AFV Club SdK.fz 251/3 Ausf D WiP

I think it looks like a great start. I wouldn't worry too much about getting something "wrong" inside. I"m sure there was a fair bit of "customization" done to these vehicles as per the particular inhabitants and users. And hey, really--what "expert" is going to tel you that "That wouldn't have gone there"? :)

Thanks Karl, and ye, I know what you mean, and I should really know better. But sometimes its not easy to reign things in and ask oneself does it really matter.

Thanks for the reality check.

Been able to get quite a bit done this week.  I finished off the lower hull by adding the fire extinguishers and the brackets and fitted the back plate to the hull.

 I then moved onto the top section, not an awful lot to add here.

 I replaced the kit rails with scratch built ones as I was not keen on those in the kit.

 I also got to work on the interior fittings, these included the radio mounts, seat backs and the rear doors.

 I was then able to get to the painting.  Everything got a coat of primer then a coat of DY using Vallejo Model Air.

 I was than able to get straight to the weathering with a raw Umber oil wash all over to give it a grubby look.

 Next up, this will all be sealed with a future. Flat base mix. Then I will be doing some dot filtering and a pin wash. I have also been working on the other interior parts which include the most important in this variant, the radio's. After painting, I added the power connectors using a small piece of bras rod and the connectors for the other cables with a piece of styrene rod.

Thanks for looking, all comments welcome as always. 

Bish I love all the pictures its off to a great start. I've done a few 251 AFV kits and I also remember having fit issues with a couple of the bodies, even when everything is perfectly aligned there was a problem. There were a couple 251's in the recent Fury movie, or more likely the same one five different ways, either way they're a cool versatile vehicle.

Bish a question, first what kind of putty are you using to hold the small parts, seems like they're holding real well. Great idea to oil wash right off and those radio frames look more fragile than the PE, everything is looking great.  

Making great progress so far on this one Bish! Nice work on those interior details and all the radio gear.

Thanks guys.

Terry, I believe there are a few kits that have that issue. I recall reading that the original AFV releases had an issue with the top half being to short, but they fixed this in later boxing's. I have done a few test fits and so far it looks ok. Now it will be worth watching the movie for that alone. I wonder if they are the same vehicles used in band of brothers or SPR.

Do you mean the parts on the pegs. If so, that's plain old blue tac. And yes, it is fragile, as I found out a little while ago when squeezing the radio's in. they were rather a snug fit, but the damage was easily fixed.

Thanks Bill, and if the weathering process looks familiar . I may have been reading a few of your build logs

Happy to see the 'influence' there Bish!

Update time again. I started off this week by finishing the weathering. This comprised of dot filtering and a pin wash on the insides and was then finished off with some light chipping.

 The painting of the radios was also finished and fitted to the mounts, which was a very tight squeeze.

 The kit seats come with square plastic posts moulded to raise the seats up.

  I removed this but as I still wanted them in the raised traveling position, I added  the necessary pieces with styrene strip and rod.

 After these were painted all of the interior parts were then fitted. The radios were wired using a combination of a few pics which were only part useful and guesswork. I have assumed the power cables go into the box underneath as I guess that's where the batteries would be.

 And all the other pieces to finish it off. I put one MG 42 in its rack as I will be adding a tarp to the top.

 So now I can get the 2 half's together and get on with the outside. Most of the PE went inside so things should move along now.

Wow those details are really looking good.

Wow, that detailing looks spectacular! The radios look like you can just fire them right up!

Bish!  Awesome detailing my friend!  Lovin it!

Eagle90

Thanks guys. I am really pleased with those radio's, especially as they are the heart of a command vehicle. I just hope the tarp doesn't cover it to much. I tried getting the two halves together last night, but it doesn't seem to want to play, so going to have another go tonight.

Sharp work on all those interior details Bish. Nice trick with the seats as well.

Thanks Bill, the seats were a bit of a last minute decision and I am really chuffed with them. I managed to get the top on after a struggle, so its full steam ahead.

That time again. Firstly, an apology. I did take many progress pics this week. There was not much to add to the outside, but I should have taken pics of the issues I was having fitting the top and bottom together, but I just got so frustrated I forgot. basically, the problem was that when the back was secured, the front of the top had to be forced down. I did think the drivers IP was the problem, possible cause by the PE around it, but even after thinning the top of the hull above it, it still did not fit. So in the end I had to force it. It was not to big a gap, but enough. Next time I plan of fitting the IP before the PE and painting and seeing how that goes.

This poor fit did throw a few things out, but nothing a bit of filling and sanding could not fix. So, here she is with construction completed and al ready for painting.

Then at the weekend it got a coat of primer and tonight the DY.

 Now, my next problem is the camo, its a little different, or at least one I have not come across before. This is the best of 2 pics of the real vehicle

 And this is the AFV image from the side of the box.

I don't know what others think, but it doesn't seem as though there is a pattern. I do get the impression that the green was painted first followed by the brown. On the colour image it has mostly brown at the bottom and more green higher up, but on the B&W I am not so sure.

All opinions welcome. Due to the cold damp nights here and my painting area being in the shed, I don't plan on painting the rest until the weekend, so plenty of time to mask and get on with the base

Hey Bsh, before you go laying down camo colors, do yourself a favor, and hit the top of the model with lightened DY, It'll look awesome with the darker panels under where the highlight coat doesn't hit. This vehicle is made for it, with all those angles and shadows!

And don't worry about "{patterns", Just spray freehand and imagine yourself being three inches tall!

Hi Bish,

I did not saw your previous posts, wow, this is looking really good.

I like all the interior detaisl and colors. Mine was so crappy I decided to "abandon" and experiment with oils and pigments for a destroyed SDKFZ.

I would not worry on the pattern as doog mentioned, just go with the flow...

Thanks guys. Karl, ye, I did do a little of that but its not very obvious is it, even in the flesh its hard to see. The lower hull behind the road wheels is darker but that's in shadow anyway. I realised last night I had forgotten the rear doors, so I will do them tomorrow and add a couple of lighter coats higher up.

Thanks for the input guys.

Looking forward to seeing the camo progress on this one Bish, nice choice of scheme!

Thanks Bill. I think I have a solution. I am masking the sides with white tac and doing the front and rear without masking its very different. Will see how it goes. I could have picked an easier scheme but this one was the unit I wanted to do.

Can't push the envelope without stretching your legs! You can do it!

Very Interesting scheme there Bish.

I am trying to do something similar:

First attempt was to hand paint the lighter DY over the darker area.

Stripping that down again :)

Looking forward to your progress with great interest!

Very Best Regards

Johan

That's very good advice Bill.

Now that's an interesting one Johan, makes me think of a giraffe. I found the masking with putty really useful for mine. Speaking of which,  time for a small update this week. I couldn't get to the masking until Thurs night and was able to get the camo scheme on tonight. I used white tac on the sides and did the front rear and top without masking. After spraying the green and brown, I then removed the masking and went over it with a thinned coat of Dark Yellow. This was a bit to much, so I then free handed some more green and brown. Overall, I am really pleased with it and have the result I wanted. There is not as much brown lower down as the AFV image shows, but I think that's a bit to much anyway judging by the pic of the real thing, well that's my guess anyway.

 I have decided to start including progress pics of the base, figures and the rest of the dio as for me the kit is only one part of it. And this week I have been working on these pieces. The wall, which is from MK 35, was painted grey and then I went over various blocks with different shades of grey.  It then got a few washes of various oil colours and ended with a coat of future. I had intended to go for a lighter grey lok as it shows on the box, but I much prefer this

 The base is now ready for celluclay which will be added when the vehicle is further along.

 And finally the figures. One the right is 2 Alpine resin figures, one of which is Kurt Meyer. I have really come to like the Alpine figures. The 2 metal figures are Hornet and the plastic one is from a Dragon set. I have altered the right arm slightly and still have to finish that.

Thanks for looking.  All comments welcome of course.  

Nice one Bish,

Looks the part to me.

The AFV reference did look a little to dark, you are rather on the light side but I guess your washes will take you down a nuance or two.

Brave man to put the width indicators on early.

Very Best Regards

Johan

Thanks Johan. I did have the washes in mind so hopefully i haven't over done it. ye, i guess i was a bit early adding those, but i have resisted adding the antenna's so far.

Looking good with the camo on Bish! I'd say you captured the pattern and color distributions pretty closely. I imagine the crew man who came up with it had a slight artistic bent.

Thanks Bill. Ye, the whole unit seems to have had fun with their 251's. There's a few other pics of other vehicles in this inspection line up. I don't know if you have Panzer Tracts 15-3, but there are 3 in there, pages 11 and 16.

Hi bish

It is coming along very nice.

I liked the cammo pattern and how subtle it is.

Those figures look nice, I never realized there are metal figures.

The setting looks very promising.