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

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.

Yo Ho fellas!!  Work has kept me away too long and I need to get caught up on everything that's been going on.  However, I did manage to get a little bit done on my UHU over the last few weeks.  This is what I've done so far:

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

I tried to make sure all the roadwheels were lined up correctly but still have that dreaded gap underneath the front tires.  Its not much so I was thinking of putting some weight in the engine area as I believe it will be not be visible.  Maybe some lead fishing sinkers or something similar?

Maybe some weight here also?

I'm glad I didn't glue on that bottom plate....for some reason I decided to hold off adding it until the suspension was complete. 

Anyway I'll try to go back and see what I've missed lately.  I'm sure there are some great builds that have been completed!

SMJmodeler wrote:

Bish wrote: ...Weathering with oils in this way seems to take a while leaving it to dry between stages. But i won't be useing all the steps in SMJ's list, just a few to get a nice finish... AMEN brother!...I had a two delay...so far...the first dry brush on the upper hull, on the barrel and the assembly where it meets the hull is drying   s   l   o   w   l   y...  It HAS to be dry thouh or I'll create a sloppy mess of oils.  I'm finding planning ahead helps...I could have continued on the tracks while it dried but I decided to watch a flik with the wife...

Well, seeing as i have been away for 3 months, it means i get to build and spend time with the other half. I have just spent about 5 days on just weathering, and i didn't use all your steps, just a couple for now.  But i know in the future, when i am doing a dio at the same time as the model, this will be the time i can get the figures and dio done. But after being away for so long i am itching to get hands on but have to keep telling myself to leave it alone to dry.

While not purfect, my end result is darker than intended as i didn't allow for the effects of the washes, for a first attempt at some of these methods i am well pleased with how she is looking (thats the 251/17, not the other half). Deffinatly some good lessons to take forward to my next kit.

Bish wrote:

...Weathering with oils in this way seems to take a while leaving it to dry between stages. But i won't be useing all the steps in SMJ's list, just a few to get a nice finish...

AMEN brother!...I had a two delay...so far...the first dry brush on the upper hull, on the barrel and the assembly where it meets the hull is drying   s   l   o   w   l   y...  It HAS to be dry thouh or I'll create a sloppy mess of oils.  I'm finding planning ahead helps...I could have continued on the tracks while it dried but I decided to watch a flik with the wife...

lewbud wrote:

Steve, Just wanted you to know the tracks went out by Priority Mail today.  You should have them by Friday.  Hope I didn't delay you too long. EDIT: I meant Tuesday.

GOT 'EM YESTERDAY, woo-hoo!!!  Man they are tiny...I've never done indi's like that either...it could get dicey!

dupes wrote:

PS1SCW - what's the video of (can't watch it until I get near some actual internet)? I know a while back you were considering one of the variants that would require some/a lot of scratchbuilding...still thinking of doing one?

Unfortunately, I won't be able to do any scratchbuilding.  It would be nice to see one of the telephone vechiles though.  I do have the Dragon 251 Flamethrower version.  Is anyone doing that one?

dupes wrote:

PS1SCW - what's the video of (can't watch it until I get near some actual internet)? I know a while back you were considering one of the variants that would require some/a lot of scratchbuilding...still thinking of doing one?

dupes wrote:

Fellas - I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those kits have been listed by DML for a bit longer than a few months. Checked last night, the Ausf. A 3-in-1 first appeared in the 2005 (!) catalog, and the Early /9 showed up the following year in the 2006 catalog. I wouldn't hold your breath - they're in the same boat as the infamous "#6269 Early Production Tiger" and the "#9059 Ersatz Panther" which have yet to materialize. Trust me, when they DO finally get released, I'll be snapping them up. Boyd - progress is looking good! Glad to see your /4 is on the bench!

Hopefully a little ray of hope on these new 251 kits. Hannants in the UK now have them listed on their future realease section. There is no date and i have seen kits on that list for quite a few months, but fingurs crossed.

ps1scw wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKaPzrSiyj0&feature=related Motivation video

NICE!!  Got me fired up... thanks man!

PS1SCW - what's the video of (can't watch it until I get near some actual internet)?

I know a while back you were considering one of the variants that would require some/a lot of scratchbuilding...still thinking of doing one? 

lewbud wrote:

Steve, Just wanted you to know the tracks went out by Priority Mail today.  You should have them by Friday.  Hope I didn't delay you too long. EDIT: I meant Tuesday.

GREAT!!! Didn't delay me at all...thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKaPzrSiyj0&feature=related

Motivation video

Ye i know, i even topok a pic of the Kugel so i was ready when i start that. If you m,ean how much longer in the UK, i don't plan of going away any time soon. Will be at the end of the year at least. I have just over two weeks leave left, but i actually get more done whne i am at work as i live on camp during the week so no distractions.

But if you mean how much longer on the kit, i would say two weeks at the outside. Weathering with oils in this way seems to take a while leaving it to dry between stages. But i won't be useing all the steps in SMJ's list, just a few to get a nice finish. Ashide from the weathering, theres just the tracks and tools to finish.

Bish - bummer about the camera cable, would like to see what you're up to.

More important, though, is the finished product! How much longer do you have left? 

dupes Just another quick update. Firstly, i do have some pics, but like an idiot i have left the lead that connects the camera to the pc in camp. As i won't be back there for a couple of weeks, i will post all the pics in a oner, hopefully i will be finished by then.

The camo scheme is finished, and even though i went bit heavy on the yellow overspray, it looks ok. It then got a thin coat of future and the decals went on, all 4 of them. I am now moving into new territory with my weathering. Prior to this model, my sole attempts at weathering were dry brushing, pastels and mud. But now i am taking tips from what i have read on the site over the past few months. I am currently doing a colour wash, as in SMJ's weathering list, and i love the results so far. I am not going to go to heavy for now, take it one step at a time, but so far i am very pleased with the results.

I have also started painting the tracks and all being well i should be complete very soon.

Steve,

Just wanted you to know the tracks went out by Priority Mail today.  You should have them by Friday.  Hope I didn't delay you too long.

EDIT: I meant Tuesday.

Thanks guys for the comments on my work. I saved a lot in making my own seat spring backs. Making set for the public would be a grate idea, I just dont want to be the one that has to seat there an sew all the spring lines. I may try this "two more times" on my next 251 or my big half/ton 8. SO you guys will see them again.

Oh an SMJmodeler I'm glad to see that my work help some one., I try to show as much of the detail as I can. One nevers know who it can help.

Now I need to get back to work!

White_R34: You are a master of that fine detail work! 

I printed your Stuka Zu Fuss stuff for as a reference for my build for this GB, GREAT stuff!...thanks for going through the trouble to put all that together. 

Fellas - I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those kits have been listed by DML for a bit longer than a few months. Checked last night, the Ausf. A 3-in-1 first appeared in the 2005 (!) catalog, and the Early /9 showed up the following year in the 2006 catalog. I wouldn't hold your breath - they're in the same boat as the infamous "#6269 Early Production Tiger" and the "#9059 Ersatz Panther" which have yet to materialize.

Trust me, when they DO finally get released, I'll be snapping them up.

Boyd - progress is looking good! Glad to see your /4 is on the bench!

bbrowniii wrote:

Well, now...  anyone see up in the armor forum the link to upcoming DML releases?  Here is the link: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/dragon.htm Check out about half way down the list: SdKfz 251 A 3-in-1...  Oh, dupes, I think you need to add a build to your list... There is also an 'early production' /9.  Kits 6227 and 6225 respectively, for any of you who'd like to get your orders in quick!

Those two kits have been on the DML list for a few months now, but still no release date. AFV are also supposed to be brining out an Ausf A. I am hopeing the DML Ausf A is going to include the Stuka Zu Fuss.

Well, now...  anyone see up in the armor forum the link to upcoming DML releases?  Here is the link:

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/dragon.htm

Check out about half way down the list: SdKfz 251 A 3-in-1...  Oh, dupes, I think you need to add a build to your list...

There is also an 'early production' /9.  Kits 6227 and 6225 respectively, for any of you who'd like to get your orders in quick!

White_R34 wrote:

WOW!  That is some hard core work right there.  Hey, wanna make an extra set or two?  I'd throw you a few bucks for 'em - you might have found yourself a little cottage industry there...  How many guys are in this build?  Figure, what, 5 - 10 bucks a set...  man you could do alright...

But seriously, here is a quick update from me:

My AFV Club /4 is going along.  I am finding that this kit hides a bit of frustration to it.  Just about every locating pin is either too big for the hole it is supposed to fit into or it does not really align properly.  There are also some pretty 'fiddly' parts that you need about 3 men and a fat kid to get into place properly.  Ah well...  heres a few progress shots:

First, the lower hull - even the way that went together was a little frustrating.  You have to align three locating tabs (which thankfully actually fit) and sandwich a couple other pieces in between at the same time...  Even if you can accomplish that, getting a nice join between the hull and floor was not possible (I think the rear axle - one of the pieces sandwiched in between - is just a bit too long...)

Next, the front suspension - this is composed of 6 parts, so not too extreme there, but they all required quite a bit of cleaning.  Addtionally, they are all pretty fragile, but the way they are attached to the sprues makes it hard to remove them without damage or distortion...

And finally, the suspension attached to the hull.  The wheels are only slipped on (again - after sanding down the mounting pins to fit).  Those wheels are another story - it is not exceptionally clear in the photo, but the join seam between the halves is nasty - going to require a fair degree of cleanup...

Despite the challenges, I am having a pretty good time with this kit.  It is definately testing my skills...

Today I am FINALLY going to start work on my /21 Drillling!  Several events have caused life to get a lot busier than I expected whe I first signed up for the GB, but I should be able to carve out enough time to finish by June.  I will post photos on my progress as time permits.  Hopefully it will turn out as good as what I have seen from the rest of you.  I definately have my work cut out for me!

Russ

Hay there dupes I have my update as well. I finaly got the hang of making the wire loops for the seat backs. I thought if I can draw the loops than I may be able to make them by hand.

I used a pin-vice to hold a cut off needle to make the loops on.

Heres my first try at it and you can see the loop holes need to be closer to fit the seat backs.

After looking at photos of the real thing I saw that there are 4 rows or lines of loops going across and 4 rows going down and 12 loops in each row. I had a lot of wire brakes and that's what took a lot of my time, but once I got the hang of it I got all the lines done. Now all I need to do is add the straps the the top & sides of the seat backs and then add the wire loop lines to them and then I can get back to work and get this model back on track.