"The Hunters GB" (2/1/08 to 6/1/08)

Hi guys,

Trumpeter update -- I've been having a go at stretching the tracks to compensate for their 13mm shortness. I've clamped them to a sheet of card at one end, the other end weighted, and I use a hairdryer to heat the vinyl. In theory it should work but after three applications of heat I've noticed that, upon cooling, the vinyl shrinks again. Whether it shrinks by 100% of its stretch I'm not sure, all I can do is keep on applying heat and see what happens.

I'm thinking of laying in the bits and pieces to do a Tamiya StuG, just in case I can't fix this problem in reasonable time for the GB.

Cheers,

TB379

TA DA!, here the camo!

It looks fabulous, I'm so proud of myself, and I thought it would have look awful, well it looks better with the tracks and some of the assesories on.

and its my birthday today.

happy birthday T-rex

and Tigerman, no sweat on the yardwork, that is why I had 3 sons

tigerman wrote:

Oh man, use the link-and-lengths. They are a little fiddley, but are so worth it in accuracy and detail.

Hi T-man,

This is early Trumpeter -- no L&L included... If anybody made a set for the Chinese WZ371 chassis I'd be considering it right now!

(I suppose it balances out, though, I got an M1A1HA in the same batch and the vinyl tracks were missing (good job they include L&Ls) -- and a complete motorization pack, not mentioned in the plans, was in the box!)

I'll have another go with the hairdryer...

TB379

... and the bad news is, the tracks shrank back to precisely their original length when they cooled! Well, darn... I seem to be up against a brick wall, it'll take some figuring out. If Trumpeter had a parts servcie I could order an extra track and section it, splice it in and have the necessary length that way, but they don't to the best of my knowledge.

I'll order some Cavalier Zim for the Tamiya stuG III. Can anybody recommend on-vehicle accessories for this kit? It comes without stowage. Oh, and I'll pick up StuG III in Action as a ref.

Cheers,

TB379

Okay, I've ordered up StuG III references and PE grills, Cavalier Zim next, and I picked up some Jagdpanzer stuff at the same time, Academy trackset, Eduard barrel. The Tamiya vehicle accessories were out of stock, they'll follow on later. More zim... Dunno if I'll have everything I need in time for this GB, but the StuG III is a go.

I'll play with the hairdryer again and see if I can't coax these damned Trumpeter tracks to play the game.

TB379

Nope, they just won't heat-stretch far enough, nor without shrinking again. It was a good try but I don't think it's gonna work. I've shot a message off to Trumpeter to see if I can buy a spare set of tracks to section and splice in.

TB379

Changed to the Tamiya StuG III and it's just falling together: in two sessions, not even working that hard, I've cleared 40 parts. I'll need to wait for the PE and such to arrive before I can close up the rear end. Should haved progress pics tomorrow.

TB

everyones builds are looking great. I have been slacking aswell, just been swamped with work but i'm now on some days off so hoping i can wrap it up this week. here is a figure and coat i stole from my "drilling " kit. have not built many figures so painting it is gonna scare the hell out of me but we will see how it goes. i'll post more pics later today cause as you'll see i bought a new camera after my dog cleared my old one off the table. 

Cheers

Cliff

i stole the legs from the driver and made a smoke from a piece of wire. Im cleaning up the mold seams right now, meh we will see how it turns out later today lol

well here it is my first figure in about ten years. all comments welcome please

Too late to get in on this? Just bought and Italeri Hetzer should get it within the week. Just to let you know I'm super slow and only do one project at a time. (limited space and have been banished to paint out doors)

 Thanks! Doug 

Sure Doug, hop aboard. I built the little guy many moons ago.

I got some work done today......on my Cromwell. Yah, I hit the wall on my Jagdpanzer for the moment, needed a diversion. I'm almost tot he painting on her though. It's going to be a ton of work, especially the 5 million tracks and wheels.

Dougums wrote:

I just got a good deal on a 1/35 Dragon Marder II and was wondering .... is there room for another Doug?

Hi all,

I cleared another 15 parts on my StuG III today and put my first WIP shot up on Photobucket, I think I've figured out how to post it...

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Success! Okay, that's the lower hull, drives and idlers and the gun assembled. I thought I'd wait now for my references and stuff to arrive so I don't muddle up any orders of priority, and also so I can choose my final version and finish.

I was thinking of trying my hand at dried mud -- acrylic paints thinned and mixed with fine sand is a formula I've read. What other clumping agents would work -- talcum powder? Something by Woodland Scenics, or railroad ballast?

Cheers,

TB379

Dougums wrote:

I just got a good deal on a 1/35 Dragon Marder II and was wondering .... is there room for another Doug?

I think we can accommondate you. Welcome.

Thunderbolt379 wrote:

Hi all, I cleared another 15 parts on my StuG III today and put my first WIP shot up on Photobucket, I think I've figured out how to post it... " border="0" /> Success! Okay, that's the lower hull, drives and idlers and the gun assembled. I thought I'd wait now for my references and stuff to arrive so I don't muddle up any orders of priority, and also so I can choose my final version and finish. I was thinking of trying my hand at dried mud -- acrylic paints thinned and mixed with fine sand is a formula I've read. What other clumping agents would work -- talcum powder? Something by Woodland Scenics, or railroad ballast? Cheers, TB379

   Try using real dirt or potting soil and mix a little white glue in with it also.

Alright Gentlemen, I'm starting my 1/35 Tamiya StuG III Ausf. G Early today!  I just received the decals I ordered from Echelon.  Cool stuff! 

I'm doing my StuG as one that served with SS Sturmgeschutz Abteilung "Das Reich".  I included an edited scan of the decals with adjustments so you can see the white decals more easily.

Hi Scott,

Same kit -- she's a beauty, one of those where you flow a few drops of glue into the box and a finished tank rolls out all by itself! Love the scheme and decals, BTW! I've not heard of Echelon before, I just found them in stock in Singapore...

TB379

well here is my Elefant about 97% done. still needs the decals and a few coats of flat to hide the glue marks from the acc. as well as some final weathering and attach the extra track links. I'm not happy with the tool box but that was my fault cause i built it inside out at first ( i know brain fart) I might pull it off an install the kits closed version and lay the tools out somewhere. The base is somthing i threw together a few weeks ago, never built one before and was just messing around to see what i could come up with. let me know what you think and if there is anything else i can improve on. thanks

Cliff

T-man -- thanks for the tips on mud and grass!

Scott -- I picked up another StuG III/G on ebay this afternoon, this kit builds so easy and there are so many options I can't make do with just one! (Skirts, no skirts, zim, no zim, winter markings, standard schemes, optional 105 barrel to build the StuH 42 instead...)

BTW, I researched Echelon decals online. Standard US price seems to be $14.95 for a very small sheet... Go to:

http://home.pacific.net.sg/~kriegsketten/

in the company's native Singapore and order online, they're only $6.50!

TB379