Having a difficult time deciding if I should have a side cut-out on a 1/72 scale Hetzer that I scratch built the interior on. A few more details could be made to complete it, it was planned to have the hatches open yet they do not show much at all. Less if the periscope is added.
It is too late to cut the roof off, yet the side still can be opened up.[I] Thinking a cartoon shaped ‘thought cloud’ outlined in red or orange.
Looking for opinions please, do you think it is a worth while addition or does it distract from the vehicle too much?
Contest judge views & opinions would be of great help. Tanks![t$t]
^^^ The Hetzer is a more progressed that this picture. The ‘thought cloud’ would be on the drivers side, upper hull.
With a statement like that you are actually answering you own question. Absolutely. Looking at what you did I say absolutely. As a contest judge I say absolutely.
[dto:] Unless you’re the type that’s satisfied with “only I know it’s in there” level of detail modeling, you should show it off! Be aware that the model will be judged as a whole including the interior if you take it contest so you will need to note that you scratch-built the interior on the detail sheet. The fact that it’s 1/72 is worth showing off all by itself. [;)]
I am no contest judge. But as a modlere of most anything military, I always enjoy a good cutaway model. And knowing that you scratchbuilt this interior in braile scale just adds to the “wow” factor! Beautiful work! [Y]
As a side note, my favoritie kits to se ein the old Tamiya brochures were the large scale ones that had fullinteriors and were cut away.
Tanks for the link wbill76. I admire your work and enjoy reading articles of yours on FSM!
The bubble grew bigger after I realized most viewers will be looking from above, I will post this modification later on.
Should be a good weekend for hitting the hobby bench (if the power does not go out) Hurricane Earl is due to hit Nova Scotia Saturday. The only catch is my spray booth is the great outdoors on the front porch!
Make sure you give notes to the judge and point out all the details…sometimes it is hard to take everything in as a judge but the notes help!!
Remember…the more complicated the plumbing the more often the toilet clogs!!!..Once you let the judge peek in you need to make sure the presentation is perfect.
Make sure all your work can be seen
Go for it…“There is nothing to fear but fear itself”
Not to be a party-pooper and certainly not to take away from your talents as a modeler but, I don’t like the round punched out holes/sharp edge cuts in the side of this. (I know… who am I?) You would never see a museum piece cut away like that. Should be straight cuts, up the side(s) and partial top if possible to show roof thickness and whats on the ceiling etc. The cut edges being outlined in red.
Just think of the 1/1 scale guy that would have to cut all those circles out of that armor plate! [bnghead] Or the tool required for that. Not your everyday hole cutter for sure.
I once saw a 1/72nd (some sort of) Tiger tank with main body and turret sides with partial roof cut away to expose a full(ish) interior at a local club show many years ago. That model was just perfect. I was most impressed with that display and will be etched in my memory for as long as I’ll have a memory.
You asked for an opinion. Go ahead… take a swing. [blkeye]
Not to be a party-pooper and certainly not to take away from your talents as a modeler but, I don’t like the round punched out holes/sharp edge cuts in the side of this. (I know… who am I?) You would never see a museum piece cut away like that. Should be straight cuts, up the side(s) and partial top if possible to show roof thickness and whats on the ceiling etc. The cut edges being outlined in red.
All good buddy!
Actually I never liked cut outs on armor, this is a first for me and it took a lot of thought to consider. Yes museums remove the side following the actual dimensions of the armor plate.
I went with a comic book ‘thought bubble’ style cut out for two reasons:
#1 This idea was a after thought, work had been finished (like interior paint) so any major surgery would have set the project back too far.
#2 Dare to be different, without following trends or whats ‘in vogue’ Someone asked if I was going to remove the roof plate like the Doog did. His build was great yet my intent was not to copy his build in 1/72 scale.(just to use his interior as a reference)
I appreciate the opinion and please do not think I am getting defensive, the reply was justification and reasons for the choice made. I enjoy the competitive spirit of contests so love / hate is for the judges to decide.
Besides this project is more than sub standard lump of tan plastic, it sparked my interest in the Warsaw uprising. All ready planning another ‘Chwat’ in a larger scale. I will be sure to get the correct version of the Hetzer & expect more from this seldom modeled chapter of WWII from this modeler.
