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

bbrowniii wrote:

bufflehead wrote: Alas!  After getting those AFV Club tracks on I noticed this!!   Awww NUTS!!  I kept reminding myself and reminding myself to NOT attach the front running gear until AFTER I had test fitted the road wheels and tracks, but did I remember to do that?  NO!  I'll probably have the exact same problem that you did, bufflehead... By the way, how do you like the AFV Club kit?

Hey Boyd, I thought attaching the roadwheel arms AFTER the front running gear was installed would be the ticket to perfect wheel alignment....maybe I should have tried it your way!

As for the AFV kit....overall I like the kit.  Its nicely detailed and fit so far has been pretty good.  In some ways it reminds me of an Italeri kit in that there's a lot of seams to remove and some flash in awkward areas.  There is one thing I found odd about this kit...the plastic.  It seems a little softer(?) than any other kit I've built.  Nothing bad, just takes a little more effort to remove sharf from sanding and scraping.   I'll reserve final judgement until assembly is complete! 

Bish wrote:

I am guessing we have the same kit, i think AFV only have the one, 35S28. Haven't looked at mine properly yet. Will be interested to see how yours goes together.

I bet you are right.  Mine is the 'Only 3000 (or was it 5..?)' made, towing the 105.

So far it is going together well, but there have been some challenges, I'll admit that.

bufflehead i totally forgot i had a scanner. heres the pic i was on about, not sure if you have seen it, might come in useful.

bbrowniii wrote:

Bish wrote:  bbrowniii wrote:  Bish wrote: I ordered the /4 set anyway because it was on special offer at Hannants. To be honest i am not sure if the /4 vehicle, apart from the stronger towing cleat, was any different from a standard /1. I know it was supposed to carry some ammo for the gun, so would have thought it would have ammo racks. My /4 is in my room in camp, i can't remember if the kit has ammo racks in it. Bish, The AFV Club /4 kit that I am working on does have ammo bins that replace two of the seats.  From the research I have done, however, the /4 desination gets a little tricky.  Some of them were actually specially outfitted as an prime mover for the 105, with the added ammo storage.  On the other hand some /4 seem simply to have been /1s that were pressed into service hauling the guns with no real upgrades or modifications (beyond the pintel).  So, a TRUE /4 should have the ammo storage, but not ALL /4's were true /4's.  Got it?  Clear as mud, right? I know what you mean. Not sure if you have looked at this site, its one dupes posted at the start of the build. It mentiones a renumbering saying that originally /4's were just ammo carries and the toweing vehicles were originally /3. Then in 43 the /3 became a command version and /4's toweing /ammo vehicles. Its odd that the Eduard set seems to have nothing for the ammo bins. The instructions on the site even show all the seats fitted. I am guessing they just took a standard Ausf C set and re-labeled it. http://www.pietvanhees.nl/251/ Bish, Yeah, I did see that site.  I too, am a little surprised/bummed that there are no sets with nice ammo bins.  The AFV Club kit that I have is a straight up -/1C, but it comes with some resin ammo bins and a few other tid bits to make it a -/4C.  All in all a nice kit, but there are some spots that I'd love to dress up a bit...  Ah well, off the Evilbay and Squadron...

I am guessing we have the same kit, i think AFV only have the one, 35S28. Haven't looked at mine properly yet. Will be interested to see how yours goes together.

Guys: I just received my 251 in Action book from JMart...I read the intro and had a chance to thumb through it a bit, NICE stuff with a ton of pictures of the different variants, if you get the chance gbab yourself a copy!. 

dupes: I found two pic's I especially liked, I'll get the pages and/or post the photos here.  I'd like your ...you being the moderator and all!

Bish wrote:

bbrowniii wrote:  Bish wrote: I ordered the /4 set anyway because it was on special offer at Hannants. To be honest i am not sure if the /4 vehicle, apart from the stronger towing cleat, was any different from a standard /1. I know it was supposed to carry some ammo for the gun, so would have thought it would have ammo racks. My /4 is in my room in camp, i can't remember if the kit has ammo racks in it. Bish, The AFV Club /4 kit that I am working on does have ammo bins that replace two of the seats.  From the research I have done, however, the /4 desination gets a little tricky.  Some of them were actually specially outfitted as an prime mover for the 105, with the added ammo storage.  On the other hand some /4 seem simply to have been /1s that were pressed into service hauling the guns with no real upgrades or modifications (beyond the pintel).  So, a TRUE /4 should have the ammo storage, but not ALL /4's were true /4's.  Got it?  Clear as mud, right? I know what you mean. Not sure if you have looked at this site, its one dupes posted at the start of the build. It mentiones a renumbering saying that originally /4's were just ammo carries and the toweing vehicles were originally /3. Then in 43 the /3 became a command version and /4's toweing /ammo vehicles. Its odd that the Eduard set seems to have nothing for the ammo bins. The instructions on the site even show all the seats fitted. I am guessing they just took a standard Ausf C set and re-labeled it. http://www.pietvanhees.nl/251/

Bish,

Yeah, I did see that site.  I too, am a little surprised/bummed that there are no sets with nice ammo bins.  The AFV Club kit that I have is a straight up -/1C, but it comes with some resin ammo bins and a few other tid bits to make it a -/4C.  All in all a nice kit, but there are some spots that I'd love to dress up a bit...  Ah well, off the Evilbay and Squadron...

bbrowniii wrote:

Bish wrote: I ordered the /4 set anyway because it was on special offer at Hannants. To be honest i am not sure if the /4 vehicle, apart from the stronger towing cleat, was any different from a standard /1. I know it was supposed to carry some ammo for the gun, so would have thought it would have ammo racks. My /4 is in my room in camp, i can't remember if the kit has ammo racks in it. Bish, The AFV Club /4 kit that I am working on does have ammo bins that replace two of the seats.  From the research I have done, however, the /4 desination gets a little tricky.  Some of them were actually specially outfitted as an prime mover for the 105, with the added ammo storage.  On the other hand some /4 seem simply to have been /1s that were pressed into service hauling the guns with no real upgrades or modifications (beyond the pintel).  So, a TRUE /4 should have the ammo storage, but not ALL /4's were true /4's.  Got it?  Clear as mud, right?

I know what you mean. Not sure if you have looked at this site, its one dupes posted at the start of the build. It mentiones a renumbering saying that originally /4's were just ammo carries and the toweing vehicles were originally /3. Then in 43 the /3 became a command version and /4's toweing /ammo vehicles.

Its odd that the Eduard set seems to have nothing for the ammo bins. The instructions on the site even show all the seats fitted. I am guessing they just took a standard Ausf C set and re-labeled it.

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

Bish wrote:

I ordered the /4 set anyway because it was on special offer at Hannants. To be honest i am not sure if the /4 vehicle, apart from the stronger towing cleat, was any different from a standard /1. I know it was supposed to carry some ammo for the gun, so would have thought it would have ammo racks. My /4 is in my room in camp, i can't remember if the kit has ammo racks in it.

Bish,

The AFV Club /4 kit that I am working on does have ammo bins that replace two of the seats.  From the research I have done, however, the /4 desination gets a little tricky.  Some of them were actually specially outfitted as an prime mover for the 105, with the added ammo storage.  On the other hand some /4 seem simply to have been /1s that were pressed into service hauling the guns with no real upgrades or modifications (beyond the pintel).  So, a TRUE /4 should have the ammo storage, but not ALL /4's were true /4's.  Got it?  Clear as mud, right?

Bish wrote:

bbrowniii wrote:  Bish wrote:  bbrowniii wrote:  bufflehead wrote: Nice lookin' upgrade set...  Very nice...  I wonder what else they have...  For some reason, I am craving an update for my /4... There is an Eduard PE set for the /4, with a seperate set for the gun. They have some nice stuff on that site, but didn't see anything else for 251's. Bish, Do you happen to know the item number for that?  I just looked through the Eduard website and could not find anything specific to the /4 or the gun. Thanks For the vehicle its 35869 and the gun is 35870. I just ordered mine from Hannants but the vehicle is on limited availibility, which usually means it has been discontinued. But you are right, neither show up on the Eduard site. EDIT: I just had another look at the Eduard site, putting in the codes doesn't work. But if you type in 251/4 and 18/40 that will. The vehicle set is cancelled so you can't get it from Eduard. But looking at the intructions online there doesn't seem to be anything specfic to the /4 for any Ausf C set might well do.

Bish,

Thanks for the good info.  I think I reached the same conclusion that you did - there are no sets with anything specific to the /4, so I may just go with a generic C set.

dupes  I'm calling my /17 finished. As i mentioned, i won't have pics up until next Wed. I'll do a final write up when i post them.

Now a couple of days doing other things and then onto my Kugelblitz on Monday.

bufflehead wrote:

Thanks to Bish I was notified about the wrong tracks on my 251/20, but in doing so I had to reread that nice article in AFV Modeller on the "Uhu" kit.  The author related how the AFV kit does not include the searchlight generator so he decided to scratchbuild one as well as scratchbuilding additional items  When he was done he made himself resin copies and sent the originals to Blast Models so that they could create an upgrade kit. Hmmmmmm......... So I searched and sure enough that resin upgrade is now available!!  I couldn't help myself so I ordered the upgrade directly from Blast Models in France.  So this means assembly will halt until it arrives.  I don't want to assemble anything until I can figure out how the upgraded and additional parts will fit.  Here's the upgrade: Hopefully it arrives soon, but coming from France......

In that article, does he happen to say what ref he used about the generator. I have been looking at the 251 site that is linked here and a few other places and there is no mention of it. I even have a schiffer book on 251 that has a photo through the rear doors of a /20 and you can see the front seats and other small boxes at the front. Theres no sign of any generator never mind something as large as that one.

bbrowniii wrote:

Bish wrote:  bbrowniii wrote:  bufflehead wrote: Nice lookin' upgrade set...  Very nice...  I wonder what else they have...  For some reason, I am craving an update for my /4... There is an Eduard PE set for the /4, with a seperate set for the gun. They have some nice stuff on that site, but didn't see anything else for 251's. Bish, Do you happen to know the item number for that?  I just looked through the Eduard website and could not find anything specific to the /4 or the gun. Thanks

For the vehicle its 35869 and the gun is 35870. I just ordered mine from Hannants but the vehicle is on limited availibility, which usually means it has been discontinued. But you are right, neither show up on the Eduard site.

EDIT: I just had another look at the Eduard site, putting in the codes doesn't work. But if you type in 251/4 and 18/40 that will. The vehicle set is cancelled so you can't get it from Eduard. But looking at the intructions online there doesn't seem to be anything specfic to the /4 for any Ausf C set might well do.

Bish wrote:

bbrowniii wrote:  bufflehead wrote: Nice lookin' upgrade set...  Very nice...  I wonder what else they have...  For some reason, I am craving an update for my /4... There is an Eduard PE set for the /4, with a seperate set for the gun. They have some nice stuff on that site, but didn't see anything else for 251's.

Bish,

Do you happen to know the item number for that?  I just looked through the Eduard website and could not find anything specific to the /4 or the gun.

Thanks

bbrowniii wrote:

bufflehead wrote: Nice lookin' upgrade set...  Very nice...  I wonder what else they have...  For some reason, I am craving an update for my /4...

There is an Eduard PE set for the /4, with a seperate set for the gun. They have some nice stuff on that site, but didn't see anything else for 251's.

dupes  the AFV /7 is a standard Ausf C. I think its only the DML Ausf D 3 in 1 kit that gives you the options

bufflehead wrote:

Nice lookin' upgrade set...  Very nice...  I wonder what else they have...  For some reason, I am craving an update for my /4...

bufflehead wrote:

Alas!  After getting those AFV Club tracks on I noticed this!!

Awww NUTS!!  I kept reminding myself and reminding myself to NOT attach the front running gear until AFTER I had test fitted the road wheels and tracks, but did I remember to do that?  NO!  I'll probably have the exact same problem that you did, bufflehead...

By the way, how do you like the AFV Club kit?

Wow Ernest...neat upgrade! Hope it gets here soon and doesn't slow you down too much.

SAR - if you and Assurgeant can come up with an agreement between yourselves as to who is doing which sub-variant of the /7 and let me know who's doing what that would be great! I don't remember...are you doing the DML or AFV Club kit? I'm not sure if the AFV builds into anything other than the "standard" version. 

bufflehead wrote:

Thanks to Bish I was notified about the wrong tracks on my 251/20, but in doing so I had to reread that nice article in AFV Modeller on the "Uhu" kit.  The author related how the AFV kit does not include the searchlight generator so he decided to scratchbuild one as well as scratchbuilding additional items  When he was done he made himself resin copies and sent the originals to Blast Models so that they could create an upgrade kit. Hmmmmmm......... So I searched and sure enough that resin upgrade is now available!!  I couldn't help myself so I ordered the upgrade directly from Blast Models in France.  So this means assembly will halt until it arrives.  I don't want to assemble anything until I can figure out how the upgraded and additional parts will fit.  Here's the upgrade: Hopefully it arrives soon, but coming from France......

Well consider the favour re paid. I have the same kit and didn't know it needed a generator. It rather fills up the hull a bit. This is the first AM set i have seen for this. Thanks, i know what i am ordering next month.

Thanks to Bish I was notified about the wrong tracks on my 251/20, but in doing so I had to reread that nice article in AFV Modeller on the "Uhu" kit.  The author related how the AFV kit does not include the searchlight generator so he decided to scratchbuild one as well as scratchbuilding additional items  When he was done he made himself resin copies and sent the originals to Blast Models so that they could create an upgrade kit.

Hmmmmmm.........

So I searched and sure enough that resin upgrade is now available!!  I couldn't help myself so I ordered the upgrade directly from Blast Models in France.  So this means assembly will halt until it arrives.  I don't want to assemble anything until I can figure out how the upgraded and additional parts will fit.  Here's the upgrade:

Hopefully it arrives soon, but coming from France......

Assurgeant wrote:

Hi Dupes, Happy to build any of the three options for the 251/7 Ausf. D. Dragon version. Liked the kit so much I bought two of them. Will defer to Some Assembly Required as to the choice of which he wishes to build, and I'll build one of the two remaining choices. Managed to start the tracks and wheels before disappearing with work. Bish, not as warm as your 'holiday in the sun' but eventful none the less. Apologises for the banter at the end of last year, you 'pongos' earn your dosh.

I'd totally forgotten about that, and no apologises needed. After haveing just spent 3 months eating in a galley which happened to be in the middle of the bloody desert, i know you navy boys have a sense of humour.

Welcome back safe and sound. Can you tell us where u been or is that hush hush.

Hi Dupes,

Happy to build any of the three options for the 251/7 Ausf. D. Dragon version. Liked the kit so much I bought two of them.

Will defer to Some Assembly Required as to the choice of which he wishes to build, and I'll build one of the two remaining choices. Managed to start the tracks and wheels before disappearing with work.

Bish, not as warm as your 'holiday in the sun' but eventful none the less. Apologises for the banter at the end of last year, you 'pongos' earn your dosh. 

Alright, another bit of administrative type stuff - it turns out that Assurgeant is NOT gone from the GB, was just suddenly deployed for a while...which is a bit of a problem since he's been replaced by Some Assembly Required.

SO, here's what we're going to do - there are some sub-variants of the /7, at least if you're building the DML kit - a "standard", "command", or "gun" variant. If the two of you can hash out between yourselves which one you'd prefer to build, we'll just have to get both on the roster! Hey, it's another build...and I'm all for that!

Let me know your preferences here in the GB thread and we'll get this all squared away.

Bish wrote:

I have yet to put my wheels on, and giving the problems everyone seems to have, i don't have high hopes.  Its looking good so far, just one small point. You have fitted the tracks with metal shoes which were only in use for a short period in early 44 i believe. Can't remember if the AFV kit comes with two sets of tracks or not, but thought i would mention it before it's to late.

Bish, thanks for the heads up on the tracks!  The 251/20 came out in late 44 and I thought I read somewhere that the metal shoed tracks came out at that time also, but after checking again it turns out that they were only used for a short time during the spring & summer of 44.  The author of the Uhu article that I've been using for reference also used the metal shoed tracks so I was somewhat influenced by his choice without seriously checking first....oops!  Anyway I still have the original vinyl tracks, plus I have the AFV later model tracks with the rubber shoes.  If I have time I'll switch to the correct tracks.  Too bad though....I kinda like those metal shoed tracks.