Dragon Elefant - Completed & Final Photos 3/9/13

Ben,

You have to remember that the Elefant didn't have standard engines and drivetrains like you would see on other Panzers. The engines drove electric generators which then powered the sprockets at the rear. So that curved piece at the rear with the PE deflector is for the exhaust cooling air from the generators as well as the engine exhaust. No opportunity for sooting on this one as a result I'm afraid. HTH!

My pleasure Ben! The tech was too advanced for its time...it was an attempt to adapt technology that Dr. Porsche had worked on with cars and created an efficient power delivery method for very large vehicles but not exactly lightning speed...the off-road top capability of the Elefant was in the neighborhood of 10 km/h. Ironically the place where the technology had the most success was in submarine engines and design. Lots of German stuff was ahead of its time and created teething problems when put into the field...there's a reason the venerable Pz IV soldiered on until the war's end!

Hi guys,

Bill - thanks for that informative post buddy. I've actually learnt something really useful here so I'm very grateful! Feel free to keep useful info coming! Bill Plunk = AFV Modellers Google!

Phil - Thanks a lot buddy. You'll notice that halway through the blog when I started the painting it went a bit 'tits up' (I don't know if you Americans use this phrase but it basically means it went badly wrong)!

I've got someleft over blackened Friuls AND the 12 Magic Tracks that came with the kit - the tracks are meant for the rear hanging spares and the spares that go up front on the flat armour under the Bow MG. I'm undecided on which links to use BUT I think I'll use the Magics to they can be painted up a proper black/grey link colour and given a light rusty wash. I have PE bolt head thingies that are designed to go on the front ones so it looks like they are fixed in place. I'll make them up and see which look better. The only problem is they Magics don't have the little hole in the guide horn but it's hardly noticeable.

I'm very happy with her now so I'll be finishing off this weekend. I'm going to add another light misting of Vallejo Matt Varnish followed by AK's dark streaking grime around the engine deck sidewalls to replicate spilt fluids and some VERY light dry pigment work - then onto Godfather Dave for photos!

If anyone fancies an Elefant build this is a great kit only let down by DS Tracks instead of Magic Tracks. It built up great and if I was a quick builder (I like to build slow anyway tbh) you could have this build done in a few good sessions. It took me two months worth of weekend building and an enjoyable build it was too.

I quite fancy Dragons Premium Edition Ferdinand - that looks really nice in the green spider web/netting cammo.

A few details left and job done! Onto the W/Wash Panzer IV(Kharkov LAH) now - this should be great!

Cheers guys,

Ben

Ben you mention 2 kits that I've built, the Ferd and the Pz IV G, and are near top-o-the-list for best kits. Both a joy to build

Cheers guys!

She'll be completed this weekend!

Wingy - I cannot wait to start on that Pz. IV. I looked through the box last night and the detailing was mind-blowing! Nice to see Magic Tracks too - I'm going to try them before ordering Friuls as they look excellent! A replacement barrel is only £5 from my 'Friul man' so that's a no brainer!

That Ferdy looks sweeet too. I might have to pick that up and show it as a factory fresh build? It looks too nice to cover in mud. I think that one comes with Magic tracks too? My Elefant came with them ugly DS Tracks hence the Friuls

When the Elefant is done I'm going to have Godfather Dave take the completed build photos with his super set-up - photos taken with that will look excellent. He took the completed photos of my last Tiger I Ausf E and they were stunning.

Update at the weekend - all I have left to do is dry pigment work, some more light streaking around the engine area and adding the spare tracks. Still undecided on the Antennae? Normally I'd just fit one but this thing stands really tall and an antennae will mean having to space my cabinet shelves further apart so I'll lose space but the obvios remedy is to have it removable and nor permanently fixed - just drill a tight hole with the pin vice to allow it to be fitted for shows etc and removed for the cabinet.

Ben

Ben... see if either of these tempt you Rob, the H has been in my stash a while now. I think something needs to be done about that.

Awesome work again Hinsky!, I`ll be following your pzIV for sure.

Phil.

Below - spare links on: All Blackened with AK's stuff and treated with Mig's 'Standard Rust Wash':



Below - Rear spare links in place. Sledgehammer on-PE latch release handle glued onto moulded clamp:











Below - this is the only thing left to do; make up a DIY Lion Roar tow cable but this time the correct length!:

It's awful stuff isn't it! The Lion Roar stuff is really soft and has hardly any memory so it doesn't curl up like Dragons wire does (like fishing braid).

As for the spare tracks, they've had a Rusty Wash applied to ad a touch of tone but I'm thinking that this thing wasn't in service that long so the spare links would only have a touch of rust on them - at most? What do you reckon guys?

If you look at the front spare links and look at the bolt heads and flat pieces to hold the links in place you can just see the rusty wash that has collected around the bolt heads. It's just Mig Standard Rust Effects - good stuff!

Ben

Wahey! Cheers Carl

Thanks buddy, that means a lot

Ben

Hi guys,

As promised here are the final photos - The Elefant is complete!

Godfather Dave has taken some cracking shots. Please feel free to let me know what you think regarding both the build and Dave's photos so I can provide feedback to him as he doesn't do a great deal of AFV close-up photography!

It's been a great build that I've enjoyed immensely.

Thankyou all for your kind support and words of encouragement.

Thanks to Dave for his help with my final photos too - onto the Jeep and Panzer IV.

Here we go:

















I hope you like them fellas!

Take care,

Ben

Came out looking good Ben! Another fine build for the shelf.

great watching this 1 come together. looks terrific