251 Halftracks GB 1 October '08 - 8 June '09

Ahhhh...Boyd, you kill me.

Steve - looks pretty awesome so far! Did you glue the shields, or end up soldering them?

Some Assembly Required - got time to shoot a pic for us?

panzerguy wrote:

Thanks Boyd.   It's going to be a hard edge three-tone pattern with a white wash over it.    I'm building it as one of the four that were with the Fuhrer Begleit Brigade at the end of the Battle of the Bulge near the town of Tillet.

Hey there now, Steve, I think you forgot something in that description, my friend.  Here, let me help you out:

'I'm building it as one of the four that were with the Fuhrer Begleit Brigade at the end of the Battle of the Bulge near the town of Tillet, and it will take gold at AMPSEast this September'

No pressure or anything...

  Thanks Boyd.

  It's going to be a hard edge three-tone pattern with a white wash over it.

   I'm building it as one of the four that were with the Fuhrer Begleit Brigade at the end of the Battle of the Bulge near the town of Tillet.   

   Got some work in on the /22, free time has been a little scarce lately.

  Finished off the pe in the interior. I added some detail to the rear doors by cutting out the molded springs on the latching mechanisms and replacing them with ones made from scratch.

 Started on the pak and everything was going okay till it came time to build the shield. Took me forever to get the two halves to line up.

   Still haven't gotten to the tool clamps but this weekend looks free.

Alright team! Today's the day, exactly two months left to crank out some 251-style goodness. For those of you who are fans of procrastination (or in too many GB's!), it's time to get cracking on these beasts.

I know I did a check-in around the first of the year and got responses from everybody, but that was almost three months ago. If there's anyone who has NOT started their build yet, and doesn't think they'll be able to, let me know, and I'll make an attempt to find some eager builders over in the armor forum to replace them. I would prefer to keep everyone who's been here all along around, but if it just won't fly we'll do what we can.

I'll be crawling around in my box later today getting sprues galore unwrapped, and maybe even squeeze in a bit of suspension work.

I am glad my AFV will follow yours! I have lots of work and Homework in front of me! Yes,I will be done on time... semester is over in 2 weeks basically, then have a ton of free time and I DO need the time off...work killed me this year....

I use Mr Surfacer for small seams... one thing to keep in mind is that it shrinks a bit, you may have to "top it off" after a few hours or next day, specially sink holes. I also learned to have one brush JUST for MrS, and to 'dab" it rather than "paint it".

dupes wrote:

We gonna get a pic of this brute Boyd? I know SMJ owes us a "where I'm at" photo as well...hehe.

Yeah, I'll get a pic up soon.  Most likely on Friday when I can get some good natural light down in the basement.  I also hope to have at least one track run finished by then.  They are  abit of a PITA with all the cleaning they need...

Thanks. I know its a bit awkward for you getting online, so its appreciated.

dupes Sent you a PM yesterday, not sure if you have seen it.

And would deffo like to see a pic of the /4.

Bish wrote:

bbrowniii wrote: Well, upon further review, maybe I shouldn't have put the radio in.... So, you all might recall how, despite saying I was not going to agonize over it, I spent a day or so debating if I should put the radio in my /4.  The AFV instructions for the /4 are just a supplement to the /1, with the different build steps illustrated.  So, I noticed that the radio was absent from the step on the /4 instructions, but shown on the /1.  Well, at first I thought it was an oversight and could think of no compelling reason why it should not be in there. Last night I was reviewing the final couple of steps on both sets of instructions and on step 17, clear as a bell, on the /1 it shows installation of the antenna mount and antenna.  In the same step on the /4 - no antenna mount or antenna.  So now I wonder if it was not just an oversight - mayby, just MAYBE, AFV knows something that I don't. Oh well, it ain't a show stopper... Heres a pic from the 251 site on page 1. It shows a possable  /4 Ausf D with an antenna mount. Though of cause it could just be a /1 carry ammo. I don't have any of my referance at hand so i can't have a look, but i see not reason why a /4 would not have a radio, surley the crew would need to talk to the guys calling in the fire. http://www.pietvanhees.nl/251/

Hey Bish,

Thanks man!  Cheered my right up.

I don't know why I'm spending so much time talking about the radio... must wanna jack my post count up or something...

Seriously though, like I originally said when I first brought it up, I was struck be their ommission - and with the later ommissions of the antenna, I suspect it was intentional, but can't imagine why...  Oh well, my radio is already in, so it is an academic point.  HOWEVER, if any of y'all are intending to build a /4 in the future....

bbrowniii wrote:

Well, upon further review, maybe I shouldn't have put the radio in.... So, you all might recall how, despite saying I was not going to agonize over it, I spent a day or so debating if I should put the radio in my /4.  The AFV instructions for the /4 are just a supplement to the /1, with the different build steps illustrated.  So, I noticed that the radio was absent from the step on the /4 instructions, but shown on the /1.  Well, at first I thought it was an oversight and could think of no compelling reason why it should not be in there. Last night I was reviewing the final couple of steps on both sets of instructions and on step 17, clear as a bell, on the /1 it shows installation of the antenna mount and antenna.  In the same step on the /4 - no antenna mount or antenna.  So now I wonder if it was not just an oversight - mayby, just MAYBE, AFV knows something that I don't. Oh well, it ain't a show stopper...

Heres a pic from the 251 site on page 1. It shows a possable  /4 Ausf D with an antenna mount. Though of cause it could just be a /1 carry ammo. I don't have any of my referance at hand so i can't have a look, but i see not reason why a /4 would not have a radio, surley the crew would need to talk to the guys calling in the fire.

http://www.pietvanhees.nl/251/

thanks for the heads up bbrown3. im definately gonna keep this handy while i slug it out with my /7

Well, upon further review, maybe I shouldn't have put the radio in....

So, you all might recall how, despite saying I was not going to agonize over it, I spent a day or so debating if I should put the radio in my /4.  The AFV instructions for the /4 are just a supplement to the /1, with the different build steps illustrated.  So, I noticed that the radio was absent from the step on the /4 instructions, but shown on the /1.  Well, at first I thought it was an oversight and could think of no compelling reason why it should not be in there.

Last night I was reviewing the final couple of steps on both sets of instructions and on step 17, clear as a bell, on the /1 it shows installation of the antenna mount and antenna.  In the same step on the /4 - no antenna mount or antenna.  So now I wonder if it was not just an oversight - mayby, just MAYBE, AFV knows something that I don't.

Oh well, it ain't a show stopper...

Hey Scott (and anyone else working on an AFV 251),

Got another 'heads up' for you.  In step 15, installing the stowage boxes (U31 and U 32) behind the seatbacks in the troop compartment, be careful of the depth that the locating tracks have you set them at (same as with the rifle racks from earlier).  But here is the kicker - if you just install one side and test fit, it seems like you'll be able to get the upper hull down nice and tight, no problems.  HOWEVER, once you install the other side, you won't have enough clearance to get the upper hull on tight. 

I found that out at 2:23 this morning... (In reality, after my experience with the riflle racks, I kinda suspected it, so it was not nearly as 'bad' as I make it out to be...  still, if it saves someone else a headache...)

Boyd - you certainly seem to be on top of that AFV kit! Will be referring back to your hints frequently when I get on top of the ones in my stash.

And yes, Swanny does know how to throw together a pretty sweet website.

bbrowniii wrote:

Bish wrote: bbrowniii Thanks for the heads up on those points, i will have to note those down for when i get round to my AFV kits. I can only assume they apply to all there Ausf C kits. Will also be worth double checking their Ausf D kits as well. Bish, To be honest, I am not sure.  Scott Espins is doing an Ausf D (I think) and the pic he posted of his instructions is almost identical to my Ausf C.  So, I would approach either with a little caution if I were you! Hope it proves helpful.

Yes it has alot thanks. I will approach all my AFV 251's with caution. Seems like test fitting is deffinatly the one thing to remember.

Seems like they missed all this on the PMM reviews. But i get the impression that they are just on the kit and not on how it builds.

arki30 wrote:

Boyd, clicky: http://www.swannysmodels.com/Surfacer.html I use 500, and mucho like it.

Hey Arki,

Thanks.  That is some good info!  That Swanny... he sure knows how to put a modeling site together!

Bish wrote:

bbrowniii Thanks for the heads up on those points, i will have to note those down for when i get round to my AFV kits. I can only assume they apply to all there Ausf C kits. Will also be worth double checking their Ausf D kits as well.

Bish,

To be honest, I am not sure.  Scott Espins is doing an Ausf D (I think) and the pic he posted of his instructions is almost identical to my Ausf C.  So, I would approach either with a little caution if I were you!

Hope it proves helpful.

Boyd, clicky:

http://www.swannysmodels.com/Surfacer.html

I use 500, and mucho like it.

Boyd,

Thanks for the heads up on the AFV Lessons Learned.  Unfortunately, I have already attached the bottom and the front axle (but not the wheels).  At least I know what I am up against.

Russ

espins1 wrote:

You're right about the seam. I'm going to try to delicately fill it in with some Mr. Surfacer, then clean it off with q-tips and 91% alcohol.

Scott,

Sounds like you have a good plan.  By the way, I have never used Mr. Surfacer, but have been curious about it.  What, exactly, is it?  Is it a primer?  A putty?  What is the difference between the 500, 1000, etc?  Is it a different 'grit'?  Which do you use?

OK, on another note, let me offer up a couple of pearls of wisdom that I wish I had known before I started my AFV kit.  It may be too late for you on a couple of these - but maybe not:

1)  If you have not done it yet, do not install part U20 yet (the 'undercarriage cover'?  The 'armored bottom'?  I don't know what it should be called, but it is the plate that covers the space under the floor of the vehicle - where the axles for the running gear would be).  The instructions have you install it pretty early (step 5 for me), before you even install any of the running gear.  Trust me, you will want access to the bottom of the fighting compartment floor in some of the later steps.

As an example:

2) On the L-Braces (parts U24 and U25 - installed on step 14), you might consider taking a piece of styrene and filling the HUGE locator hole/slot in the fighting compartment floor.  I did not notice how large that hole was, relative to the size of the part, so now I am trying to fill the gap from above...  Here is one of the times access to that area would be useful.

3) In step 5 you are supposed to attach the axle and front wheels - DON'T!  Wait until you have the rear running gear at least completed enough that you can test fit some road wheels and a length of track to set the height of the front wheels.  If you fail to do that (like I did ) odds are your front wheels will not touch the ground after you install the tracks.

4) In step 6, parts B3 and B4.  On my kit, there was a pin (from part U30; step 1) that is supposed to insert into a locator hole on these two parts.  Well, the holes on mine were not drilled out, at least not all the way.  Fortunately, it is a pretty easy fix to trim the pin to shorten it so the parts sit properly (against the hull).  Just don't let yourself be confused/convinced that they should mount away from the hull because of the shallow locator hole.

5) In step 9, when you are mounting the rifle racks and other various parts in the troop compartment.  DON'T trust those locating grooves that they have.  On my kit, if I mounted the rifle racks in the locating grooves, they sit up too high to attach the upper hull.

This is really one of those kits you need to TEST FIT, TEST FIT, TEST FIT...

I think those are all my 'Lessons Learned' so far.  I hope at least some of them are useful to you and save you (or anyone else doing an AFV 251) a few of the headaches I have dealt with.

bbrowniii wrote:

Out of curiousity, are you finding that this kit has ALOT of really, REALLY large pour stubs that need to be trimmed and sanded?

This is my first AFV Club kit.  I had always read great reviews on them, so was surprised to find sink marks and the same pour stubs you note.  The kit has gone together fairly well thus far (/21), but there has also been a fair amount of cleanup work required thus far too.  Not sure how to deal with the front tires; may try the Mr. Surfacer too. 

Russ