1/35 Tamiya Wespe + a LOT of Extras

Post by **robwuk** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 4:55 pm

Ok, I must be bonkers trying this. I managed to get a Tamiya wespe + Aber PE + New Connections(?) barrel + ModelKasten tracks for all of £15 and decided to add Eduard PE in to the mix (it has some areas of PE that Aber dont).... This will be the most PE I have ever used and should really push me to try soldering (lots of duplication between the 2 PE sets for me to practice on as well

)... oh and any tips on how to keep track of what to replace with PE and when (the big stuff is obvious and the rest I was going to do as/when I approached its part in the Tamiya instructions)...

oh and I may add some extras of my own around the outside (some interesting photos have surfaced with boxes all over the place)

so this is the whole bits n bobs...

tamiya parts

and the extras

wish me luck I am going in

Post by **RangerNeil** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:15 pm

Looks like its going to be an interesting build!!!

Are the Modelkasten tracks metal like Friul or plastic??

Post by **robwuk** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:38 pm

RangerNeil wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:15 pm Looks like its going to be an interesting build!!! Are the Modelkasten tracks metal like Friul or plastic??

cheers Neil - they are plastic indi-link tracks....

Post by **digger303** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 11:38 pm

It's difficult to assemble anything when you are using 3 different sets of instructions. All the paper work everywhere and then it is so easy to miss a bit. I go through and make notes on the Tamiya instructions on what goes where and what has to be removed. Takes a while and is a pain, but worth it once construction begins. Also I'd be checking the fit on the gun shield as you go it is a bit that will be a tight fit or too gappy in all likely hood.

Post by **RangerNeil** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 11:44 pm

robwuk wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:38 pm
RangerNeil wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:15 pm Looks like its going to be an interesting build!!! Are the Modelkasten tracks metal like Friul or plastic??
cheers Neil - they are plastic indi-link tracks....

Thanks for the info Rob - I will have to have a look at them. Friul's metal are fantastic when done - they sit exactly as the real things do but they are a right PITA to clean and assemble.

Post by **Casper** » Sat Mar 27, 2021 12:30 am

digger303 wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 11:38 pm It's difficult to assemble anything when you are using 3 different sets of instructions. All the paper work everywhere and then it is so easy to miss a bit. I go through and make notes on the Tamiya instructions on what goes where and what has to be removed. Takes a while and is a pain, but worth it once construction begins. Also I'd be checking the fit on the gun shield as you go it is a bit that will be a tight fit or too gappy in all likely hood.

very good advice digger

Lovely looking kit and extras rob

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Mar 27, 2021 5:12 pm

Started with the easy stuff (plus folding the first aid kit). Eduard only so far but Aber do have some bits on the gun that I will use. And it looks like the kit comes with 2 spare wheels (I assume the wheel frets are from the normal PzII kit that does have spares mounted) so will build one with a spare mounted on the hull armour plate and with oil cans hanging form the sides

Post by **robwuk** » Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:44 pm

started on the left hand interior... bit of filling, some photo etch. Need to do the 2 ammo boxes and then look at the radio

Post by **digger303** » Fri Apr 09, 2021 11:55 pm

Pe is looking good. I always struggle with the leather tie downs and buckles, getting them to appear tight . Yours look ll you have the knack of it.

Post by **robwuk** » Sun Apr 25, 2021 12:17 pm

more progress on the interior. Need to build the 4 ammo cases (soldering) and the other 2 boxes for the right hand side as well as try to work out what to do with the radio. Have also started on the gun (nice metal barrel) and the very nice ModelKasten tracks (all clicked together firmly so far)

Post by **digger303** » Sun Apr 25, 2021 2:24 pm

Very nice progress coming along well. Are you having any issues keeping track of all the different upgrade parts ?

Post by **Stokesy44** » Sun Apr 25, 2021 4:54 pm

Cracking work on all the fiddly stuff and tracks. The extras really make the kit pop

Post by **robwuk** » Sun Apr 25, 2021 6:10 pm

thanks both

digger303 wrote: Sun Apr 25, 2021 2:24 pm Very nice progress coming along well. Are you having any issues keeping track of all the different upgrade parts ?

at the moment no because it has been the big easy stuff... Only ABER has improvements for the gun so thats OK then it is on to the tools... usually go with the easiest so that will be the Eduard clamps

Post by **BigWall** » Sun Apr 25, 2021 7:46 pm

All the details are making this look really good!

Post by **digger303** » Sun Apr 25, 2021 11:01 pm

Post by **robwuk** » Mon Apr 26, 2021 11:37 am

and a full run (103 links) done....

Post by **BigWall** » Tue Apr 27, 2021 2:48 am

Nice!

Post by **ForeverPlasticKits** » Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:37 pm

Very nice built, the details are awesome!

Post by **RangerNeil** » Tue Apr 27, 2021 9:04 pm

That is looking amazing!!! Congratulations!!

Post by **robwuk** » Fri May 07, 2021 7:43 am

I don't get on very well with soldering - more practice needed (think soldering the small bits was where I went wrong). Anyway Wespe hull sides continue to evolve

Post by **Stokesy44** » Fri May 07, 2021 7:46 am

Tracks look good and that interior work is looking tasty

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Fri May 07, 2021 2:53 pm

Its very nicely coming along chap. Awesome works.
DW

Post by **robwuk** » Sun May 16, 2021 9:56 am

thanks all... more progress, sides completed, now on to the gun

Post by **Stokesy44** » Sun May 16, 2021 10:09 am

Interior just keeps getting better. Nice gun barrel too.

Post by **digger303** » Sun May 16, 2021 10:54 am

Post by **ForeverPlasticKits** » Sun May 16, 2021 5:07 pm

So many add ons ... but they did their job, your Wespe will be wonderful!

Post by **BigWall** » Thu May 20, 2021 2:38 am

Very awesome!

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Thu May 20, 2021 9:54 am

Holy moly awesome job.
DW

Post by **Casper** » Thu May 20, 2021 7:36 pm

extra work makes all the difference

Post by **robwuk** » Sun Jun 13, 2021 2:19 pm

ok so managed to wrestle the 2nd set of tracks in to submission until I paint, on to more of the body.... really just the tools to do and the crew added spare wheel and it is ready to be painted...

Post by **digger303** » Sun Jun 13, 2021 2:48 pm

Pe is your friend...

Post by **ElCapitan** » Sun Jun 13, 2021 9:27 pm

This is looking amazing - definitely my kind of build! Keep up the good work and I'll be looking forward to the end result.

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Tue Jun 22, 2021 5:43 am

Very nice, I really enjoyed my build of this kit

Post by **Stokesy44** » Tue Jun 22, 2021 7:37 am

Looking very good, must be getting close to painting time

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Jun 26, 2021 5:41 pm

with the addition of the spare wheel mount as seen in a 1944 photo, building is finished... off to paint (plain Dunkelgelb I think)....

Post by **digger303** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 1:40 am

Lovely build, shame the brass can''t be seen anymore

Post by **robwuk** » Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:35 am

interior primed and base coated.... might be able to do some chipping/weathering this weekend

Post by **digger303** » Fri Aug 13, 2021 10:28 am

Cool, lets get her all painted up.

Post by **ForeverPlasticKits** » Mon Aug 16, 2021 8:01 pm

i like it even without paint!

Post by **Stokesy44** » Tue Aug 17, 2021 7:31 am

Nice and smooth paint job

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Tue Aug 17, 2021 8:04 am

All coming together very nicely

Just watch when you mount the splinter shields on after all the internal weathering, mine didn't mate up nicely as when they were dry fitted. The paint etc on the edges had to be removed, all went together in the end

just something I not allowed for

and it's a bit fiddly due to internal fittings, angles and shapes

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Wed Aug 18, 2021 9:36 am

Awesome build chap a real masterclass in work.
DW

Post by **robwuk** » Thu Aug 19, 2021 1:52 pm

thanks all... Chipping and some detail painting. Need to add a little more dust/grime on the horizontal surfaces then I can start to button it all up

Post by **Stokesy44** » Fri Aug 20, 2021 7:35 am

Really nice detail and weathering

Post by **robwuk** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 8:53 am

upper hull, gun and sides mounted... leaving back off for now as I need to add a box just where the gun mount is and that needs to be painted.... not 100% with the fit of the sides so a little filler needed....

Post by **digger303** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 10:35 am

Sweet build.

Post by **BigWall** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 1:13 am

It's looking great! That gun has such nice detail.

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Thu Aug 26, 2021 10:06 am

Very nice

Post by **ElCapitan** » Thu Aug 26, 2021 8:50 pm

Looks stunning

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Jan 15, 2022 4:15 pm

Dunkelgelb laid down - ammo paint mixed 50:50 with transparator - probably a touch too heavy but brush was a touch clogged (didn't check it well enough at the start of the session)