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

I absolutely have to laugh at myself. I got the hooks for the cupola from Rob, so I decided to put them on today, because I want some paint on this little guy. I still had one hook that was attached (thank goodness). So the first hook I'm cleaning up, flies away!  Oh crapola I'm saying. You have to be kidding me. Second went on well. (there is no easy way to clean these) I attached it with a little glue on the tip of an exacto knife. Exhale. Then I messed up the next one , so as I cleaned the glue off, I blew across the turret to get the residue off.  Well, it dawned on me after I did that, that I easily could have blown the newly glued hook off as well. It held and I had a pitter-patter and laughed. So, very long story short, they're on!

I started trimming the tracks today and I'm just not sure what to do. With my Jagdtiger's magic tracks I was easily able to make one long run. These don't hold well, so I might have to do small runs. Rob, any feedback on how you put them together?

Here are some more pics

heres a difrent angle

this is the turret masked and primed

and the body

Shellback

Hello fellow G.B. members .

I used .020 rod in the holes to simulate the bolts in the flange .

Carl:  WAY TO GO, MY MAN!

Bob

I ordered two sets of aircraft decals from Colorado today.

BaBill212

Stik,,    is the paint after assembly and involved lesson?  I'll sure be watching as you get to that area.

I will find out early next week on my days off. In concept it appears more simple than painting everything properly before assembly, then gluing it all on, followed by weathering.

Today I did some detail painting on tools, tow cables and muffler. Tomorrow I may attempt a little dry brushing of highlights on the overall vehicle.

Shellback

Hello fellow G.B. members .

I used .020 rod in the holes to simulate the bolts in the flange .

Looking really good there Shell !   Looks like size wise it matches the bolts/rivets on the TREADplate...very nicely done!

tread

Tread @ Eric..... : )

man am I glad you got those friggen hooks done !... CONGRATS !.... I will sleep better tonight !

tread

Hi modeler#1  : )

please fill me in .... is that a liquid mask you are using ?  ( the green stuff)

thanks, 

tread

treadwell

Tread @ Eric..... : )

man am I glad you got those friggen hooks done !... CONGRATS !.... I will sleep better tonight !

tread

Oh buddy. I'm sorry I wussed out and didn't scratch them, but they look great.

Wow...you armor guys are making some great progress.

I ordered an Airfix 1/48 bf109E-1/3/4 today.  I plan on building an E-1 for this GB and I'll provide more details later in the week after I've reviewed the kit.  Sorry for the change in build plans.

Cheers and keep posting the great progress pics!

Tread-yes that is a liquid mask I am using It would have been a nightmare to try to us tape to mask.

I just put on the second mask so I will be able to do the green soon.

Yes Modeler what are you using?

No problem Bob, pop in when you can.

Panzerbob .......Bob , glad you approve . I'm not sure about the number/pattern of bolts on the bottom run but the top looked like 5 .

Treadplate .........,good that you approve .

Hey fellas...sticking my nose in so I don't forget about this GB. Once I'm done with the "other" fall show (Granitecon in a couple of weeks), I enter the blissful 6-month-long Winter Build Phase (WBP). I'm quite sure I can find something to crank out that fits the bill!

That, and I want to see how Bob's new Airfix 109 goes together. Heh.

Correct me if I'm wrong...did I see WBill in a GB? And Treadwell, even????

dupes

Correct me if I'm wrong...did I see WBill in a GB? And Treadwell, even????

Yeah, isn't that something? Tread and i go back to the Kursk GB, but I've never seen Wbill in one before. I'm honored.

Modeler, what's the name of the mask you're using? Do you have have to use anything to wipe any residue?

Just doing a quick stash-dive to see what would qualify...here's what I know:

Bronco Hotchkiss
Tamiya Char Bis
Tamiya Universal Carrier
Alan Pz I Sig 33 Bison
DML Pz I Ausf. A
CH Pz II Ausf. C
Tamiya Pz II Ausf. A/B/C
DML/Tristar Pz.IV Ausf. B-D galore
Bronco Sd.Kfz.221
Zvezda Sd.Kfz.251/1, 3, 10 Ausf. B
Tamiya Kubelwagen

And questionable ones:

wrong timeframe (too late)?
Bronco Geschutzwagen 39
Bronco Befehlspanzer 39
Trumpeter Hotchkiss 38H(f)

wrong markings (all DAK/North Africa)?
Tamiya Matilda
Tamiya Kubelwagen
Tasca Kubelwagen

Leaning toward the Bronco 221 just because it looks like most of my other stuff is already being built (several Char Bis' included!). Of course, I could jump in with some aircraft, too. Hmmm.

The questionable ones would have came after the Fall of France. So no go. The Kubelwagen should be okay. I don't have the Matilda, so i don't know what the decals are for. 

Personally I'd like to see someone building that Bison. Hint hint.

The Alan kit requires a lot of work...it was one of those cases for me where I did an "all-out" build of it with AM and upgrades and then a month after it was done DML announced an all-new-tooled release of it as a Smart Kit.

"Hint, hint"???? What are you saying, T-man?

I figured it would take a bit more work than the DML kit...but a) I haven't been able to find one at any sort of affordable price (70 bucks? what?) and b) I found the Alan box with Eduard PE, Jordi Rubio barrel, and some replacement resin wheels for 10 dollars. So sue me, I had to buy it!

I've been working around the house most of the day. Finally will be able to get to the bench for a bit....

Eric,,    glad you succeeded with the hooks

Modeler#1,,   nice start on the paint... I've got a long way to go before I get to that stage

Bondo,,   something exciting in the decal sheets?

Stik,,   Thanks,, will be watching and looking for your opinion on the new technique(s)

Bob,,   always liked the E versions. I have heard some good things about the Airfix kit too,,, nice choice

Dupes,,  nice selection (choices are always good),,, and good to see you too.

dupes

"Hint, hint"???? What are you saying, T-man?

I figured it would take a bit more work than the DML kit...but a) I haven't been able to find one at any sort of affordable price (70 bucks? what?) and b) I found the Alan box with Eduard PE, Jordi Rubio barrel, and some replacement resin wheels for 10 dollars. So sue me, I had to buy it!

Are you kidding? All that for $10? That's why I start my auctions at a price i'm usually willing to accept. That guy got hosed. LOL

I did see a DML kit go for around 30-$40 just last week. did you check spruebrothers?

Work continued on the Step 4 elements with the installation of the suspension to the lower hull. I had deliberately left off parts A25/26 from the Step 1 assembly and it's a good thing...they are a very tight fit into their positions on the lower hull, virtually a snap fit, and that would've been much harder to get right if they were already glued to the suspension parts vs. being installed separately. I also had to shave down the front suspension bump (you can see in the pic below the difference between it and the rear one) in order for the first suspension element to sit correctly and not have the 2nd road wheel "float". The rear bump was fine as-is, no corrections required.

The rest of Step 4 deals with installing the armored extensions for the suspension on the hull bottom. 5 pieces per side and you have to be careful to get their alignment just right but otherwise no problems.

Then I cycled back to the rear hull details that had been called out in Step 1. I added those along with the rear hull-side tow hooks. There are two small locater holes that aren't used on this particular model that were filled with putty. The instructions never provide any indication this is needed but careful study of the later assembly steps shows nothing installs in those locations. I left off the kit-supplied PE chains for the engine crank cap and the tow pintle bar and will install those later as they are somewhat delicate and I don't want them getting lost or damaged at this stage.

Next up will begin working on the upper hull stuff.

Nice work on the Mk IV hull wbill.

Here is the UE carrier with the tools, tow cable and exhaust painted. A splash of color to break up the green.

and the crew busts so far...

Modeler;

Hi! Your R35 is coming right along! I have one of these resting in a shoe-box almost completed... so seeing another of these old Heller monsters get done is always a cool thing, to me!

My sincere apologies for being so late on this: I'm afraid your tank commander is star-gazing! The turret side-binocs are upside-down! I tried this look on mine, too! These fixed-mount binocs should look out to the side. But you CAN fix this pretty easily:  push them in, flip them over and cement back into their holes. Fix with a little putty if needed, and voila! No more looking up!

Guess I need a "wet blanket alert" sign!

Bob

tigerman

 

 

 

Are you kidding? All that for $10? That's why I start my auctions at a price i'm usually willing to accept. That guy got hosed. LOL

I did see a DML kit go for around 30-$40 just last week. did you check spruebrothers?

Oh, that wasn't an auction - modeling show vendors are my friend! So that's 10 dollars SHIPPED. I've got a few others I should tell you about some time...

I'm at the point now that my stash is so big I won't spend more than $20 on a DML kit - if I wait long enough, I KNOW it'll eventually come around either via an auction, show vendor, private sale, or Dragon USA Online.

panzerbob01

My sincere apologies for being so late on this: I'm afraid your tank commander is star-gazing!

 

No wonder they didn't fit right...

dang refrence material! couldn't tell which way to put them..

Hi, guys well I've been reading back a bit and it's easier just to say to all who have started everything seems to be coming along well. 

Bill, that Mk.IV brings back memories for me but I done the 3-1 E.

Gamer your Char B has come out great the paint job is outstanding.

Well I got a start on my own Char, have to admit the kit is literally falling together. Hope to post pic's soon.

Terry.

WBill you do a splendid presentation !

Stik the tools look good on the litle fellow .

Me ? I havent made it to the bench yet today ..................

tread @ Terry

Hey bro ! Glad yer getting a start at the kit... get some pics up soon man,I am dying to see where you are at..

I have slowed even slower than my normal snails pace ... concentrating on good details ... even though the kit falls together, the few places that need putty are really crowded with rivets and/or are very hard to get to neatly.

talk to ya soon

tread

tread @ stickpusher

man you are really cruising on the UE... painted and working on the figures... you are gonna have to do another kit to stay busy !

tread