Trumpeter 1/35 3.7cm Flak 37 Auf Sd.kfz. 7/2 Early Version.

[Dave Ward]

Ever have one of those days? Woken up at 06:45 by a wrong number, decided to make an early start on this. Whilst assembling the front axle, the carpet monster leapt, and took an essential part ( front wheel stubshaft ). After a fruitless search, I decided to make a new part - the steering wasn't going to be workable, but I hadn't expected that any way. half an hour later, part made & fitted................

Then the steering box links to the steering arm - tiny pieces, with pins & holes. Dropped them.....gone! I scrabbled about on the floor, with my torch - absolutely no sign! I decided then it was time to turn off the light & close the door..................... Hopefully tomorrow will improve my searching powers. If not, then I'll have to cobble something together - most of the linkage is hidden behind the wheel & bodywork anyway. Should have stayed in bed, this morning....................
Dave

 

[Jim R]

Hi Dave
Ahhh we all get days like that. Better staying in bed
Sounds as if you're more than happy with the paint. Good value as well. Varnish included. Trailer looks good and despite the best efforts of the carpet monster the chassis is coming on nicely.
Jim

 

[Jakko]

Hopefully tomorrow will improve my searching powers.

Walk around your hobby room barefoot

 

[Dave Ward]

Walk around your hobby room barefoot

Jakko,
one of the problems with being diabetic is that I have neurophy in my feet - I have no feeling in my feet at all - I could walk on nails, and I wouldn't notice. I have done this, a woodscrew penetrated my slipper & went into the sole of my foot................. I only noticed this when I tried to take my slipper off! In consequence, I never walk anywhere without slippers & have to take special care, when cutting my toenails! It also means, that I don't get any feedback from my feet when walking - so I have to use a stick to keep my balance. All good fun!!
Dave

 

[Jakko]

Oh, that’s less than great, yes …

 

[Dave Ward]

Getting to the stage where I think I could start priming

Wheels, drive sprockets, etc assembled as far as I can for the moment.....

I gave up looking for the missing steering linkages, and made my own from plastic strip - you can just about see them between the front mudguard & the drive housing - once the bodywork & tracks are added they will be invisible ( unless you pick it up! ). No filler used yet, fit is good, but very small pieces makes for difficult handling. You wouldn't have a chance of making this without a decent set of tweezers!
Dave

 

[Tim Marlow]

That looks suitably busy Dave. Looks like you certainly get your money’s worth with this kit!

 

[Dave Ward]

Looking forward in the instructions, I could do a lot more assembly, before priming. So, the load bed - a suitably complicated assembly

Note the 2 holes & slot in the floorplate to the right.
Instructions - stage 2

Gearbox with levers added OK

BUT, then in stage 25
The load bed is miraculously added - over the steering column & 3 levers from the gearbox!!!!. I did attempt this, because the instructions said it was possible. It isn't! I will simply cut the levers off flush with the gearbox & reattach afterwards - this is the first instruction error I've found so far..................
I haven't decided whether to build the model with the 37mm deployed for action, or transport - the difference being the fold down sides of the load bed - I'm in two minds!
Dave

 

[Gary MacKenzie]

if that is supposed to work the round holes for the gear sticks would need to be bigger , which I would have thought they would be unless the travel distance and angle is very small on the real vehicle



Photo for discussion purposes only.

 

[Dave Ward]

Decided to do the model in action form - this just means putting the load bed sides horizontal............

Thinking on it, I reckon these are the largest single piece bits of PE I've ever used so far, and very appropriate - how else would you depict them? The 'hinges' are all butt joints, so I've reinforced each with a drop of CA.
I think I'm about ready to do some priming, I've thought this before, but kept on finding bits I could add.....
Dave.

 

[RonGlass]

Decided to do the model in action form - this just means putting the load bed sides horizontal............
View attachment 438411
Thinking on it, I reckon these are the largest single piece bits of PE I've ever used so far, and very appropriate - how else would you depict them? The 'hinges' are all butt joints, so I've reinforced each with a drop of CA.
I think I'm about ready to do some priming, I've thought this before, but kept on finding bits I could add.....
Dave.

Dave, is there a particular primer that you prefer ? I've grown quite fond of the Mr. Surfacer 1500 Spray , but it is pricy stuff.

 

[Dave Ward]

Dave, is there a particular primer that you prefer ? I've grown quite fond of the Mr. Surfacer 1500 Spray , but it is pricy stuff.

Ron,
I'm using AK primer at the moment, I've used others, but this seems best for me at the moment
Dave

 

[RonGlass]

Ron,
I'm using AK primer at the moment, I've used others, but this seems best for me at the moment
Dave

A while back I bought a bottle of Mr. S 1500 that's supposed to be airbrushable but I'm too leery to try it in my Iwata. Other brands, sure, but the lacquer ....

 

[Dave Ward]

A while back I bought a bottle of Mr. S 1500 that's supposed to be airbrushable but I'm too leery to try it in my Iwata. Other brands, sure, but the lacquer ....

Ron,
I only use acrylics, both for brush & a/b - enamels & lacquers leave far too much smell ( I live in a mid-floor flat ). I once used some Alcad II, and I reckon it took a week for the fragrance to dissipate!
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

Primed overall, then basecoated the chassis & wheels


I wasn't intending to basecoat the loadbed, but I still had a bit of paint left in the airbrush.

I reckon I've sorted the mix of the ICM paint - it took a few attempts!. It sprays very nicely, no problems with tip drying, I'm spraying at about 1.5 bar. The ICM paints are 12ml jars, and I reckon you could cover 2 medium sized tanks ( ie Pz.IVs ). I've wasted a bit trying out the mix, but it will cover this large Sd.kfz.7, trailer & gun, and maybe a tiddler, like a Pz.I
What is now looming on the horizon is the individual track links.............
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

All the roadwheel tyres brush painted

Boring! Some good music on & no interruptions!
Next, probably even boring - the assembly of the tracks. I can't assemble them my normal way, as they don't have a useful guide rib. I'm going to have to try several ways, to see which is least fiddly......................
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

Working up to the tracks - road wheels added, but the drive sprockets will be added when the tracks are being assembled


The links............................


These are very difficult to handle, the first one I cut off the sprue pinged out of my tweezers, never to be seen again.
I had a think on how I could I could make things easier - the sprue layout is such that with careful cutting, you can join 4 links at a time, the sprues allowing easy handling

Once you have links jpined, you can continue to build up the straight runs

I'll still have to build up the links on the drive sprockets individually, and add the tread blocks, but it does speed things up. This only works, of course when the sprue layout is suitable!
Dave

 

[minitnkr]

Neat solution. Coming along nicely.

 

[Jakko]

That’s a very good idea, keeping them on the sprue while you assemble them.

 

[scottie3158]

Dave,
Nice idea.