That is some project,will follow along.

Cool. I always wanted one of these, but it would take up so much room in the display case. Maybe a 1/72 build would be the way to go...

Looking forward to seeing it built up. :)

KT I checked with Terry's review of both kits and Trumpeter was the one for me but I think both will build up nicely.

Karl, Tojo thanks. I'm flying a little loose on how I'll present it, just have to see how it goes and how I feel.  

Terry

I have the 1/72 kit in my stash. So with 1200 parts plus how many years do you think it will take to complete it?  LOL

Marcus

Man that thing will be huge!!!! Excellent work so far!!

This should be interesting. I have also red terry's reviews and have thought about going for this option. Though I think I would go for the other kit without the transport carriage. Will be keeping an eye on this one.

Main assembly of the carriages is complete and primed. On the wheels, I went for a used look by mixing Mig Standard Rust wash and Mig Old Rust until I got the right color. Once applied and dried, I wet my finger and rubbed down the color to show some wear and I think it turned out okay. I painted the shiny rims with Vallejo Steel, but I still need to take it down around the inner edge to just show the areas that come in contact with the rails.

Terry[/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01771_zps0hnszlbf.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01770_zpsucg7nuem.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01777_zpsw7ff8scs.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01772_zpso0w8zhgk.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01774_zpspyax4fic.jpg.html]

They look good, but wouldn't it have been more economical to just paint the inside of the wheels? Seems like a lot of pigments to use?

Karl I don't know, thats just how they look to me so I did it and it really isn't a lot of pigment. I use the liquid rust wash then add a little old rust to get the right color and paint it on but in my opinion I think its right on. I have a million pics of axles and wheels and i'm right there even though they only show about 20%.  

Just one photo to show one of the wheels in place and the very cool detail throughout this kit. You can barely see anything on the oiler but when you add a little color it jumps out.

Wrong shot, sorry.

[/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01870_zpsno3tqtzf.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01875_zpsp5oeftcj.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01877_zpssatlhs2p.jpg.html]

Ive been away on vacation for a bit but i'm back on the cars to my Karl-Morser. I've assembled the mounts but still have a bit of putty work on a couple seams, but Trumpeter has engineered the mounts to slide from side to side and the upper cross beam rocks back and forth allowing movement during transport. I'm also applying some Mr Surfacer on some casted parts.

On the wheels i'm trying for a greased up look so I primed the parts is gloss black and i'll temper them down during assembly.

Terry 

A couple photos of the superstructures. A mistake in the booklet almost cost me to install the sides backwards, but I found that a side brace with slats must face outwards so I added a closeup.

I think i'm close to adding my base coat on the cars and im waiting on all the smaller parts till final assembly.

The first photo is most of the main superstructure parts.

[/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01880_zpszmipflz4.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01881_zpshblorjak.jpg.html]

Terry

Terry, looking good, and good catch on that instructions issue--lol, that's something I would have missed and then I would have been curing myself when I had to rip it apart and fix it.

[/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01885_zps35jgvhoi.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01883_zpscgkzn5yp.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01886_zpscau4htvy.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/Karl%20Morser%20Trumpeter/DSC01884_zpsaqokl1et.jpg.html]

The superstructure is ready for paint. I needed a little cleanup on the brackets, and I also assembled the four articulating winches that'll be installed later. Finally, its nice to see a few stripped sprue's after starting with 1200 parts but the cars are ready for assembly and paint. 

That's some pile of spare sprue you have there Terry. really nice work on that, its looking great.

Bish, Karl thanks. This ones a labor of love, i've wanted to get into it for a while and the fit on this Trumpeter kit is really good. I haven't had one part that needed to be modified and other than a little putty, its been a real pleasure. Looking through the parts, I don't think i'll have a lot of spares. I think I'll start painting up the carriages tomorrow then set it aside while I start on the gun.

A quick update on my Morser-Karl. Ive assembled the carriages without adding all the smaller parts like rails, ladders, handles etc, and started to paint up some of the undecarriage parts. Still a long way to go on the cars and superstructure like modulation and weathering but its coming along nicely. I've installed the wheels and was very happy to see that all the axles and wheels sit perfectly. A little more work then I'm setting them aside to tackle the main gun.

Just started on the main gun and I found what I think is the most impressive sprocket i've seen on a kit and its meant to me covered...I'm going to find a way of leaving one of them off to show how cool it realy is. It should look awesome with a bunch of grease and oil on them. 

Morser-Karl is coming along. All the main parts are primed and ready for some assembly. I decided to prime the parts off the upper hull in order to get some paint in areas that might be troublesome otherwise, but should be ready to go. Again i'm waiting on the smaller parts until a bit later. I took a few minutes to test fit the gun and carriage, one thing I noticed right away is the the riflings are straight in the barrel not with any type of twist. Bevause it'll be in  the traveling mode with barrel down at rest, it shouldn't be that big of deal. I'm close to connecting the hulls and spray a coat of Tamiya German Grey. 

Really nice work, Terry! That sprocket is pretty unique. It will be neat if you could find a way to leave it off and not lose it!

Looking good Tery. Ye, not seen a sprocket like that before. Would be a shame to cover them.

Main parts to the gun and cradle. Some parts are casted so a little Mr. Surfacer 500 gave the effect, also the barrel recoils riding on the carriage assisted by allignment rods and springs. I also experimented with AK Fuel Stain and a dark brown pigment to make a concosion of wheel and gear lube. I think i'm real close.

A couple more photos of the parts with their top coat.

oh joy. lots of road wheels. coming along nicely Terry

Some new updates on my build, mostly the gun and carriage. Every part of this Trumpeter kit is loaded with detail, the carriage is no exception. Even the interior that may have a limited viewing is so cool. This set of photos show that carriage and its sub assemblies that includes some PE and VERY delicate rods and small parts. 

Theres also some minor putty work and a working gear that attached to the bottom of the gun to set elevation. 

This set of photos show the primed loading ramp that included to delicate PE and dry fitting of the gun to the carriage and then into the hull. Still so much more work to do.

Your build is amazing.  That gun really looks like it means business.

looking good Terry. i thought the breech on the K-5 was big. makes me want to get back on it.

Now those are some monster parts Terry, looking real nice.

Thanks, it's going really good so far, nice kit. The more I think about it, I'm going to leave it is factory new condition just delivered to a waiting railyard for deployment. I've done so many in a distressed weathered look that I'd like to make it look like a new delivery. I'm adding a Trumpeter railcar for addition gun parts and equipment.

Terry 

A quick update on my Morser. With the large parts and sub-assemblies completed, I'm working on smaller detail parts before final assembly. Just a note on the tracks, Trumpeter provided the rubber band type that just doesnt want to cooperate so I think I'm forced into a set of Fruils...

Taking a break from the bench, I started with some home made ties. They're made from 5/16 X 5/16 basswood and in one of the photos I show how I took my Dremmel and roughed them up so when I add my weathering they'll look old and worn. I cut some corkboard to buildup my track and layout for my board that'll be cut down to 34" X 18" to allow for the extra set of track and parts.   

I also put together the entire model to show the overall length, but back to the Fruils, I hate to spend $40 on track but these bands just arent going to work and maybe this big beast deserves it.

Terry

Thanks Bish, I guess now is no time to be cheap...

I'm starting on some of the more complicated areas of the build, like the walkways and railings but first both exhausts had to be treated. I weathered them like they only had a couple hours of run time on them. The walkways have been installed but I'm leaving them glued and taped until I start the railings. I also put on the rubber band tracks, but a set of Fruils are a definate posibility.

Terry

What a huge undertaking, everything looks really excellent!

Toshi

Toshi and Bish thanks you, its been a very enjoyable build except for these tracks. With 1200 parts and all the fantastic detail why not replace that set of rubber bands for real track?  

Terry

These are the final set of tiny parts for the carriages, as you can see I waited till near the end to cut, clean and prime them. They'll be up for the final coat of paint later today. I also included my diorama board 33X18 that'll include 2 sets of tracks and some other pieces that I think will make it interesting. 

Wayne the Morser will be a stand alone so the air hoses and the couplers will just hang, but I'm building a low boy gondola on the othert track and I'll leave those operable just in case I want to add a smaller yard loco later. But thanks, good advise.  

Terry

I ahree that it's a bummer about those tracks, Terry, They did the same thing with their big Krokodil E100 Jagdpanzer. I had to buy two different track kits to fit on that monster. A shame.

Agree, I have a set of Fruils enroute for $50 with S&H then theres the burnishing liquid. I've used them with and without the wash and it well worth it to scrup them down. 

Thanks Karl.

Woah. That is a ton of impressive work. I can't wait to see more.  :)

Thanks Mike, I'm just trying to show some of the major steps, a long way to go before this board is finshed.

Terry 

Trust me, I know what you mean. I've got a strong feeling my M-60 build is going to take a good, long time. lol

Its nice to take a break and update just to see what all of you guys are up to. There is some amazing work going on as usual and your build is one of them.

I took a break from my Morser while I'm waiting for a set of Fruils which gives me an opportunity to work on some other parts of this diorama and a break from that huge kit.

An update on the gondola. The wheels are painted and greased, the wooden gondola bed has been painted ans stressed and I'm working on railroad ties. For 1/35 I use 5/16 X 5/16 basswood thats stained with a dark brown that'll dry a little darker. I'll treat them further to show aging and other stains. 

A quick update, I've a lot done in the past week but here are a couple of shots of the gondola. First two are of the couplers with the frame with sides. Because this is a new Morser, a few parts were shipped on the gondola apart from the gun itself, the loading ramp and charger. These are delicate parts so I framed them out and now theyre ready to be shipped to the front.  

Just a couple more photos, still waiting on the Fruils to finish up that big gun.

Slight correction, these are oil drums. Terry

Wow, that's looking great, Terry, every bit of it!

I finished laying rails and set the bumper. I tried a layout that shows the rough positions of where the watchtower will be and a rock wall. Its actually starting to look like something.

Oh yeah. I like this a lot. I like the addition of the watch tower. :)

Man, that wod work is fantastic, Terry! It really looks rich! Nice ideas on the layout details too.

Just a quick update on how I weather my rails and cleats. I use a mixture of Mig Standard Rust thats an oil based liquid and in this case I added some Mig Old Rust to taste. This is a good combo that paints on easily and I've used it for many other applications with the Standard Rust as my base then maybe a new rust or other rust tone as needed. I've finished up the cleats and the bottom of the rails and let them set overnight then I'll apply the mirror color to the top of the rails and I'm ready to lay them out. 

One thing I forgot, you can see on the cleats the rust tones vary just a bit but the rails (that are really bad to see) is a solid rust color. Sometimes the cleats rust a bit differently from the many rail photos I have, so from my mix you can see the slight variation in colors.

Another quick update. Fruils are in, assembled and primed. During the time I waited, I've accomplished alot. Once the ties, cleats and rails were installed I layed out the major parts to get a feel for the overall scale. Everything on the board is far from complete, but now that I've set things in I'm going to finish everything, piece by piece. I set in a Tamiya Flak AA on the gondola but thats going to change, I have another gun in mind that will add much more detail.

Love it, love it, love it! :)

Two photos in this update. One is of the almost completed gondola, I'm waiting to let the newly placed decals dry overnight before I weather them then they're ready to go. 

Sorry forgot this one. Terry

My latest update is that the Gondolas are ready for final paint. They have retractable walkways and working couplers and my Fruils have been weathered slightly and installed. I've also started on some ground cover and scenery. 

jibber

Sorry forgot this one. Terry

 

 

Karl thanks for showing that, with so much going on I forgot to put a wash over the decals. Busy, Terry

One quick update, The stone wall that'll be located as a backdrop to the rail lines is cut out and painted. I'm waiting for the glues to set before I color in any missed spots and work on the top of the wall. I think the colors and stone came out alright.

Terry

Bish I decided to put this rock wall to the back left on my board instead of the right corner, I placed everything in position and it gave a better balance. 

Instead of this:

This is one I'm struggling with. Every step I take, a new idea or plan creeps in. I can see how those really large dio's are a lifetime of work. Anyway this is how I'm proceeding, slow but sure but I need to get moving, I have another idea but somewhat smaller in scale.

Geez I forgot what I wanted to post with the stonework, IDIOT....

I experimented with a lot of things to get the right "look" for the wall and in the end I used a couple Woodland Scenic rubber molds with lightweight Hydrocal, in all I think I have about 10 different poured rocks in there.

I also used just (4) paints to get the color I wanted. Woodland Scenic Stone Gray as my base color, then a black acrylic (with some water) as a wash over craggy areas then drybrushed some acryllic Milk Chocolate color and basic white on the tips. I think it was  effective. 

Terry

My next bit of work is to shape up the foam board I used as a platform to glue the stone to and then cut away and tint those areas where the rocks connect. A grass, weed an gravel ground cover will go on top creating a guards pathway.  

Terry

Realy nice work there once again, Terry!

jibber

Karl thanks for showing that, with so much going on I forgot to put a wash over the decals. Busy, Terry

 

that's funny. i have a bad habit of forgeting to put decals on becasue i want to get to the weathering. everything is looking good. i like the tracks. as was suggested, i think by Karl a while back, to add some dark stains along the mddle of the ties from oil, grease, passenger waste, etc. my low side gondola took a first in miscellaneous at a local contest on 10OCT.

Great Wayne and thanks for all the support. As to the oil track along the ties, I just haven't got their yet. It's on a long list of TTD. I'm tackling them one at a time and I still have figures to add...

jibber

Geez I forgot what I wanted to post with the stonework, IDIOT....

I experimented with a lot of things to get the right "look" for the wall and in the end I used a couple Woodland Scenic rubber molds with lightweight Hydrocal, in all I think I have about 10 different poured rocks in there.

I also used just (4) paints to get the color I wanted. Woodland Scenic Stone Gray as my base color, then a black acrylic (with some water) as a wash over craggy areas then drybrushed some acryllic Milk Chocolate color and basic white on the tips. I think it was  effective. 

Terry

 

 

that's how i do mine too. i usually add a hint of color on the rocks, green if a mossy area, reds and yellows otherwise. then what you do with darker colors in the cracks. save the broken pieces from the mold. i have an entire container of scree, which are big rocks in 1/72.. have you found a way to seal the rocks after painting? only problem with hydrocal is it chips really easily.

as for the tracks, yes long list of little things. i understand from doing the K-5.

Those rocks look like real rocks. O.O

Wayne small cracks I'll fill with Hydrocal but larger ones its plaster cloth. Just wet it and form it in place, sets really hard and paintable. 

Thanks Mike I agree, even close up they have a nice color and shape to them, little more work to do before I set the wall in.

Terry

Hey Terry, I keep forgeting you're posting a few things over here you're not posting on the GB and I'm missing out! Great job on the rocks, I'd swear they were the real thing. 

I'm running a little slow lately but I've almost completed my rock wall, I still have to finish the top after laying a thin sheet of artist clay. I'm really happy in how realistic its looking. I still have a ways to go but I think nows a good time to make some real progress.

A close up of any of the photos will show how intricate the stone is. Thanks for looking, I cant wait to finish this one.

I like the look of that rock Terry. I have been wanting to do something like for armour dio's and have been eyeing up those Woodland moulds. Very nice indeed.

The woodland scenice pigment, is that painted onto the rock or added to the Hryocal before adding into the mold.

WOW, the dio looks great..all paintwork is magnificent.

I would had saved me a lot of time and just add real rocks...hehehe..but yours really give a nice scaled rocks.

Thumbs up.

Thank you both, I rarely get to excited over this stuff but I think the rocks look cool.

Bish I made the forms and gave it a base coat. In this case I used Woodland Scenic Slate Gray, let it dry and dry brushed a cheap craft brown as an iron tint. Then I watered down a cheap acrylic black to gave it a wash and then to finish, a dry brushing of an acrylic white on the tips.

Relatively easy but looks great.

Terry 

It looks better than great, it looks real! Those look like real friggin rocks, man.

Thanks Mike. I've done some before but to me this technique has been the best so far, a little messy but good results in the end.  

Terry

A little more work on the base and groundcover. Still much to go but its starting to look like a scene, minus the Morser.

More to do, thanks for looking.

I think those rocks look brilliant and I like the buffers as well.

But if that was not enough, that last pic just got my attention. I love the /20.

I hoped you would. I think thats one of the coolest vehicles of the war, one day I'll have to start making all the variations and I know you have at least most of them. Yea and thanks for the nice comment. I'm pretty happy with the rock, other than a few railcars on tracks with some ground cover, the rock takes it up a notch. I also have 7 figures to do and the spotlight in the tower will work. I figured out a way to light it, not very bright but effective. I hope to be done by Thanksgiving, Bish its an old Pilgrim story over here. Lots of turkey and football, the real kind. LOL

Thanks, Terry

lol, I wish. I don't even have half yet and I have 30. Not to de rail the thread, but i have had in mind a Halftrack GB for a couple of years now but have been putting it off. All going well, i might start it off at the end of next year, give you an excuse to do another. I have not seen a /20 with the plate over the front of the fighting compartment before, i like that.

I do really like those rocks, they make a great back drop to the whole scene. Yes, i have heard of this think you call Thanksgiving as well as your odd form of football, where you throw the ball with your hands

Thats funny, I hope alls well. 

jibber

I, like so many others , am impressed with you diorama. Very impressed with your rocks as well and the colors look right on point.  There is one point you can help me understand; why the white edges on the rocks? Is it to represent snow? frost?

Duster its supposed to show the reflection of the sun off the rocks, and thanks for the nice comments.

Terry

I have a lot of smaler detail to work on such as figures and such, but I took a few minutes to set in the Morser to get a perspective of the entire build. I removed the guard tower while I work on the electronics for the spotlight. Anyway heres a few photos with the Morser in place.

Terry

With this grouping you get a sence of how massive that thing was.

I like the scale your landscape emparts to the over all effect as well as their quality.

Thanks Steve, one thing I wanted to do was to feature the Morser and place it something close to a natural setting without out it smothering everything else. On most dioramas the story jumps out at you, in my case I wanted to capture a photo in time as it might have been moving out a new Morser and other cars and its parts to a destination. Because this is a expensive and valuable weapon, I also plan on adding additional guards. 

Thanks again Steve.

Terry

This thing is sooooo cool! I think your vision is perfect and you have an excellent chance of pulling it off with little effort. Everything here is looking superbly finished. :D

Mike your work is incredible and it means alot to me. I'm getting closer but I still have a lot to finish before I call it done. I've taken my time to get everything right as best I can so I'm back at it.

Terry 

A quick update on an area stores sleepers, cleats and spikes.

Terry

This is really somthing to be proud of Terry. There is some really nice work in there and some great detail. And lots of nice dio ideas as well. Where did those sleepers and pins come from.

I made the sleepers from stock basswood, then hit it with a Dremmel and aged it. The cleats are from stock Trumpeter rails that I cut off and also weathered and the spikes are from a motorized RR kit. All in all I think it came out well but this is only one little part of the board. I just added a couple wooden crates that holds more spikes.

Thanks Bish hopefully Ill have more later.

Terry

The camera always catches things. I did a close up on the spikes and I'd forgotten to rust em up a bit. Still have the Morser, the watchtower, figures and telegraph poles to finish up.

Terry 

A couple more pics and I have to get back to work.

Terry

jibber

The camera always catches things. I did a close up on the spikes and I'd forgotten to rust em up a bit. Still have the Morser, the watchtower, figures and telegraph poles to finish up.

Terry 

 

the rocks turned out great.

i did a 1/35 KV-2, weathered it took a pic and saw i had forgotten to weather the right side of the turret. a KV-2, not some little PZ-1. 

An update on my diorama. The watchtower is in and I've trimmed out the base board. I'm working on figures and finishing up the main gun and that should be it. There should be 4-5 figures in different areas mostly guards and maintenance personnnel.

Terry

Man, Terry, you're killing this build! Great details and vision! It doesn't get much better than this! 

Karl thanks, we spend so much time on these things and the compliments sure are encouraging. I'm just winding down now, I still have a couple rails and smaller parts for the main gun and a couple figures to finish up, oh and I wired an LED to be placed in the tower for the searchlight. Mearly cosmetic, its not that bright and surely not to what I was hoping for but that may be the one thing somebody remembers from the build?

Anyway thanks, good to have you back.

Terry 

I wired an LED for the tower's searchlight, all thats left to do is to paint it up and install it. Either I'm going incorporate the battery and switch in the tower below a shlef or simply cover it with a piece of netting. The light shows blue in the photo but when its on with the lights out it shines a much better color.

Terry

Searchlight is painted and installed. I stuck the battery and switch to the tower floor and covered it with a piece of netting for now. I think I'll keep it b ut I need to comactit a bit. 

It's throwing off more light in the dark than I thought. 

Terry

Just great work.   I'm constantly seeing new things in each picture.....Nice

This scene is really coming together nicely! That searchlight is a really sweet piece of detail. Hiding the batteries is always something to put more than a little thought into and I think you've got that almost figured out. :)

Perhaps a false floor under a guard figure? Such as a raised dias or a box?

I'm closing in on finishing but not before a couple rails and tiny parts on tha main gun are installed and finish up on these few figures.

I noticed I still didn't finish up the left hand of the mechanic with the black leather jacket, I had to restructure that hand to hold a pry lever and I forgot to clean up some unwanted plastic, otherwise hes holding the tool with a good hand and arm angle.

Just more to do. Terry

jibber

I noticed I still didn't finish up the left hand of the mechanic with the black leather jacket, I had to restructure that hand to hold a pry lever and I forgot to clean up some unwanted plastic, otherwise hes holding the tool with a good hand and arm angle.

Just more to do. Terry

 

Wow, was going thru some old posts today and came across your nice build/dio.  Love this work. What an endeavor. Great use of other supporting vehicles to go alone with the rail gun.  The searchlight is spot on.  I have always wanted to do a rail gun kit and this makes me want to run out and buy one. 

You must have a dedicated room to store your models.  Do you have a link to the final pics?

Terry - 

What an awesome and very cool build/dio. I am very impressed with your great details and imagination. Excellant work sir. I have enjoyed following it, and thank you for sharing this with us.

Panzer thanks for the nice comments. I did finish up that dio a few weks ago but I had a change of heart about two thirds of the way through, a lot of photos of Morser-Karls so I decided to set the railgun aside as a stand alone and replece it with a Panzertriebwagen Locomotive. Not many of those out there. You can see the final build in the Group Build Forum 1946 hosted by Bish. 

If you have any questions or cant locate it send me a message and thanks again.

Terry

Hunter thanks, I think I'll post some final pics on this thread to close it out properly. You can see the final build in the 1946 GB Forum.

Much appreciated, Terry

Here are some final pics of my Panzertriebwagen railyard diorama in 1/35.

In looking at these photos, I still need to drop in the figures and take remove parts of my basement but this thing is just to big.

I think there are more pics in the Diorama Forum, and if theres any questions I'd love to answer them.

Terry