Dupes can't wait to see you get a start on the Sturer. 

Ben that Pz.1 interior is cool, all the more reason to give the marder one a try.

Had a busy week in hell/work so  I hope to get updates ASAP. Ideally with St. Paddys day coming up Thursday i hope to have the kit prepared for airbrushing. the alternative is just sitting in the boozer getting hammered. I just don't drink that much anymore so with a bit of luck it will be painting.

Terry.