Airfix Brummbar - starting out questions

[BrianT]

Hi all

 

That nice Mr. Airfix has deposited the mystery bundle. Based on a quick once-over of the kits, the Brummbar looks like the simplest of the kits to start with. So I am looking for some advice/guidance on the recommended way to proceed with the build. 

 

My thinking so far is to build one of the eastern front versions or Italy versions without zim, based on the complete lack of skill on my part. I have a few reference photos of Brummbars without zimmerit, with assorted colour schemes (dark yellow, also that plus one or two other colours). That was the easy bit.

 

Are there any major issues with construction of this kit? Any problems with fit/gaps in particular as I am intending to paint on the sprue for the most part, and have concerns over having to fill gaps around or over a painted bit.

 

Are there any super delicate parts that are prone to breakage?

 

I'm pretty happy with the moulding - seems completely flash-free.

 

Over to you. The only request is don't tell me 'I wouldn't start from here....', I am already daunted enough! Assuming I summon up the courage, I will start a WIP in a month or so (my Ottonians need finishing up). 

 

cheers

 

Brian

 

 

[JackG]

Build review here could be of some interest . .

 

https://www.track-link.com/forums/site_blogs/45160/flat

[Circloy]

2 hours ago, BrianT said:

 

That nice Mr. Airfix has deposited the mystery bundle.

Slightly O/T but interested to hear what else was included in the bundle - Have bonus beer tokens to spend.

[Kingsman]

The Airfix Brummbar StuPa is a re-box of the Academy kit.  The only difference is the decals provided and the lack of zimmerit decals in the Airfix version.  So any review of the Academy kit will be valid, but those are quite thin on the ground too.  The tooling itself is very recent as the original Academy kit was only released in 2020, although using parts of their 2018 PzIV.

 

It has already been reviewed on Britmodeller here https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235111045-sturmpanzer-iv-brummbär-mid-version-a1376-135/.  The Acadamy version has also been comprehensively reviewed here on APMS https://www.amps-armor.org/SiteReviews/ShowReview.aspx?id=14572

 

Zimmerit decals and stickers can apparently both be challenging to use in different ways so you may be better off without these.  Although I'm tempted to say that a "mid" production StuPa would probably have had Zimmerit, whereas early and late ones would not. Whether you can make an "early" one from the parts provided is a question I can't answer.  I know the early version had a shorter gun barrel shroud, no driver's periscope and rubber tyred return rollers. 

 

Academy don't sell the Zimmerit decals separately anyway, so if you want Zimmerit it will be DIY with putty, Eduard etched brass (very hard to work with and far too uniform) or Atak resin https://atakmodel.istore.pl/en_US/searchquery/brummbar/1/phot/5?url=brummbar

 

There are lots of other after-market parts if you really want to go to town and have deep pockets.

[Rob G]

First clanky? Just follow the instructions and build it. Take your time and work step by step, it'll be fine.

[BrianT]

11 hours ago, Circloy said:

Slightly O/T but interested to hear what else was included in the bundle - Have bonus beer tokens to spend.

 

So, Brummbar, Tiger 1 Early (seems to have an inside), King Tiger, M10, M36B1 (interesting, as not that common in service), and T34/85. Last one will likely get a cold war look.

 

I'll probably do the Tigers last, as they seem the most complicated and fiddley.

 

[BrianT]

4 hours ago, Kingsman said:

 

 

There are lots of other after-market parts if you really want to go to town and have deep pockets.

Thanks for the links. I had a look at the after-market prices and.... not a chance. I'd need to be sure that I can get a decent result first!