Panzer IB, 14th Panzer Division Army Group South. All Done

[Jeff the 57th]

Hello again.

First time MSC group build, first eastern front subject, first time with MK tracks and first time painting panzer grey. Been watching group builds from the sideline for a year or so and can't wait to join in. This should be fun.



The kit is from 2005 and with the exception of the on vehicle tools, looks pretty nice. Even the OOB tracks look ok, but they're not magic tracks.

Going with these markings from the 14th Panzer Division.



I chose this because the division was made up of veterans from the 4th Panzer Divison who went through Poland and France.  Also Yugoslavia as the 14th.  I figure this gives me an opportunity to weather this little beast pretty heavily since by '41 she'd been through the ringer.

I plan to add one or two figures to the tank, but I'm not married to the tristar ones just yet.

Got about 2hrs into it tonight and this is where I left it.



Nice fit so far.

Thanks for looking.

#57.

[deafpanzer]

Way to go!!! Love them little panzers.... I built one many moons ago! Great start on the wheels... I never forget how tiny and feisty they were when I built one from Tristar.

[wing_nut]

I think I have that kit somewhere in the pile. I'll be watching.

[threadbear.]

Great subject. Great kit. Look forward to watching this progress.

[Leon]

Off to a good start #57! I'll be following along.

[406 Silverado]

Off to a good start on this little fella.

[dupes]

Mmmmmm...Panzer I. Can't wait! Love the little guys.

[bbrowniii]

Right there with dupes! Love these little, early war Panzers.

[daveb714]

You're smart to go with the MK tracks unless you're a glutton for punishment. I struggled through the OOB indy links and it will be a while before I can face another set.

[Tojo72]

Should be a nice project.Got to wonder how someone driving that thing felt when he ran into a T-34 or KV-1

[wbill76]

You're going to like the MKs. They go together much faster and more reliably than the kit indies since the MKs have one of the track pins already molded on the links, just slip the links together and add the 2nd pin to hold them together. Just be mindful of the number of links you need per side as the MK set doesn't include a whole lot of spares IIRC from previous builds.

[Wes]

Ill be following for sure. Great start.

[Jeff the 57th]

Thanks for the comments, I plan on moving forward a little more tonight.

I've been putting off trying the MK tracks for a while, but as soon as I saw the OOB set I thought this is as good a time as any. Kudos to Dave for getting through them because they look like a ton of work. I'll probably hold on to OOB's to use on Masterbox munitionschlepper I have in the stash.

Mar 12, 2015 9:49:08 GMT -5 Tojo72 said:

Should be a nice project.Got to wonder how someone driving that thing felt when he ran into a T-34 or KV-1

Probably




Cheers

#57

[Jeff the 57th]

Made a little progress last night. It's all loosely dry fitted to get an idea of the progress, so so gaps should disappear when glued.



Fitting pretty nice, but did need a little filler along the top by the side hatch. First time trying perfect plastic putty. Not sure how well it would work for large gaps, but for hair line seams I'm a fan. Putty it in with a artist style putty knife, wipe it smooth with a wet finger or q-tip and done.

I screwed up by putting a road wheel on the idler wheel suspension arm before assembly. Both style suspension arm parts were on the table and nearly identical. I had to cut the wheel off and make brass pins to reassemble everything. Think it turned out ok. I should know by now not to rush through DML instructions.

Thanks for looking

#57.

[deafpanzer]

You are making great process... love it when putty does the trick for us!

[petros]

Looks great!

[DeafStuG]

Nice progress! Count me in!

[Jeff the 57th]

Thanks for the comments guys. Just back in town after a little get away with the family. Nothing like escaping the chilly 42'F weather for balmy 47'F. Try to hit the bench again tomorrow night.

Cheers

#57

[Jeff the 57th]

Got a little bench time in tonight.



Worked on filling a few seams, the turret and assembling a figure to see if I liked how it fit the vehicle. Think it's a keeper.  It's from tristar and very nice detail for plastic.  

Feeling a little bit like the eduard P/E set for the kit might have been wasted money. The mesh grills are head and shoulders above the kit parts, but the hinges and lifting hooks are way too one dimensional or under scale. So only using a half to third of the set. Granted the set is 10yrs old and out of production so it's not exactly eduards latest and greatest.

Also trying out these bad boys that Mrs #57 got me for xmas Xuron P/E scissors. Love them, nice clean flush cuts.

Thanks for looking and take care,

#57

[Leon]

Looking really good #57 ! Nice work on filling the seams.

[deafpanzer]

Looking sharp!!

[DeafStuG]

Looking good - add on panzer exterior.

[Jelly]

Very, very cool subject,

and very good job, Jeff ...

Thanks for sharing
Later
Jelly

[Jeff the 57th]

Obligatory sorry about the photos. Just too lazy to bust out the SLR before paint goes down.







Replaced the OOB tools with ones from a newer DML kit and a few bits from tamiya. A few minor spots to putty and seams I've just noticed to take care off, but looking to start the tracks maybe tomorrow. The figure fits into his spot pretty well, but seems to have scooted forward for the photos. He's so excited it's almost primer time that he's on the edge of his seat.

The kit isn't too bad, but definitely beginning to show its age in some spots. I think in hindsight or for whoever might be considering building the kit, brass MG barrels might be a better bang for the buck investment the the Eduard P/E.

Thanks for looking and take care,


#57

[deafpanzer]

I can tell that he is very excited to be primed soon! LOL Great replacement on the tools!

[Deano]

Great looking build Jeff , really does pack a lot of detail for being so small ..... bring on the Panzer grau !

[wbill76]

Looks all set for paint Jeff! nice choice for the figure...he can't wait! Definitely shows off how small these little gun buggies were fore sure.

[Jeff the 57th]

Thanks for the comments guys, the build log keeps me on task.

Got one run of tracks done tonight. Small size and learning curve with MK tracks made it a LONG night. Maybe tomorrow I'll do something a little less finicky like watch building or arthroscopic surgery.

#57

[Leon]

Making good progress Jeff ! Bring on the primer.

[threadbear.]

Looking good with your Panzer I. You are quite right, having a blog to keep updating helps to keep you at the project, even if it is a small piece at a time.