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

Hello all!

When this GB started I was tagged to do the /21.  I dropped out in February; my mom had a stroke and my wife also ended up in the hospital - I was afraid I would not have the time to devote to the kit.  Fortunately, things are starting to stabilize around here and I should have time to build again, soooooo.........I am wondering if anyone has claimed the /21?  If not, I will be glad to pick it up again.  I have made a reasonably good dent in my kit and should be able to finish by the deadline. 

If someone has already laid claim to it, no problem.  I will gladly step aside and be content to watch everyone's progress from the sidelines.

Russ 

russamys wrote:

Hello all! When this GB started I was tagged to do the /21.  I dropped out in February; my mom had a stroke and my wife also ended up in the hospital - I was afraid I would not have the time to devote to the kit.  Fortunately, things are starting to stabilize around here and I should have time to build again, soooooo.........I am wondering if anyone has claimed the /21?  If not, I will be glad to pick it up again.  I have made a reasonably good dent in my kit and should be able to finish by the deadline.  If someone has already laid claim to it, no problem.  I will gladly step aside and be content to watch everyone's progress from the sidelines. Russ

Russ - I looked back, there were a couple of people who expressed interest, but no one "claimed" the /21. You're good to go!

Was poking through the /23 directions last night, wondering how much of the interior I'd actually have to complete beyond the turret seats and other assorted turret goodness. Could try to do a dual build...

Anyone else interested in a /23? Got the Cyber Hobby kit "laying around" in the closet? 

Boyd i know you have already fitted the radio so it doesn't really matter. But i checked my /4 instructions, and i get the feeling its just an omission. I assume like me your kit has the standard /1 instructions with another set for the /4. And on the /4 it misses out fitting tyhe radio. I think this is just a slip up.

dupes cyber hobby /23, i wish. I know you had alot on so you might have forgoten, but have you had a chnace to do my badge yet.

Bish wrote:

Boyd i know you have already fitted the radio so it doesn't really matter. But i checked my /4 instructions, and i get the feeling its just an omission. I assume like me your kit has the standard /1 instructions with another set for the /4. And on the /4 it misses out fitting tyhe radio. I think this is just a slip up.

Bish,

Thanks. That is kind of what I had thought, but it is nice to have a little confirmation.

dupes wrote:

Russ - I looked back, there were a couple of people who expressed interest, but no one "claimed" the /21. You're good to go!

Sounds great!  I have made some reasonable headway on the kit.  Will try to post photos this weekend to prove I have actually done something!

Russ

JMart wrote:

Glad things are better Russ! Back!

Thanks JMart!  It is nice for life to be back to its somewhat boring old self again. 

Russ

Here's the update shots on my progress which I posted yesterday.

The only realy 251 reference I have is the Squadron SdKfz 251 in Action Book.  To my eye the tow parts don't look anything like what I see in the pictures.....     

I'm guessing I need to shave off those two half pins?

espins1 wrote:

I'm guessing I need to shave off those two half pins?

Scott,

I had that same quandry on my /4 (which is the exact same thing you are building, with a few additional parts thrown in).  You do need to shave off those pins.  You'll probably find that it still won't fit all that great.  I ended up doing a lot of sanding to get the surfaces to mate neatly.  I also drilled out the sorry excuse for a pin they have and plan to stick in a length of bent wire.

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

OH YEAH, one other thing: that diagram that shows you what holes to drill... BE CAREFUL!  I drilled the holes, but when it got to be time to install the seat bases, they did not line up the way the instructions suggest they should.  It pushed my seats too far forward.  Might want to try some dry fitting first so you avoid that headache...

Good luck to ya!

Guys: I know the weather is getting nicer, but don't forget to make the time to get your build completed on time!  Dupes' guidelines on this were quite clear... don't commit if you can't finish.  I see 2/3 of the builds are yet to be completed...including mine, so this is a kick in the pants for myself too.

I'll speak for dupes when I say we are reaching the point of no return VERY soon, BUT if there's anyone who feels that WON'T make it please say so NOW!...we may yet be able to find a replacement modeler.

This will be an outstanding and very unique gallery of builds when completed, please honor your commitment, I'm sure you'll be glad you did!

Thanks guys!

Now back to our regularly scheduled program

Thanks Dad     

The front tires on this kit are gorgeous!

espins1 wrote:

Thanks Dad      The front tires on this kit are gorgeous!

I agree with you on the detail, but man, I could not get mine together without a NASTY seam...  frustrating...

dupes wrote:

Looking forward to it Scott! You too, Boyd. Haven't seen a new pic in a few days...

Yeah, I know.  I've been focusing on the tracks that last couple of sessions... nothing too exciting in taking a pic of a bunch of non-connected, individual track links that are unpainted...

bbrowniii wrote:

espins1 wrote: Thanks Dad      The front tires on this kit are gorgeous! I agree with you on the detail, but man, I could not get mine together without a NASTY seam...  frustrating...

  I hear ya Steve.

  I've been working on mine whenever I get a little free time. Finished the rear doors, they were lacking in detail so I added some and most of the interior pe.  

  I'm working on the front fenders and the Aber tool clamps tonight.

 I'll get some pics up soon.

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

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.

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

Boyd, clicky:

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

I use 500, and mucho like it.

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.

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!

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.

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.