HobbyBoss 1/72 German 80cm K(E) Railway Gun 'Dora' (82911) - Demo Build

davecov

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This is a demo build of the HobbyBoss 1/72 German 80cm K(E) Railway Gun 'Dora' (82911), a 2019 Christmas present from my partner, Aileen. I had promised her that it would be started in August 2020 but Covid, other builds and other issues have meant it has been delayed until now.

It is not just huge in size of kit (it is over 110cm long and 28cm wide) but the number of parts (over 1,760) and the manhours it will take me to complete it isn't insignificant either. I am not going to reveal all of the contents of the various boxes and bags straight away but when I need to open them.

Boxart:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0001.JPG


Instruction book contains 44 pages:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0002.JPG


Painting Profile:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0003.JPG


On taking off the lid, you are presented with a selection of grey boxes containing parts and they sit on top of sections containing lots more sprues:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0004.JPG


Helpfully, the boxes illustrate what is inside them:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0005.JPG


More boxes:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0006.JPG


Photo etch box:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0007.JPG


Here I have lifted one of the cardboard partitions to reveal more boxes and parts. I will show these in my next post:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0011.JPG


The kit box with an Airfix 1/72 Panther box for comparison:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0024.JPG


The Dora box is 650mm (25.5") wide, 400mm (15.75") high and 150mm (6" deep).

BTW, this is a tiddler compared to the Soar Art 1/35 Dora Railway Gun. That has 3,000+ parts, is 5 feet long and costs £800! https://www.emodels.co.uk/soar-art-1-35-dora-railway-gun-9511.html

That is all for now.

Dave
 
Last edited:

davecov

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Some more photos of the contents now. They are crisply moulded in a toffee-coloured plastic and are flash-free. There are also a few photo-etched parts. I will describe them in more detail when I start construction.

HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0010.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0008.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0009.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0012.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0013.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0014.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0015.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0016.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0017.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0018.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0019.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0020.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0021.JPG


HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0022.JPG


I have spent some time reading research material and the instruction leaflet time and time again but construction won't start for a while yet. There will be a lot of painting required and I have just had a delivery of H67 Matt Tank Grey - twelve tins worth. Not sure that they will be enough for this build but it's a start!

That is all for now

Dave
 

davecov

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The photos in the first two posts were taken in October. However, the passing of my partner's mother in November and me contracting Covid-19 for a second time have meant that modelling hasn't been at the forefront of my mind.

Last week I was able to get started on this build and to assist me, six weeks ago I purchased this book "Deutsche Eisenbahngeschütze. Rohr-Artillerie auf Schienen" by Gerhard Taube. It is an excellent book with over a hundred pictures of the Schwerer Gustav during it's assembly and operations. I am having to learn German rather fast in order to get the full value from this book:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0026.JPG


One of the pictures in the book shows a breakdown of the major components of the gun:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0027.JPG


I spent some time removing all of the plastic bags and foam and was left with this lot. The parts are moulded in a slightly soft, sand-coloured plastic which I discovered early on does not like heavy treatment with sanding sticks:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0028.JPG


Sprue A - there are eight of these which means a total of eighty wheels, eighty leaf springs, eighty axle boxes and forty axles:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0029.JPG


Sprue B - there are four of these:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0030.JPG


First job was to clean up the eighty wheels and forty axles:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0031.JPG


It was mind-numbing stuff and took many hours:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0032.JPG


Eventually, I got them finished:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0033.JPG


Then it was time to clean up the eighty axle boxes:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0034.JPG


The eighty leaf springs undergoing some cleaning up. They are going to take a long time to do:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0035.JPG


The frames weren't left out either:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0036.JPG


First bit of cleaning up is now finished:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0037.JPG


That is all for now

Dave
 

davecov

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Some more progress to report.

The eighty Axle Boxes were glued to the outside of the frames:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0038.JPG


The Axle Springs were cleaned up:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0039.JPG


They were glued to the inside of the frames:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0040.JPG


The four intermediate carriers were cleaned up:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0041.JPG


Steps were glued to one end of each carrier and pairs of supports were glued to each side of the carriers:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0042.JPG


The doors were glued to the sides of the Kraftzentrale (Power Centre):
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0043.JPG


Components of the gun barrel were cleaned up:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0044.JPG


The breech block was assembled. There were a total of twelve pieces of metal that had to be glued inside as a counterweight for the huge barrel:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0045.JPG


The barrel assembly from tip to tail is 60cm long:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0046.JPG


The cleaning up of parts continues. Six of these have to be fitted to each side of the two lower mounts:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0047.JPG


Some of the parts of the recoil absorber assemblies have been cleaned up and glued:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0048.JPG


More parts of the recoil absorber assemblies have been glued:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0049.JPG


All of the parts that have been glued will be left to dry. Filling and sanding of them will be carried as necessary.

That is all for now

Dave
 

davecov

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Lots done today.

First of all it was handwheel time. Here are 224 of which I will be using 216:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0050.JPG


All removed and ready for glueing:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0051.JPG


Three down, 213 to go:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0052.JPG


I was worried that airbrushing will be made more difficult with the handwheels in place but seeing how awkward fitting them later will be, I think I have made the right decision:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0053.JPG


Finally finished glueing handwheels after three hours work:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0054.JPG


Two ammunition hoists and other parts for the handling gear:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0055.JPG


Wherever possible I am glueing smaller pieces onto the larger sections. Here are some lockers but unfortunately one of them has pinged off into orbit so I will have to scratchbuild another:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0056.JPG


Yet more parts needing cleaning up:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0057.JPG


There are seven pieces that form the base like the one in the photo below along with two end pieces:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0058.JPG


The base pieces flex so much that they cannot support themselves, let alone the whole railway gun. I will be putting plastic card and balsa strips along the underside to brace the sections and put them onto plywood.

That is all for now

Dave
 

davecov

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The cleaning up of parts and glueing of sub-assemblies continues!

Two shell handling trolleys have been assembled:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0059.JPG


Lifting hooks glued and parts of the ammunition hoists assembled:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0060.JPG


Four buffer beam assemblies completed and ready for painting:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0061.JPG


Handrails were glued to two of the vertical hoist frames:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0062.JPG


Sixteen levers cleaned up and ready for fitting to the bogie frames:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0063.JPG


Handles glued in place:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0064.JPG


Here I am assembling twelve lockers:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0065.JPG


The lockers were glued to each side of the lower mounts:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0066.JPG


Note the Airfix 1/76 Panzer IV shown for comparison. Although the Dora is 1/72, it still gives a good idea of the size of it.

BTW, the Panzer IV had been in storage in my shed for ten years until today and the paint finish has been affected. This is what it looked like when I finished it:

Panzer_IV_005.JPG


That is all for now

Dave
 

davecov

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Lots more done yesterday and today.

I spent quite some time cleaning up the joins of the gun barrel sections and worked on the recoil assemblies which are dry-fitted at the moment. The Airfix 1/76 Panzer IV is really dwarfed:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0067.JPG


The trunnion bearings were glued to the cradle. At the moment you can still see some joins but most of them will be hidden by other pieces:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0068.JPG


Photo etch time. There are a lot of walkways that have to be assembled and here I have done the Power Centre ones:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0069.JPG


Some smaller parts that aren't fitted until near the end:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0070.JPG


The bogies PE was fitted with the assistance of lots of clamps:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0071.JPG


Some of the PE for the long walkways that go either side of the lower mounts:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0072.JPG


Work has started on the walkway PE. It took quite a time as I had to glue the PE a couple of pieces at a time:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0073.JPG


The last PE sections have been fitted:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0074.JPG


Handrails were then glued to the walkways:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0075.JPG


The two halves of the two loading ramps were glued:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0076.JPG


Supports for the walkways were glued in place:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0077.JPG


Close-up of the walkway supports:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0078.JPG


I am reaching the point where I cannot assemble any more without filling, sanding and painting. However, I won't be starting that until the New Year.

That is all for now

Dave
 

davecov

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I couldn't resist dry-fitting many of the components to get an idea of the size of this monster.

The loading ramps and hoists:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0079.JPG


Cradle, recoil absorbers, mounts, trunnions, gun and breech:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0080.JPG


You can see how far the bogies extend beyond the mounts:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0081.JPG


It's that Airfix 1/76 Panzer IV again:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0082.JPG


That is all for now

Dave
 

Andy the Sheep

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Wow, Dave! I thought my 1:72 Leopold (built in my teens) was big but... that's a gun! Probably almost useless in 1:1 scale even in those times :surprised:, but a great piece of engineering... and a great modelling feat for you!
I will follow your build with interest, no matter how long will it take both for the unusual subject and to get the answer to the question you raised in your second post: will 12 tins of paint properly cover all that plastic or a further supply will be needed? :anguished:. Humbrol is hoping for the latter ;).
Andrea.
 

Tim Marlow

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Wow, that’s simply huge! It will look absolutely superb when done. Enormous amount of repetition in the bogies though. Must have driven you loopy…..
 

Jakko

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That is almost a ridiculous kit :smiling3: Nothing but praise for you for being able to get through all those parts for the bogies and other repetitive bits. Just one question: are you going to add a full crew too? ;)
 

Jim R

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Hi Dave
Well that's what you call a kit. I'm glad you included the tank for size comparison. Looks as if a huge amount of work has been done and yet there are many, many hours of work left.
Jim
 

davecov

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Thanks everybody. :thumb2:
That is almost a ridiculous kit :smiling3: Nothing but praise for you for being able to get through all those parts for the bogies and other repetitive bits. Just one question: are you going to add a full crew too? ;)
Thanks Jakko. A Sweeney Box Set got me through the really dull stuff. A Dora unit had a complement of 1,420 troops including a headquarters, headquarters battery, fire control section, intelligence platoon, survey platoon, gun battery construction section, military police unit, two light Flak detachments and the gun crew. The crew immediately attached to the gun numbered 500 men! I am going to have 5 or 6!

Dave,
that's a real monster!!! How are you going to display it, and transport it?
Dave
Hi Dave, the finished article will sit on my living room window sill for a time but it will end up being stored away:
HobbyBoss_Dora_Railway_Gun_72_0025.JPG

I don't have any plans to transport it anywhere except down the stairs from my den to my living room. I think that will be stressful enough.

Wow, Dave! I thought my 1:72 Leopold (built in my teens) was big but... that's a gun! Probably almost useless in 1:1 scale even in those times :surprised:, but a great piece of engineering... and a great modelling feat for you!

I will follow your build with interest, no matter how long will it take both for the unusual subject and to get the answer to the question you raised in your second post: will 12 tins of paint properly cover all that plastic or a further supply will be needed? :anguished:. Humbrol is hoping for the latter ;).
Andrea.
I have almost finished the Hobbyboss 1/72 Leopold Railway Gun too although I dropped it and it fell apart and has been consigned to the Shelf of Doom for the time being:
HobbyBoss_Leopold_Railway_Gun_72_019.JPG

I think 12 tins of paint may be enough but if not then I have no choice but to get more.

BTW, I have already made two HobbyBoss kits to go with my two railway guns:

HobbyBoss 1/72 Morser Karl-Geraet 040/041 Late Version (82905)
HobbyBoss_Morser_Karl_Geraet_72_019.JPG


HobbyBoss 1/72 German MunitionsSchlepper Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. D/E (82907)
HobbyBoss_German_MunitionsSchlepper_72_010.JPG


Dave
 
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