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

Sounds like you're flying along Terry. i too hope to be painting by next weekend. Tis possible if I can get the tracks assembled.

Hi All,

Well, I finished the build portion of my Marder III today. Except for the gun cleaning rods, which I'll install after I'm done painting it. The tracks are also still removable so I can finish them. The last time I used Friuls, I used Blacken-it to weather them. It  worked, but it was pretty messy so I'm thinking about just painting them this time.

I plan on painting it panzer gray with a winter white-wash over the base coat. I swiped the two crew men from Tamiya's Wespe kit; they just look COLD!

Here's some pics of where I'm at. I'm happy with the right side track, but may remove a link on the left.

Thanks for looking, and have a great day.

Nate

Holy smokes Nate, how long did it take you to build the whole thing?? Those Wespe figs do indeed look cold!

Itching to get started on the Sturer Emil, but I've only got two weeks left until Valleycon...think I'm going to have to focus on touching up a few builds that went to Downeastcon yesterday, and maybe finish up a couple more while I'm at it. End of March it will have to be! Should have the AM barrel by then as well.

Speaking of Downeastcon, I raked again this year at my (semi)local contest! Took home awards with 8 out of the 14 armor/aircraft builds I entered! Pretty darn happy with that as the level of competition was considerably higher this year. Toot toooot!

Hello GB'ers!

That Marder is coming along nicely Nate! The figures look really good!

 I'd say the Friuls on the right side look perfect and the left run could probably do with using one link - have you had a count up of links used on each side?

Onto my Marder - so far it hasn't been the scarily over complicated monster that I'd envisaged There have been a couple of niggly little annoying things like incorrect part numbers on the build guide and slots and grooves missing off parts that are shown in the pictures but aren't there on the actual part! Oh well, it is a Dragon kit after all!

So, work done this weekend:

• Saturday - none whatsoever as I got roped into going into the office for a meeting and I had such a headache when I got home I just couldn't face a Dragon model!
• Today - I had an early start to make up for the time I lost yesterday and things are moving along nicely. I decided against painting the drivers interior compartment as with it already assembled I'd struggle to do a half decent job of it - it wil give me more time to concentrate on the fighting compartment detailing which I'm hoping will be a real piece of eye candy. 
• By lunchtime I'd assembled the front sloping compartment cover and hatches and the travel lock was in place. According to the instructions the drivers hatch was supposed to have a cut out taken from it to allow flush fitting of the travel lock mount but it wasn't there. This needed some careful surgery and turned out ok - niggle #1!
• The fenders are on but the right fender needed surgery to fit properly - instruction error by what I can make of it niggle #2!
• Engine covers in place with curved sections and grab handles fitted. Beautifully detailed.
• PaK 40 base fitted and fighting compartment floor is in place but not cemented as I'l probable need to remove this again.
• Finally, I knew the next stages would involve assembly of the main gun and detailing of the fighting compartment (assembly of the ammo holders and radio) so I felt brave and assembled the ammo holders. One is a simple plastic affair with three tubes for round storage but the other has a PE frame the need building up and two 6 round holders slotting home inside the frame. I got my first ever opportunity to use my PE folder which saved my life - I thought I'd never use it as I've had it for 6 months and had yet to need it. The only PE work I'd really done today was big muffler shrouds which are easy!
• The frame assembled okay and doesn't look too bad. The 15 ammo tubes each needed a very small PE extension sticking into the ends with CA which was a real tricky PITA but I'm now definately getting a lot more proficient when working with PE! It's the tool clamps which look VERY difficult!

Next week I'll assemble the gun and start work on the interior of the fighting compartment. I'll soon get the basecoat of DY laid. The ammo holders and various bit's will be in place but the radio assembly etc will be painted by hand and fitted after basecoat application. Tools will also be painted by hand and fitted later on as will the running gear.

Overall, I'm realy pleased with how this build is going. I'd put it off for ages as it looked so complicated but a bit of forethought on the best way of each assembly stage has helped me know end - this could be a very nice Marder if my AB painting skills are up to the job!

WIP photos:

How on EARTH do these tool clamps assemble (clamp 'V')? Are they supposed to be workable? Has anyone got a blog?

Thanks for looking guys,

I'm really enjoying this GB especially as Marders are my all time favourites - they are so cool

Have a great week everyone!

ATVB

Ben  

Great to see so much progress.

Dupes, congrats on all the awards. What a haul!

Nate, you just blasted that Marder together. Love the Friuls. I have the guys from my Wespe too. They do look appropriate.

Ben, wish I could help out, but I'm pretty PE illiterate. They could well be workable, but I can't tell. I wouldn't think you'd want them to be. It's static after all.

Dupes - It IS too bad more of the interior will not show.  Cut-away is not going too be done on this one, only when I have more than one of a kit (or of that AFV) I then think of doing things such as cut-aways or blown apart etc...  Always like to have a complete example of the AFV for the display cabinet.  I may in the future get another of this kit and do a cut-away, it would make a great one to do like that same for the PZ 38 I have in stash with FULL interior.

Still never found 100% method with "Silvering" decals myself but I found the Micro - Sol / set too work best for me.

NICE !!  The Sturer Emil won!  Cant wait.

Thom - Will be watching with much intrest on your build.  I like when the Zim is scratched.  Really looking forward too see how yours comes out.  Have been looking but have not been able to find the waffle pattern on the IV only the normal straight line pttern.

And thanks about my interior.

Nate - Looks great!  You really pulled away with the consruction and it looks like you created an excellent platform for the paint.  Agree, those figures are goig to look great for old cold Russia.  Like them much better than the ones that came with the kit.  Cant wait too see the paint!

Tigerman - It sounds as if you have accomplished a lot, any chance of some pictures?  Looking forward to take a peak.

UP DATE - Still working on the interior, the upper section.  Have just about completed the interior completly, paint and all.  Added some small parts too the glacis / turret structure and is ready to glue in place.  Have also added the hatches and some weld seams to the engine deck.  It is almost ready too glue on.  Will post some pictures as soon as I finish some grab handles for the last touch in the interior.  Pics, soon, today.

How is everyone else coming along?

tigerman

Great to see so much progress.

Ben, wish I could help out, but I'm pretty PE illiterate. They could well be workable, but I can't tell. I wouldn't think you'd want them to be. It's static after all.

Hey TM,

Obviously I won't be popping them open and taking the tools off but from looking at the build guide I assume they need to be made up and the tool handles positioned in place and then the clamps closed up. It says no glue to be used so I'm of the mind that they need to be able to be workable - the instructions are just pretty poor and unclear and I'm a total PE newbie which doesn't help!

Rob - I'm really pleased with mine so far, I thought it was going to be beyond me and my limited skills but I have been proved very wrong. It's a been a very enjoyable build so far!

How's that little Pz of yours coming along? That interior was something special so I'm keen to see what you do with the rest of the build!

ATVB

Ben

Yes I concur about the clamps. Seems so fragile to have them open and close.

Dupes I saw a Sturmer at the show yesterday and amazingly, they appeared to be asking retail $$ for it. Surprised me. You're right about that gun. Pretty big!

Thanks guys. Yeah, this one has been extremely easy to build........it's a Tamiya!

Ben, you're making very good progress too. I usually use the tools with the plastic tool clasps, so I can't really offer any advice on the PE versions.

As Dupes said, Valley Con is two weeks away, so I don't think I'll do much more on this until after the show.

Nate

T-man - yeah, it's huge. I'll throw down a pic with a ruler before I start. I think maybe this kit was only made in one big run, and supplies are dwindling - doesn't appear to be in stock anywhere...maybe soon to be discontinued?

Ben - I think what they're trying to convey there is to not glue the clasps shut until AFTER your painted tools are inserted. Don't see why you couldn't just slide them in afterwards? Pretty fiddly, at best. Those parts are SMALL!

Let's see...

I have one of these waiting to be built. I'd love to join the GB, if it's not too late?

TAPS88 - Another Sturer Emil, NICE!  This is a kit I have been wanting so I have a high intrest in these two builds.

Ben - I had missed your update I guess when I was writing my last post.  Your Marder is looking great, really like those ammo racks!  I have not had a lot of luck with the PE tool brackets.  Have made them before, when I do, I bend and glue everything straight onto the tools.  Then I paint the tools just as one would do if it had molded on clamps.  My problem was, found it hard to make a set of clamps look like each other, my solution use the tools with molded on clamps and then use part MA16 (on your instruction sheet), the handle,and glue that onto the molded clamps.  Keep up the good progress.

Up Date - Some of these may seem to be repetitive on the pics but still have problems with lighting and trying to get everything to show.  These are the last of the interior pics until towards the end of the build, hope to be putting personal gear and wiring at that point.

All assemblies are dry fit.  Engine deck had small seam showing so filled it with some streched sprue, stippled with chisel blade and call it a weld seam.  Can also see the added in hatches.

Interior is complete for now.  Here are a few pics

And here is the instrument panel

Tryed to get a shot of the panel inside the vehicle but just cant get the light in there for the picture

Next in line is to get these two assemblies permanent onto the hull and then work on theroad wheels.

I'll start my build this evening...looking forward to it!

Looks great Rob. Are those kit decals for the IP or Archer transfers?

Nate

Hey thanks Nate.  It's not either, the insrtument panel is had painted and the two grab handles in front of it are wire.

Rob that interior is stunning. Nice weld beads too. 

Eric, glad to have you aboard. Been so long since I've seen your work. 

So far today, no progress. Son stopped in from out of town, so...........I need to plot my course of action. Again, the upper hull is pretty much done except fenders and tools and such. Lower hull needs wheels and tracks. 

Terry, Rob, Ben & Nate-you guys are flying!  Great progress and great work.  I feel soooooo  sloooow....

Anyway, no progress on the Jagdpanzer this weekend.  However, I did finish my commitment for the Reich Defender III GB, so my time will be devoted to this one until the end of the month.  Also spent the evening taking care of home administration duties....paying bills....so the rest of the week in the evenings is mine....once I adjust to Daylight Savings time.  Out of town soccer tournament for our son next weekend so I'm going to have to chip away in small bits during the week.

Hey guys,

Nate - Your Panzer I is looking good! Imo that could be the build to watch. You've made a really strong start buddy

Re the Sturer - I looked into them a bit yesterday and want to change my vote from the Dicker Max to the Emil! Not that it matters now as it won anyway. That's one hell of a gun! That's is definately a future build for me. I've never worked with Trumpeter builds - I assume they are generally sound kits?

Onto my Marder - It's coming along better than I could ever have expected as the build guide was just so crazy and I was expecting to struggle trying to make sense of it! I'm pretty chuffed with my first ever attempt at working with PE. That frame for the shell racks wasn't that bad - I've had to move the bracing piece across the middle as it needed to be sloping and was out of line so it looks a lot better now. I've also taken a fine diamond file to the ammo holder PE tips to remove them little stubs. It's horrible stuff all said and done and wherever possible I'll always use a plastic alternative!

Someone actually sent me a little build guide to assembling Dragon clamps so that should help. I've looked and there are no supplied tools with moulded on clamps so I've got to use the PE clamps. I'll be assembling the clamps and fitting the tool handles then painting them 'in situ'.

So now it's assemble the PaK 40, assemble the fighting compartment walls and fit everything else that doesn't need careful detailing and painting the a base coat of DY. The radio will be assembled separately along with batteries and a couple of containers. They'll be fitted afterward followed by the rear hinged section that swings down.

Hopefully by the end of next weekend I can be thinking about painting the base coat. I've got next Monday off work so that should be the day when I can start painting!

Keep the updates coming guys!

ATVB

Ben

Trumpeter armor kits really depend on which "era" they are - the oldest ones are mostly junk (with a couple of exceptions), then once you get to where they released the KV-1 series, things got much better. The newest ones (again, with a few exceptions) have all gotten really solid reviews.

PANZERWAFFE

Hey thanks Nate.  It's not either, the insrtument panel is had painted and the two grab handles in front of it are wire.

Holy cow!!! Hand painted?? I tip my hat to you sir!

Nate

Nachtflieger

 

PANZERWAFFE:

 

Hey thanks Nate.  It's not either, the insrtument panel is had painted and the two grab handles in front of it are wire.

 

 

Holy cow!!! Hand painted?? I tip my hat to you sir!

Nate

Wow!

Thanks for the invite, Eric. I only hope I can do this group justice.

I started building last evening, got a good amount done. I finished the breech assembly and some of the chassis. I got home from work and started hand painting some of the breech German Grey when....

I want something different... But will still be just OOTB.

I have an idea in mind. Will post progress pics in a few.

BTW......from what I've seen...this GB is going to be awesome. All are looking fantastic so far!!

Count them. 46 wheels including drive sprockets and idlers. Add to that at least 2 connectors and you have a whole lot of cleanup. that was the majority of my evening. I attached the side skirts and mad a mess in some spots where the glue seeped through. Aargghhh.

I don't know if I'll keep my date with the airbrush this weekend, but we'll see.

Nachtflieger

PANZERWAFFE:

Hey thanks Nate.  It's not either, the insrtument panel is had painted and the two grab handles in front of it are wire.

 

Holy cow!!! Hand painted?? I tip my hat to you sir!

Nate

 I agree,

When I briefly looked at it I just assumed it was a decal! Very impressive!

I've got to paint a small white circle with a red cross on it to look like a first aid box to go in the fighting compartment of my Marder and I thought that was going to be tricky!

Many thanks amd keep the updates coming!

ATVB

Ben

Well, here is my progress thus far:

I'm really enjoying this kit...very little flash to get rid of  (close to Tamiya's kits) and the instructions are done pretty well, although not the most informative. Just straightforward.

I posted above that, I started painting the breech and gun assembly in German Grey, I think I'll go with a different scheme, just to break things up a bit...in this GB...as well as add in more wear and tear. I got the paint off with a little diligence. I think the new camo will show up pretty well.

Wow, that's a quick assembly. MIghty nice.

Damn, don't check in for a few days and the place goes nuts.  I better get on the stick.  Fantastic work all around guys.

Now that the PBP is all done I can really concentrate ion the Stug.  I finally got over the brain fart I was having with the fenders.  While the sheet is confusing and has a call for a wrong part ...a big part of it was me being a bone head. Now that the fenders are done I can get some work done on the upper hull.  Progress piccies soon.

Ugggh...

I got all of my stuff, from storage and I cannot for the life of me, find my Badger Anthem. I have a special case with all the extra jars and pippets..... I usually keep in there.

More looking this evening, if I can't find it...off the the LHS to get another this weekend. I'm sure I'll have to convince the wifey.

Nice work on the Emil Taps88. Good luck finding your airbrush. I'm looking forward to seeing it painted!

Nate

Sucks about the Anthem. Hope you find it.