1/72 German Armor Group Build

Hi guys,

I've been on holiday in Thailand, but it didn't stop me modelling totally. I picked up a few kits in Bangkok (including Tamiya 1:35 Char B, Dragon stuff and Trumpeter Hotchkiss with 105mm and Nebelwuerfers).

One of the kits I got there was a Trumpeter 1:72 Ferdinand, which I lazily made in Phuket using a retractable knife and superglue that I got from a 7/11 across the road from the hotel. It's not completely done, but it was mostly done within a couple of days. The instructions aren't good for a novice, as they don't really indicate where you shouldn't apply glue if you want moving parts (the suspension is poseable - I suppose it could be moveable with flexible tracks) but overall, the fit is quite good, the flash is relatively sparse and it looks like a Ferdinand (link and length tracks are quite thin and realistic).

I also got a Leopard 2A4, but I haven't started that one yet, and one I did start (and have almost finished) is an old Tamiya Stuart M5. I'll post progress pics of the Ferdinand later.

Cheerio,

Bruce

:) I have to admit, I was enjoying the tropical heat, sitting on the balcony, casually glancing at the bikini-based entertainment, cutting the plastic and gluing the Ferdinand together.

If the Ferdinand were posed in such a way that the bottom could be exposed a little, some detail there would be seen, by the way (escape hatches? etc). I'm not too sure about the accuracy of the bottom plates of tanks. You don't see too much in the way of reference material there. I guess you can let your imagination rule. That said, a lot of Panthers seem to have the same detail in that area. Has anyone actually seen the bottom of a Panther? Come to think of it, though, I've seen a few pictures over the years of tanks that had been rolled over onto their sides ... that would show off their undersides!

I'm "back on deck" so to speak, next week, so I'll check in properly then.

Cheerio,

Bruce

Bruce, sounds like a dream.  I have a Sister-in-law living in Bangkok right now, maybe someday I'll get out there.

Will, lets see some pics!

Here is my Jgpz IV L/70 that I did for the vacation GB that I just finsihed.  It's straight OOB and my first Dragon kit.  I really enjoyed it but some of the instruction diagrams were a bit vague. 

Tony, painting road wheels is definitely a bummer but a small price to pay for the end results.

Will, thanks!  Looking forward to seeing some pics of your 251.

With regards to Hase Pz IV tracks - ditch them, or use them for sandwich bag ties or something.

I got some AM tracks from Squadron (Czech Master) but these had a lot of flash on them (although they were fairly easy to clean up with a soldering iron) but can be glued together with CA.

After I'd cleaned up the tracks, and compared them to Dragon's excellent tracks, I think I'd have been better off getting a Dragon kit with the flexible tracks, and cannibalising it.

Your other choices are to use Revell Pz IV link and length tracks, but unless you can copy these using RTV etc, it would be a bit of a shame, and there's not much difference in price between Revell and Dragon anyway, and in my view, Dragon parts are nicer.

taxtp wrote:

Any thoughts on the best treatment for Hasegawa tracks?

I don't want to do all your thinking for you <G>, but you *could* use your Italeri Pzkw IV tracks on this one, pending your resupply of RTV silicone.

You should be aware that the Italeri Pz IV isn't terribly accurate. I don't think it's a bad kit, but it's not as good as the Revell, so if you need to cannibalise it for parts, it won't be a great loss.

I know i'm VERY late, but I've got a trumpeter 1/72 elefant that I started a week ago. Can I join in please, this will be my first GB and second AB'd model!!

Will

Howdy, I just picked up a dragon models 1/72 Sd.Kfz.165 HUMMEL from my lhs and would like to join. Ive done some early american tanks but this will be my first german model. A question though , from what Ive read most seem to build the model and then paint but I usualy paint and build? Im pretty new to modeling so any advice is apreciated.

thanks ,

Steve

mrrc wrote:

Howdy, I just picked up a dragon models 1/72 Sd.Kfz.165 HUMMEL from my lhs and would like to join. Ive done some early american tanks but this will be my first german model. A question though , from what Ive read most seem to build the model and then paint but I usualy paint and build? Im pretty new to modeling so any advice is apreciated. thanks , Steve

mrrc wrote:

Howdy, I just picked up a dragon models 1/72 Sd.Kfz.165 HUMMEL from my lhs and would like to join. Ive done some early american tanks but this will be my first german model. A question though , from what Ive read most seem to build the model and then paint but I usualy paint and build? Im pretty new to modeling so any advice is apreciated. thanks , Steve

So far that is what Ive been doing when assembling. Im going to start the Humel tonight  from the looks of thge kit it should be a great build. thanks for the advice

I am experiencing difficulties taking pics as well, but I won't paint until i've posted build up pics

Will

rudy_102 wrote:

I'll enter with a dio consisting of an Italeri Opel blitz and German Guns set + a Revell Germany King Tiger Henschel Turret. The models are assembled already, and the vehicles have their paint on already. All that's left is gun painting and groundwork. Pics as soon as my dad buys a replacement digital camera (the first one was left in Poland for my aunt and uncle, as digital cameras are WAY expensive there).

Hello? willjanuary?

I would have sent you a PM, Adamo, but I couldn't (for some reason).

I suggest you take a look through the previous 13 pages of this thread to find an answer to your question re joining the build with a built model.

Are there any diorama GB's going on that would be appropriate for you?

Regards,

Bruce