PlaStix Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 (edited) Having thoroughly enjoyed my tank builds for the Achtung Panzer GB:I have decided to make this next:I think it will be a relatively quick build which I hope to finish before the Battle Of Britain GB starts.The 38(t)s used by the Germans were originally ordered by the Czechoslovak Army from a manufacturer called CKD, but the German occupation of Czechoslovakia prevented the order from being delivered. The German Army liked the design and eventually over 1,400 were made. These tanks were equipped with the 3.7cm KwK38(t)L47.8 gun and had 25mm thick armour on the turret, fighting compartment and glacis. The Ausf.E/F versions, of which there were 525 made between November 1940 and October 1941, had thicker armour of 50mm on the front of the turret, fighting compartment and glacis as well as 30mm on the turret sides and hull.They saw action in Poland, France and the invasion of Russia as well as in other areas and the chassis design would eventually be used for other AFVs including the Marder III.When I managed to find this on sale in a local model shop I hadn't realised it is a relatively new offering from Tamiya - released earlier this year (I think).It looks rather nice in the box and I will try and post some photos of what's actually in the box later today.Kind regards,Stix Edited September 3, 2015 by PlaStix 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 I will add some Pz.38(t) reference materiel to the disc I'm burning for you. What scheme and markings are you going for? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 7, 2015 Author Share Posted June 7, 2015 (edited) Hi Sarge. Thank you - I think this looks like a very nice kit so it probably won't be the only one I build - I'm always fascinated by the background to the vehicles I'm building so any info you let me have will be studied carefully.With regards the scheme; I'm going to stick with the one in the box for 522 from the 22nd Panzer Division, Eastern Front in 1942. I'm looking for this to be a quick build because it's not long now until the BoB GB starts and I have a couple of builds in mind already. Also I have fancied doing an overall grey scheme for a while now.Right in the box:The detail on the parts looks good and, so far, I've not spotted any flash or major seam lines plus the gates look fairly thin:Just a small decal sheet: The instructions:The two possible versions that can be made:I have made a start and I'll post some photos later.Comments and suggestions welcome.Kind regards,Stix Edited June 8, 2015 by PlaStix 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 8, 2015 Author Share Posted June 8, 2015 Right time to get some photos posted of the stuff I did on this project from yesterday. First job was putting together the lower hull. The only slightly tricky thing was getting the sides to sit in place before gluing - the location seemed a bit wishy-washy. I ended up using masking tape to help hold everything in place until the glue began to hold. Tamiya provide two weights to go inside - I've sat them there just for this photo but I wont actually secure them in place until I've got most of the work done on the lower hull: Then I started adding some of the fittings on the front and rear: And finally I added some of the parts to the upper hull: Everything seems pretty straight-forward so far. More next weekend. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Looking forward to seeing this one develop.....Don't be afraid to bend your track lengths if it will improve the appearance of the run. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 8, 2015 Author Share Posted June 8, 2015 Looking forward to seeing this one develop.....Don't be afraid to bend your track lengths if it will improve the appearance of the run. Hi Sarge. I hope I can do it justice. With regards the track; I will be interested to see how these go together - they're the first link'n'length I will have tried. I like the look of the longer length of track as it comes with, what looks like, built-in sag. I will probably be back asking you questions at some point!Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 13, 2015 Author Share Posted June 13, 2015 (edited) Didn't get as much done on this project this morning as I'd hoped - had to do a bit of a repair job on one of my wingy things - it's legs had gone a bit bandy! Fixed now. Also got the two kits I'm going to be building for the Battle of Britain GB washed in warm soapy water. Anyway.......when I did start on this the first thing I did was a dry test fit of the upper and lower hull parts: The fit seems rather good and doesn't look as if will require much, if any, filler. Next up I started the painting of the hull parts - not that you can tell because Humbrol Acylic 67, Tank Grey, is very similar to the colour of the plastic used by Tamiya: I also painted the running gear, also with Tank Grey. The track parts were given a base coat of Revell's Anthracite. This is one of the two same sprues: All painting was done with Humbrol's flat brushes. More tomorrow I hope. Next I'm planning to get some weathering done on all the lower parts before assembling them. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix Edited June 13, 2015 by PlaStix 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Newsome Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 Great stuff, these type of threads are very informative and inspirational for us noobs. Looking forward to the next installment. Roger. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 13, 2015 Author Share Posted June 13, 2015 Great stuff, these type of threads are very informative and inspirational for us noobs. Looking forward to the next installment. Roger. Thank you Roger, that's very kind of you to say but I also consider myself a newbie with tanks - still a lot to learn! Hopefully more tomorrow.Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 15, 2015 Author Share Posted June 15, 2015 I did get more done yesterday but didn't get chance to post the details. Now I spent about four hours on this project but, looking at the photos, it looks like I've achieved very little - primarily because most of the work involved painting and the the start of some weathering. Before that though I wasn't happy with the small indentations representing the grouser box holes: So out came the micro-drill and a fair while later: I think they'll look better once they've been cleaned up properly. While I had the drills out I drilled out the ends of the machine guns - only two of these will be used but, because of how frail they feel - they are very thin, I decided to drill them all......just in case: Then I added a thin wash of Revell's Anthracite to any panel lines and around raised deatils: Once the washes were dry I dry-brushed everything with Revell's Gunship Grey, which is slightly lighter than Humrol'sTank Grey: I applied the same wash and dry-brushing to the running gear plus also painted the tires with Revell's Anthracite and added weathering washes to the tracks which I'd previously dry-brushed with Humbrol's Gunmetal: As I said; it doesn't look like I've done much from the photos but it actually looks okay in real life. Comments and suggestions welcome. More next weekend. Kind regards, Stix 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 (edited) Nice work Stix. I'm gonna follow this as i recently got the Tamiya 1/48 Pz IVH in 1/48. Lots of nice detail available in this scale. Edited June 30, 2015 by Mike Removal of large (extraneous) photo quote. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 15, 2015 Author Share Posted June 15, 2015 Nice work Stix. I'm gonna follow this as i recently got the Tamiya 1/48 Pz IVH in 1/48. Lots of nice detail available in this scale. Thank you Greg. Hope it proves useful and I totally agree - the detailing in 1/48 (...well on the two kits I've built so far!) seems great and this one is no exception. I look forward to seeing your Pz IVH in progress. Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 17, 2015 Author Share Posted June 17, 2015 (edited) While looking through the modelling magazines on a stand in Derby Market I discovered that the latest copy of 'Military Modelling International' has a feature about the history and development of the 38(t) as well as a nice build article of this kit. The history article includes quite a nice collection of photos. I immediately purchased a copy! Haven't had chance to read it yet but, if anyone is thinking of perhaps making one of these Tamiya kits at some point, it might be worth a look. I have no connection with the company - just thought it was worth mentioning. Over the past couple of evenings I have been finding a bit of time to put some of the smaller sub-assemblies together. No photos until the weekend though. Some of the smaller parts are very delicate and I'm finding, with my big fingers, that I'm having to be very careful! Kind regards, Stix Edited June 17, 2015 by PlaStix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Good work so far ! Looks like a pretty good kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 19, 2015 Author Share Posted June 19, 2015 Thank you Bernd and yes it does seem like a standard Tamiya kit. The detail and fit have been pretty good so far apart from I found getting the sides of the lower hull to sit together before gluing a little tricky. Probably me rather than the kit though! Any progress on any of your kits? Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 The Tiger and the T-34, i have done from Tamiya in this scale were relaxing builds, incl the scale weigth. Your Skoda will be a nice addition to your collection, the tank was also the base for tank hunters and self propelled guns. For me, sadly no modelling in the past weeks, not even much time to visit BM. Still a lot of trouble, my girl is in hospital and other stuff, but i do plan to dust my bench, this weekend and touch plastic, or PE Hood, Sherman and a some aircraft projects are waiting Have a great weekend Bernd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 20, 2015 Author Share Posted June 20, 2015 Hi Bernd. Thank you for your comments and I have just sent you a PM. Hope all is okay and you have a great weekend too. As I mentioned earlier in the week I have been finding a little time in the evenings and managed to get some of the smaller sub-assemblies glued together: This morning I got a variety of things done. I got the sub-assemblies (seen above) and some of the other parts painted and some weathering started too. I also took the weathering further on the sides of the lower hull that will be partially obscured by the running gear and tracks. I've found it difficult on my previous tanks getting into these areas to carry out the final weathering - like adding Mig Mud. One photo of some of the parts I've been working on: Then, as usual, I couldn't resist doing a bit of a dry-fit test of the top of the hull and turret: More later or tomorrow I hope. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 Very nice so far Stix, it does look like a very good kit. I'll be interested to see how you'll break up the grey colour, have you given it any thought yet? And will you be finished before the BoB GB? Sean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Looking great, this perfect and carefull brush painting thrills me every time! This "dry fitting" to see how it will look is always an exciting moment 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) Very nice so far Stix, it does look like a very good kit. I'll be interested to see how you'll break up the grey colour, have you given it any thought yet? And will you be finished before the BoB GB? Sean Hi Sean. Thank you for your comments. I think the breaking up of the grey will be done with dry-brushing and a variety of weathering washes. And I'm pretty sure it's going to be finished on time - possibly too early - leaving me with a decision of what to do in the meantime! Looking great, this perfect and carefull brush painting thrills me every time! This "dry fitting" to see how it will look is always an exciting moment Thank you Bernd - you are very kind. Yeah I can never resist a bit of dry-fitting to see how it's going to look.I've managed to get a fair bit done over the past couple of days. First of all I cut the wheels off the sprues, sanded down the mould seam around the tires and then finished the painting of them. Then they were attached along with the rest of the running gear: Then, speaking of a bit test-fitting: Then it was my first go with link'n'length tracks and I have to say they were pretty good. The only bit I found tricky was the last section on the second set I made, on the starboard side, where there seemed to be less of a gap but, with a bit of tweaking, I managed to get them to fit: Next I added some Mig mud to the tracks and it was time for another test fit: ..............before I added the weights to the lower hull: While the track and mud was setting I added the front machine gun: ...........and added the parts to the front of the turret: I'm sorry about the quality of the above photos - the light was a bit 'odd' this morning. Later I took some more of the overall progress which included gluing the top of the hull to the lower hull and adding some more bits and pieces, including the grouser box in which I'd previously drilled out all the holes: More next weekend I hope. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix Edited June 22, 2015 by PlaStix 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Nice progress Stix, the grouser box brings the whole thing up a notch, well worth the effort of drilling the holes out, Sean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 Nice progress Stix, the grouser box brings the whole thing up a notch, well worth the effort of drilling the holes out, Sean Thank you Sean. It was a bit fiddly but not difficult - more repetitive than anything else! And I think it looks better than with just dimples. What's next on the modelling bench with you? Kind regards, Stix 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Nice job on the L&L.....Very tidily done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Thank you Sean. It was a bit fiddly but not difficult - more repetitive than anything else! And I think it looks better than with just dimples. What's next on the modelling bench with you? Kind regards, Stix Knowing me, if I'd drilled all them holes, I'd probably fill them with paint. On the bench at the moment is a F-4S Phantom and a AH-1W Cobra, both in paint. I got 2 Dragon kits on Sunday,a Churchill with waders and the King Tiger, not really sure which one to start, most likely be the Churchill. Won't be another RPM FT-31 that's for sure. Sean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Looks very nice, clean and perfect, i like the realistic looking "sack" of the tracks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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