Hobby Boss Sdkfz 222 Leichter Panzerspahwagen 2cm

[madairbrush]

Nice interior and painting, Bill.

[wbill76]

Thanks Matt! The extra gear added has a mixed heritage...some of it is from Dragon figure sets, Dragon equipment leftovers, and Tamiya stuff from I think a Pzkpfw II that was just laying around in the spares bin from many years ago. Pays to have a good spares bin from time to time I guess.

[dierk]

Loving the interior Bill Thumbs Up! Maybe a bit of chipping around the door mechanisms? Just a thought. Wonder if any were captured by the Russians and pressed into service - would give me an excuse to build one rofl-roll

[TRM]

I caught your update on FB but seemed to step right over it here! Interior is looking mighty fine there my friend!! All the gear and weathering...top notch!!

[wbill76]

Thanks Dierk! The doors are going to get more attention after I get the outside painted up and done since these will be posed open. As for the Russians using them, that's a good question! I'm sure if you look around you could probably find an example or two...never say never! Even though these were fairly thin-skinned when it came to armor, I'm sure some fell into their hands from time to time.

T, no problem buddy, glad you like how it's turning out!

[wbill76]

One of the great side benefits of digging around in the spares bin for parts for the interior on the 222 was that I came across a figure set sprue that I put away some time ago and then promptly forgot about. The sprue is marked as 6063 which is Dragon's 1/35 Deutsche Afrika Korps 4-figure set and the Sdkfz 222 had a crew of 3, so I figured why not? Plus I know it will make Andy happy!

I've also been battling a severe cold the last few days which put a damper on things but working on figures is a relatively low-stress endeavor. This particular set is decently molded with some mold seams to clean up but nothing too strenuous. Fit part is pretty good as well with only some minor adjustments needed here or there, only one needed putty assist on the torso-to-legs join. The figures are designed to show a group or crew of men taking a break for water or a meal, so it fits well with a small scene for the 222 where I have the hatches open and showing off the detail I've put in, a win-win!

Here's the gang of three making up the 222's crew. Sitting guy will get a jerry can as a seat and a water bottle in his raised hand with the cup in his other hand (also courtesy of the spares bin!). Standing guy will get a pair of binoculars in his open hand and will be positioned as if he's talking to drinking guy since his head is turned at that angle. Slightly bending guy will be posed as if he's checking out something in the engine compartment to complete the group's intended activity.

The only modifications I made were to hollow out standing guy's sleeves and open up his 2nd hand that was molded solid to give him a more natural look. I also swapped out the pith helmet from sitting guy to bending guy as it just seemed more natural to have him and standing guy with the same head-gear...plus bending guy is out in the sun working while the others are just slacking off. The assumption here of course is that bending guy is the driver and the other two are the turret crew.



A simple piece of 6x6 craft wood from Hobby Lobby will serve as the base and the layout will look something like this when the time comes. Of course the turret and gun are still come and there will be some hatches open, but you get the general idea.

[dupes]

"Sitting guy" looks a bit odd without his jerry can seat...

I believe in the military we referred to slacking off as "smoking and joking". Heh.

[wbill76]

Mar 21, 2015 17:51:30 GMT -5 dupes said:

"Sitting guy" looks a bit odd without his jerry can seat...

I believe in the military we referred to slacking off as "smoking and joking". Heh.

That's true Dupes...sitting guy is sort of levitating at the moment, but only because I haven't put his seat together yet. I hear you on the 'official' designation for slacking off as well, got to take the moments when you can.

[deafpanzer]

Make me happy?!?!? YES! You know how much I like to see figures with all builds. You will just do great... I really like the figure with pith helmet. I meant to get that set but I rarely see it at the shows now...

[afvfan]

Lots of new work on here since my last visit. Looking really nice, Bill.

[DeafStuG]

Nice interior and painted equipment.
I forget tell you - I found my kit with ultimate aftermarket in my stash - same as your kit model. Hope build my kit by this year or next year or don't know for when? :-)

[wing_nut]

The vehicle reminds me of a dune buggy. Nice progress.

"Sitting" guy looks like he just needs a strategically placed "h" and the description will be spot on.

[TRM]

Nice job Bill!! The figs will be a fine addition! Struggling to remember when I seen figs being done by you! Either not for a long time....or I am loosing my mind...both are a safe bet!!

[dupes]

You aren't crazy, T...it's been a while.

[Leon]

Nice start on the figures Bill ! Their going to look great with the 222.

[wbill76]

Andy, I knew you'd be happy. I believe this figure set actually came in another kit, probably the Pzkpfw I, as a 'bonus' included by Dragon at the time to up the value of the kit...it includes a dog (that I'm not using) and even has a little lizard included although I'm not really sure if it's a species native to Libya.

Bob, glad you stopped by! This one's not moving too terribly fast so glad you got caught up on it!

Thanks Jeremy! Look forward to seeing what you do with it when the time comes.

Marc, you're right, I keep seeing the same resemblance! I think you're on to something with sitting guy...

Todd, well to be technical I did add 2 1/350 scale figures to the Z-28 Destroyer build from about a year ago but it hasn't been that long! In 1/35 however it has been a very long time, nearly a decade I think.

Leon, thanks buddy! Should help at least give a 'reason' for all the hatches and such being left open to show off the detail. Now if only I had a Bilstein crane setup to have the turret and gun suspended in mid-air!

I did get a little further along today. Started in on the figure painting. I used MM enamel Armor Sand applied by airbrush for the uniform areas and hand painted Testors enamel Light Tan for the exposed flesh areas with the aid of the Optivisor. I also started painting the faces. Small mount holes were drilled out with a pin vise and toothpicks and blue tack used to create a means of handling the figures during this process. Of course this also makes my workbench look like a cross between Game of Thrones and the Walking Dead!

[Leon]

Nice start on the figure painting Bill!

[wbill76]

Thanks Leon!

[TRM]

Well, considering there isn't a whole hell of a lot to a 1/350 scale figure or to, defaulting back to 35th scale and it being 10 years?? Looks like you have not forgotten how to ride that horse!! Keep it coming!

[afvfan]

Mar 22, 2015 19:34:37 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

... and even has a little lizard included although I'm not really sure if it's a species native to Libya.

Now that brings up an idea. You can position the two guys sitting around a small fire with the lizard on a spit.

In his current position, the pith helmet guy looks like he's relieving himself on the back tire.

[deafpanzer]

Game of Thrones and Walking Dead?!?!? My wife and I are hooked to those two shows. We recently finished the fourth season. Now we need to catch up on Walking Dead as we haven't seen 6 recorded episodes. LOL

Great start on the figures by the way!

[noname]

That is a neat looking armoured dune buggy.

[wbill76]

Thanks T! Optivisor + YouTube + Fine Point Brushes at this point have helped remind me how to do a presentable job at least.

Bob, BBQ Lizard! Not a bad idea...would be kind of stringy though I think. You're right about Pith Guy...try saying that three times fast with your visual suggestion in mind.

Andy, thanks for the support as always. Every time I pass by my bench I keep hearing 'heads on spikes' in Peter Dinklage's voice for some reason...

Noname, thanks as well! Dune buggy just needs a roll cage!

[JimD]

Doesn't look like you've lost any touch with the figure work to me. They will really help bring some scale to things I think.

[afvfan]

Mar 23, 2015 17:36:56 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

Bob, BBQ Lizard! Not a bad idea...would be kind of stringy though I think.

Don't know how it was on the German side, but remembering some of the "meals" packed in C-rations in the '50s, stringy lizard sounds pretty good!

[wbill76]

Thanks Jimmy! You're right, definitely shows the size relation of the 222 for sure. Not exactly a huge vehicle by any means.

Bob, you could be on to something there!

[wbill76]

More progress on the figures. Today's focus was mostly on footwear and socks as well as getting Sitting Guy's cardigan blocked in and ready for more attention. I also picked out some of the uniform details on Standing Guy and Bending Guy.



The heads and head gear also got some attention. Both of the soft field caps are going to get goggles for the turret guys (Standing and Sitting), and will add those after the heads and hats are secured to the bodies. Heads received their hair detail and eyebrows to match (can't have anyone thinking the DAK guys were artificially coloring now can we!). The heads are, in order left to right, for Bending Guy, Sitting Guy, Standing Guy, and their gaze/view is done accordingly for what they will be doing once placed and fully assembled. Dragon did a nice job molding different facial structures and expressions for these guys I think, something that's not immediately apparent until after you get paint on them and work with the details a bit.



More to come of course, but they are at the point where they will get sealed up with some Future to protect the work thus far before moving on to the next steps with the uniform elements.

[TRM]

Moving right along with the figures Bill!! Great use of your time lately!! Hoping to steal away to the bench for a bit myself later!! Wish me luck!

[wbill76]

Thanks Todd! Have a 3-month break from teaching so will be getting more bench time as a result. Have fun with your own round this evening!

[Leon]

Figures are coming along nicely Bill ! Really like the facial expressions.