Bridlington & Wolds Scale Model Club Forum
Models => Modelling Projects => Topic started by: cph64 on June 03, 2023, 03:51:04 PM
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In 1942 the Wehrmacht were looking for a less complicated halftrack to replace the m. Zgkw. 5t. Bussing NAG received the contract and started development in May 1942 but due to complications the first 5 vehicles weren't delivered until December 1943 with a total of 851 built by March 1945. The vehicle wasn't an overall success under powered with a top speed of only around 16mph, which led to many being abandoned in the rapid retreats of 1944/5. Initially it was produced as a flatbed tractor with later models being fitted with an armoured cab and engine two of which were used with the 15cm rocket launcher, some as munitionsschlepper and 80 the subject of this kit.
Somewhere in my stash is a 50plus year old 1/87 Roco Minitank of the sWS and ever since seeing this I wanted a 1/72 in my collection. Released in 2022 I initially thought it was a Roden copy but it can trace it's lineage back to the 2007 Maco kit. When the owner of Maco stopped production Revell bought the moulds. Consisting of 252 parts over 5 sprues it is classed as a Level 4 kit due to the small parts, some of which aren't used in this build. I started it at the recent Play Day but spent most of the day cleaning flash off and removing countless knockout points, marked black in places. One thing that caught me out, until I worked it out, was that Part 17, the fuel filler, is in the intructions but didn't appear to be on the sprue tree. It is in fact moulded onto part 4. Another thing to watch out for is that numbers can be repeated on different sprues.
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Various parts were primed with either Mr Surfacer 1500, the first time I've tried this, or the usual Halfords grey then the build commenced with the basic chassis. Whilst this was setting the cabin was built after which all the relevant parts were sprayed Xtracrylic Dunkelgelb. Once dry various subassemblies were built whilst others cured. The final parts to the running gear were added and these will be tidied up after fitting the track links. The Flak 43 parts have some very small attachment points and took some time to fit with the second attempt not following the instructions but which gave easier access.
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Looking very dunkel Chris - hohohho
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Must be the dark side.
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Head towards the light..........
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Each track section is made up of 36 individual parts so it has been slow going, but I did manage to get things to meet so that was a bonus. In between sessions on the track I flitted between the 3.7cmKwK and the ammo trailer. Each of these also needed patience and sometimes several attempts to get things to fit correctly. Once all the subunits are completed then another spraying session will be in order.
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Perseverance Chris.
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You will get here in the end Chris - keep going
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The main body of th sWS was completed and the Flak 43 was also finished with some parts being adjusted as I didn't like the original sit. The Sd.Ah.58 also had the wheels, lid and jack etc. fitted. Touch ups were made on the Dunklegelb before a camoflague of Vallejo German Bright Green and Rotbraun was applied after which the three decals were applied to sWS followed by the lights and width indicators and all the tools. Everything was then sealed in with a coat of Humbrol Matt Acryllic Varnish. And here is where I learnt another lesson. I knew not to spray varnish after rain but I didn't expect 'frosting' in 25deg C, this was probably due to the high humidity!!! The plus side is it looks like the vehicle is seen on a frosty morning especially as the crew, from my stash, are in reversable cold weather gear. The ruined building comes from a Matchbox kit, I just touched up the paintwork, added a broken window and part of the internal floor. So there's the promised mini diorama MSea and yes I know it's supposed to be a chill morning but the photos were taken on a hot day!!
This kit is definitely not a 'shake and bake' but I got there in the end and am pleased with the result. As described there are lots of tiny parts, an example, besides the tracks, being the 15 2cm clips in the vehicle stowage box so no wonder Revell put it at Level 4. If I can come across the Roden sWS then I may be tempted to buy so I can compare the kits.
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Very effective.
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Thanks, every cloud........
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A nice build with impressive detail for a small scale kit.
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Nice build Chris.
Bob c
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Nice build Chris. Well the varnish worked well to give you the frosty scenario.
Now you need a little snow.
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Ah but then the crew would have to turn their smocks and trousers inside out!!