Tamiya 1/35 JSU-152 '1151': The Completed Build! 06.01.11:

looking forward to seeing this one. Nothing like starting a new year with a new kit.

Happy new year to you as well Ben. No sore head for me today, I had planned on spending time today at the bench, so I only had two beers.

Looking forward to the first round of pics.

Rob

www.scratchmod.com

Ben,

I'll be following this one as I have it lurking in my stash.

Cheers

Dave

Hi guys,

Well, I promised an update and an update you shall get!

The lower hull is assembled along with all 14 road wheels and the 6 return rollers (yawn). Not the most enthralling of jobs but it needed to be done before any progress can be be made. It looks like this thing is going to be bloody huge!

Tomorrow I'll get cracking on the tracks and hopefully get a chance to make a start on the superstucture.

Suspension arms sat one the jig things that are supplied to ensure everything falls level:

Road wheels and return rollers all fitted - you've got to love these simple Tamiya builds!

Fingers crossed that the tracks turn out ok! I haven't fitted the mud scrapers yet. It became apparent upon dry-fitting that it will cause havoc when I want to pull off the Drive Sprockets for painting so they'll go on a bit later toward the end of the build.

I wish I had more to show you but a lot of cleanup was needed and I don't want to rush things and make the usual daft errors that I'm prone to!

Update tomorrow due to the English Bank Holiday Monday so a nice relaxing days modelling planned.

ATVB

Ben

Looks like you're off to a good start Ben! Fitting the link-and-length tracks might be difficult with the return rollers already in place once the upper hull is joined with fenders, etc unless the rollers too are fitted with polycaps and are removable?

Hey Bill,

Read my post prior to my latest one Bill - that's what I have planned mate! All the wheels are Polycaps.

I reckon I can do it. I want to get the lower and tracks assembled and leave them aside while I work on the superstructure.

Cheers buddy,

Ben

Hi chaps,

The lower hull is complete along with tracks - result!

I had wanted to assemble the tracks  but leave the very last track links join not glued so I to allow me to remove the tracks and wheels again for proper painting and to allow full access behind the wheels for decent weathering. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull this one off but it went without a hitch (just about)! The two track ends meet up perfectly when dry fitted.

Tracks assembled and remove fully allowing for proper painting:

The below picture shows one entire (completed) track run removed:

The next step shows the start of the assembly of the superstructure - this drops onto the lower hull when fully assembled so for now the lower hull can be put aside and when it's AB time I can remove the tracks and wheels and work on the lower hull and weather it along with the tracks and wheels totally separately and drop the superstructure onto the lower hull when ready. I'll have to mask the area that glue to the upper parts so there's no paint to interfere with the glue.

Tamiya really had a stroke of genius with the 'sag jig'. Perhaps something for Dragon to look at for use with their Magic Tracks?

Back at work tomorrow unfortunately so I'll be able to bust open the main build and get this thing looking serious!

ATVB & have a good week!

Ben

Tracks look good Ben,thats part of the reason I got the friuls,didn't want to deal with that issue of yours,good luck though.

PS I picked up a cheap photo booth,so I'll be able to post some better shots of my JSU soon

Cool subject. These seem to be kinda of popular as of late. It looks like your on the right track so to speak. LOL

It's a shame that they can't do say two runs (a top and a bottom) of track in styrene, rather then a bunch of indy pieces. It seems plausible to me. I hate tracks.

Good luck and will be lurking around in your thread.

tigerman

Cool subject. These seem to be kinda of popular as of late. It looks like your on the right track so to speak. LOL

It's a shame that they can't do say two runs (a top and a bottom) of track in styrene, rather then a bunch of indy pieces. It seems plausible to me. I hate tracks.

Good luck and will be lurking around in your thread.

Hey guys,

Sorry, I've been stupidly busy in the office this week so haven't really been on here.

Tigerman - Thanks for your comments buddy

WIP: A quick update on the JSU:

Ben

Hi folks,

Well I'm pleased to say that due to a days holiday today I've actually managed to get some bench time in!

She's actually really taking shape now - the superstructure is mated with the rear deck, the grills are in place and the RB barrel has been fitted and the mantlet mounted. CA for the Mantlet as that big 152mm (scale) barrel is pretty heavy!

I've got the spare tracks, tools, hatches, horn, headlight, MG and loads of small stuff to finish up on which I'll be doing this weekend. The lower hull is not yet mounted to the upper area as I'll be removing the tracks and wheels for painting in blocks. A lot of stuff like the tools and spare links will be brush painted and mounted after the main basecoat is on - I'd like to think that I'd have her completed and ready for paint for this coming Sunday.

I must say - what a cracking kit! Well done on this monster Tamiya! The RB barrel is a must imo. The kit barrel is ok but there's always that seam! I hate it. A barrel with a muzzle brake like this just looks sooo good in turned Aluminium / Brass. I'm looking forward to weathering this build, there is just so much you can do with a build like this! I would like to beat up the fenders a bit and generally having her looking a bit rough. Some AK Streaking Grime and some nice pigment work around the drive gear is just the ticket imo. 

Check out my progress - I hope you like her

Below: the upper and lower halves can be split so I can remove the tracks and wheels for painting. I'll make the join right at the end.

She's getting there - I'll have a nice WIP update for you on Saturday hopefully showing my JSU ready for colour!

All the best guys,

Ben

Heavy.

Good looking build so far, Ben.

You should try some post-shading on this monster. That would really bring out its dimensions.

Hey Karl - were you waiting to pounce on my thread! That was quick 

I'm still trying to get the pre-shading to work! I'm determined to get that to work this time!

Funny you should mention post shading though: I KNEW that I had seen it and after about an hour of rummaging through model magazines I found it - only a 6 page spread on building and painting/weathering the Tamiya JSU-152!

The author starts with the basic construction and really goes into some great detail on the weathering and painting, including post shading! I'm going to be sticking to this article pretty closely as it's ideal and seems to aimed at the less experienced armour builder. I'll be giving the post shading a go I reckon.

I'm going to have fuel barrels on one side and on the the other the barrels will be gone but the brackets will remain. I'm thinking of a nice big log chained to the brackets maybe? I'm going to fairly roughly hand paint the white Battle of Berlin stripes and I'm only going to decal on the numbers and the two red stars on top of the stripes. The decal striped are perfect and bright and would look way out of place! I've got a god feeling about this build and am loving it so far. I've decided on a mix of XF-51 Khaki Drab with a touch of XF-49 (I think). Either way it's looking good - a green with a distinct brownish hue.

Like I say there should hopefully be a ready to paint completed assembly come this time Saturday - I hope you like her dude!

ATVB

Ben

Jeez, how can you call this a beauty!!!  I don't see anything... it is real one ugly but big beast! LOL  It is looking good so far... looking forward to your next update.

Have to agree on the use of the replacement barrel Ben, definitely one of the signature characteristics of this monster and the RB barrel is a nice touch. Looks like you've got the build down, now on to paint!

wbill76

Have to agree on the use of the replacement barrel Ben, definitely one of the signature characteristics of this monster and the RB barrel is a nice touch. Looks like you've got the build down, now on to paint!

Hey Bill,

The build is nearly there - there's just the hatches and fuel tanks/brackets to fit.

Cheers buddy,

Ben  

wbill76

Have to agree on the use of the replacement barrel Ben, definitely one of the signature characteristics of this monster and the RB barrel is a nice touch. Looks like you've got the build down, now on to paint!

Hey Bill,

The build is nearly there - there's just the hatches and fuel tanks/brackets to fit.

Cheers buddy,

Ben  

Good evening folks,

Just a quick update on my JSU-152:

I was hoping to have her primed by now and ready for paint come tomorrow but the parents have several visitors over from Ireland this weekend so an air brush ban has been imposed! I don't have my own bench, my bench is the kitchen table, hence the ban! I can build small bit's in my bedroom on my desk but it's cramped and there's no sink nearby so any air brush work is out. 

Anyway: I've installed the two spare duel drums on the right hand side at the rear, I've left the drums off the left rear as I'm planning on using the drum mounting brackets for holding a chained down log or something similar. The horn and headlight are fitted - I tried the tinfoil method as a reflector inside the headlight body - I think it will reflect better and look brighter than if I painted the headlight interior with a bright silver.

The grab handles have been fitted on the rear deck as have the handles on the fighting compartment exterior but I've used some very fine brass rod for the compartment handles as they are just waiting to be snapped off during painting! The ones on the rear deck should be fine.

Everything is near enough in place now, I've just got the round hatches to put on in the morning and the MG to assemble. I was going to use the figure that is looking out of the square hatch at the rear of the fighting compartment but feel that I need to practice on my figures some more yet as I'm pretty dismal at painting them and a bad figure will really distract from an otherwise great piece of armour.

So, to sum up, she'll be ready for priming by tomorrow evening and I can apply the first basecoats next weekend. She's looking good and has turned out to be a very enjoyable build so far - highly recommended. I'm taking my time with this one, no more rush builds for me any more!

A quick couple of questions:

• As you look at the front on the left side by the horn there is a square pice that looks like it should hold a notice or something as it's shaped like something should slot down into it? Any ideas?
• Also, on the Right side, there is what looks like a strap. I'm assuming that this trap is for the crewmen to use to pull themselves up onto the tank? I'm thinking that this is a leather strap and should be painted to look like leather?

I hope you like her so far chaps - check her out:

Thanks for looking guys,

WIP update tomorrow!

ATVB

Ben

Beats me Ben. In the few photos of it in my New Vanguard book, it was always empty. It does look purposeless, but then I don't have a clue.

Nice progress Ben. That Ally barrel really makes a difference to theh kit. Good luck with the rest of your Build.

Terry.

terry35

Nice progress Ben. That Ally barrel really makes a difference to theh kit. Good luck with the rest of your Build.

Terry.

Thanks Terry,

The replacement barrel, at £8, is a no brainer really! There are various replacements but the RB version seems to be the most popular for the Tamiya kit. It needs no modifications to fit - it just slides right in and butts up against the mantlet perfectly. It actually slid in too easily as it was quite undersize at the breech end so I packed the mantlet with Milliput which did the job of holding the barrel straight while the CA that I put down to hold the barrel set. The only thing that I have noticed is that the first 'step down' in diameter where it leaves the mantle is a little too far forward - only a couple of mm but it's noticeable when you look at photos of the real thing. The magazine JSU assembly and painting article that I'm following uses the RB barrel and his is the same so the barrel would maybe benefit from a couple of mm shaving off it where it pushes in (if it's something that would bother you)

Personally, it's not something I'll lose sleep over!

I'm at a bit of a loose end now though. With the Irish side of the family visiting this weekend and the AB painting ban being enforced apart from getting the hatches finished and the primer on (I've bought a can of some new Vallejo Grey rattlecan primer which I'm keen to try). I'm stuck until next weekend. I might go and cut a decent slim branch from the garden to use as the log and I've got some 1/35 balsa wood crates to assemble so I'll build up one of them as I want one as stowage. 

ATVB

Ben  

Coming along nicely Ben, sorry to hear you've got a work stoppage due to family but sacrifices have to be made from time to time...just think of it as a chance to think through thoroughly your next steps and/or do some research for your next build.

Cheers Bill,

It's no problem buddy - they didn't impose a rattlecan ban as far as I can recall so after lunch when everyone was having a kip or watching crappy Sunday afternoon television I got the final few touches made and stripped her down leaving the lower hull, the main upper hull and tracks all separate and took her out to the garage for priming!

She's actually looking like a real build now. The new Vallejo primer that I've bought (you can see it in the photos) is excellent and much better than the Humbrol primer that I had been using. This Vallejo stuff sprays almost like a mist and is very 'soft' - it doesn't leave a grainy surface like some other primers that I've tried.

I did make two stupid errors though

• I forgot to mask off the headlight lens so that got primed too. I removed it and have actualy decided that it looks like a headlight with the reflector intact (I used tinfoil to line the headlight body yesterday) but with no lens so I'm leaving it like that. It should suit the model imo.
• I used the blunt end of an old paintbrush to stir my pot of MR Surfacer 500 and with out thinking put the end of the paintbrush between my teeth after I'd finished painting it on. I'm sure you can imaging just how vile it tastes - it burns your lips too What an IDIOT!

Well, here she is, ready for the final stages! She will still strip right down and the tracks are all removable still as are the wheels - proper painting will begin next Sunday as I'm working from home next Saturday so all I'll be doing it painting the tools etc:

Ready to prime:

After Priming:

These are the plus model crates that I bought. They are made from thin sheets of Balsa Wood that you have to assemble - you just push the pieces out of each sheet. I'm looking forward to trying these out:

Thanks for looking guys and have a good week!

ATVB

Ben

Ben, now she is starting to look prettier...   I haven't seen this wooden box AM before so I am interested to see how it comes out. 

deafpanzer

Ben, now she is starting to look prettier...   I haven't seen this wooden box AM before so I am interested to see how it comes out. 

Hey Andy,

I hope you are well my friend

She's definately taking shape now and looks far better in a uniform colour! I'm really looking forward to painting and weathering this one. It's nice having a completed assembly that can be totally stripped down for more effective painting ie the wheels and tracks etc.

Now the primer is on there are a few gaps that are visible - mainly on the side fuel drums so I'll get them filled prior to any Green going on next weekend.

I've had these crates for a while now - there are six in a pack. They were only a couple of pounds. I've been waiting for a vehicle to try one out on.

If you would like a Balsa Wood 'fret' to make a crate just drop me your address and I'll post you one.

ATVB

Ben

Good afternoon folks,

I'm working from home this weekend covering the emergency work phone with the work laptop so I'm working in between the odd phone call.

I've started early and have given her a quick all over coat of Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black in preparation for the main base coat tomorrow.

I'll be hitting the tools with paintbrushes today and getting them ready and the wheels will be getting painted tomorrow.

I removed the tracks and gave them a coat of Gunze Steel on top of which I'm planning on building up layers of dark and rusty washes followed by various pigments to obtain a nice dark lightly rusted finish to the tracks.

The Khaki Drab & Olive Green 50/50 basecoat mix will be applied lightly to allow the black base coat to show through and will hopefully provide some interesting tonal variation - hopefully!

By the time I get my WIP updated tomorrow the JSU should be ready for weathering and will have decals applied etc.

Tracks painted with Gunze 'Steel - the tracks still remain fully removable to allow for full painting of the wheels and weathering of the tracks and lower hull:

Semi Gloss Black all over and tools:

I hope you like her so far.

WIP update to follow tomorow

ATVB

Ben

Very cool, Ben--now give 'er some lighter green shading inside the panels and you'll be cruising! That looks too dark yet for my tastes to start the weathering--unless you're going to give t a heavy shade of tan "dusty" wash?

looking good Ben gotta go with Karl on the colour being dark you have a great opportunity for some fading as he suggested the build itself looks very good i like these big lumbering giants and enjoyed building the JSu-122 a lot

Hi chaps,

You guys are terrible for not reading WIP wording

It's been painted in Semi Gloss Black! That's my undercoat for the green! It's jet black at the minute!

I'm painting her in a mix of my own concoction of Olive Green and Khaki Drab tomorrow.

Note: I've just looked at my last photos and it does look kind of green doesn't it but trust me - it VERY black at the minute! Tomorrow I'll be painting the proper basecoat and seeing how I get on as I'm taking my time with this one.

ATVB

Ben