Tamiya Marder II - NOW 100% COMPLETED! (10.02.12)

wbill76

Looks like you're going to have this one done in no time Ben, assembly is coming together nicely!

As to your question about the hose tubing, that was used to exchange the coolant fluid on the engine...because of where the ammo boxes were mounted, doing maintenance on the engine was a tougher job than on a standard Pz II and the hose helped with that particular task.

Thanks Bill,

So does that hose need to be connected into anything as if it's serving a purpose or is that just a roll of spare hose that is supposed to go there for storage?

Cheers buddy,

Ben

Looks like you're going to have this one done in no time Ben, assembly is coming together nicely!

As to your question about the hose tubing, that was used to exchange the coolant fluid on the engine...because of where the ammo boxes were mounted, doing maintenance on the engine was a tougher job than on a standard Pz II and the hose helped with that particular task.

deafpanzer

Gosh, that was pretty quick!  That's what I like about Tamiya kits.  The gun alone took me several hours unlike yours.  Glad the radio diagram helped... wbill was the one who sent me the diagram.  You have to buy him a too one day.  Your radio looks real good!

I can send you a copy of color plate provided by the AM decal maker to help you paint your 'Coal Thief' accurately if you wish. 

Hi chaps,

Thanks Andy - I'd love to see what you have re the paint scheme etc.

Also, on your blog, you showed what looked like some black tubing looped inside that bracket on the left wall on the inside - what is that?

The part count was very small so it was always going to be a quick build. I'm really going to go for a scruffy looking interior and a chipped, mucky exterior and I might beat them fenders up a bit after gently softening them with the hot light bulb method.

At about 90 minutes the gun was by far the longest part to assemble - for an older build it was nicely intricate. I wanted no hint of a joint line along the barrel where the halves met so I spent ages with a super smooth sanding stick getting it perfect. The super smooth sanding stick took a lot longer but left no rough surface or flat spots.

All I've got left to do today is assemble the figures and the crates and I'll start painting her next weekend.

I highly recommend this kit if you want a cheap relaxing build with lot's of extra potential for detailing.

Update later,

Ben

Looking nice Ben, love the radio set up. And nice work on the gun, i hate doing these barrels, i am just grateful for Metal ones.

Gosh, that was pretty quick!  That's what I like about Tamiya kits.  The gun alone took me several hours unlike yours.  Glad the radio diagram helped... wbill was the one who sent me the diagram.  You have to buy him a too one day.  Your radio looks real good!

I can send you a copy of color plate provided by the AM decal maker to help you paint your 'Coal Thief' accurately if you wish. 

Hi guys,

Just a quick update. I'm actually nearly there now where the assembly is concerned

I've made up the radio rack with some bits from the spares box - it's not accurate but it won't be very visible so it will be fine.

Everything else is assembled now apart from the crates shown on the box art and the two travel lock bars for barrel support. There's also the tools and I'll probably paint up a couple of the spent and live shells that come with the kit.

The only item to be glued in place is the side wall on the right. Everything else has been dry fitted for the benefit of the photos and ease of painting next weekend.

Here she is so far:

That piece mounted on the inside left wall with two holes, like a bracket thingy? What's that for?

Radio Rack with some 'radio looking' bits mounted in it and headphones too (my thanks to Deafpanzer Andy as I printed off the picture of his Dragon Marder II radio to give me an idea of how it should look:

Thanks for looking guys - any comments very welcome!

She'll be finished tomorrow and painting will commence next weekend.

All the best, 

Ben  

Good evening guys,

It's 10:30pm here so we are going out at 11pm to see in the New Year followed by a nights clubbing - NICE!

I'm all ready to go so I thought I'd update the wip - I did this work a bit earlier on. All the Road Wheels are assembled along with Drives and Idlers. They are are all polycap push-fit which is handy.

The basic floor interior is assembled - there is a seat and Transmission box which is just dry fitted so I can pop them out later for detailed painting.

As you know the gun is assembled and the upper hull now has a few bits added like the shell holder and other 'boxy things' - I'm not sure what they are for! Tomorrow the real fun starts with the main side walls being fitted and some proper detailing being done like making a radio up from the spares tub (the kit only comes with a radio rack?) and various other bits and bobs.

Work so far (note the upper and lower hulls are dry-fitted): 

I'll need to drill that Muffler out:

Thanks for looking guys,

This build is just the ticket for getting back into the swing of things. No fitment issues (yet) and a really enjoyable little kit.

I'll get cracking on them side walls tomorrow.

Take care and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ben 

Hi folks,

First WIP update - I always love the first one!

Oddly enough this build guide has you start with the gun assembly - Tamiya usually has you tackle the running gear and suspension first but that is the next step after full completion of the main gun.

I was quite impressed with the gun assembly - plenty of parts to keep you busy and overall a detailed little gun.

I'll get cracking with this tomorrow and really get things moving. I only had 2 hours spare this afternoon and that was just enough to get all of the parts on the 'A' sprue cleaned up and assembled - 'A' sprue containing all of the gun parts which is handy - most of my previous builds have had parts for one assembly scattered over every single sprue Dragon are terrible for it!

Tomorrow It's the interior i.e. flooring, racking etc. then the main side walls. The wheels are staying off for painting with the circle template later on in the build. I'm going to use the hot lamp method to soften then beat up the fenders a bit.

I'm thinking of a Summer Setting so I might make a small Photo frame base for her as she's a small kit.

Here's a few photos:

Sprues & Decal sheet:

Main Gun Assembly & Assembly Dry Fitted on Hull:

Thanks for looking guys,

I'll post another update tomorrow.

Take care fellas,

Ben

Cheers guys,

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels a bit 'lethargic' occasionally but yes, I've been doing as much as I can and burnout is inevitable I suppose.

Anyway, I'm feeling a lot better now so the plan is to have a crack at this little Marder II (I did say OOB but I'll be replacing the tool clamps with Brass Dragon Clamps - I've got a big fret and can't find the relevant instructions.

The fret was from the Dragon Marder III M Befehlsjager and I can't find the instructions and I've never used Brass clamps before! Can anyone assist? I could do with finding an on line instruction sheet for that build.

After that I'll be finishing the Tiger I - it's coming on so nicely I don't want to mess it up feeling a bit like I do at the minute.

Andy - if you look at the box art for my Marder you'll notice it's the same as the photo as on your blog - they've just chopped one of the crewmen out the photo.

The kit doesn't come with a radio - only a radio rack. Can you find a photo of your radio as I have the bits here to make one up from my Marder III that never was.

Thanks guys,

WIP update tomorrow,

Ben

AHHH!  Now I understand why you are not doing Tiger.  As usual please count me in!  I had fun building my Marder II using Dragon.  I have a great reference book on Marder II D only so don't hesitate to holler if you need help.

Love those old kits!

Will be nice to see one of these old kits come along.

Ye, i reckon we all feel like that from time to time. I tend to get like that when i have been on tour for a few months and away from the bench. You would think i would be rearing to go, but i find it can be such a struggle to get in the mood. I have also been jumping from one GB to another, so building to a deadline rather than for myself. That doesn't help either.

But we all get over it.

Ought to be just the ticket to fill your time gap on the Tiger I Andy...the key to avoiding burnout is to not put any undue pressure on yourself and enjoy the build. Look forward to see what you do with this one as an OOB effort.