Blitzkrieg in the West (France 1940) Sept. 18 2011 - March 1 2012

Hey guys

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sorry for my extended absence. I went on a bit of an FSM diet for a few weeks, then I spent some time focusing on a couple other builds, then some projects around the house.

The last time I was here I was debating how much of an interior to put into my SdKfz 222. I ended up putting in a few random boxes, a gas mask holder, and canteen. I also scratchbuilt a grenade rack for one side and a rack for MG ammo on the other (the ammo rack is a complete flier - I can't find any ref pics for it, but the Tristar interior has one, so I kind of did a rough copy of it because I thought it looked cool).

Unfortunately, my camera crapped the bed on me, so I don't have any pics to show you (I did get it fixed, so I'll have some soon), but I did at least want to check in and dip my toes back in the pond.

Double ditto,,,,,,,,     Have a great Thanksgiving !

treadwell

Happy Thanksgiving to all my brothers in this fine Group Build !!! Gobble Gobble !

tread

Ditto. Hope everyone gets plenty to eat and if you're traveling, please drive safe.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my brothers in this fine Group Build !!! Gobble Gobble !

tread

PANZERWAFFE

Thanks Bill

Eric sorry I haven't got that picture for you yet.  To tell you the truth I've still been eaten the on the couch.  Sorry buddy I'll get on it.

Don't stress it. I won't be able to probably hit the bench until next week anyway.

Thanks Bill

Eric sorry I haven't got that picture for you yet.  To tell you the truth I've still been eaten the on the couch.  Sorry buddy I'll get on it.

Rob,,   I agree,, those gauges are special,,   A+ !         The rest of the carrier is A+ as well   !!

PANZERWAFFE

I have done nothing since my last post!  Been busy holding the couch down...It's tough work

Amen to that brother.  Seems if there isn't a steady flow of wings and beer the darn thing would be on the ceiling.

PANZERWAFFE

CARL - Yes sir, they are hand painted and thanks.

ERIC - Did not mean to make it more confusing   Might take me a little while but I will go back through pics and see if I can find a good one with the three tone with black outline.  Will also try to make sure to get the turret number and card suit location.  There are some good pictures in that French site that everyone here is using too.  If you have a nice Olivgrun and want to go that route, I say go for it

Well now that is impressive .

Keep that couch down ....................

wing_nut

In my best Joisey aceent...Yous guys are busy.  Bill, Bill, rob.  nice stuff... really nice stuff indeed.

Andyt... dunno what the issue is but gald to here it's better whatever it is

 

I may have to squeeze a 2nd entry into the build list to stay in touch with you guys

Feel free to. I'm loving all the subjects and the knowledge that's coming with it.

Hey Marc, that would be sweet!  Would love to see ya go for another!  What could it be....

I have done nothing since my last post!  Been busy holding the couch down...It's tough work

CARL - Yes sir, they are hand painted and thanks.

ERIC - Did not mean to make it more confusing   Might take me a little while but I will go back through pics and see if I can find a good one with the three tone with black outline.  Will also try to make sure to get the turret number and card suit location.  There are some good pictures in that French site that everyone here is using too.  If you have a nice Olivgrun and want to go that route, I say go for it

In my best Joisey aceent...Yous guys are busy.  Bill, Bill, rob.  nice stuff... really nice stuff indeed.

Andyt... dunno what the issue is but gald to here it's better whatever it is

I may have to squeeze a 2nd entry into the build list to stay in touch with you guys

Thank you Rob, yes I'm more confused then ever. I do think this guy needs some camo. The red-brown look is okay, but I do like the spots with black outline, hence that is my preferred pattern for today. I've got a nice olivegrun that should work well.

Rob , super looking interior . Are the gauges hand painted ? Looking mighty fine .

treadwell

Shellback:

Hey Treadplate , what the heck man , did you have to put the wood so far from the house ? Poor Pati , looks like she's workin and your just takin pics ..............................

Thats a lot of snow dude . Funny thing is my woodshed is about 80 ft from my house .....guess i dont like to look at the fire wood when the weather is warm.....fun hauling that stuff ...............not ! Stay warm and dont work the wife too hard .

 

Hey Shell... well after I dug the whole thing I asked her to pose there 'cause she is only 5'3"  ... it gave the picture what an artist would call ' depth'   ...LOL... really man she's a great gal and a hard worker thats why I love her so much.. works right along with me and never quits.. but the snow was un-freekin beleivable

frosty the snowman

Treadplate , i figured that was the idea behind the pic man . Just cant seem to stop giving you a bad time when ever the opportunity pops up . Sounds like a cool gal .  Them short gals are packed with dynomite dude , i know , my wife is 5' 2' .

Later cornplate .

WBILL, don't think MK makes the tracks any more.  I've searched and have found many places that have them listed but none in stock.  Many of these listings are a few years old on top of that.  I have still not attempted to construct any MK tracks, have always just watched you and a few others and have wanted to try a set.  Thanks for the answer though and glad you like the MG.  Have found that most of the earlier Carriers were actually fitted with these more so than other weapon types.

Have a small update.  Little bit of painting on some of the interior.  Still needs weathering put on though and still more to paint before that.

Have also begun work on the boogies and have decided on this for the color of the springs.  Have all off these parts cleaned and painted to this point and hope to get them all put together tonight.

TREAD, CARL, BILL212 - Thanks guys.  I will borrow some words I've heard but mean whole heartily, I,m just trying to keep up to par with all of you guys.

ANDY - Thanks buddy.  Recently I've thought I've slowed down tremendously though.  Sadly I need to slow down even more so that I will be able to move when the time comes here shortly.

Rob,

No idea if MK still produces the Universal Carrier tracks...sorry I can't be of more help! Nice work on the details, that water-cooled .30 looks nice.

Hey Eric, wanted to answer you first so that you could have some more decisions about your camo scheme.  Spent most of the morning looking through more pictures and this is what I've come up with:  You have a few options for color, this is based off my observations of pictures nothing written or concrete proof.  The lower number vehicles, 1 - 20ish, seem to be painted a solid khaki color.  Vehicles 20 - 35ish had two primary color schemes.  First being a khaki base with a soft edge reddish brown wide camo pattern.  The second had a khaki base with either the red brown or the green outlined in black.  Hard to tell if it was a brown or green in the pictures I was looking at but the color had a very stark contrast to the khaki base.  The color was defiantly outlined in the black though.  There was a third in this number group but did not find many and this was the three tone with what I believe was the khaki base, red brown wide band, and the green splotches outlined with black.  Once again hard to tell in the old pictures but I would say there was defiantly three colors but once again I found very few painted in this manner.  The higher numbered vehicles were mostly painted in the solid khaki color again.  The numbers I'm talking of are the painted on turret numbers.  Depending on which camo scheme was used also seemed to dictate the size and location of the company / platoon insignias (thats the card suits).  All this being said there was many variations in the camo schemes and numbers, the above was just what seemed to be the average.  Further the most common out of all of them seemed to be the khaki base with the wide band reddish brown scheme.  Not sure if this is going to help you out or make things more confusing?  Hope it helps.  Have fun with the decisions, one of these may help you OK make it

Rob,,,      the carrier is looking sweet...   great stuff!!

Thanks  Rob. Would that be olivegrun with black outlines?

treadwell

Holy crap Rob !... you are a friggin building machine..... I wish I had your time or your swiftness !!

and all the scratch work is so nice and clean .. just how I like it.... ya better look out or you are going to 'up-stage' your beautiful Somua !.... love your work dude!

tread

Holy cow!  Another great build going on... that was quick but clean and looking great too.  Ditto to Tread's comment... wish I have your swiftness! 

Shellback

Hey Treadplate , what the heck man , did you have to put the wood so far from the house ? Poor Pati , looks like she's workin and your just takin pics ..............................

Thats a lot of snow dude . Funny thing is my woodshed is about 80 ft from my house .....guess i dont like to look at the fire wood when the weather is warm.....fun hauling that stuff ...............not ! Stay warm and dont work the wife too hard .

Hey Shell... well after I dug the whole thing I asked her to pose there 'cause she is only 5'3"  ... it gave the picture what an artist would call ' depth'   ...LOL... really man she's a great gal and a hard worker thats why I love her so much.. works right along with me and never quits.. but the snow was un-freekin beleivable

frosty the snowman

PANZERWAFFE

Thats funny Carl but more so when I lived in MA had tried this method of removing snow.

I saw that on you tube , since you tried it Rob i wont say no more .....................

Great looking progress on the build . all of that scratch building is cool Dont know about the German raadio stuff , but yours really looks spot on .

Hey Treadplate , what the heck man , did you have to put the wood so far from the house ? Poor Pati , looks like she's workin and your just takin pics ..............................

Thats a lot of snow dude . Funny thing is my woodshed is about 80 ft from my house .....guess i dont like to look at the fire wood when the weather is warm.....fun hauling that stuff ...............not ! Stay warm and dont work the wife too hard .

Holy crap Rob !... you are a friggin building machine..... I wish I had your time or your swiftness !!

and all the scratch work is so nice and clean .. just how I like it.... ya better look out or you are going to 'up-stage' your beautiful Somua !.... love your work dude!

tread

Hi, guys just read back a couple of pages, I must admit that I myself have kinda stalled but I'm glad to see that others are motoring on. 

Well I do check in every couple of days on the phone. With a bit of luck I will be back posting soon.

Terry.