Tinkering with... T34T (ARV) [part III]

No apologies, more of the T34 T “Tyagach”, as correctly highlighted. Build complete now, off for priming, if anything shows the work involved and stages.

a) tarpaulins game added out of procreate/milliput
b) two types of tow cable added from twisted wire
c) engine cover grab handle added, with other odd detailing
d) foundation layer of mud
e) bashed the front track guards to reflect heavy use.

The hull is still in two, I can’t glue together until the driver is painted and stuck in place.

Three stage priming and foundation coats next prior to base coat. If interested will try and document as I go.

Tinkering with M7 Priest Kangaroo #3

Finally! Had some time today whilst waiting for a lacquer coat to dry. Finished up the kangaroos and crews, this set certainly wins the prize as the worst estimate of work and time required! Anyways, happy with them now, will reprime tomorrow ready for base coating with the SBG Churchill...

Russkies finishing tomorrow!

Tram #2

Some wet work this morning....wood filler, dirt, coffee grinds, ballast and pva, with some odds and sods. Have slightly narrowed the base and added cobbles and a lamppost so we can determine front or back.
 This needs to set for a day or so and then I will probably do a primer coat to see where we are and then add detailing, am anticipating sandbags somewhere....

Removable roof works quite well...

Tinkering with.. M7 Priest “Kangaroo” #2

Busy weekend, finished some of my best work, both painting and conversions, all boxed and away tomorrow, pics mid week....

Been working on some LVT’s and these... been shelved for a while but now the heavy lift work is done and it’s just the detailing and crew sabots to sort out. The blurb about the conversion is on a previous post, so this is just a mid process update....

Want to pack infantry in there, so have some more metal coming in the post, these will be removable as per my usual style.

Old School Transport

This one has been around a while, no major mods by me, bar adding the reigns. Had a disaster with the picture session, but you'll get the idea! 

Neil, all boxed, will post early next week.

Tinkering with... Panther F

I’ve had a bit of a hiatus with this blog, but am now getting back on track. 

After reading the new Panzers in Berlin book, I was inspired to create a Panther F. 

Originally with only speculation on their operational use the book confirms with several photographs. 

On to the build.... I had a old JTFM Panther in the spares box which was ideal, sort of. The JTFM Panther seems to be modelled on the Panther II prototype hull, which makes it awkward to use normally. The difference (in 1/56) between the II and F hulls is minor, primarily some redefining of hull plates ( hence the green stuff lines) so it’s a good donor. 

 The supplied steel wheel set was replaced with a spare track set from a Warlord Panther G which worked fine with some filler pieces. Other alterations were substitutions with rubicon panther spares to upgrade the resin versions 

Still some work to do on this one, but it needs to sit a while whilst I get some other Panthers moving.

Tinkering with... Flakpanzer 38(t) (1/56)

 

 

Far to frequently I start projects, primarily just for fun, unfortunately not all progress to a finish. This lucky one was resurrected so it can slip in with an interesting part interest/part commission Normandy "Becker" themed collection currently being assembled, but more on that over Christmas. So if anyone takes a fancy to it, it can be theirs in Feb!

 

Earlier pictures of the build are somewhere on the hard drive and phone, so we'll just have to go from here.

 

So this is the progress so far....flakpanzer 38(t) based on the warlord resin Marder with Pak 40. Its not finished, clearly, next stage will be rivets, hinges, exhaust and final detailing, but the grunt work is done.

 



 

Particularly impressed with the empty shell mesh assembly, third or fourth I've done and its getting easier. The flak is the Company B white metal model, certainly the best on the market, although I've replaced the barrel and some odds and sods.  Crew are from the spares box, all heavily modified to both fit in the compartment, and also, which is often overlooked, to try and portray that they are serving the piece.

View from RHS, you can see how tricky the angle on the plates were and the fettling of figures to fit.

 

Good view of the rear compartment before I started to add the top level plates, you'll note barrel removed to be replaced with a metal rod. The green stuff legs and modification is clearer here.

 

 RHS view again, the ammo boxes clearly aren't fixed as I had to fashion legs for the crew around them. Close up, showing all the flaws! all crew in final positions bar the loader who has slipped!

 

Slightly out of focus but you can see the crew positioning, flak mount with magnet for the flak 38 and the ammunition and spare barrel boxes. The crew will be pinned, and removed for painting. Pictures below, are more of the same, for anyone that's got this far.