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

Tread, the pace is fast on this one (relatively speaking) because I have time on my hands during the week...at least for now! Normally I only build on the weekends and will have to return to that schedule after this week so expect things to slow down a bit...especially since I'm coming up on the turret which will be detailed and displayed with some hatches open. As to your question about the paint scheme, do what you want and follow your heart, it's your build!

Eric, thanks and nice work on the tracks...they are a pain having built them myself for a Marder build sometime back so kudos for your patience and results!

Satch, most likely you have a later run kit. I got mine when it was first released waaaay back when so who knows? It's not a material difference as to whether the ends are hollow or closed, so don't sweat it!

Boyd, off to a good start, look forward to seeing what you do with this one. The floor insert will help with the "void" for sure.

Stik, sorry to hear about the weather delays but looks like you've made up for it by getting more work done on the details. Nice bit of scrounging!

wBill,,   I do like your step by step presentation...  very informative,,, and coming along nicely to boot!

Boyd,,   I've always liked that old Tamiya 222... nice idea with the flooring, agreed. The figures should compliment it very well,,  nice

Eric,,   great patience with the tracks,, the sag looks spot on too

Stik,,   your stowage is filling out the wagon,, nice assortment. The bikes and figs are looking very good too.  PS, I also do like Polly S....  guess you get used to a certain brand...  [in my opinion] it's a shame they are out of business.

Well, I have been trying to get some pics up (as limited as my progress has been),,,  here are a few -

Minimal cleanup on the roadwheels and suspension... no real hitches here. Added a few dings, hull scrapes, etc.

Cleaned up the inside of the drive sprockets....     should work out fine

The next step was a peach...  in the forward section of the PE running board flange are two tiny holes. The instructions direct you to remove these microscopic PE circles and glue over the holes (two on each side)...

(umm,,  I don't think so....)      I stretched some sprue and shoved a thin piece into the holes.

I then snipped them off (underneath the flange) and and left just a little sticking out on the outside. I hit the "nubs" with some liquid cement and mushroomed the heads a bit.  (crappy pictures, sorry)

A gentle sanding stick to shape and clean them,,,,   I believe they will look ok.

Now the baseball series loomed into view while I'm building...    I decided to wach some of the game(s) and continue to build,,,  but I needed some no-brain work that wouldn't require much concentration...

Friuls to the rescue....

I luv them and I hate them at the same time....

But,, they are now strung and together...

Nothing super exciting,,   Hope you like and all feedback welcome....  

On to more of the build soon......

Bill

Looking good Bill, you've got the most tedious part out of the way now with the tracks done. Nice work on the bolt head solution...sometimes PE just isn't the way to go and just because the kit provides it doesn't mean something better isn't available.

Bill- Great looking little Panzer you got especially the tracks!

Guys- I have been lurking for a while... I just wanted to say I have been enjoying many great WIPs and comments. 

wbill76

Looking good Bill, you've got the most tedious part out of the way now with the tracks done. Nice work on the bolt head solution...sometimes PE just isn't the way to go and just because the kit provides it doesn't mean something better isn't available.

PE does have its limitations. Lack of depth and curvature being two big ones. Very nice improvisations there But all those tiny track links and pins... you're a brave soul

The Friuls look great. Just wish they weren't so dang much. They would have been great for my build.

Great work all.

Bill, that's what I thought but it sure caused me some confusion, looking at yours and then looking at mine. 

Left side of the suspension is done.  Not doing the return rollers as yet as I am going to use the Doog/DoogsATX technique for indie track links.

wBill,,,    Thanks....  I agree about the PE. I will look for any "better way" with PE or otherwise really (I guess we are all like that)...  and I am with you on the worst being behind me,, 

Andy,,    Much obliged,, thanks Pal

Stik,,   Thank you, and I also agree,,,  PE limits, for sure.       And yes, all those tiny pins and tracks do get monotonous (mind-numbing) after a while.

Eric,,   Thank you as well....     they are expensive - - that is part of my love / hate relationship

Satch,,   I thought I missed something there for a moment....  realized you were talking to wBill (Bill).....   There's the thing about too many Bill's,,,  if they are dollar bills, they are ok,,,  if they are the bills in the mailbox they are not ok.              In a group build, it's all good.

tread @ bbrowniii

hi bbrowniii ...really diggin' the 222... the chassis looks really cool and it is a model I have always wanted albeit in 1/16 scale by Andrews Design... I just love the looks of it! ( also the 223).. got an extra  £ 369.00 to make my dream come true?   LOL

looking forward to your updates

tread

tread @ Bill

Hi Bill .... nice fix for those micro PE pieces...chassis looks great and the friuls looks ( as they always do) perfect

nice job  

tread

tread @ Eric

hey Mister GB leader ... the Hotchkiss looks excellent !.... track sag looks great....I may have some ear wax so could I have your old q-tips?.....( this is a test to make sure everyone reading was just grossed out)

one to many glasses of wine,

tread

tread @ stickpusher

Hi man :  )   .... Polly S better than Vallejo for brushing ?..... If so , I must get some

thanks,

tread

Tread,,      Thank you kindly!

I'm gonna be sick...

Seriously, Great builds. I am learning alot from you. I can't wait to start up on the Matilda this weekend. I'm sure I will need back-up. Thanks.

I posted a message in the Panzer II and Variants GB about a class this Sunday in CT. If interested let me know and I will fill you in.

Cheers

Scott

BaBill ,  Bill good idea on using the stretched sprue in those itsy bitsy holes . Some times them P.E. parts can get rediculousely small . I have a love /hate relation with the stuff myself . Love the detail but getting the parts in the correct location can be a pain , for me . Then when i get it in its location i have trouble getting it to stay stuck on with C.A..

And the tracks are beauts Bill .I'm going to use the rubber band tracks on mine and see how they look when painted . If i dont like them i'll try something else ............Fruils maybe ? Not sure .

Gents , i wont be posting for about a week .  My son and grand daughter are staying with me for another week and i havent been able to get to the bench anyway so nothing to report on Pz. 1 . I'll catch up latter.

Thanks Carl....    Indeed, PE offers some great options / features, but sometimes at a price (literally and figuratively).    

Good luck with the tracks too...      

(Enjoy the upcoming time with your family as well)

Jeez Louise guys!!!  I had been thinking that my gift of gab has been waning lately and I have not been able to get in on the banter the way I used.  But a guy can't get a word in edge wise here.

I know I am chiming in late on the wine and cheese but that is just one of those things that make life worth living.  The wine and cheese that is... not posting late  When I was a French Franc trader... when there was a French Franc,... the French bank I worked for sent me to Paris for a month.  Wine was at EVERY midday and late meal.  And I got the feeling champagne is thought of more as just a different wine and not necessarily something only for a special occasion.  Lots of champagne too.  Don't get me started on the cheese

OK  back on track... no pun intended...  So much great work going on here so let me address all the builds.

Great

Fantastic

Superb

OMG!

Gorgeous

Holy crap that's nice

Please apply those as needed.

Now to make an already too long post longer... Eric, you can adjust the masthead.  I am going with the Char 1 bis  The Tamiya kit (in case there another out there I don't know about)

Hey guys.

Everything is looking great.

I will be out for the weekend flying kites. Then Cub Scouts start again on Monday and I have guitar lessons on Tuesday night. So might be wednesday before I can post my progress.

Have a GREAT weekend.

You too AndyT,,   have fun

Marc .. dude....

I am seriously happy you are doing a Char B1 bis....

you will love & in a weird way,wish there were more to the build.... there is so little add....and the things to add are so little !

like every body says about Tamiya, ' it almost falls together'

I am really looking forward to your ' take' on this fine model. 

Welcome aboard!

for me, my biggest problem is figuring what camo pattern and which name I will go with

I know I will enjoy your posts !.... you didn't find one that was 1/144th scale did ya?.. LOL

tread

Shellback

Gents , i wont be posting for about a week .  My son and grand daughter are staying with me for another week and i havent been able to get to the bench anyway so nothing to report on Pz. 1 . I'll catch up latter.

We'll all miss you, Shell and don't worry, family is everything... have a great time , and don't be concerned how we are all passing you up 

Did I tell you about my headlight idea I just got a patent on ?.... ya see, ya take some clear sprue........

have a great time my friend :  )

tread

treadwell

 

I am really looking forward to your ' take' on this fine model. 

 

So funny you should say that since I spent a part of the day today looking up your posts on your progress to see what you're doing Don't be surprised to see some (read that "most") of your improvements on mine too.  I want to do a 3 color schemes.  Ya can't do a Char and not do that scheme.  Way to cool looking. Question... Did your kit come with any kind of marking diagrams?  Mine has nothing at all other then the drawing on the box.

I found this list of things on another site.  Maybe you've seen it already but just in case...

 1. Wiring for the radio cover from behind the turret to guard and then to antenna pot.

2. Add straps with buckles to tool holder.

3. Headlight cover knob 

4. Use 62 links not 61 for tracks.

5. Add weld bead around turret joint, lifting hooks and rear chain hooks.
(i think this is actually a casting seam & not a weld bead)

6. Add six bolts on top of commander’s turret.

7. Add extra lifting hook on the commander’s turret.

8. Add six bolts around the gun mantle.

9. Add Pig’s Tail lifting hook on gun mantle.

10. Add bolts around the commander’s turret.

11. Casting numbers on turret (I have not seen any photos of this).

12. Add oval plate with two bolts on rear deck.

13. Add 5 bolts to the engine deck.

14. Fill in seam on the right of the driver’s front plate.

15. Casting numbers on drivers hatch ( I have not seen a lot of this,so check references).

16. Eyehole in drivers hatch periscope.

17. Turret Anti-Aircraft mount slit in the side and a hole on top.

18. Add missing bolts on the top of the sponsons around the track runner guides 

19. Open up mud chutes on top of sponson & add mud scrapers next to the chutes

20. Add three lifting hooks to cupola ( not all B1's had this feature , so check your references )

21. Radio Aerial pot needs detail added

22. Silencer covers need mounting brackets on to the trackguards

23. Chandelles need securing straps added

24. Replace the rivets on part A6 with latches


Remember not all tweaks will be applicable for every B1 bis as they were built at different factories ! 

Comments re: above fixes

I'm not sure if these are covered in the Chars-Francais site but here goes some more:

For early hulls, the round access point that the center bottom of the crew door is much wider diameter

The commander's cupola can use an extra lip at its bottom edge, with bolt heads about 3mm apart around it.

Check your references but some driver's front armor had an additional thickened central part.

Scribe in the driver's right side view slit.

Use the tow chain storage diagram in the Chars-Francais site. Very valuable!

I disagree with 6 & 8 above. These bolts are RECESSED screw heads and not proud rivets. I did mine with a jeweller's beading tool. There are recessed screw heads on the top of the driver's front armor too.

As for the six bolts around the hull 75mm gun: they were sometimes left as holes. Either drill them or add rivets.

Well good news and bad. The good news is I got a new job. The bad is that I will have little time to build. I guess I'll take it.

Alright Tiger, Take a deep breath and think this out. Your in a Hobby that costs virtually nothing LOL. You spend endless hours relaxing at said hobby. ...........JUST SAY NO! We need you. Think of all the modelers that will be lost, unsure of what to do next, what color to use, how to paint, and on and on. Think of the new guys who won't know how to post..I think you need to say no. YOU ARE FSM!!!

Sorry, I just needed to get that out. I feel much better. I guess I should say congratulations. In all seriousness, good luck. We will always be here when you are.

Started the Matilda. Boy is this kit old.1973. Still a good Tamiya tank. Pictures to follow this weekend

Scott 

Chazzer

Alright Tiger, Take a deep breath and think this out. Your in a Hobby that costs virtually nothing LOL. You spend endless hours relaxing at said hobby. ...........JUST SAY NO! We need you. Think of all the modelers that will be lost, unsure of what to do next, what color to use, how to paint, and on and on. Think of the new guys who won't know how to post..I think you need to say no. YOU ARE FSM!!!

Sorry, I just needed to get that out. I feel much better. I guess I should say congratulations. In all seriousness, good luck. We will always be here when you are.

Started the Matilda. Boy is this kit old.1973. Still a good Tamiya tank. Pictures to follow this weekend

Scott 

Thanks for the kind words Scott. I won't leave, just won't be around very much. I'll only really have time to build on my days off. I'm spent and it's been an emotional week. I'll have to work weekends. I'm now selling cars at one of the largest dealers in the state. It's scary, intimidating, but can be rewarding. I'm going to be working long fricking hours. Well, this is what I chose. I hope I'm cut out for it. Brain is on overload.

Eric- you will succeed.

If you are ever down, say "Quack".

My Cardinal will beat your Ducks, but in every other way you are a sensible person.

More power to you, brother.

Holy Moly! I concentrate on my Russian Fig Dio for a week or so and this GB is a whole new world! Kits painted, almost complete, Tigerman got himself a job...

Seriously though,

Eric- Congrats, If your sales skills are even close to your build skills you'll do great.

Wing Nut - that is a crazy list, it'll make one crazy good build

It looks like I'm pausing work on the 8Ton. I'm applying for a job at a prop and scene shop and am bringing in the Dio as part of my portfolio, so I need to get that crankin

I will be lurking however, and hopefully be back soon... with a job!

Eric,,     congrats on landing the job...  no worries about not being "here" as much. You and your family come first,,  the hobby?,, well,   a close second.    Best of luck with it !

Scott,,   looking forward to seeing some pics of the Matilda

Marc,,   that is a great insight list,,    very informative

Will,,   good luck with your job interview too. A prop and scene shop,,,  what a cool sounding place of business.    Hope you snag it !

Congrats Eric.  Go do what ya gotta do.  Get back when ya can.  We'll leave the light on for ya.