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

Hey Fellas,

Here is a little update on my /4...  Construction of all major assemblies is completed and she is headed to the paintrack.  All in all, she has come together pretty well.  After the photos that are shown here were taken, I did go and rip the rear doors off and reset them - after I had attached them the first time they would not close and there was a nasty lip between the hull and the door bulkheads - now they close and that lip in 'mostly' gone.

I also tackled that warped fender.  I glued it from front to rear using a pretty heavy application of CA.  I got it on OK, but I ended up poping a few seams on the hull when I clamped it.  No real way to get in there and close them back up, so I've got some putty work to do prior to paint.

Well, anyways, here it is...

The pic quality is not great - I was holding a worklight in one hand and the camera in the other - not the best method for taking clear shots!

A couple exterior shots to show construction complete (minus running gear - still have one length of track to put together)

And a couple closer shots of the interior:

I'm headed out of town tomorrow for a couple of days (gonna meet up with dupes on Friday!!), so it'll probably be next week before this thing gets any paint on it. 

Any and all comments are appreciated...

panzerguy wrote:

Steve you caught the one thing I'm not totally happy with, the MG. Difinatly going to do something with that.

Well Steve, great minds with same names think alike

panzerguy wrote:

The antenna is the kit one. I usually use piano wire but this one looked pretty nice so I went with it.

Like I said, minor item, it just caught my eye...

panzerguy wrote:

As far as the dirt on the undercarriage goes that's my own mixture of craft acrylic paint, white glue and real dirt.

Is that a thinned glue recipe applied to the undercarriage...let to dry and rubbed off excess?

bbrowniii:  Looking good my man!  Tons of ammo, ready for battle, I like it!  Boy, you sure are cutting it close time-wise though!  After you see dupes' stash you'll be in a haze for at least two days...you'll probably have a real bad case of "stash envy"...Which of course can be cured by a serious run through the vendor tables! 

Good luck Boyd, report in via PM from dupes' place will ya'!?

SMJmodeler wrote:

Good luck Boyd, report in via PM from dupes' place will ya'!?

Heh. If he could report in from my place, that would mean I have internet at home, and could be on the forum whenever I wanted. Don't I WISH!

SMJmodeler wrote:

bbrowniii:  Looking good my man!  Tons of ammo, ready for battle, I like it!  Boy, you sure are cutting it close time-wise though!  After you see dupes' stash you'll be in a haze for at least two days...you'll probably have a real bad case of "stash envy"...Which of course can be cured by a serious run through the vendor tables!  Good luck Boyd, report in via PM from dupes' place will ya'!?

Hey SMJ,

Thanks for the encouragement.  Yeah, I am cutting it closer than I wanted to, but I've got a 'plan'.  I decided to go ahead and build the gun for AMPS, so that means I'll finish this up next week, and leave it pretty 'clean'.  When I get the gun done and put them on a base, I'll weather it more extensively...

Ooooooooooooooooooo..... vendor tables....  Those two words make me all goose pimply...

some assembly required wrote:

good stuff Boyd (did i mention that i hate those doors?)

SAR,

Glad you like it.

Yeah... those doors... ain't they... fun...?

bbrowniii wrote:

...Yeah, I am cutting it closer than I wanted to, but I've got a 'plan'.  I decided to go ahead and build the gun for AMPS, so that means I'll finish this up next week, and leave it pretty 'clean'.  When I get the gun done and put them on a base, I'll weather it more extensively...

Boyd: I mention you cutting it close, but really its the pot callin' the kettle black!  We're under two weeks to go and I havea lot to do.  Thankfully a lot of time is waiting for the vehicle to dry so I can focus on the stowage and accessories while I wait.  I'll have a nice "completed" version for the GB but will have the "tricked out" version a little later...I hate to do that but the base and other goodies take a lot of time!

SMJmodeler wrote:

bbrowniii wrote: ...Yeah, I am cutting it closer than I wanted to, but I've got a 'plan'.  I decided to go ahead and build the gun for AMPS, so that means I'll finish this up next week, and leave it pretty 'clean'.  When I get the gun done and put them on a base, I'll weather it more extensively... Boyd: I mention you cutting it close, but really its the pot callin' the kettle black!  We're under two weeks to go and I havea lot to do.  Thankfully a lot of time is waiting for the vehicle to dry so I can focus on the stowage and accessories while I wait.  I'll have a nice "completed" version for the GB but will have the "tricked out" version a little later...I hate to do that but the base and other goodies take a lot of time!

Yeah, I was gonna mention that!

Still, it seems like you and I are following the same plan - finish up the 'basic' build for the GB, then later we can 'pimp that ride'!!

dupes wrote:

Boyd - I'm probably too late, but are you still bringing your /4 for "show and tell" on Friday?

I was gonna, but things got a little crazy with the kiddos this morning, so I did not have time to pack it up.  Sorry...

  Boyd, looking good. Nice job on the interior. From my limited experience with the 251's once you get the insides and the tracks done the rest goes pretty quick.

    I'm sure you and SMJ will make the deadline no problem.

   Man I cant wait till amps when I get to se all these in person.

    By the way does anyone have plans to enter something for the show theme? I've started one of my entries and I'll be posting a wip over in armor soon. Stay tuned!

panzerguy wrote:

By the way does anyone have plans to enter something for the show theme? I've started one of my entries and I'll be posting a wip over in armor soon. Stay tuned!

Steve,

Thanks for the reply.  You are right, the time consuming part is the insides..

As a matter of fact, I am doing something for the show theme.  I picked up Tristars 38(t) B the other day at the LHS...  Gonna bang that out for the show.

Boyd - no problem...would rather have your model make it to AMPS intact than try to cram it into a car filled with crazy kids.

Steve - I am indeed shooting for the show theme this year - whatever I can finish in time that I like will be getting entered. Either looking at a Hungarian-schemed 38(t) Ausf. G (Maquette w/Bison decals), a Panzer IV B (Tristar), or a Panzer I (DML). Finding that most of my "good" builds lately have been all in the WWII Axis AFV's category...going to have to crank something out to fit somewhere else. My Academy Russian Sherman should be completed in time, which will double for the Sherman requirement for next spring's Wings N Wheels contest as well.

Lewbud - you can make it! Should be seeing a lot of finished stuff here in the next 10-12 days.

As for me, I just need to take some pics. On to the weathering stage with the /8, and then full bore on the /2. Shouldn't be too hard to wrap up with the monotone panzer gray scheme...MUCH easier than this ambulance motif. 

Panzerguy, your /22 is kick ***!  Nice work amigo! 

I've been having a tough time getting even a few minutes on my workbench.  I was hoping to do a 251 marathon the past week or so, however my wife had other plans for me.  I spent 8 days straight stripping paint, sanding, painting, staining etc.  She insisted that we refinish the front porch, front steps and the upper deck out back... sigh.  I would kill for some bench time!!!!

Hay yall I'm sorry Ive bean out for a wile but I'm back to work on my project.

There is a resin seat that came with my /17 kit that has two storage boxes underneathe it and it almost looks like it has a wood grain to it. Was wondering if anyone knows the color of this box  or if it was a common thing in 251's? Finding pictures of Hermann Goerings /17 converted 251 ARE impossible ... for me at least. So any help would be appreciated.

Josh

White,

That is cool!  Is the engine Verlinden?

Dupes,

You are an optimistic sort aren't you?  This weekend was pretty much shot.  Spent most of Friday wandering Squadron's warehouse and then going to work.  Saturday was spent at Scalefest.  Sunday was spent at work and recovering from Friday and Saturday.  Did some work Monday, found out that the Tamiya Dark Yellow rattle can and my hot rod red primer don't like each other (fortunately I tested it on the bottom of the hull).  Reshot with Tamiya primer and everything was pretty much hunky dory.  There is now a nice cast texture to the walls of the interior.  Am working on the fuel tanks for the flame throwers, with the pumping machinery to be done next.  Will post pics when I have more to show.  Pics from Scalefest are at http://public.fotki.com/lewbud/scalefest-2009/

Lewbud - I am inDEED the optimistic sort!

The deadline is fast approaching, and there a lot of 251's getting built right now...can't wait to see what everyone comes up with! As far as I can tell, we've still got at least 8 chassis still in active build-mode with one more solid weekend to go. Keep at it, fellas!!!

BTW, Scalefest looked to be a good time.

dupes wrote:

The deadline is fast approaching, and there a lot of 251's getting built right now...can't wait to see what everyone comes up with! Keep at it, fellas!!!

dupes: I've reached a comfort level knowing I WILL make it on time.  Short of three rockets and tracks I could call her complete!  I can't wait to post some pic's of the camo'...it came out sweet!  I'll get as much as I can done before the deadline, but I expect the base will come later.

Hay lewbud the engine is stock for the Zvezda model kit: http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=ZV3572

Scott - I don't have any pics proving or disproving this, but I certainly don't see why not? I have tons of pics with 251's carting around just about every other piece of equipment you can think of...

SMJ - glad to hear you'll make it in time! Can't wait for the pics!

As for me, I'll definitely make it with the /8, but will be perilously close to the deadline on the /2. Will depend fully on what work brings for me this week, and how much coffee I can pour down my gullet. Hah! 

White_R34 wrote:

Hay lewbud the engine is stock for the Zvezda model kit: http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=ZV3572

White,

That's cool, at least that's something you can see.  Don't know why Dragon gives you the transmission and fuel tank and then has you cover them up with the floor.  Other than because they can.  I've started the flame thrower apparatus.  This is the first time I've actually thought about getting and using an optivisor.  They could have cut the parts count in half for this thing and still been as detailed with proper mold design.

Some sleep did improve my outlook somewhat.  Here's some pics of the pump, still have to do the piping.

Buddy - looked at the instructions of my /16 to see what you were talking about - that's definitely a pretty darn complicated looking assembly. From your pics here, looks like you've got it all worked out though!

FINALLY got my tracks squared away on the /8 with only about one or two sheets of paper worth of front wheel "hover" as a result. Not too shabby.