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Post by dupes on Nov 23, 2014 18:50:20 GMT -5
Just finished up the last 234 I needed to finish my collection of Italeri kits in that series. They obviously aren't the new DML kits, but I figured it would be an interesting study to compare the old versus the new (when I get around to the five DML offerings, that is)! This one (the 234/4) was by far the hardest of the builds - unlike the other three kits, Italeri has you make some fairly random cuts to the upper superstructure from a 234/3 hull to make the proper /4 setup. The trenches that they give you as a guide make it very easy to leave some pretty hefty gaps! Between those and my 14 month old kid getting a hold of this and driving it around the kitchen (yeah), I ended up having to do some more camo netting experimentation to cover up some goofs (i.e., the "throw a tarp on it" methodology). This build:   Followed by the full lineup - 234/1, /2, /3, /4:   These were completed over an 8-year span. The /2 "Puma" was done back in '06 (I believe it was the first build I ever blogged at FSM), followed by the /3 "error" scheme (I blame Italeri for telling me it should be Panzer Gray) in '09ish, then the /1 and /4 this year. Obviously a large evolution of talent in painting and weathering along the way! |
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Post by Leon on Nov 23, 2014 18:56:17 GMT -5
Nice line up of 234's Dupes! All nicely done.   |
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Post by Deano on Nov 23, 2014 20:05:17 GMT -5
Yeah great work , gotta luv the 234 series!
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richardcraig
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Post by richardcraig on Nov 23, 2014 20:44:56 GMT -5
Great little series you got there.. I love these 8 wheelers.
Congrats
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Post by deafpanzer on Nov 24, 2014 1:36:56 GMT -5
Love it especially the camo netting! Great collection of all 234... man, I only have done 234/1 so far... long way to go!
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4bogreen
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Post by 4bogreen on Nov 24, 2014 3:33:35 GMT -5
Awesome lineup Dupes! The 234 is my faforite vehicle. i have the DML 234/2. I havend build it (yet), seeing your lineup, its tempting to start building
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Post by armorguy on Nov 24, 2014 10:33:22 GMT -5
Lovely line up Dupes, never did a 234, I hope to build one in the future, hopefully
mine will look as stunning as these ones.
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Post by dupes on Nov 24, 2014 10:57:01 GMT -5
Thanks a ton dudes! Glad you like them. I've always been a fan of seeing people's related collections. Give me another 8 years or so and I'll get the DML ones done too. |
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Return_To_Kit_Form
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Post by Return_To_Kit_Form on Nov 24, 2014 13:38:58 GMT -5
Grat work Dupes! I'm a huge 8 wheel nutter with a soft spot for these Italeri 8 rads built up as well. The /2 and/1 are the best of the bunch and you have done well here - congrats.
I have all five of the DML offerings as well and am on the lookout for a cheap way to do the Puma with the luchs turret.
Again great work and it awesome to see these older kits get some love.
Regards,
Brett
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bbrowniii
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Post by bbrowniii on Nov 24, 2014 14:16:35 GMT -5
Dupes
I don't care what anyone says - that grey /3 is sweet!
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desertrat
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Post by desertrat on Nov 24, 2014 14:39:16 GMT -5
wow very impressive line up!!
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Post by dupes on Nov 24, 2014 14:48:46 GMT -5
Thanks a ton Brett! I too am a fan of showing the old (now "unfit to build") kits some love. I have all five of the DML offerings as well and am on the lookout for a cheap way to do the Puma with the luchs turret. Puma with a Luchs turret? What? You have piqued my interest! A 6th variant?? |
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Post by dupes on Nov 24, 2014 14:49:11 GMT -5
Dupes I don't care what anyone says - that grey /3 is sweet! I totally agree - it's my favorite out of the bunch!  |
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sturmbird
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Post by sturmbird on Nov 24, 2014 15:18:31 GMT -5
there was a shorter four wheeled variant (just a handful built), and one that had an oddball 20mm cannon mounted ontop. (not the 234/1). Plus there was a couple support vehicles built off that chassis.
The Luchs did not use the 234/2 turret in further development. It was the one on the Leopard, and they are a little different from the 234 turret. They look a lot a like, but one is smaller.
gary
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Post by dupes on Nov 24, 2014 15:26:11 GMT -5
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Post by dupes on Nov 24, 2014 15:26:45 GMT -5
Oddly enough, they mention the Luchs turret variant in that planet armor thread as well.
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Post by wbill76 on Nov 24, 2014 15:52:51 GMT -5
Nice looking 'family' shot there Dupes! One of my favorite classes of vehicles.
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Post by wing_nut on Nov 24, 2014 16:04:30 GMT -5
Fantastic looking line up Marc. Well done.
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Return_To_Kit_Form
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Post by Return_To_Kit_Form on Nov 24, 2014 19:15:16 GMT -5
Thanks Dupes. I never realised that was a modified 234/4. I always thought it was a Puma that they had just plopped a Luches turret on. I was going to buy an extra Puma and luchs amd swap turrets so tha I could end up with a Leopard as a bonus. Is that not possible? Are the Puma/Leopard turrets different?
Cheers
Brett.
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Post by dupes on Nov 24, 2014 19:37:49 GMT -5
Huh...I always thought it was the Puma chassis as well - did it say somewhere that it wasn't so?
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Return_To_Kit_Form
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Post by Return_To_Kit_Form on Nov 24, 2014 19:48:51 GMT -5
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Post by dupes on Nov 24, 2014 19:50:53 GMT -5
Whoah, look at that. Hadn't really paid attention to that part. I looks like they're essentially providing a hard-topped Puma chassis to convert the /4 into??? Perhaps there are some minor differences in the shape to accomodate the Luchs turret that I'm not seeing.
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4bogreen
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Post by 4bogreen on Nov 25, 2014 14:33:02 GMT -5
Seen this one Dupes?  |
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sturmbird
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Post by sturmbird on Nov 26, 2014 16:21:25 GMT -5
OK, were are not thinking of the same turrets. I never knew they did the Luchs 20mm turret, as it's not listed in the book I have. The other 234 with the oddball 20mm gun is the one I referred to. Dragon offered that version awhile back. Have not seen one on the shelf for awhile. In the Amusing Hobby Leopard, you'll find the correct 50mm gun turret for the Luchs. It looks almost identical to the 234 turret, but seems to be a little smaller and has different angles. Yet the gun looks to be the same. I think I'll try to scratch build one off the AH kit example The four wheeled verion of the Puma has a conversion kit out there. I think it's for the Italieri kit, and is pretty much a 234/1 seriously shortened I count six versions of the Puma, plus the shortened version. gary |
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Post by dupes on Nov 26, 2014 16:34:02 GMT -5
Was the shortened one still designated a 234?
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Return_To_Kit_Form
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Post by Return_To_Kit_Form on Nov 26, 2014 18:42:37 GMT -5
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sturmbird
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Post by sturmbird on Nov 26, 2014 23:22:59 GMT -5
Was the shortened one still designated a 234? that I'm not sure about. There was a build article in MMIR a few years back. I'll try to find it for you. It is similar in shape but shorter, and looks like it uses the two front and back wheel sets. There's also a very good book out on that chassis. I'll get you the data so you can order it in at the library. gary |
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Post by dupes on Nov 26, 2014 23:31:19 GMT -5
Cool!
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tommy1drop
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Post by tommy1drop on Nov 27, 2014 13:00:56 GMT -5
Lovely builds Dupes, they look great |
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sturmbird
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Post by sturmbird on Nov 27, 2014 15:41:38 GMT -5
Was the shortened one still designated a 234? yes it was, and there was a 20mm standard turret version as well as the 50mm gun version. It's called out under: SdKfz234 4rad spahwagen Ausf. 1-2
Azimut Productions makes a conversion kit called out as Aufkl Pz140/1. Ref # 35108
look for the magazine Armor Models #23. I was wrong about the MMIR article, as it was a standard 234
I also found out that the Leopard turret is wider, and much heavier built than the Luchs or 234 Puma. Also the shape is more different (now that's a serious double negative)that I thought. Gander says that the 50mm gun turret is the same as the Leopard, but Doyal and Jentze say it completely different. Hobby Boss also did the Leopard, but from the line drawings that Jentz supplied it's not accurate (lots of hull issues). The turret may be OK, I don't know as I've never seen the kit. The Amusing Hobby kit is a gem!
To get back to the 234 a bit, there were at least two different versions that didn't come with a turret, and had a boxed like super structure. I can't find my book on them to scan a photo. Yet it looks to me like there were at least nine versions off that chassis, and maybe some more.
The puma is absolutely my favorite wheeled vehicle, and that includes all the modern stuff.
gary
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