In an attempt to cure my jetlag symptoms I started work on my Kettenkrad at about 2 am this morning MT and this is where I’m at so far. Even at 1/35 scale, this sucker is tiny. For the first time in my modelling experience, I’m actually dreading assembling indy track links. Painting is coming up next then the tracks, so I can delay for a little while at any rate.
I bought a nice little desk magnifier at Office Depot for $25 in anticipation of this little project and it has already paid for itself. If anything, this kit has increased my respect ten fold for those who routinely engage in 1/72 and turn out such magnificent work in the process.
And now for the current state (ruler is in inches) of my rendition of the tiniest of all German manned tracked vehicles along with a towed Pupchen…
Great start Wbill,
That’s the Tamiya right?
I’ve got the Dragon with Feldcable, so I know what you mean about the size. Dragon just sent me a sprue that was missing from the kit so I may resume when things calm down.
This is the Dragon kit # 6114. Very nice detail for such a small subject. Over 300 parts, including the tracks. I’ve had to work with this one more on fit and sanding/filling than usual with Dragon kits but i write that off to the small size of everything. The tolerances are very tight given most parts are about 1-2 mm in size.
Come on Ausf, and Claymore68! Wbill76, really didn’t post a picture, did he? I don’t see anything? What is the problem with my dang computer? semper fi, mike
good call on the desk magnifier, Wbill!
looks like you are off to a good start.
keep us posted, and make sure that little critter does not hide behind a paint bottle or something.
I’m REALLY glad I got the magnifier. It’s got it’s own 60 watt light and a 4" lens…I’d have lost/broken quite a few pieces already if I was doing my usual eye-to-finger method. [:D]
I’ve been up for over 30 hours, I’m hoping my body will let me sleep tonight.
Managed to get some sleep in between watching the MTD progress (it’s ironic in that I opted out because I thought I’d be too strung out from my trip and here I am working right alongside them indirectly!), the last thing remaining now is, you guessed it, the tracks. I’m looking at them and trying to decide if it might just be simpler to remove the “workable” pins and just glue them together as a static track like usual…
LOOKS AWSOME! I love it. Gonna have to do the tracks sometime man. Actually for stuff like this I almost always do the tracks first that way I have an incentive to finnish the kit… Great job on such a tiny kit… My hat is off! I really like the camo too… It will look great once its all weathered up…
Thanks Kenneth and AC! Got the first track done, took 2.5 hours but I learned a faster way to do it that will dramatically shorten the time needed for the second one. Completion of the 1st track has revealed a horrifying situation though. The front wheel is now off the ground entirely! I checked the fit of all the assembly and there’s no question, the front spokes are short by about 2mm! I may have to get sneaky and put some lead strips on the front to make it sit down properly, going to have to think on it for the right solution.
In the meantime, a short break for dinner and then tackle that 2nd track. [:D]
1st rate. Skip all that nonsense and put it on a diorama of uneven ground… THEN next time you build one lenthen the struts…[:D] Dioramas can hide all kinds of sins…
I wouldn’t worry too much about the wheel being off the ground. Make a display base for this guy and put some uneven terrain to compensate for the lift. It will be hidden by the uneveness of the ground.
Besides, everyone will be so taken aback and amazed that you tackled the indy tracks, they won’t notice the slight shortness of the front forks…[;)]
I’ve never done a diorama or display base before…any simple tips for this one? The kit comes with a driver/rider and also some rounds for the Pupchen, might be able to snag an AT crew figure set to use with it that would be convincing…
Pick up a small plaque base at the dollar store and a some Celluclay at the crafts store. Mix a bit of the celluclay with water and a little white glue then apply it to the base. Wet your finger and work the stuff around till its textured like you want. Use a paint brush to texture it a little more. Use the kit to imprint the track and tire marks the pull it out and sprinkle on a little yard dirt (sift it through screen first to get out the large chunks) let that dry then paint it. Or don’t add the dirt and paint the dry celluclay white as snow. Does this Pupchen kit have skies? That would be appropriate if it did. Check out the Diorama section of the website for more info but this could get you started…
