discussion SimonT - 1/35 Zvezda Stug.IIIB - Bobs StugGB

[Jim R]

Hi Simon
Still posting while the rest of us sleep I see :tongue-out3:
Looking very good. The fabric weave in that photo of the cleaning rods brings home just how tiny this all is.
Jim

 

[SimonT]

Thanks Si

Yes Jim, still having the same problems :disappointed2:

The long rod is about 35mm


cast a small section of tread plate from the mould that I made the other day


cut a small section off the casting and sanded it really really thin so that the resin between the dots was translucent

CA'd it in position - not perfect but with a little weathering it should hopefully disguise the bald patch


assembled the three etch lifting hooks for the engine deck - these are really tiny and took ages to do

kept dropping the tiny parts and then having to search for them


added bolt heads to the various etch brackets


made the dust cover for the barrel end from plastic tubing capped with plastic card - the whole thing was then sanded down wafer thin so only just larger than barrel

still need to add the lanyard that stopped it rolling off the vehicle when not in place on the barrel end


added the four top hatches in the open position

the large hatches got etch padlock brackets with their corresponding other half on the roof

hinge bolt heads added on all doors

locking handles still need to be added to the inside of the two smaller hatches


I also investigated the starter handle and wire cutters and found them to be rather poor due, I suspect, to mould wear - they suffer from large mould line steps and blobby indistinct detailing so will need replacing with something better

Back to work Monday, boo - had been hoping to have this all assembled and ready for paint by the end of the holidays but it doesn't look like that will be happening. There are still a lot of little fiddly bits to sort out

 

[Guest]

Simon, are you sure this is the same kit !
The excitement to the aerial mount is building .

 

[SimonT]

It was when it started John

Looked at that aerial mount yesterday and it is rubbish - think I will be making a new one

 

[Guest]

assembled the three etch lifting hooks for the engine deck - these are really tiny and took ages to do

In a way I'm glad to hear that.

The Voyager ones I fitted seemed to take me forever and I almost gave up. To know that someone with your experience also had issues gives me hope.

 

[Neil Merryweather]

My word Mr T you are pushing the limits of scratchery with that treadplate repair! :flushed:
An Oscar winner in my opinion.

 

[Guest]

Ruddy marvellous! :nerd:

 

[SimonT]

Hi Andy - I reckon I must have spent best part of two hours making the three hooks. Most of the time was spent chasing them around the floor :smiling5:

Neil - not perfect but hopefully once painted and weathered it won’t stand out too much. There will also be the option of covering with snow

James - cheers

 

[Jim R]

Hi Simon
That replacement bit for the tread pattern has worked well.

I reckon I must have spent best part of two hours making the three hooks.

Why is it that things sometimes go well and sometimes just go from bad to worse. You know when you have a few of the same parts to fit - one always goes on easily and one, at least, just refuses to play ball :sad:
Seriously though the added/improved detail is mind blowing for us mere mortals.
Jim

 

[Fernando N]

Very nice detail work Simon, especially like how you made the cleaning rods modelling at its finest:astonished:.

Thanks for explaining how you make the various parts too, helps us mortals understand how its done:thumb2:.

 

[papa 695]

Some cracking work Simon

 

[scottie3158]

Simon,
Lovely scratchery mate. In particular the cleaning rods.

 

[SimonT]

Jim - thanks. That would be Mr Sod and his law coming into play

Fernando / Scottie - thank you. Quite pleased with how the rods turned out

Thanks Ian





added the hatch padlocks from the etch set

due to them being etch they are wafer thin so I bulked them out by CA'ing to plastic card


the S towing wotsits with flash and moulded clamps removed then the etch ones added


the wire cutters after a considerable re-work

• the front end had all the flash and flare cut off
• the jaws sanded back to points
• the cutting jaws were sawn apart
• the blade edges scraped back in
• the moulded clamp sliced off
• hole drilled through

the kit handles, shown for comparison, were then sliced off and replaced by micro brass tubing

the joint between new handles and kit front end will be covered over by the etch clamp



the muzzle dust cover was tethered to the barrel with a pewter strap

that was all I managed - these little details take an age to do as they are so small and fiddly

back to work tomorrow - boo - so all progress will slow right down to the usual crawl

 

[Jim R]

By 'eck Mr T this just gets better and better. Just being able to see the tiny bits it is an achievement but being able to work with them is incredible.
Jim

 

[SimonT]

I can only work with the Optivisor these days Jim - used to be able to do this sort of thing without

 

[SimonT]

Only a small bit of progress on the last day before going back to work


a totally new starter handle as the kit version was rubbish - plastic rod, brass tubes and some punched plastic card for the lugs


the radio aerial mount - bracket from a section of etch fret brass

the triangular locking handle was sliced from the kit part as was the swivel mount

the insulator is a punched disk, brass rod and microstrip

top of the mount and the aerial are more brass tubing

 

[Neil Merryweather]

astonishing!

 

[Steven000]

Very nice etch-work Simon :thumb2:

 

[Steve Jones]

What an absolute joy its been catching up with this build. Your detail additions are something to behold. Stunning work Mr T

 

[Jim R]

hi Simon
Truly amazing.
Jim