Dragon Sd.Kfz.165 Hummel

[GazVickers]

So after a nightmare with a Typhoon cockpit, I was a little meh and couldn't decide what to build while sourcing a replacement. Step in the wife, who tasked with choosing replacement build for me chose this little beauty.

The Hummel (German: "bumblebee") was a self-propelled gun based on the Geschützwagen III/IV chassis and armed with a 15 cm howitzer. It was used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War from early 1943 until the end of the war.

The full name was Panzerfeldhaubitze 18M auf Geschützwagen III/IV (Sf) Hummel, Sd.Kfz. 165. On February 27, 1944, Hitler ordered the name Hummel to be dropped as it was deemed inappropriate for a fighting vehicle.
Specifications
Type Self-propelled artillery

Place of origin Nazi Germany

Service history
In service 1943–1945
Wars World War II

Production history

No. built 714
Specifications
Weight 24 tonnes (52,910 lb)
Length 7.17 m (23 ft 6 in)
Width 2.97 m (9 ft 9 in)
Height 2.81 m (9 ft 3 in)
Crew 6 - Driver and 5 gun crew
Armor 10–30 mm (.39 - 1.18 in)

Main armament
1 × 15 cm sFH 18/1 L/30
18 rounds

Secondaryarmament
1 × 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34
600 rounds

Engine
Maybach HL120 TRM V-12 petrol
300 PS (296 hp, 221 kW)
Power/weight 12.5 PS/tonne
Suspension Leaf spring
Operational
range
215 km (133 mi)
Speed 42 km/h (26 mph)

20190112_182416 by Gareth Vickers, on Flickr

OK so time for a few sprue shots and a quick photo of the instruction sheet, this is my first Dragon kits so I hope they've managed to get the instructions correct as I've heard stories about them.

20190112_190756 by Gareth Vickers, on Flickr
20190112_190854 by Gareth Vickers, on Flickr
20190112_191007 by Gareth Vickers, on Flickr
20190112_191019 by Gareth Vickers, on Flickr
20190112_191109 by Gareth Vickers, on Flickr
20190112_191216 by Gareth Vickers, on Flickr
20190112_191250 by Gareth Vickers, on Flickr

I may replace the plastic tracks but for now, I'll be getting going while I think on it.
20190112_191304 by Gareth Vickers, on Flickr

She also comes with a nice turned barrel and a small amount of P.E. that I wasn't expecting.
20190112_191000 by Gareth Vickers, on Flickr

[ElCapitan]

Very nice!

Did the plastic track links come like that, or did you have to take them off a sprue and clean them up yourself?

[GazVickers]

Very nice!

Did the plastic track links come like that, or did you have to take them off a sprue and clean them up yourself?

Yeah, they come ready to go in the bags, I've not checked them for any flash as yet though.

[digger303]

Very nice!

Did the plastic track links come like that, or did you have to take them off a sprue and clean them up yourself?

Those bags of magic tracks are left and right sides probably pretty obvious as the winterketten is molded on as one piece, but on other kits you have to look very close indeed.
I took a look at scalemates and I am unsure whether your kit is derived from the 2003 molds or the newer 2008 which would make a lot more sense I think but scalemates line drawing goes back to 2003. So I don't know. My reason for checking this is I have both kits and really want to see how yours builds up and is any pe needed to sharpen it up.There is a lot of upgrade kits out there for my older one, but one doesn't want to go crazy over it.

[Kevthemodeller]

Looking forward to this one

I've got the 2003 version 6204 in my stash.

Those bags of magic tracks are left and right sides probably pretty obvious as the winterketten is molded on as one piece, but on other kits you have to look very close indeed.
I took a look at scalemates and I am unsure whether your kit is derived from the 2003 molds or the newer 2008 which would make a lot more sense I think but scalemates line drawing goes back to 2003. So I don't know. My reason for checking this is I have both kits and really want to see how yours builds up and is any pe needed to sharpen it up.There is a lot of upgrade kits out there for my older one, but one doesn't want to go crazy over it.

Looking on Scalemates product timeline, I read/see a direct line to 2003 kit.

[digger303]

Looking forward to this one

I've got the 2003 version 6204 in my stash.

Those bags of magic tracks are left and right sides probably pretty obvious as the winterketten is molded on as one piece, but on other kits you have to look very close indeed.
I took a look at scalemates and I am unsure whether your kit is derived from the 2003 molds or the newer 2008 which would make a lot more sense I think but scalemates line drawing goes back to 2003. So I don't know. My reason for checking this is I have both kits and really want to see how yours builds up and is any pe needed to sharpen it up.There is a lot of upgrade kits out there for my older one, but one doesn't want to go crazy over it.

Looking on Scalemates product timeline, I read/see a direct line to 2003 kit.

yes , but is scalemates correct. Dragon usually upgrade newer releases as and when they become available so why by pass the 2008 tooling ?

[Kevthemodeller]

yes , but is scalemates correct. Dragon usually upgrade newer releases as and when they become available so why by pass the 2008 tooling ?

I've no real idea, that said they're normally correct with all other things I've looked up Personally I'd tend to believe they're correct here too.

[digger303]

yes , but is scalemates correct. Dragon usually upgrade newer releases as and when they become available so why by pass the 2008 tooling ?

I've no real idea, that said they're normally correct with all other things I've looked up Personally I'd tend to believe they're correct here too.

Couldn't find much, but it appears the hull and suspension is 2008 version.

[GazVickers]

Well, time for my first update.

The build is moving along nicely if a little frustrating due to the instructions, however with a little patience and thought I managed to figure out the more confusing numbering, I have found my first mistake on the hull which I'll point out in the accompanying pictures.

Road wheels and Idlers completed.


The suspension was my first head scratching moment as I learned that the numbering system Dragon use for opposite sides has the near side listed next to the far side which is in brackets (slight doh moment for me once I'd figured that little one out) the detail is stunning though.


I have found another issue of three so far with this kit, both of the front mudguards/fenders where warped but with plenty of tet and a few clamps I managed to get them into shape without too many issues.


Issue three was almost expected from what I have read about Dragon kits, sadly part four of the instructions call out for part (F28) however the photo in the instructions clearly shows part (N17), so after checking the other photo's in the instructions I have gone with (N17) presuming that the photos are correct.




I'll be pressing on today hopefully closing in on the completion of the build phase. Thanks for reading I hope this build lives up to the standards of this great forum.

[GazVickers]

Grrr Dragon, so the photos in the instructions are wrong not the number call out, as I found while dry fitting the cannon. So after some delicate surgery I've managed to change it for the correct part, pics to follow.