As many of you know, this build is a little special as it marks my 100th armor model build and was chosen by the FSM forum by vote after a hard-fought campaign between this one and the DML Tiger (P). I started back in the hobby in 2002 so it’s taken just at 7 years to get to this point…time flies when you’re having fun!
This build features the Tristar kit #35026 Pzkpfw 38(t) Ausf B plus the Tristar Pzkpfw 38(t) Interior set #35032 as well as a Griffon turned aluminum main gun barrel and Lion Marc brass Vz37 machineguns. I’ll also be using a set of ModelKasten SK-30 workable tracks.
Since I’m building this kit up with a full interior, the build order will skip around a bit from that outlined in the standard vehicle instructions. I started in with the interior set and the first order of business was the construction of the brakes. This is a multi-part affair with PE strips provided to create added detail for the brake straps. The steering levers were added next along with the transmission and the drive shaft.
The hull floor required a little bit of clean up in the form of filling or sanding down various ejector marks. This was easily taken care of using a sanding twig and some Squadron White putty. The driver and radio operator seats and their mounts were assembled next and then installed. It took a couple of attempts to get the driver’s seat positioned properly, I had to do multiple test fits with the hull side and the transmission before I found the sweet spot as the space is very tight with hardly any tolerance to either side. There aren’t any locator marks to aid in their positioning so once I had the driver’s seat lined up properly, I used it as a guide to then add the radio operator’s. The transmission and brake housing are dry fit only at this stage to give an idea of how it will all work together.
Going by the various reference pics of the interior of 38ts from Panzer Tracts 13 and Spielberger, I masked off the appropriate areas on the floor and the hull sides and painted the red oxide areas of the interior and engine compartment. I mixed up my own flavor using Testors Flat Red, Flat Black, and a little bit of Light Gray and sprayed via air brush. I had installed the engine compartment fuel tanks but left the radiator and water tank separate as their exact position is dependent on the engine and I needed to construct and install that first.
Speaking of the engine, that’s what I worked on next. The Tristar parts provide a lot of detail and I had to think strategically about the assembly and paint sequences in order to be able to get to everything. I ended up assembling the block and painting it first, then painting and adding the various additional details individually as I went along. Once the whole engine was assembled, I gave the whole thing a light wash of thinned Aircraft Interior Black since it’s got a bit of a satiny sheen to it, perfect for simulating oily grime IMHO.
I also detailed the battery rack on the left side as well as the fuel caps on the tanks. I added some of the same wash here to simulate fuel stains/spills and generally get it to match the engine. Don’t mind the small marks on the hull side of the tanks, that will be hidden away from view once the hull sides are added to the floor. The engine is only dry fit for now, I still need to do some work with the radiator and the firewall before it will be permanently installed. Depending on the space restrictions, I may add some fuel lines between the tanks and the engine if I can make it work…if not, I’ll leave things as is for this part of the interior.
Will, Robert, Edmund, thanks for the comments and support! [tup]
Lasse, glad you like it. The 38(t) definitely qualifies as a little guy, not a whole lot of room in there for sure! This one won’t go nearly as fast as #99…the inclusion of the interior insures that because there’s so much paintwork that has to be done. That really slows things down. As for getting it together with the rest for a group shot of all 100 together…that’s not really possible but I appreciate your “request”! [(-D]
Boyd, I don’t think you have anything to worry about in terms of completing yours first. Tick, tock! [;)]
Steve, I’m having fun with this one so far. The question about adding the fuel lines and maybe some other details in the engine compartment is going to be more about the size restrictions/limitations on how the various components fit together more than anything else. As far as displaying the interior, the engine compartment will have both hatches posed open. The turret will be removable and I haven’t yet decided if I want to do the same thing with the hull top…have to see how that will work out and haven’t committed to it 100% just yet. [;)]
Just one quick question - was there any particular reason why you chose to buy the kit and the interior seperately? Is the interior that is included with the 38(t) in kit 35039 any different from this one?
#35026 doesn’t come with the interior. If Bill’s like me, he bought either the interior or the tank kit before #35039 came out or was unable to find it when looking. I have the separate interior and #35026 and can’t wait to dive into them-this thread is inspiring me to push aside some other projects and get started. I DO need to finish up my first Tristar 38(t) build before I do though. I’ll be watching it closely-always good stuff!
That’s exactly what happened…I picked up #35026 when it came out and it didn’t have the interior and when Tristar released the B with interior #35029 I already had the kit…so later on when Tristar was threatening to go belly-up, I snagged an available interior set and stashed it away to go with it and there it sat until the time came for its debut. There’s nothing different between the contents of the interior set #35032 and what’s provided in #35039.
Good to know! Because, I can tell you this - I am DEFINATELY going to pick up another one of these kits (with the interior this time) as I am loving it. Tristar really did a nice job with this one, if you ask me.
“Hard-fought campaign between this one and the DML Tiger (P)”…I still wanted the dark-horse candidate to win, you know the Nashorn.[;)]
Anyways, looks like your progressing nicely.[tup] The engine looks fantastic, but did you find it to have alot of unecessary detail in certain areas? I got a Tristar Panzer I Ausf A(75% complete) still on the bench, and I though the trans and engine had alot of detail going to waste(since you’ll never see it when it’s glued in.)
The level of detail is impressive and, while a lot of it gets hidden away once installed, it still provides a lot more options if for example you wanted to show a diorama with a pulled engine under repair, wanted to have the engien loaded in a back of a truck, or sitting in a corner and a repair depot, etc. Rather than just detail only the parts that would be visible, you actually get a fully detailed engine and the possibilities are much wider as a result. That’s a good thing IMHO. [;)] Thanks for the comments! I secretly had hoped the Nashorn would’ve performed better but you never can tell how things like that will turn out. [(-D]
I agree totally. The amount of detail that’s going to go into the fighting compartment alone is motivation enough to figure out some way to show the detail. Don’t think I’ll need to get out the razor saw although I did seriously consider doing this one as a cut-away at one point. [;)] The top panels for the fighting compartment and rear engine deck are of a piece so I may just leave them loose…have to think some about the best way to do that.
Looking good so far Bill. That motor looks great too. Since your going to leave the motor comp. hatches open, some fule lines and wiring would top things off.
I definitely have to pick up one of those Tristar kits, I have enough resin motors to do 5 variants and this is the motivation I need to get started on one or two.
