Hi guys,

Made good progress on the Marder today although I am working from home on the support phone. It's been mega quiet so far (touching wood).

All the sub-assemblies are ready to go Tomorrow the plan is:

• Pre-shade then paint the exterior of the upper hull and side walls and also paint the interior (the lower hull is already painted
• Fit the radio, MP40, boxes and when dry I'll just drop the gun in and bracket it up to show her in transport mode (luckily I checked the instructions again and realised that I's left off the recoil slide hook so that's now fitted).
• I'll join the uper and lower sections together making sure that the touching parts are cleared of paint. 
• Next week is cammo, washes, weathering time and cammo and painting of tools and fixing of decals - I'm not rushing at this stage so I hope to have her totally complete in a couple of weeks max.
• The wooden crates-the standing one doesn't look right and the big gap at the base is visible anyway so I'll only be using the single small crate at the rear. I'm going to paint it a 'wooden' colour then hairspray it and paint it with DY then chip it up to add some visual interest. I've also found a fire extinguisher in the spares tub as there isn't one in the kit - that will be going in.

This has been a super build and I've LOVED it! The gun assembly is great and looks superb now I've added a little Gunze dry-brushed highlight to the slides and what would have been moving parts. If you want a nice quick build and don't fancy forking out for the Dragon version then this is perfect!

Work so far:

I painted the leaf springs with a little Mig grease/fuel stain mixture:

I'm very pleased with the gun so far: 

Thanks for looking guys - I hope you'll agree with me that this has the potential to be a really nice little build!

Any comments etc please, sound off

Thanks guys, I hope to have a superb wip update tomorrow.

All the best,

Ben  

Definitely you did alot of work this time.  Everything looks good!  Are you planning to use the kit supplied decals if they are still good or an aftermarket decals? 

Hi Andy,

I'm building totally OOB which is fine with me as I want a 'Coal Thief' Marder II anyway and they are the only supplied decals. This must be a re-issue and not an original kit from 1975 kit the mouldings are too crisp and detailed - the figures are superb. It does have a big Gold label on the box saying 'Tamiya 70's Masterpiece Models' or something which would suggest a re-release BUT the box is dated 1975 which would suggest the kit is from 1975. Does anyone know? If the decals are 'iffy' I'll probably see if I can save them or just make up something from my spares tub.

Everything has built up fine and I reckon it should make a nice little model.

I'll be using the kit tracks too which are not the best but will colour up nicely. I'm not spending £28 on Friuls for use on a £20 kit! I'd rather but Friuls for my Tiger!

I'll be air brushing the upper hull and fighting compartment after lunch today which should be fun!

Update later!

Ben

Good afternoon folks,

With absolutely NO commitments today (unlike yesterday and other previous weekends when I've been planning to get stuck into this build) so today the air brush got fired up, paint was mixed and the overall basecoat with a light hint of a pre-shade was applied. Because the 'Green Dot' scheme was pretty simple I was able to apply that too (there must be a name for that scheme).

Overall, I think it's come out really, really well. Obviously there are decals and tools to go on plus the filters and washes, some light chipping and muddy / streaky style weathering on those nice big side walls but at this point the basecoat looks spot-on. I think I'm really getting to grips with the finer art of air brushing as the standard set up refused to make leave a nice round spot so I exposed the tip by removing the end cover (as reccomended in the instructions for drawing super fine lines) and she worked great-first time I'd used this little 'function'.

The PAK is dry-fitted for the photos as I'll need to remove that again to allow full access to the fighting compartment for detailing. I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it in transport mode with the barrel clamped up and pointing straight forward with the muzzle wrapped up OR show it in full action with spent cases and live shells on view with the barrel pointing off at an angle - I like that idea.

Next week I'll get some Vallejo Gloss on so she's ready for the decals, add the tools then start the fun bit-weathering!!! I'll use that crate at the rear but not the standing side crate as it looks 'odd'. I've painted the rear crate a lightened flat brown and I'll then top coat that with DY and will use the hairspray method to chip it up, nicely exposing the wooden base. I'll paint the figures as it is all practice but don't know if I'll use them.

I'm looking at replacing the kit MG which looks awful as someone mentioned earlier in this blog I think with an MG from one of the accessories kit's I have-I'll just need to cut off the mount. I think it would be nice having an exposed bullet belt instead of the round magazine (could I use an MG42 on this kit and keep it accurate as, iirc, the kit one is an MG34). 

The only real error on my part was fitting the left hand (as you look at her face on) spare track rail slightly kinked. It's fairly kinked but will hide easily if I hide it under an oily 'rag' hung at the front The only other issue were the gaps between upper and lower hulls (kit poorly fitting imo) so I've stuck them together well and they won't be visible either way. The halves certainly didn't drop snugly into place and took a little work!

Todays work:

Here you can see that wonky track-link which will need to be 'hidden'!

Thanks for looking guys - please send any comments or suggestions this way

Re the hose - Andy Deafpanzer has very kindly offered to send me a section of hose that he used on his Marder II.

Take care and have a good week everyone!

Ben  

Looking fine so far. Dont worry about the track link you can always just leave them off, they dont have to be there. Have a look at my final pictures in /forums/t/141101.aspx

There is a BIG glue run on the front which I just covered with a length of fruils and no one will notice ever. This was my first attempt at a bit more weathering than normal, it can hide a lot of problems.

Phil

Making good progress Ben...I wouldn't worry too much about the spare track rail...I can't really see the problem you mention so don't think you have to resort to hanging rags about the place just yet.

Hi guys,

I've got a fair chunk done today and should deinately have her completed at the end of next weekend

Decals are on, filters and a couple of light washes to see what works best are on and everything is looking really nice so far. I tried some Humbrol Metalcoate (shiny metallc buffable) on the recoil slides and after buffing they looked a lot better than before.

I looked at other pictures of Marder II's on the web and they are all nearly posed in 'travel mode, with the barrel supports on and travel lock at the barrel rear engaged so I thought I'd be diferrent and leave the travel locks off and show her as she'd look when in action. The gun is totally posable and elavates/rotates freely so if I decide on a base that will be handy.

I tried my AK filters but they acted more like washes and left a wash-like residue behind. I shook the bottles well but all of my filters for DY type painted armour are about two thirds empty so I think there must have been an accumulation in the bottom which turned them into more of a wash - it's no problem as they look fine but I think I'll chuck them now and get two new bottles in these colours. Tomorrow the build will be getting a light all-over Umber Oil Paint Wash.

Tomorrow I'll fit the tools and paint the moulded-on tools aswell. Karl Doog recommended to someone who was painting a DY vehicle to lightly dry-brush all edges with a metallic colour paint as this makes the vehicle look 'heavy' and more realistic so I'll be trying that out for certain!

Next week will see heavier muddy weathering, dull coat and some light pigment work to finish her off. I'm not going to go heavy all-over on the weathering.

I hope you like so far - remember she's still far from complete!

Thanks for looking guys. I've still got the hose to come from Andy (Deafpanzer) and I'll be painting some of them spent shell cases up that came with the kit as 'litter' to put in the fighting compartment.

If anyone has any comments or suggestions on improving my build I'd love to hear them!

Many thanks - update tomorrow!

Ben

Decals look excellent. Shaping up really nicely.

tigerman

Decals look excellent. Shaping up really nicely.

Thanks TM,

They were a real PITA to apply. They needed soaking for 3 minutes before they would even begin to leave the backing paper but they look spot-on now. No silvering.

Decal Sol and Vallejo Acrylic Gloss Varnish was used. A spot of varnish on top after application of the decals sealed them nicely

Any ideas on my Filters - why have they gone 'heavy'? They are more like a wash now?

All the best,

Ben

Ben,

Nice to see this one moving along. Looks like you've got it headed in the right direction...don't forget to do some bare metal wear on the sprockets and idler contact surfaces.

wbill76

Ben,

Nice to see this one moving along. Looks like you've got it headed in the right direction...don't forget to do some bare metal wear on the sprockets and idler contact surfaces.

Cheers Bill,

She's coming on nicely. Another weekend or two and she'll be in the bag (unless I have Magic Tracks to assemble which might add another day or so and might take me into an extra weekend)

I'm really wanting to get back into my Tiger I Initial Production but this has the makings of a fine little build so I'll not be rushing her now!

I'll be turning all my attention to the lower hull as it is now when I'm happy with the fighting compartment and exterior upper hull weathering. I'll be keeping it light but realistic-no mud bath for this SPG!

Cheers,

Ben

Ben,

She's lookin' good! Almost there now!

Cliff

Gamera

Ben,

She's lookin' good! Almost there now!

Cliff

Cheers Cliff,

I'm really very pleased with how she's turned out - as a cheap kit I'd originally decided to keep it a simple quickie build but found it turning into quite an involved build now that will look nice in the cabinet. These older kits are serious fun as most of the smaller parts need drilling out or sprucing up somehow which is all good practice.

Thanks again buddy,

Ben

Looking real good there Hinksy Far better than mine turned out 24 years ago... And yes, the old kits are a bit more fun with the do it yourselfsprucing needs. Great excuse for adding tools to the workbench drawers.

Hi Ben,,,  not sure how I missed this thread,, but I have caught up now though....  luv what you have done with this ole kit,,,,,,    great job all-round!

Bill

Thanks for the comments guys,

We had family over for lunch but they popped out to a garden centre-needless to say I didn't go   

She's had some pin-washes, metallic dry brushes to make some details pop, basic wash and the beginning of some mud and muck build up on the running gear to sit behind the road wheels (they've had a wash too and the road wheel bolt detail will also get a bolt-popping dry brush when they go on.

As for the upper hull and interior that's it now. I'm leaving it there as it looks great (imo) and personally, I'm happy to leave it like that. I've given the upper hull a very light air brushing of Vallejo Matt Varnish and will do the same again next weekend then brush on some very light pigment left unfixed.

Apart from that it's paint and fit tools that hang on the outer wall and rear, sort the one piece tracks out (old style hot screwdriver things which look okay but they will need some TLC to look good enough to use. I'm reluctant to go anywhere near the tracks with a hot screwdriver so I might stitch and staple them together at the joint and leave it out-of-site. 

She'll be complete by next Sunday which means I can get back into my Tiger I build!

Thanks for looking guys.

I'll post a final completion post next weekend when the tracks and road wheels are on and all the bits are in place.

Not sure what to do re the MG as it's a real dog (kit version). I'd like to use one though and have plenty of nice Dragon ones in the stash - I'm assuming that because it's an earlier war build it must be an MG34? 

Also, the old type vinyl tracks - any tips on painting them? Will they take paint ok without flaking (Acrylic)?

Please let me know if you have comments or suggestions for improving the inner compartment or the general build.

Have a great week and take care chaps!

Ben

Ben,

Regarding your MG question, the answer is "yes" it should be an MG34...the infantry received priority for the MG42 which is why you don't see them mounted frequently on vehicles until much later in the war.

Can't offer you any advice on the vinyl tracks unfortunately. Sounds like you've got this one pretty close to the finish line.

Cheers Bill,

I'll have to see what I can bash together!

I suppose I could stow a nice MG34? The kit one really is a horror!

Cheers,

Ben

The MG34 was normally stowed on the right side of the interior with about half of it hidden behind the radio gear, so it's really only the barrel portion that's visible. Up to you I suppose...if I had a spare DML MG34 laying around and it was better detailed than the kit part I'd definitely replace it.

This one looks great Ben especially for the older kit. You have given it a new lease of life.If its a subject you like then you should definitely consider the dragon offering.

Terry.

terry35

This one looks great Ben especially for the older kit. You have given it a new lease of life.If its a subject you like then you should definitely consider the dragon offering.

Terry.

Hi guys,

I just love my SPG's and I bought this to save me having to fork out double for the Dragon one. Sure it would be better but this built up lovely and the instructions could be followed!

I've decided that after I've finished my Tiger I I'm going to tackle the Dragon Bison II that Bill is building right now.

Cheers for the buddy!

All the best,

Ben

Hi guys,

Good news - she's finished (I think)

I say 'I think' because I'm still looking at ways of replacing the kit MG and mount and knocking up a Dragon MG34 and mount and using that but for the time being, I'm very happy.

The tracks aren't great but I did say OOB so I stuck with them. The money saved will go towards Friuls for the Tiger build. The only added extras were an RB Antennae, Radio nicked from another kit and a tow cable that wasn't going to get used (that's wrapped round the front of the build on the spare track).

Anyway, she's turned out really well and I'm really pleased. You'll see in the final photo the Tiger I (Initial Production) that I'm now going to complete.

I hope you like her chaps!

My completed Marder II and my next wip on the bench - my assembled Initial Production Tiger I (Dragon kit #6600) now waiting for painting and weathering.

Thanks for looking guys,

I'd love to hear any comments etc.

I'll go find my Tiger blog and get that running again - I'm looking forward to getting stuck into that one now.

Cheers fellas,

Ben  

Very nicely executed! A great balance on the weathering. Lots there wihout being overdone.

She's a cutie alright,nice job.

Tony lee

Cheers guys

You've done some good work with this one.......

And you get better with each one.

Thanks for the ride on this old vintage kit. Brings back some memories.

Hey cheers Master and Tigerman,

It would have been nice to have put some decent tracks on her but I wanted to keep it as it would have been in 1975. They painted up ok and because the kit was so cheap I didn't have to worry about experimenting with different methods etc.

She's turned out real good.

Thanks again - much appreciated!

Ben

Beautiful work!  The radio is probably my favorite part.  Be sure to print a small sign to be placed next to your Marder to remind your friends that the kit is older than you... 

Get your butt back to the Tiger!  Can't wait to see how it stands next to the Pz III... 

Nice work on this one Ben. When you resolve the issue with the MG you might also want to hit the molded-on tools on the front fenders...the crank starter in particular that's on the left fender would look nicer if detailed instead of left in the hull color as it is now IMHO. Can definitely see a progression in your work, look forward to seeing what you do with the Tiger.