discussion A Tale of two kubelwagons or ebay bargains bite back... for Simon

[gothicgeek]

Ok Back in the heady days of early 2019 I blagged a Tamiya Trop Kubel on ebay for a nice price, used but complete...
When I checked it, out the entire motor and transmission were missing,
View attachment 403036
the seller looked for it but alas it was lost, so she gave me a good partial refund and off I went.

I contacted Tamiyas UK agent and got prices for the parts I needed plus a set of the standard wheels to replace the tropical balloon ones supplied in the kit..

Too Expensive!

So the kit languished in my stash and I continued to search for another Kubelwagon..

During Lock down I made an offer on a European Kubel Listed as complete with one tiny part missing...
View attachment 403037
And for a very reasonable price!

When it arrived I checked it out and indeed only one part was missing...
View attachment 403038
However.... Tamiya don't do the kubels in grey plastic, it had been spray painted on the sprues in a semi gloss panzer grey enamel :sad:
And on some parts it had pooled and rippled.

So, I got a bottle of detol and started stripping it all,..
So, detol kinda worked but it does something to the plastic and it gets very brittle.
So, I finally coughed up for a bottle of StripMagic and got too work.

Here's where I am with the Ex-European now ex trop kubel.

View attachment 403039 View attachment 403040 View attachment 403041




Next up the ex-Trop now European Theatre Kubel :smiling3:

Using the stripped and reassembled Engine/transmission from the other kit as a guide I bashed up the bare essentials for the other kubel..
View attachment 403042
These models will have figures in them and be firmly fixed to a base therefore only need something basic as it'll never be seen ( as with the top of the motor ) .

View attachment 403043View attachment 403044 View attachment 403045

And there you have it, my first build log!
This project is to produce two Kubelwgons being used on the eastern front in the winter, one a later production model, one an earlier ex Tropical version pressed into service for Europe.

I will run this thread in parallel with the figure thread once they arrive from Jeff Shiu ( 4 for now and 5 more later )

Cheers

Mark

 

[Jim R]

Hi Mark
Great idea. I'm sure Simon would approve of the "buy it cheap and cobble it together" method of modelling. You have to love these vehicles. Underpower and only 2 wheel drive but worked so well under all conditions.
I'm sure you'll make a great job of this. Will there be snow and mud ? :tongue-out3:
Jim

 

[The Smythe Meister]

Mark,
I agree with Jim,nice idea,and one i`ll be watching closely as i do like the Kubels.
You`ve gone to a lot of trouble to sort parts and clean up already,so i`m sure from now on they`ll behave!!
Cheers,
Andy

 

[Mini Me]

Jim and Andy are right on the money......I think Simon had the market cornered on detol and paint remover.
This will be fun to watch. Rick H.

 

[gothicgeek]

Cheers! Yes mud and possibly snow but not in a diorama kinda way.... Maybe lol working on the European kubel and spending time carving the detail on the canvas cover left side carved right as the kit is supplied

 

[Steve Jones]

The guys have said it all. A brilliant idea for MrT's tribute GB. Luvin what you have done already. Keep up the great work

 

[gothicgeek]

Working on both kits atm, stripping paint from individual parts is tedious but sets the pace lol

 

[Jim R]

Hi Mark
Looks as if you have everything under control. Neat and tidy. Stripping paint is a chore but you have no choice.
Jim

 

[Lee Drennen]

Mark. Very nice

 

[gothicgeek]

First kubelwagon is almost sorted. I really, really, like a good solid grey primer.
Halfords is too expensive so I used a generic brand from my local department store... Boyes! They also sell humbrol, games workshop and vallejo paint! And all about 200 yards from my cottage!

 

[mrtintheweb]

Nice. I bought a kubel in a moment of “support the tank museum” over kindness and the idea was to do a ‘build in day’ project, paint and all. Other than Grand Prix qualifying tomorrow is a wet day and this should keep me occupied!

 

[Richard48]

Nice one Mark.
Good to see you modelling again.Someting a bit different from doing the figures and bust.
Rich.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Mark
Looks good. I also like to get a nice coat of primer on a model. Kinda signifies the end of the build and the beginning of the painting.
Jim

 

[scottie3158]

Mark,
Great result the primer looks very smooth indeed.

 

[gothicgeek]

So tamiya missed the catches that hold the boot lid and the storage area lid closed... Harrumph!

Not the greatest scratch building but better than nothing lol

 

[Steve Jones]

Beautiful work on the catches. Build is coming along really well

 

[gothicgeek]

So I keep spotting things that are missing or wrong. I don't want to get into a couple of major scratch builds so I'm just trying to enhance the kits...

Thinned the windscreen clips.
Added the wiring for the wipers.
Added the backs of the pins on the roof bars and added the curved parts on to the roof bars on the other kubel. I'm waiting on some 2mm rod to join it all up and then I'll make up the roof cover as a rolled up part...

 

[gothicgeek]

Oh and these are my references

 

[Jim R]

Hi Mark
Well despite you not wanting to do a major scratch build you're certainly adding some fine detail.
Looking very neat and sorted.
Jim

 

[scottie3158]

Mark,
Some very nice work, its those little details that make all the difference.