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Post by wbill76 on Mar 7, 2015 12:37:27 GMT -5
I'm really surprised Andy hasn't proposed her yet, it's a real beauty  No kidding Lui!  I'm sure he's saving up for the ring though as we speak...  |
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Post by bullardino on Mar 7, 2015 15:34:11 GMT -5
I'm really surprised Andy hasn't proposed her yet, it's a real beauty No kidding Lui! I'm sure he's saving up for the ring though as we speak... And for a pink limo too  |
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Post by wbill76 on Mar 10, 2015 17:59:19 GMT -5
Not a huge update but after about 4 hours with the Optivisor, I've got most of the interior components detailed and ready for installation around the interior. The kit provides a decal for the dashboard but it's all one piece and I'm leaning more towards just carefully cutting out the dial faces and only using those, have to see how adventurous I feel in that department. There are also other stencil-type decals for many of the interior gear locations, so I may end up treating the interior like a kit-within-a-kit in terms of adding details, sealing, weathering, decals, etc.  I didn't get to the driver's seat and various levers, pedals, and steering wheel and column or the viewports, so there's still a good bit of detail on the interior yet to come! |
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Post by TRM on Mar 10, 2015 18:25:33 GMT -5
LOL...finishing all the gear is a feat in itself Bill!! Nice work as usual!! Nothing wrong with giving the interior a little slap with the weathering wand! |
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Post by wbill76 on Mar 10, 2015 18:52:19 GMT -5
LOL...finishing all the gear is a feat in itself Bill!! Nice work as usual!! Nothing wrong with giving the interior a little slap with the weathering wand! No kidding...now if only I can locate that wand you speak of... |
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Post by deafpanzer on Mar 10, 2015 22:06:49 GMT -5
They look GREAT... now where's the Italian wine we discussed excessively on Facebook? LOL
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Wes
Full Member
Member since: November 2011
Posts: 686
Nov 16, 2011 9:34:50 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2011 9:34:50 GMT -5
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Post by Wes on Mar 11, 2015 1:50:17 GMT -5
Im just catching up here Bill.
Love what you doing with this so far. Keep it up.
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Post by wbill76 on Mar 11, 2015 12:31:16 GMT -5
Thanks Andy! It's hiding in the 'mess tins'! Wes, glad you found it, happy to have you along for the ride! |
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Post by dierk on Mar 13, 2015 4:10:18 GMT -5
Just catching up again on your excellent build. Looking real good!
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Post by wing_nut on Mar 13, 2015 7:28:33 GMT -5
Hmmmm...so sad.
Oh, that's too bad.
It's a damn shame.
These are the comments I should be making about the fact that it's been so long since I've come back here to see the wonderful progress. I had a few pages to go back since I wanted to the the progression of stuff not just where you are now. I won't bother asking what camo scheme will be used cuz I am sure that been asked and answered. and I like a surprise anyway.
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Post by wbill76 on Mar 13, 2015 11:17:52 GMT -5
Thanks Dierk! Marc, I won't spoil the ending for you then! It should come as no surprise though...just look back at the very first post with the kit box art...but be warned, SPOILER ALERT! Glad you've managed to swing by and get caught up, this one's moving along a decent walking pace so you shouldn't have been too far behind either way. |
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Post by wbill76 on Mar 13, 2015 14:15:27 GMT -5
Got some time today so did some weathering on the hull interior. No way that factory-fresh finish from the previous step would last long in the Libyan desert...so I set to work voiding the warranty! I didn't take in progress photos but will describe the steps employed. First, I used a 18/0 Script brush and Burnt Umber enamels to create some chipping and scratching in various areas. Then I applied an overall enamel Raw Umber wash. After that dried, I used a 00 sable brush and dry-brushed some of the enamel Interior Buff to blend it together and tone down some areas. Since desert dust is notorious for getting everywhere and the engine draws its air through the fighting compartment, there's an open top, plus the grill in the top deck, etc. it stands to reason that there would be dust everywhere in the interior. So to that end, I used some dry Mig Gulf War sand pigments to add a dusty effect to the floor and hull sides. The hull topside areas got the same weathering treatment but weren't really worth taking a shot of just yet.    I figure it's much easier to do the weathering at this point before installing any of the details as they are going to rapidly crowd those interior spaces. I'll weather and blend them together as needed as they get installed, so that's where the next focus will be. |
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Post by dupes on Mar 13, 2015 15:02:38 GMT -5
This is the same build, right? You haven't banged out three of these in a row or anything?  |
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Post by wbill76 on Mar 13, 2015 15:26:52 GMT -5
This is the same build, right? You haven't banged out three of these in a row or anything? Only you could do that Dupes! Still the same build, but it certainly feels like 3 kits in the same box (engine/chassis, interior, and the gun mount)! |
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Post by Leon on Mar 13, 2015 15:35:40 GMT -5
Interior weathering is looking good Bill! I'd offer you my wand but at the present time I'm using it for the interior PE work. |
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Post by dupes on Mar 13, 2015 16:12:05 GMT -5
it certainly feels like 3 kits in the same box (engine/chassis, interior, and the gun mount)! That's what I was thinking! |
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Post by wbill76 on Mar 13, 2015 19:23:59 GMT -5
Leon, take good care of that wand! Dupes, we're on the same page then!
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Post by JimD on Mar 14, 2015 10:30:21 GMT -5
Now that's what I am talking about! Absolutely lovely stuff. Looks well used, but not overdone. Keep the goodness coming |
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Post by wbill76 on Mar 14, 2015 13:43:45 GMT -5
Now that's what I am talking about! Absolutely lovely stuff. Looks well used, but not overdone. Keep the goodness coming Thanks Jimmy! That's usually the look I try to go for...used but not abused. Definitely don't think there would've been any white-glove inspections in Libya. Especially since the DAK typically operated on a shoe-string and in some harsh environments. |
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sturmbird
Full Member
Member since: June 2012
Posts: 1,406
Jun 21, 2012 13:51:45 GMT -5
Jun 21, 2012 13:51:45 GMT -5
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Post by sturmbird on Mar 16, 2015 14:11:18 GMT -5
Now that's what I am talking about! Absolutely lovely stuff. Looks well used, but not overdone. Keep the goodness coming Thanks Jimmy! That's usually the look I try to go for...used but not abused. Definitely don't think there would've been any white-glove inspections in Libya. Especially since the DAK typically operated on a shoe-string and in some harsh environments. now that you have the 222 figured out, have you noticed that Hobby Boss has announced a 221 armored car? Can a 223 be next? gary |
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Post by wbill76 on Mar 16, 2015 14:17:10 GMT -5
Thanks Jimmy! That's usually the look I try to go for...used but not abused. Definitely don't think there would've been any white-glove inspections in Libya. Especially since the DAK typically operated on a shoe-string and in some harsh environments. now that you have the 222 figured out, have you noticed that Hobby Boss has announced a 221 armored car? Can a 223 be next? gary Will be interesting to see what they do with the possibilities there Gary! They (along with Trumpeter) will usually put together a string/family of vehicles so not out of the realm of possibility at all if we're patient. |
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Post by wbill76 on Mar 16, 2015 18:14:10 GMT -5
Over the past few days I've been working on the interior details and getting them ready for installation around the hull. In addition to the previous work, I added the details and gauge faces to the instrument panel and picked out the little knobs and lights using a toothpick and various colors where needed. The interior fire extinguisher got its Tetra decal and after checking reference photos, scrounged some canteens and gas mask containers from the spares bin to occupy appropriate spaces around the interior for the crew. The obligatory giant penny was included as well to get an idea of the scale of the different details in question. For the instrument panel, I used small drops of Future to create the impression of glass bezels and all of the other components got a shot of Testors Lusterless Flat dullcoat in the rattle can to seal them up and match them to the flat finish of the interior.  I also used the kit-supplied PE MG34 ammo can brackets and assembled them, painted and weathered them to match the interior, and installed them around the compartment where called for. There are 11 needed and 12 on the fret, so an extra is left over by design. Small amounts of CA gel gave me enough work time to get them properly positioned especially since the rows of 3 are a tight fit with each other and have no margin for error on their placement. I have a suspicion that the HB brackets are a little undersized...when I did a test fit with a Tamiya MG34 ammo can, the brackets were a couple mm shorter than the cans, so I may not be able to populate them after all, have to wait and see if the resin ones I ordered are smaller and able to fit or not.  The actual installation of all the interior details is spread out over Steps 4, 5, and 7 in the instructions in terms of the upper and lower hull halves. Since everything in both areas has to line up properly with each other, I did things in a somewhat linear fashion with both halves vs. doing it in separate stages. I started at the hull front and installed all the driver's station elements in the lower hull first including the steering column and wheel. Space gets very tight in this space so careful selection of what to install when is needed here. Once the glue had grabbed in the lower hull, I added the dashboard, first aid kit, and fire extinguisher to the upper hull and did a test fit to ensure the steering column lined up properly with the cutout in the dash. Only some minor adjustments were needed and then I left the upper hull resting on the lower and allowed it to set up overnight to ensure everything would stay put in later handling.  After more checking with the references, I scrounged some more items that the kit left out in the form of a bread bag, flare pistol and holster, and flares box for the right side of the compartment. Also added the two mess tins and MP40 to complete that side.  Left side received its details as well. Getting all 6 of the stick grenades in place and lined up properly was a little bit of an exercise due to how tightly they fit together but it worked out eventually.  Last but not least, I added the driver's seat. As you can see, it's best to add this after all the stuff is on the side walls as it complicates the space available to place anything on either side due to its angled back and placement in general.  While it is possible to add the armored visors to the driver's area in the upper hull and leave them workable, it's very tricky to pull off (and not pointed out in the instructions) especially with the large main visor. I decided to position them all closed and installed them after painting and weathering the gray styrene to simulate 90mm armored glass blocks present in the holders. The other gear was installed as well after carefully checking the placement to ensure it wouldn't cause fit problems with the lower hull.   Quick checks with the upper hull after everything was installed showed it is all playing nice and will be nicely visible if the turret and gun mount are not in place. Ultimately I will be posing both side doors open to also allow more detail to be seen but that's still a ways off.   I'm deliberately holding off joining the upper and lower hulls together with the chassis until I can be sure that the gun mount and turret will install without any clearance issues especially since I've added some gear in different spots. It shouldn't cause any problems but if they do, it will be much easier to solve if the hulls are still separate vs. permanently joined together. Next up will be working on the 2cm gun mount, a virtual kit in itself! |
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Post by Leon on Mar 16, 2015 18:39:10 GMT -5
Bill! Nice work on the interior details and instillation . Looking really good. |
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delta
Full Member
Member since: January 2015
Posts: 365 
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Post by delta on Mar 16, 2015 18:55:56 GMT -5
The detail here and the craftsmanship going into it are truly an inspiration. I'm really excited to watch this come together, and I hope someday I can come back to the vehicle and do another one on the level you're working at.
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Post by wing_nut on Mar 16, 2015 19:27:17 GMT -5
I really like all those little boys coming together
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Post by JimD on Mar 16, 2015 19:33:58 GMT -5
I love this. I can actually kinda imagine what life inside of one of these things would have been like...hot and dusty...not something I would ever want to experience, but it sure is fun to let the imagination run wild.
And I know you wouldn't screw something so obvious up...so I really have to wonder how that steering wheel (that is what it is right) would work in that arrangement...sheesh...I'm really confused on that one...haha
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Post by wbill76 on Mar 16, 2015 20:31:17 GMT -5
Leon, thanks, about 2/3 of the way through this one now. Delta, appreciate the kind words! All down to patience and a little bit of insanity thrown in. Don't be afraid to try something like it for yourself. Marc, thanks buddy! I had a drip pan for it but then remembered what happened the last time... Jimmy, I wouldn't have wanted to be one of the crew especially in the desert. Hot and dirty for sure...and cramped! The interior on this thing doesn't leave a lot of room for anything, every little bit of space was used to store something. And that's in addition to the storage boxes on the outside of the vehicle. The steering wheel on most German halftracks and armored cars used that tilted design on purpose...it saved on space/height while still doing the job, but I'm sure the initial training sessions would've been fun to watch for the drivers...especially since these were 4WD.
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Post by JimD on Mar 17, 2015 0:29:19 GMT -5
Certainly makes sense and is what I figured...I'm just a complete laymen on these things so thought I'd get some info from the experts. I don't know that I could ever get used to that, but I guess when the only other option is to get creamed by an enemy tank I'd probably figure it out real quick. When I read "Tigers in the Mud" one of the things that stuck with me was the description of the tight quarters and the freezing metal of the tank on the inside and trying to live in that. I'm not sure what would be worse...a tank on the Russian front during the winter or in one of these easy bake dust ovens in the desert. Guess I won't complain too much this summer when it takes my car 10 minutes to cool off |
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thug626
Senior Member
Member since: January 2013
Posts: 2,035
Jan 15, 2013 13:05:28 GMT -5
Jan 15, 2013 13:05:28 GMT -5
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Post by thug626 on Mar 17, 2015 10:56:01 GMT -5
Good morning Bill,
What a delightful update to drink the am java to. Outstanding work good man! I hear ya about the test fittings…."measure twice, cut once"
Dave
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Post by wbill76 on Mar 17, 2015 12:41:27 GMT -5
Jimmy, these vehicles served in all fronts with the Panzer divisions...for what it's worth, at least in Russia they were designed so that the air flow could be reversed on the radiator fan so it blew warm air back into the compartment instead of the other way around! No help with the AC in the desert though. The steering wheel was at right about the knees of the driver, so just envision the arm/hands position accordingly for the wheel and it's not quite so bizarre. Now the arm strength required to manhandle it, even at relatively low speeds, would be a different matter I think! Dave, glad to give you a little bonus for your breakfast! That's the watchword on this build for sure...test-fit, test-fit, test-fit!
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I'm sure he's saving up for the ring though as we speak... 
