Dragon 35th 251/6 Ausf C

[bish]

Been working on this for a couple of weeks now. I nee to make a real dent in my 251 stash, so it was time to build another one, and this has been waiting to be built for a while now.



And i will be adding an Eduard PE set and well. This will be my first Pz Grey scheme since i got back into the hobby and took weathering more seriously, so we will see how that works out.

I started out with the more tedious bits. All the wheels were removed and cleaned up, and the front wheels put together. So these are now ready for painting.



And i got to work on the tracks. While these small things are a bit of a fiddle to work on, i find these far easier than Fruils 251 tracks. But unlike some other Dragon 251 kits which have the tracks lose in bags, these are on sprues. With 3 attachment points for each link and 2 more for each track pad, and 111 links, that's a lot of snipping.

I assemble the links in pairs before moving on to longer lengths.



I prefer to do this in the hand as i can alter the angle of the links and get my brush right onto the side of the pads to add the weld and prevent the links themselves from being glued. This leaves nice workable tracks.

Dragon does not indicate how many links to use, and i can't recall from my Dragon /17 how many i needed. So i made them up as the real thing was, one of 55 and one of 56. After less than 2 hours last night, i had two complete tracks.



And then i started on the hull with the running gear.



After that, I veered away from the instruction sequence and added the lower sides before adding all the fittings. There was also the odd bit that needed some filler.





I then got to adding most of the fittings. I also added the fenders now as the locating holes go right through and would need filling.





Then it was on to painting.

I started out with Vallejo Panzer grey. I then thought i would give the AK interactive filter a try. I bought a couple of these filters a while back, and i tried the DAK one some time ago and now this one. And my own opinion on these, and this is not intended to put others off from trying them, but they are a waste of money. I just don't get these filters or see what others say they do, provide depth and other such things. The DAK wash just gave the vehicle a really bad orange fake tan and this just made the paint job darker, and that was it. So i went back over that with a slightly lighter Pz Grey, then a dot filter with MiG oils which has given a nice lighter dusty look. Then some oil dry brushing and some paint wear on the floor. So after all the faffing around, it was rather simple really.

For the seats, i wanted a brown leather look. But to me, it looks more like wood. So i am just going to let the oil paint dry and try something else. I have added some weapons, including stored MG 34's.





And then, to bring it up to date. I got most of the interiour parts fitted, the radio's will go in later and there is some wiring to add at this point. I am much happier with the seat colour now.





With that done, the top could go on. I had a bit of an issue with the fit at the rear corners, especially on the right. But this was my error. When the lower sides go in, you have to be really careful to fit them correctly, its easy not to. I think i had one slightly further back than the other. But with a bit of pressure, some filler and some sanding, it got there in the end. The rear door's don't sit perfectly, but this is only apparent when they are closed.

I was then able to start fitting all the exteriour parts and PE. The left side mounts for the frame antenna will go on once the radio's and operator are in place.





Apart from that, i have been working on the radios. They have been painted and dry brushed so far. I only have a photo of one of these, so the rest is guess work. Once they have ben weathered, they will be fitted to the rack and wired up, but as i don't have a wiring image for this set up, that will be guess work as well.



And that's it for now. Thanks' for looking.

[dierk]

Nice! I do pefer the old-shape 250/251

[sturmbird]

I really like the way the finish came out on the seats! I'm with you on the over stashed 251's. I have six or seven Dragon 251's, plus a couple AFV's and maybe a pair of Tamiya's. Yet I have maybe two or three 250's. Been hunting everywhere for two 250/9 half tracks (not the NEU).

Wish I knew you needed A.M. tracks, as I have two bags of Model Kasten for the 251. Probably enough in there to do at least two full track sets in each bag. I'd have donated them to your build. I'll use them on those three Tamiya 250 builds instead.

I have always liked the old style antenna mounted on those half tracks.
gary

[wbill76]

Can't go wrong with a good HT build! Pulling up a chair for this one. At one point in time I had ALL of the Dragon HT kits of the 251 family in the stash...then realized that I would never get around to building them all. The Dragon kit links have the advantage of assembling as workable links with the cap block arrangement, so no real value in getting AM tracks (unless they are metal) as they all assemble the same way!

[bish]

Thanks for the comments guys.

dierk, I have never really thought about it, but I would say I prefer the lines of the Ausf D myself. But any 251 is good for me.

Gary, thanks for the offer. Unfortunately, I will have to get used to those Fruil tracks, I still have another 10 sets to use. My 251 collection currently stands at 2 built, one under way and 27 more in the stash, 1 Zvezda, 3 Tamiya, 8 Dragon and 15 AFV Club. But then there are 63 possible versions and variants, so I still have some way to go.

Thanks' Bill. I only swap out the track's when they are the rubber bands, I do like the Dragon track. Buit those Fruil 251 tracks are really not fun at all. Has got me looking for other options for future 251 kits I will be getting.

[Leon]

Nice work on the 251 so far Bish! I built the AFV 251/3 Ausf C a while back and went all out on the PE interior.

[Deleted]

The interior is looking great!

[bish]

Thanks guys.

leon, I did the AFV /3 D a while back and did the same. Really enjoyed that kit, my first AFV Club one.

[dierk]

You have almost as many 251's as I have kits in my stash
This walkaround might help with the radio wiring.

[tobias5555]

Looking really good so far.

[jsteinman]

Looks nice - I would really like an Ausf A version of this, Hellooooo DML.....

[bish]

Thanks guys.

dierk, thanks for that link, that's very useful. There one piece of kit in there that's in the kit but I had never seen before. Good to see Dragon have not made that up. And yes, I am rather obsessed lol.

jsteinman, ye, you and me both. I really can't finish the collection without one. I know Dragon did announce one about 4 years ago, but still waiting.

[sturmbird]

Apr 3, 2016 15:23:26 GMT -5 bish said:

Thanks for the comments guys.

dierk, I have never really thought about it, but I would say I prefer the lines of the Ausf D myself. But any 251 is good for me.

Gary, thanks for the offer. Unfortunately, I will have to get used to those Fruil tracks, I still have another 10 sets to use. My 251 collection currently stands at 2 built, one under way and 27 more in the stash, 1 Zvezda, 3 Tamiya, 8 Dragon and 15 AFV Club. But then there are 63 possible versions and variants, so I still have some way to go.

Thanks' Bill. I only swap out the track's when they are the rubber bands, I do like the Dragon track. Buit those Fruil 251 tracks are really not fun at all. Has got me looking for other options for future 251 kits I will be getting.

I saw a Zvezda half track kit the otherday. How does the one you have compare to the others? I'm probably going to buy a couple Great Wall SWS half tracks this year
gary

[bish]

Gary, I have not built it yet, but it does look very nice. I might try and get to it next year. There is an issue if you prefer accuracy and that's the inside which is more like that of an Ausf C, so it needs some work there. Those Great Wall kits kits look nice, would not mind some of those myself.

[deafpanzer]

Great start!!! Have similar kit but its Rommel kit. Count me in too...

[bish]

Been plodding along slowly but surley. I finished up painting the radios and got them fitted into the rack. After that it was a best guess at wireing them up. I added a strap for the radio on the right as Dragon shows one on the instructions but does not include it as a part.



The radios were then fitted along with the completed radio operator. He was a really tight squeeze and still is not sitting properly, but i managed to cover that up. I have yet to find any figures that fit insid a 251 properly, either all 251 kits are to small or 35th figures are all to big. Or, the 251 was a tighter squeeze then it looks.







Then it was finally time to get the outside painted. I don't go for modulation myself as i prefer to be closer to a realistic finish than an artistic one. But i do lighten the colour very slightly higher up the vehicle. I am using Vallejo model air for this. I don't like it as much as i do enamels, but i figured i might as well use it up.





And this was followed by the decals. I had a bit of an issue here. I had the Dragon decals when i started the build but seem to have misplaced them. Fortunately, the AFV 251/3 Ausf C has ,markings for what seems to be the same vehicle, except it has a Div Command pennant decal for the front, so i used those. For the close, i simply added a spot of future where the decals were going rather than coat the whole thing. After the decals i gave it a dry brush with some grey oil.







And the figures are now all ready for painting.



And thats all for now. Next up with be some weathering and getting the figures painted, and hopefully i'll get the tracks done.

[deafpanzer]

Figures on the sticks?!?!? That's my favorite food... yummy! The 251 is looking good by the way...

[bish]

Apr 13, 2016 14:35:26 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Figures on the sticks?!?!? That's my favorite food... yummy! The 251 is looking good by the way...

You as well, I find they are a real hit at parties. Thanks'.

[Leon]

Nice progress Bish! Looking better and better with each update.

[Tojo72]

Very nice,they will compliment it nicely.

[dierk]

Looking good! If there's a toss-up between figures-on-sticks and stick-figures I go for figures-on-sticks every time

[wbill76]

Looking good Bish, figures will add a lot to this one. Assuming they don't get eaten first by the gang here!

[bish]

Thanks' guys.

Bill, I think I may have to put a guard on them before they get snapped up.

[panzerjager2]

Looking good...

Watching this one

[wing_nut]

Look really good bish but I would not have expected less from you.

[bish]

Apr 14, 2016 15:08:15 GMT -5 panzerjager2 said:

Looking good...

Watching this one

Thanks but just keep your friend away from my figures on sticks, he looks hungry.

[bish]

Thanks' Marc.

[bish]

Thanks Stef.

Work on the weathering has come along really well, i am rather please with my first Pz Grey. The outside was giving the dot filtering treatment. I use oil paints for this, MiG Faded grey and German grey and W&N white. This was followed by some AK streaking grime. The aim here for me was to create the ground in dusty look of a vehicle that's been in the field a long time.







Then i was finally able to add the wheels tracks and tools. One lesson for next time. Even though the wheels will be given a dusting, i think they would be better if painted a slightly lighter grey. Right now, it looks like its had a complete set of brand new wheels fitted, though that has given me an idea for future builds. Also, there is the slight floating of the front wheels i mentioned earlier, but this can be solved on the base.





Next up, the dirtying up. I started out with a coat of AK dust effects inside and out. Then straight away i removed some in areas where it might be brushed or fall away. This included the sides, engine hatches, parts of the seats, around the forward MG shield and some parts on top of the radio's.







And then once that had dried, it was back to the spray booth. It got another light coat of dust and then lower down some earth and dark earth effects.







So, next up will be a flat coat followed by the pigments before i can fit this to the base.

And speaking of the base, i felt now was the time to add the ground work. The tools for this job are some acrylic paint, a jug and an old trusty army issue fork, white glue and the celluclay. I have to get this last thing on line. This bag cost about £10, but i have had this a couple of years and so far it done about half dozen bases, including a couple bigger than this one.



I then guesstemate how much i need, the intention being to make up a little more than i need. That usually works, but now and again it doesn't.



I then add some brown paint, white glue and a small bit of water. The less water you have to use the better, as it does shrink, which is why i make more than i need.



Now, i don't get to up tight about getting the right colour, its not like i travel the world collecting soil samples. But i do a bit of research to get a rough colour. This dio is set in the black soil of the Russian Steppe. So i added a bit of black paint until i had the colour i wanted.



Then it time to add it to the base. Time for that trusty old fork again.



I normally bring this in doors so it dries faster and leave the excess in the shed. But i didn't want this to dry to fast so left it outside.

And the question your of course asking your self is did i have enough.

Well, of course i did. Never in doubt.



And i even had some left over, which is handy because tonight i topped up around the edges where it had shrunk a little.



I often add the foliage after it dries. But because i want the 251 to sit slightly into the ground, i will add the foliage tomorrow in the area the vehicle will sit, then once i have done the pastels, i can add it. I can then leave the base to dry properly before finishing it off.

[Tojo72]

Nice looking 251,I like your use of the AK dust and streaking,those are great products and a great look.

[Leon]

Great work on weathering the 251 Bish! Looking good as is the start on the base.