Brummbar Mid Production

[406 Silverado]

It's Sunday ?((((LOL)))))))))))

[bigjohn]

It's Sunday ?((((LOL)))))))))))

I was just thinking the same thing......LOL

[wbill76]

Patience gents, patience! Here's your update.

Dealing with the track assembly is always a time-consuming and repetitive exercise but the payoff comes in the end in terms of flexibility with the weathering and other finishing steps, so it's worth it. The MK set assembles fairly straightforward, just a matter of removing the links from their sprues, cleaning up the attachment points, and using the supplied jig to assemble the runs. The set includes 2 jigs, so it's possible to work on two sections of 8 links at a time which allows the glue to set up on the pins and guide horns but not cause an interruption in the process. The pins come with their own handles which simply twist off while the guide horn handles need to be removed with sprue cutters and the attachment point cleaned up a bit with a sharp blade tip.



The set recommends 99-100 links for a Pz IV family vehicle but I stopped at 96 links to allow for flexibility when the time comes to install the tracks onto the suspension and will add the extra links needed at that stage. So 192 links, 192 guide horns, and 380 track pins later, the runs are done!



Next up will be painting the exterior and moving on to the remaining details.

[406 Silverado]

I have to hand it to you Bill, you make it look too easy. very nice looking tracks my friend.

[TRM]

Always a great feeling when the tracks are done!!! Looking great too Bill!! Keep it coming!!

[spud]

gime Friuls any day...... i have a set of them things from the NFG thingy that somone is welcome to have

[bigjohn]

Nice tracks Bill, I know they are time consuming, I bet it feels good to get them out of the way. Looking forward to the paint.

[modelfreak72]

Coming along smartly Bill! The tracks are looking good!

[multicam]

Lovely tracks Bill!

[wbill76]

Thanks guys, getting the tracks done is kind of like getting the road wheels done on German vehicles...it's a pain but once you're done you can move on to the rest of the build!

Rick, I've been staying busy with my MBA stuff (currently taking a class on Economics, don't get me started on the opportunity costs associated with model building vs. study time! ) but still building. Nice to see you over here and thanks for the comments!

[bullardino]

Jun 3, 2012 20:55:02 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

Patience gents, patience! Here's your update.

Dealing with the track assembly is always a time-consuming and repetitive exercise but the payoff comes in the end in terms of flexibility with the weathering and other finishing steps, so it's worth it. The MK set assembles fairly straightforward, just a matter of removing the links from their sprues, cleaning up the attachment points, and using the supplied jig to assemble the runs. The set includes 2 jigs, so it's possible to work on two sections of 8 links at a time which allows the glue to set up on the pins and guide horns but not cause an interruption in the process. The pins come with their own handles which simply twist off while the guide horn handles need to be removed with sprue cutters and the attachment point cleaned up a bit with a sharp blade tip.



The set recommends 99-100 links for a Pz IV family vehicle but I stopped at 96 links to allow for flexibility when the time comes to install the tracks onto the suspension and will add the extra links needed at that stage. So 192 links, 192 guide horns, and 380 track pins later, the runs are done!



Next up will be painting the exterior and moving on to the remaining details.

OMG, I've been quite lucky in comparison, 72 track links, 140 track pins.

Great job, modelkasten are quite nice and you've got them right

[wouter]

oh, tracks finished...almost time for the first paint flying onto this baby ey ^^

Cheers

[wbill76]

Dicky, thanks as always for the comments! This one's getting a DY base with a brown stripe pattern typical for what was used in Italy in late '43 early '44 and I will do my best to replicate what's on the box art.

Luigi, MK's vary in their workload depending on vehicle type and track design...I had this set as an "extra" and it fit with the timeframe so I used it...the hollow separate guide horn design does add a bit to the assembly and the parts count but is worth it in the end.

Wouter, paint is scheduled for this weekend...it's time!

[deafpanzer]

Am really looking forward to see it primed and painted! I admire you for using MK tracks... they always look great. I have used those on my three builds and they came out great but because I am so clumsy or rough they broke often.

[robbo]

Nice track links, look like fun :/

[wbill76]

Andy, since the pins are styrene they are a little fragile if you handle them too roughly but can still bear the stresses of pigment weathering and such (which in my methods involves some scrubbing and work with stiff bristled brushes). If they do break they can always be glued together like static indies if necessary as a Plan B, something I've had to do on occasion as well!

Robbo, thanks, they are a necessary evil to be sure!

[wbill76]

No worries Dicky, so long as the vehicle gets both its "shoes" in the end no one is the wiser!

[danb.]

Nice work on them tracks Bill they look fiddly and time consuming keep up the good work looking forward to the next update.

Dan b

[deafpanzer]

Less than 24 hours until Bill's next update...

[wbill76]

Thanks Dan!

Dicky, I swear that Andy's got a built in alarm clock...he's almost as bad as Rob when it comes to the update countdowns! An update will be posted later today...just took a quick break from the AB work to poke in here and grab a bit of lunch in between spraying rounds. Paint has flung!

[bigjohn]

Jun 10, 2012 13:32:53 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

Thanks Dan!

Dicky, I swear that Andy's got a built in alarm clock...he's almost as bad as Rob when it comes to the update countdowns! An update will be posted later today...just took a quick break from the AB work to poke in here and grab a bit of lunch in between spraying rounds. Paint has flung!

.............. ;D

[wbill76]

This weekend was a productive one with a lot of progress on the paint work for the exterior. Not a lot of prep work was required except for the mounting the road wheels, sprockets, and idlers on trusty toothpick handles using blobs of blue tack poster putty. First round of airbrush work involved the application of a primer coat of Model Master enamel Italian Dark Brown. This helps check the putty work and insures there isn't any bare plastic peeking through the base coat.



Speaking of the base coat...that was applied next by airbrush using a 50-50 mix of MM enamel Panzer Dunkelgelb/Light Gray. I used multiple passes with the airbrush to slowly build up the finish instead of applying as a single heavy coat. This is particularly necessary due to the increased surface area and nooks/crannies produced by the zim application.



Next up was the camouflage pattern. Using the reference photo I dug up earlier along with the box art, I applied a brown squiggly pattern freehand using a 50-50 mix of MM enamel Military Brown and Leather. The pattern deliberately stops at roughly the height of the schurzen plates on the hull side to mimic what the reference photo shows.



Last step involved applying a mist coat from roughly 12" away from the model using a heavily thinned mix of the base coat and opening up the airbrush needle all the way to create a nice wide pattern. This toned down the camo work, fading it slightly, and tying it in nicely with the base coat as a foundation for more work later on in the weathering stages.





The road wheels, sprockets, and idlers got their due as well. They were primered at the same time as the hull and the rubber portions painted via airbrush using MM enamel Gunmetal (not the Metalizer!). The hubs on the road wheels were airbrushed using a circle template to mask the rubber tires.



Next up will be working on the exterior details and getting things ready for the weathering stages.

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Wowwee Bill that's going to be, well I can't say that,might be kids watching but it's going to be right up there.

See ya next Sunday
Tony

[modelfreak72]

Very nice camo Bill!

[wbill76]

Thanks Tony, I will use my imagination and Texas vocabulary to fill in the blanks!

Modelfreak and John, thanks as well, clearing the paint hurdle is always a major milestone in any build!

[spud]

Oh very nice bill

[TRM]

Looking particularly Lovely Bill! Love the camo!!!

[deafpanzer]

Bill, really dig the camo you choose for this!!!

[406 Silverado]

Good to see the paint on her Bill, love that camo scheme. I prefer the dark brown or the green over the tri toned schemes.

[bullardino]

Very nice painting, Bill. It's not an easy camo, and you've achieved a smooth result on it.

Looking forward to seeing more