This is a build that I am introducing to the community here From another forum where a while back while I was recovering from battlefield injuries and constant and annoying heart failure I was challenged over Christmas to choose a kit from out of my stash or just get one and build it start to finish in only 12 days starting on Christmas Day.
In typical stoicism that is shown daily by the British Army, and despite frequent visits to the ER over that period I rose to that Challenge and completed it. Now it is an annual event on that forum with over 1000 members following and commenting over the 12 days. Last year I failed, but Meng’s D9R with slat armour proved to be just too technically challenging for 12 days And provided much fun and Micky taking potential for the forum!
I am opening this to all armour modellers and as, for me and most of us, Christmas Day is very much taken up by family, food and Aclohol, day 1 of 12 starts today, Boxing Day.
Rules:
Anything ground related, armour, arty, vehicles etc is in.
Don’t choose anything complicated… You have 12 days ONLY!
Not a group build as such, a bit of festive building fun from start to finish in 12 days or less.
Post on THIS thread.
any AM you want to add is ok. Tracks, radio etc.
There is no group badge at this moment in time, but if any artistic member wants to do one then they are more than welcome.
The more join in then the more fun it can be, so dig into the stash and pull out something that’s been in there a while and is a simple and not too complicated build. It is a good way to reduce the pile a little.
This is Trumpeters kit of this fearsome weapon of which only 50 some barrels were built for this type. It did become the main weapon for the Jagdtiger (around 100 barrels with slight changes) and was slated for the Maus, E-75 and E100.
Above is an original picture showing this in firing mode.
Used either on a cruciform or split trail base, one was known to have been put on a motorised Chassis but I can’t find a period picture of this or of any surviving pieces. Firing two piece ammunition it was used exclusivly on the Eastern front and could destroy any soviet armour and saw action very late in the war.
Trumpeter’s kit is actually quite a nice one of this little known beast (barrel length 7.023 m (20 ft)) wich gave it an 128mm /L55 designation) and Trumpeter very kindly put in a metal barrel with options of making an etched muzzle and a plastic barrel in 2 halves and a plastic muzzle with drill out holes (0.8mm) but that fits comfortably onto the metal barrel with no alteration. There are two breech options and once together it looks mean and business like.
There are 4 rubber tyres in the kit which will benefit from a coat of Vallejo tyre black and will look really good once done and put on the wheels. There are parts to make up 2 metal cylinders for the elevation/depressin and they will work once done. Why brass tubing was used I don’t know when Aluminium would have been better colour wise! Still, a paint job can cure that!
Much on this kit is moveable and looking through the build instructions it may be possible to move it between transport and firing mode and a very small decal sheet provides 3 kill ring options of which either decal 1 or 3 is cited on the colour painting instructions. decal 2 could be for the Waffentrager version.
Crews would also sometimes put what they have killed on the gun shield as well as kill rings on the barrel, using stencils for tanks, guns, vehicles etc and these may be available from AM providers.
Everything you need to build this is in the box apart from paint and glue and you don’t need to go round the internet hunting for stuff. A nice kit for a 12 day build!
I never really get much done on Christmas Day and I needed to dash out today and get a new bottle of superglue so now the barrel is ready for priming and painting, the base is put together and time to do the wheels!
I’ll play! I got the new Tamiya M3 Stuart for Christmas, and after a couple of hours have the basic hull and turret together.
My friend who gave it to me is off to Hong Kong for 2 weeks, so I thought it would be a surprise to show him the finished model when he returns.
This is going to be a build on afterburners, as I am one of the slowest builders on Earth. The same friend gifted me an Academy M3A1 Stuart (see a pattern?) several years ago, and I finished it in a month. It had an interior and I opted for the indie tracks, so it was a lot more involved.
OK it’s 5:00 am here, so a quick nap, then it’s outside to do some chores. I’ll try to post pics soon.
Welcome, guys. The more the merrier and it’s more a bit of fun and a challenge than anything else.
Next year, it could be developed into a group build with the same rules and time restrictions. This hobby, even the dark side should have a bit of fun every now and again, so off you go, get covered in glue and paint and have fun and laughs over the next 12 days!
Well, I’m in with a Tamiya 1/35 Sdkfz.222. And I guess that I jumped the gun a little bit as I started around 1930 hrs last nite and built most of step 1 after our family activities were done…
I’m in snapdragonxxx with my Willys MB Jeep. I finished most of the undercarriage assembly last night before midnight and started the body assembly this morning. The resin wheels with tire-chains are from a Blackdog kit and not glued on yet. I ordered a World War II BC1306 (SCR-694) radio set this morning which should arrive by December 31st.
This little model is part of my Ardennes, 16 December 1944 diorama titled ‘Road to St. Vith’ see photo below.
Sergeant, I’ll really be interested to see how your diorama is going to turn out. It sounds like a great scene based on the photo you provided. That’s an incredible radio set you’ve got for it! I’ll be watching for updates.
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday yesterday and Happy Boxing Day today.
The barrel is built. Rather than spend hours trying to roll a flat piece of sturdy etch into a muzzle brake I put together the two plastic halves of the muzzle brake and drilled out the marked holes with a 0.8mm drill. There are two breech options in the kit and after a quick dash out to replace some useless superglue I was able to put the barrel together.
The Wheels are also together and ready for painting. The real rubber tyres will benefit from Vallejos Tyre black.
I have started putting together the cruciform base.
Sarge and Snap, you guys are making nice rapid progress!
As for me, I finished up the lower hull chassis and suspension. I decided to add the side doors after looking at my previous build of this kit and seeing that the lower sidewalls would really not be visible thru the turret open top…
Eduard has etched set for zimmeritt, but it may not arrive in time.
Remember the goal is to build a kit within 12 days. You don’t have the time to do competition grade, that’s not the idea. Just put it together and paint it in 12 days and have fun.
Now next year you will have the time to prepare and get everything together for what you need. This year, get the Stug out and put it together, doesn’t matter about Zimmeritt or side armour etc but if you do have AM tracks then use those etc. Remember that you only have until the 5th of January and this year ONLY it is extended until the 6th.
Stik, I’ve been planning my little Jeep project for months and had no idea James was going to have this 12 day rally… However, my weakness is painting. It took me two months to paint my last project.
This time I’m planning to use Tamiya NATO black instead of primer on my Jeep and very lightly paint over the NATO black with Tamiya Olive Drab to get the desired body color. Later I will used some weathering in my diorama.
