SimonT - 1/35 Zvezda Stug.IIIB - Bobs StugGB

[SimonT]

Fernando - thanks

Cheers Scotty

Bob - ta, definitely needs a bit of work this one


Here are the results of todays efforts


the superstructure rear plate did not fit at all well even after fettling the edges so there was filler required plus some micro strip to fill the hole at top centre


all the return wheels lack any kind of wheel rim so added some from wire

the centre caps all suffered from sink marks so I gave them new centres with six bolt heads

they will all need their mounting pins sanding down slightly as they do not fit the holes in the hull mounts


hull top added and held down with laggy bands


drivers splash guard had five recessed screw heads added as these were missing from the kit


front access plate stuck in place - superstructure still loose as gun mount not yet installed

starting to look stug like

 

[SimonT]

More done on the B


final drive housings added to hull

missing bolt heads added to final drive housings


the six return roller mounts were missing the fixing bosses and bolt heads so they were all added from rod and punched hex nuts

the bosses were blended in with Squadron green - diluted with liquid cement and brushed around the bosses then sanded with Scotch pad once dry



the air intakes are supplied with a solid representation of the mesh cover so they were devoid of any of the internal partitions

the partitions were added from plastic card and microstrip


etched mesh covers then added - a considerable improvement over the kit parts

I have also shaved off the tow rope brackets from the engine deck in preparation for the etch brackets

 

[Si Benson]

Morning Simon,
Your getting me all inspired with the chopping and detailing Nice work

 

[SimonT]

Thanks Si - I doubt you will need to do any chopping with that Miniart Stug

 

[Si Benson]

Mini art StuG will be built as is but....... I got an Ausf F that was stripped back and some bits fell off. i have some winterketten tracks and a set of PE for it

 

[JR]

Ah the Black Arts continue !

 

[SimonT]

Morning all,

more progress on this one yesterday


firstly the exhausts are rather anorexic so I have added plastic card front and back to beef them up

they will require quite a bit of sanding to get the shape right




spent a good few hours replacing the upper body to lower hull joint flanges

first had to sand and scrape the oversized moulded details off the upper half and thin the moulded flanges

then I added the etched flanges - all went well except that the etch fret does not provide enough parts!

had to make the lower flange for both sides from pewter sheet



next up was the superstructure

this required a few test fits and adjustments to get a good fit along with some shims of 10thou card on the left side to pull the side out slightly

also had to modify the gun mount by slicing the front end off - it is a very poor fit into the gun mantlet and not a very convincing representation of the actual gun mount

the front plate with drivers visor also needed work to sand down the rear face ejector pin marks to get a good fit

the whole lot was then glued in place and held down with rubber bands

doesn't look much but it all takes time

I also managed to clean up one sides set of suspension arms

 

[Si Benson]

More sweet tweeks Mr T
What references are you working from?

 

[SimonT]

Mainly Achtung Panzer No.5 Si

 

[scottie3158]

Simon,
I am always impressed by your attention to detail and the skill you have to bring them to life. merry Christmas mate.

 

[JR]

Looking very smart Simon

Oh dear puts mine in to the bottom league.
Mind I have made some lovely trees !

 

[SimonT]

Scottie - ta very much

John - yours may be OOB but at least it is finished. The trees are exceptionally good

I just had to try and correct a few bits on mine as usual


kit exhaust boxes skinned to change their shape


the modified return wheels are now installed




track guard support brackets cleaned up - there was a heavy mould line and flash to remove on each one

support rod ends drilled out and guard test fitted in position


pewter cut ready to make the new guard edges.......

 

[Fernando N]

Neat work on the air intakes and exhausts Simon .

 

[JR]

 

[SimonT]

Thanks Fernando

John - ta


replaced the end of the hinges on the transmission access hatches with brass tubing - thanks to PeteL for pointing that out


wheel halves joined together - half of them appeared badly moulded as they didn't really fit together. The other half clipped together




quite a lot of bits missing in the gap between the gun shield and superstructure so I added them from various diameters of tubing, half tubing, punched nuts, micro strip - based on a photo in Achtung Panzer No.5

the kit just has a basic rod that is meant to locate in the rear of the gun shield - this has a very loose fit and does a very poor job of representing this area



made a start on rebuilding the track guards

 

[JR]

Simon I thought there was a very large gap behind the gun on mine ! Looks far better with the added detail. Waiting to see what you do with the aerial mount on the left hand side of the upper structure.

 

[Jim R]

Morning Simon
As always most impressive attention to detail.

I just had to try and correct a few bits on mine as usual

.... somewhat of an understatement perhaps
John's trees were excellent weren't they
Jim

 

[SimonT]

John - they didn't try very hard with this bit! Not got to the aerial yet

Jim - ta. Very nice trees


track guard edges made from pewter then track guards installed on vehicle

side panels then added to the superstructure after a little fettling to get a good fit


front tow brackets added - these each comprised two badly fitting parts and lots of flash


track guard ends folded ready for installation

 

[Steven000]

Nice details Simon

 

[Allen Dewire]

Morn Simon,

I should have commented earlier, but your builds are so interesting and so much fun to watch. They are better than cable TV any day and this one is also a cracker Sir!

Deep down, like Mr. Benson, I knew you couldn't just let all the quirks in the kit pass without correcting them. Tops as always!!!

Prost
Allen