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

Hey guys,

Wanted to get your opinion on something:

I am finishing up (hopefully!) the lefH18/40 to go with my /4.  The track is painted in a pretty simple dunklegelb base with green camo, representing (loosely) a vehicle in Greece in '43.  I was planning to do the same scheme on the arty piece, but then I got to thinkin... (and that is always trouble!).  I was looking through a copy of MMiR (the only one I have) and there are a couple articles in there about 88's.  In one, the builder painted it in a simple panzer grey finish.  I really like the looks of it, so I was considering doing the same for my gun.  Do you think it will look 'off' to have the track in one scheme and the gun in another?  Anyone know if these guns were ever even in panzer grey?

Thanks!

bbrowniii wrote:

Hey guys, Wanted to get your opinion on something: I am finishing up (hopefully!) the lefH18/40 to go with my /4.  The track is painted in a pretty simple dunklegelb base with green camo, representing (loosely) a vehicle in Greece in '43.  I was planning to do the same scheme on the arty piece, but then I got to thinkin... (and that is always trouble!).  I was looking through a copy of MMiR (the only one I have) and there are a couple articles in there about 88's.  In one, the builder painted it in a simple panzer grey finish.  I really like the looks of it, so I was considering doing the same for my gun.  Do you think it will look 'off' to have the track in one scheme and the gun in another?  Anyone know if these guns were ever even in panzer grey? Thanks!

Artillery like armour was painted in Panzer Grey prior to the change over. I guess its not unthinkable to have an older gun pulled by a newer vehicle.

espins1 wrote:

back to work on the 251/1. I can't for the life of me understand why AFV Club included spare vision blocks that are to be mounted to the interior sides.... molded in green plastic?!? Shouldn't they be "clear" with the molded on bracket painted in the interior color? Any ideas on how I can paint them to remotely look like vision blocks?

Hey Scott,

I had the same issue.  I ended up using Micromask - painted it on the interior surface of the glass and on the exterior (where the two pins mate it to the armored cover, which I painted white), then I painted the frame and removed the mask (actually, I removed it on three out of four - couldn't get it off that darn fourth one...)

Thanks for the tip browniii, that would solve my problem if the vision blocks were clear plastic, but they're opaque green plastic. 

Here are a couple of quickie shots from just a little bit ago, got some faded black on all the rubber parts, sprayed the dunkelgelb on the interior and some of the exterior. As I wait for everything to dry and cure I'm going to work on the weapons, tools and the radio. 

Scott,

How bout masking them off and hitting them with some gloss black?  Give the effect of the shutters being down, yet give a somewhat glassy reflection.  You could always drill them out and fill the hole with clear plastic.  Probably trying not to do that though.

espins1 wrote:

Scott: I like the look you acheived on these...how'd you do that? Is it a light gray wash or what?

espins1 wrote:

SMJ - that is kinda cool, I see some possibilities with what I did. Unfortunately, that's the just look with some faded black sprayed on the rubber parts with the white primer showing in the areas that didn't get overspray on them. The centers are all going to get sprayed with dunkelgelb tonight using a circle template. I may go super light with the dunkelgelp to have some of the contrast show through the paint for a "weathered" effect. I may experiment with a future build putting the dunkelgelb on first, then carefully spraying the black/gray from a more oblique angle to see if I can't leverage the effect somehow.

Scott: It's kinda' funny how we stumble onto new ideas huh?!...the effect is like dried dirt/dust.  It may not be as effective for the dunkelgelb application but it would work well with panzer gray.  In fact, why not force the dust application issue and spray/prime the wheels buff first....hmmm...note-to-self on that one...

I'll watch to see how you try to work it with the dunkelgelb, I hope it comes out good!...

Hello all I need to get some things off my chest about this build. First I'm back to work on it and I didn't see an answer to my question. So I'm going to go on an get my 251 done for this GB any way. Now from time to time I feel that I may now have any relevant info to post with my progress photos. So I'm going to just post photos an if I feel like adding any info I will. I would realy like to get this project done well and looking good so I will post some of my progress to night or early this morning so I can keep on working. Now if any one wants to ask any thing ask away.

Progress Photo,Pics or Pix:

 Sorry White R34 musta missed the question. I have been following along as best I can with everyone working so well. Boyd, SAR and Fupes really got some beauties posted,  I like Boyd's paint job looks right on!  Fupes made a great Ambulance. Looks like tight out of a ref book and SAR's /7 is cool I aleays like that unit marking with the sword welding skeleton. On the Dark gray the details are really atanding out better that I thought they would.

 Buddy and Scott got killer in progress pics going on and I dunno what you ask but since I can ask anything ? Do you have the phone numbers of any fallen women who like wearing fishnet stockings and make good coffee? Hey it's midinght and thats the first question that popped to mind!

White_R34 wrote:

First I'm back to work on it and I didn't see an answer to my question. So I'm going to go on an get my 251 done for this GB any way.

Dupes extended the GB to the end of the month, you can see his response to your question here.  

/forums/68/961565/ShowPost.aspx#961565  

*Sigh*. First time I've been logged into the forum in 10 days. Work is certainly getting the best of me!

Keep up the good work guys, can't wait for the finished products.

Will be sure to get the final pics of my /8 up sometime soon, as well as all of the badges that I still owe people. They're all right here, just have to find some time to get them up on Photobucket.

Back soon!

Here are a couple of quicky shots of the interior.  I just need to install the seatbacks, rifles and brackets then attach the upper hull to the lower.  The camouflage spraying will commence this afternoon! 

The interior is finished (will weather it after the camo has been painted, don't want to get oils on the exterior before paint).  Next I'm attaching the upper hull to the lower, and adding the rear panel with doors, the fenders and the front plates of the halftrack. 

   Scott it's nice to see that you're able to get some time in on this guy. The interior looks great. I've found that once you get past that the rest is usually all down hill.

   By the way I like the tablecloth tarp.