A real Challenge, Dragon's Gepard WIP

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

After the award I decided to get something more challenging, and found it. Dragon’s 1/35 flakpanzer 38 Gepard, with Griffon’s PE set for the flak gun.

It was perfect, lots of details, came with PE set and it had the interieur that will be seen, its gonna be the hardest model since the T-34.

I even have a dio in mind, just a simple workshop with figures all around, replacing the tracks and road wheel, refueling it, and examining the engine, I already have some resin figure that will go perfectly with it, (first resin by the way)

There just one problem, before I saw this kit, I didn’t even know this tank even existed, I know its the chassie of a panzer 38 (like the hezter) but I know nothing of it manufacter or history of this tank.

So could someone fill me up with this tank, wikepedia did little help, and barley found any pictures of this tank. I’ll post another update when the chassi and interieurs done.

2

Part of the difficulty in finding info is that the title “Gepard” is ficticious.

Look up just “flakpanzer 38(t)” and you’ll have more looks. A good no. of them were in France in 1944.

3

Made some progress with the Gepard, after finishing the chassie, I took advantage of the kits interieur and showed as much detail as possible.

You can see the open battery pack.

Next I started the painting and some weathering.

Whats a engine without weathering, mostly pastel and acrylics.

And some figures to show the engine, there my first resin figures.

Good so far, next up is the armor and tracks.

4

Here’s a little something from achtungpanzer.com. Just scroll down about halfway.

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/panzerkampfwagen-38t.htm

Neat so far. I like those figures. Great poses.

5

Forgot to metion Griffons PE set for the flak gun, first time useing a aftermarket product.

And speaking of 38t chassie, the Hezter is slowly comeing back to life.

Comments are welcome.

6

Lookin’ real good there, you have undertaken some challenging builds.

In regards to the Hetezer, I seem to see a graininess or texture to the base coat. I think, IMHO, the paint is drying on the way to the model. Try a little more thinner, or a little less pressure, and maybe get a tad closer.

I personally feel like the sorcerer’s apprentice anytime I approach the bench with painting in mind. Darn thing has a mind of it’s own…[}:)]

7

Nice working there T-rex.

Let me ask you one thing; after putting the transmission gear box into the hull, can you properly close the upper hull without any problem ?

Last time I build the Dragon Marder III H, the upper hull collide with the transmission gear box because the spacer of the tranny is to big.

8

Well agent, whtn I was painting it, I was painting a PAK 40 gun at tehe same time, and ran out of paint, tried to save some but I thinned it too muc, now I will need to applied another coat of dark ellow, but first I just notice a missing piece on the sprocket wheel that I didn’t notice.

SorryCarves, but I don’t know what parts of the tank your talking about, however I will make sure the hull is probaly close and as few gaps as posiible, more importantly is the open hach for the engine.

Made some progress, work on the link track, it may be long but the results are impressive, I made sure the sag wasn’t exagerated.

For this tank, I decided to leave the right side track unroll, to show how they install it, and since its for a workshop dio, i’ll look great.

and started on some of the armor, I wanted to make sure most of the interieur is seen.

Only proble I notice of the engine is the wrong direction of the exaust pipe, I manage to fix it correctly.

So far so good, but the PE box on the left is giveing me a real headache, and there’s still alot of PE left to make. Also something the instruction are very clear in part number and color, something is annoys me.

Next time, finish the armor and hopefully start the flak gun, as usual comments are appreciated, thanks.

9

Doin’ yourself proud there, T-Rex!

This is looking really nice so far!

Ain’t “complex” fun?!? LOL!

10

I was talking about the transmission unit which it showed in the picture above. But it looked like that there is no issue anymore which probably Dragon did fixed the issue.

Great progress there.

11

Made lots of progress in the long weekend. back turret just about done.

Note the open gun barrel case to show the inside detail.

After a mishap with the exauth pipe, I had to applied syrene strip where the gun left damage and remake the bolts.

Here’s a overall of the model so far.

And the panels are up, those are aren’t there will be left down, they will be plave when the model is closer of behind done, after paint.

There is just two thing I hate about the kit;

First there alot of PE set, and most of it is quite small, and I don’t have any bending tool but my own pliers, the kit review of FSM says you must be a expert for this kit PE, but this is only my second model with PE (t-34 was first).

But what I hate the most is how unclear the instuction are, they tell the wrong parts, wrong number and wrong position, it get me [censored]off.

However this isn’t enought to make me quit.

Next time dio starting dio plan and assesoies[xx(]

12

Hang in there, Magellan! I know what you mean about the damned directions!

I have heard people complaining about Dragon directions, but naver reallysncountered it until my last kit that I’m building here in another post. Their directions are indeed poorly illustrated and composed!

The kit loooks good nonetheless! Kudo’s to you, for tackling a challenging kit! You never progress if you don’t challenge your abilities!

13

Glad to see that you’re taking a bigger bite.
Hope this turns out well for you.