As many of you know, this build is a little special as it marks my 100th armor model build and was chosen by the FSM forum by vote after a hard-fought campaign between this one and the DML Tiger (P). I started back in the hobby in 2002 so it's taken just at 7 years to get to this point...time flies when you're having fun!
This build features the Tristar kit #35026 Pzkpfw 38(t) Ausf B plus the Tristar Pzkpfw 38(t) Interior set #35032 as well as a Griffon turned aluminum main gun barrel and Lion Marc brass Vz37 machineguns. I'll also be using a set of ModelKasten SK-30 workable tracks.
Since I'm building this kit up with a full interior, the build order will skip around a bit from that outlined in the standard vehicle instructions. I started in with the interior set and the first order of business was the construction of the brakes. This is a multi-part affair with PE strips provided to create added detail for the brake straps. The steering levers were added next along with the transmission and the drive shaft.
The hull floor required a little bit of clean up in the form of filling or sanding down various ejector marks. This was easily taken care of using a sanding twig and some Squadron White putty. The driver and radio operator seats and their mounts were assembled next and then installed. It took a couple of attempts to get the driver's seat positioned properly, I had to do multiple test fits with the hull side and the transmission before I found the sweet spot as the space is very tight with hardly any tolerance to either side. There aren't any locator marks to aid in their positioning so once I had the driver's seat lined up properly, I used it as a guide to then add the radio operator's. The transmission and brake housing are dry fit only at this stage to give an idea of how it will all work together.
Going by the various reference pics of the interior of 38ts from Panzer Tracts 13 and Spielberger, I masked off the appropriate areas on the floor and the hull sides and painted the red oxide areas of the interior and engine compartment. I mixed up my own flavor using Testors Flat Red, Flat Black, and a little bit of Light Gray and sprayed via air brush. I had installed the engine compartment fuel tanks but left the radiator and water tank separate as their exact position is dependent on the engine and I needed to construct and install that first.
Speaking of the engine, that's what I worked on next. The Tristar parts provide a lot of detail and I had to think strategically about the assembly and paint sequences in order to be able to get to everything. I ended up assembling the block and painting it first, then painting and adding the various additional details individually as I went along. Once the whole engine was assembled, I gave the whole thing a light wash of thinned Aircraft Interior Black since it's got a bit of a satiny sheen to it, perfect for simulating oily grime IMHO.
I also detailed the battery rack on the left side as well as the fuel caps on the tanks. I added some of the same wash here to simulate fuel stains/spills and generally get it to match the engine. Don't mind the small marks on the hull side of the tanks, that will be hidden away from view once the hull sides are added to the floor. The engine is only dry fit for now, I still need to do some work with the radiator and the firewall before it will be permanently installed. Depending on the space restrictions, I may add some fuel lines between the tanks and the engine if I can make it work...if not, I'll leave things as is for this part of the interior.
