"Braille Scale Armor Vacation GB 06" June17/06-June30/06

Today, I chucked the gun barrel into a motor tool, and used a file to machine the muzzle brake closer to scale.

Here's the latest pics (taken with my 3.2mp camera, rather than my 1mp phone):

Thanks Duke. I just passed a major personal milestone, which is the completion of the breech to my satisfaction. Again, I stress that this was not done to scale accuracy, but merely to provide the impression of realism.

I based the appearance on pictures and photographs, rather than plans and measurements. Accordingly, it's a bit rough, but as only a small part of it is visible through the hatches, it's fine for its purpose.

This will be finished by friday come hell or high water!

A few little trials and tribulations. SNAFU:)

I didn't paint yesterday, though I did fire up the compressor, which now has a full tank.

I noticed a picture of a StuG III with wheels so muddy that the Matchbox wheels wouldn't be wasted...

I continued with adding interior and zimmeritt using Milliputty. It started to go off before I was done, so I made a transmission case out of it. The intention of the interior is to add a "feel" of realism rather than outright scale accuracy.

Pics as promised:

My Reference

the superstructure interior - breech incomplete and unattached. Commanders episcopes to be added.

superstructure exterior

hull interior - still to come - gun mounting, drivers seats, gunner and loader's seats, ammo racks etc

Right. Spanner in the works - "Significant other" refused to allow me to spray today grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Issues at hand at the moment, other than paint:

• Decided to use kit bogies and return rollers in order to assure finish within 2 weeks. These have been cemented in place
• Test-fitted AM tracks - these are too long, which is no real problem (superglueable tracks - thanks CMK!) but the kit drive sprocket width exceeds the tracks' allowance.
• Decided to use kit tracks
• Decided to amend appearance of lousy tracks and running gear by posing in a diorama whereby the vehicle is crossing a shallow watercourse. Water running off the vehicle and tracks will be simulated by glad wrap (or similar). This will allow me to use oils for the wetted surfaces.
• The Extratech PE (including schurzen) would be wasted on this vehicle. I'll either thin down the kit skirts, or make new ones from either 5 or 10 thou card, or K&S Brass shims.
• A see-through situation could exist between the hull upper and lower through the fighting compartment. Sheet styrene will be used to fix this.
• The ventilation ducts over the engine compartment have only two partitions instead of three. This is a job for razor saw and 10thou card.
• The kit wheels are "solid" - razor saw required to simulate "double" wheels.
• Muzzle brake would suit a 122mm, rather than 75mm. Maybe this crew had seen "Kelly's Heroes". Perhaps I should find some loudspeakers and attach these to the superstructure.

Tomorrow, I will paint.I'm looking forward to this.

Those tracks look good.

I did a bit of modelling last night. I'll slap something together today and take some pictures.

I assure you that I AM having fun, though.

Nice looking kit Tony, I look forward to seeing it built.

Duke, nice progress and a nice looking kit too.  So many kits so little time.

I've got most of the detailed parts on and the tracks painted but they are a bit too snug and I tore one trying to get them on .  I'll have to deal with it when I get back from holidays.  Hopefully I'll be able to check in once in awhile while I'm away.

Tony sure youre welcome to join and dont worry about starting a little late the whole premise of the build is to see what you can do with a small scale model in roughly 2 weeks time. Give or take a week that is

Duke your Greyhound is comming along nicely and the underside does indeed have some nice detail

Yes, Razor, that's good progress. I have a couple of questions for you.

Firstly, why are those first two roadwheels different from the others? I'm especially curious because the first two look like the ones on my Matchbox/Revell/Monogram StuG IV, while the others look like the ones on my Dragon StuG IV! Until I saw yours, I was just about to make resin copies of the Dragon wheels.

My second question is ... how did you get all that done so quickly???

I have cemented the hull sides and rear to the hull  floor, and I will now spray everything dunkelgelb before I progress further.

I have decided to leave hatches open, to distract attention away from the too-flat-superstructure (the height is ok, I think, but the facets taper too far away from the centre). I was considering copying the Dragon superstructure as well, as it would fit ok over the Matchbox hull, but you have to draw the line somewhere. I also thought about scratching the panels ... but I may simply flatten out the outer strips which are angled but should be horizontal, and whittle away at the adjacent facets. It's a bit dodgy, but what can you do other than major surgery? A bit of live camouflage, perhaps <G>.

Cheerio,

Bruce

Thanks Duke.

Here's a pic of my progress so far.  Not a very good picture but it shows I actually have accomplished something.  Don't know how much more I'll get done this week before my holidays but I'll try to finish it up.