Well, I finally got around to starting my next kit. I was given Tony Greenlands Panzer Modeling Masterclass by a good friend of mine and wanted to try some stuff out in there so I figured I would try it out on this older Tamiya 251. This isnt finished yet and being that I know almost nothing about halftracks any input would be greatly apreciated!! Here are some pics of it so far. The dust looks ALOT more red in the pics for some reason…
Feel free to point out any mistakes or tips to improve!!
P.S. The width indicator on the right fender has sadly moved on and is no longer with us[BH]. Could it pass for damage??
Not too bad, I think you might need to work on your drybrushing a bit though, it’s a little excessive! Drybrushing is supposed to bring out the raised details. The back doors look like you took a lighter shade and did attempt to dry brush them, but I could be wrong. I’m not too familiar with Tony Greenland, but hey it’s cool. The width indicator can be made using brass wire man, it’s no big deal, make the ball on the tip using CA accelerator and CA glue. Put some accelerator on the wire, and dip it consecutively until you get the ball big enough. I just built one of these up, and I had to scratchbuild the width indicators because of their fragility! The only real glaring issue I see with this is the ejector pin marks on the back of the seats for the driver and radio operator. Always check for the pin marks and sink holes before you paint or fully put a model together, and fill them. They take away from the over all realism of the model. Good attempt man, nice sag on the tracks!!
Not that it really matters, but that funny-looking beer keg thingy, (a drinking water container) doesn’t really belong inside, despite Tamiya including it in the kit. It is a vestige of the stripped-out SdKfz 251/8 ambulance vehicle that was used as the basis to make this kit. Tamiya didn’t have a clue what it was when they made this kit and included it as part of a normal 251, which it isn’t. If you leave it in, at least put a spigot on it so it isn’t mistaken for a depth charge or something…[;)]
Well, while cruising around, my halftrack picked up a little friend[;)]!! I found this Tamiya PaK40 for 7 bucks and thought it would go good with my 251. I was very surprised at the amount of detail this little thing had[:O]!!! Took me almost as long to build it as it did the halftrack. But anyways, here it is built but not painted yet. Enjoy.
A few more shots of it deployed. The plate on the front would normally be folded down but since I will display it in the transport position, it is glued up.
Its too late now, but I would have only suggested cutting/sanding off all of those rivets. The 251/1-C was usually welded together. The riveted versions were much rarer, and the whole idea of rivetting the vehicle together was a holdover from the 251/1-A/B models. You’re not wrong, but its just one of those personal preference things.
I always liked the look of the 251. I’d maybe think about taking the gloss off the tires. Also, some “bare metal” drybrushing of the PaK might be effective.
looks good so far man. I see some nasty looking seam lines and ejector pin marks on the legs of the cannon. Maybe a little closer attention to them would help. On the tiny finicky parts I tend to use Mr. Surfacer to see if I got them all. HTH
Looks really good. Don’t worry about the indicator. When I built mine, I had a mishap with the left side and it broke at the top of the mirror. So I contributed it to “battle damage”. Plus I scraped minee up a bit so I think it fits in.
The pak 40 was my first Tamiya kit and I was amazed at the detail. I think I paid some $3.75 or so back in the early 70’s for it. That was a ton of money in those days to a kid!
I have the new AFV pak 40 and it’s a beaut. PE shield and aluminum barrel. Yes, times have changed.
Rivetted versions of the 251-C weren’t rare, just harder to find as many photos of them. The rivetted versions of the C were produced in parallel with the welded versions depending on which plant produced the superstructures (they were produced by different companies than the chassis). The C entered production in mid-1940 and ran until September 1943 when they were discontinued in favor of the Ds, so yes rivetted C’s would likely have been present at Kursk.
Over all a good effort. The only thing which stuck out to me is the panel line just to the left of the rear doors - it’s noticable in both the pic of the rear area by its self and in the pics w/anti-tank gun hooked up. You might try filling the gap w/Elmers white glue, letting it dry and then wiping it smooth with a wet cloth and then repaint that area.
