This is Tamiya's new 1/48th scale Strumgeschutz Ausf B. While there are aftermarket PE sets available, for this build I chose to go it the "old fashion" way, and add detail with strip stock, wire etc. I have used the also new Tamiya 1/48th scale Jerry can set. So far I have most of the build completed, still have some tools and tons of personal kit to add.
Base coat on the superstructure and tracks has been competed, as well a first post shade. Vallejo acrylics were used on the superstructre and Model Master enamels were used on the tracks.
Molded on tools have been painted, spot gloss coat (future) and decals applied. Begining stages of weathering of the lower hull will MMP powders and oil washes.
Weathering has progressed with application of oil filters and spot washes, and more application of MMP powders to the lower hull and tracks.
Weathing had progressed more, scracthes and other surface blemishes added. Fuel pump has been scratchbuilt as has the crates, pumpkins and potatos. Other stowage from VP and Tamiya.
Just a small update. I have painted some of the small details, and I am toying with moving the large board and shortening it.
Major headway! 99% done. All the stowage has been painted and added, and most of the weathering completed. Just a little bit more work on the tracks and the model will be completed. A small diorama and a figure are planned as well.
I have started to make some "extras" for the diorama. These will include some figures, a fart cart, telephone pole, and a possible deceased farm animal. Both carts in the picture above where made from stripstock and some brass sheet (the axle supports) The larger one is for a dio with the panzerfahre, the smaller one for this dio. The wheels on the smaller cart where actually very easy to fabricate. I first cut out a circle the diameter that I wanted the wheel. I then found center and punched a hole the same size as the chuck of my lab drill. I then mounted the disk, turned the lab drill on ats its lowest speed. Then with an x-acto knife I scribed a smaller circle in the spinning disk. This forms the out wheel. I then measured the resulting ID and cut stip stock to this length and glued it in. I then took the ID measurment divided by two, and made 6 more spokes at that length. I cut 2 45 degree angles into one end of these and glued them into the wheel. I then punched 3 smaller disks to form the hubs. The wheel was then boxed and an RTV mold made. I poured 4 wheels and took the best 2. To these I added the back side of the hub from punched disks and tube stock. The wood tone finishing on the cart is fairly easy to accomplish. The surface is roughened with sand paper, then slightly polished with steel wool. The next step is to base coat the wood with a flesh tone acrylic paint - THIS MUST BE ACRYLIC. When this is dry, Brunt umber oil paint - AND IT MUST BE OIL PAINT - that has had the excess linseed oil drained on a piece of cardboard (5-10 minutes) is applied to completely cover the surface. This is letf to sit 10 -20 minutes. Now with a flat brush dipped in Turpeniod, then bloted on paper towel to remove most of the dampness, remove the oil paint using long single direction brush strokes. Make sure to clean the brush in tupeniod between strokes. It is time consuming, but the results are worth it. The last step is a drybrushing with the flesh acrylic paint. 8/4/2005 Quick update. Here is one of the crewmen from the new Tamyia 1/48 scale German Infantry/Tankers kit. He is still a work in progess as he still needs a coulpe of finishing touches. Unfortunatly I did need to resculpted the face and hands a bit. He is painted with Vallejo acrylics.
I have made significant progress on the base. The edges heve been finished in a faux granite pattern and masked. The Base is packing foam, carved to shape and glued to the plaque with PVA. The ground work is then added on top of this with Durhams water putty http://www.waterputty.com. Before this sets, powdered water putty is sprinkled over the base, don't be stingy here, really cover it. This is left to set overnight. Then the excess powder is shaken off. What remains is sealed to the base with a spray of 50/50 PVA and water - again left to fully set. I then sprayed the base with buff color, then washed with raw umber oils in turpeniod, then drybrushed with lighter shades of the buff. The grass is silflor, about 5 different heights, put down in small groups with PVA glue. The telephone pole is from Tamiya, modifed to match a pic on the instructions. Thats pretty much where I am now, lots more to do!
I have added more Silflor grass, "chewed" up the grass a little that runs down the middle of the lane, I also added a fence from the Tamiya 1/48 road sign set, and given it a wood tone. Long grass behind the fence, and hay in the cart are horse hair from woodlandscenics.
Fence has been given a worn white wash by randomly appling Gunze Mr. Masking Sol, then over painting with white. It was then drybrushed with a khaki color, and the mask removed. The message box, scythe and bird house are scratch built. The flowers are from Jo Ann's Crafts store.
Two figures completed, the standing one is pictured on 8/4/2005 but he is now completed. The kneeling figure is from Nimix, a Spanish company. The head is great, the sculpting of the rest of the figure left much to be desired, and took alot of effort to get it to look like it does now!
I have completed the cow. It is from the Pegasus range. It is well sculpted, but is made from vinyal, thus fairly difficult to reposition. In the end I used my hotknife to "surgically" correct the cow's pose. The water in the brook is water effects from Woodland Scenics. When fully set it will be clear.
The water is finished. It was built up in very thin layers. I tinted the lower levels with Tamiya clear acrylics. The final two layers are Future floor polish to give it a high shine. Weeds and flowers from the craft store have been added to the waters edge. The reeds are paint brush bristles, with the end dipped in PVA glue, then coated with a fine sand and painted.
Third figure completed. This figure is from the Taiaho range - the best 1/48th scale figs I have seen so far. They are available from Colorado Minatures.
Last figure and dio completed! The standing Feldwebel is from the tamiya set, with a head "borrowed" from the Taiaho set.
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