Stokesy's Desert Clanker - Trumpy 1/16 Pz IV Ausf.F2

[Stokesy44]

This is really looking good!

Thanks mate

Love that first pic, shows the size and the detail in this beast while some of the other close ups reinforce that visual impact. Like the 11 th pic....

One thing that has always struck me with a lot of builds and it's probably because of my working back ground. That cooling fans with working in a dry dusty environment won't have any paint on the 70% of the blades on one side and will have a dull shine to them instead on machines that are 2-3yrs old.

I shall bear that in mind when I do the weathering mate

[Garion77]

wow ! it's the first time we're able to see how huge it is. Everything is really awesome to look at. The radio compartment is out of this world.

[Parker]

massive!

[Tomcat64]

Wow you had a busy weekend with the paintwork mate - that's progressing beautifully

[Casper]

wow superb build Stokesy love all the tooling on top.
mark

[Stokesy44]

wow ! it's the first time we're able to see how huge it is. Everything is really awesome to look at. The radio compartment is out of this world.

massive!

Wow you had a busy weekend with the paintwork mate - that's progressing beautifully

wow superb build Stokesy love all the tooling on top.
mark

Thanks Guys. The Clanker is coming along, slowly but surely.

Did some oils and chipping on the new interior bits.







Test fitting





The weight of the internal parts of the MG meant the gun hangs in its cradle with the barrel pointing at the sky. I added a little bit of sprue under the gun where it sits in the mount so it sits better now.







I've attached the sponsons now and am working on weathering the shell boxes. I should be adding more pics later today

[Kevthemodeller]

it just keeps getting better

[Quax]

What he said but my that's a big one....
Paul

[BigWall]

It's really looking great!

[digger303]

[Stokesy44]

Thanks Guys. As you say, she aint getting any smaller!

Finished off the oils and chipping of the interior.

Shell bins and storage boxes







Interior of the frontal glacis plate. This will be seen through the brake and transmission hatches



Main engine hatch cover and fans



Upper glacis. You can just make out the lenses on the driver's sights. A little drop of aqua gloss after painting gave them a nice shine.





A little dry brushing on the MG, just to bring it up from flat black.



Front plates glued down now. Dont worry about the spare track bar bowing a little bit. Its nice and flat once the spare tracks are on.





Test fitting the upper hull - its nice and tight and could almost be left like that without glue. I haven't decided yet.





Finished the session with some nice greebly work.





Next up will be the greeblies on the other side of the upper hull then its on to the turret. Clanker is looking like a proper AFV now

[digger303]

Top job

[Stokesy44]

Top job

Cheers Digger. I caught myself working on it before breakfast today and thought, this is getting out of hand.

[RangerNeil]

Just gets better and better.
Personal view only - I'd be tempted to leave the top of the hull separate, maybe scratch-build a stand so it can sit beside the lower hull at the right height and allow all that lovely detailing to be clearly seen.

[Stokesy44]

Just gets better and better.
Personal view only - I'd be tempted to leave the top of the hull separate, maybe scratch-build a stand so it can sit beside the lower hull at the right height and allow all that lovely detailing to be clearly seen.

A very good idea matey. Its something I've been thinking about on and off. Its seems quite popular for full interior kits and I've seen it done so I know what you mean.

Well worth considering

[BigWall]

Very sweet build!

[digger303]

Your really loving this then starting before breakfast. Not sure I could do that.

[Parker]

it'd be a shame to glue it. that interior is awesome.

[bfrd]

It would be more than a shame, it would be a sin to hide that interior work.

[Tomcat64]

That's super work on the interior mate, the chipping & weathering looks spot on.

And like the other guys have said, it would be awesome if you could find a way to leave the upper hull removable.

It really does look stunning - looking forward to seeing the turret assemblies now

[BigWall]

I agree with everyone. It would be a shame to close it up but then you'd lose the look of the completed and closed up build. Such a tough choice and the reason I haven't attempted a full interior armor build.

[Stokesy44]

Thanks Guys.

I think if the upper hull sits properly when completed I will leave it unglued and make a very simple trestle so I can display it closed up or next to the lower hull depending on how I feel any particular day. I mean, where's the point of building a beast this size if it cant be displayed as a full up honking brute of iron?

I've now broken ground on the turret so I should be posting a decent update later today.

[digger303]

Thanks Guys.

I think if the upper hull sits properly when completed I will leave it unglued and make a very simple trestle so I can display it closed up or next to the lower hull depending on how I feel any particular day. I mean, where's the point of building a beast this size if it cant be displayed as a full up honking brute of iron?

I've now broken ground on the turret so I should be posting a decent update later today.

AT least 3 hrs have passed now....and no up date
I'm going to have to wait until the morning

[Stokesy44]

AT least 3 hrs have passed now....and no up date
I'm going to have to wait until the morning

I'm sorry mate. The day didnt go accordingly to plan. I got in a good AM session but I conked out in the afternoon when I fell asleep in front of the rugby. Its been happening a bit lately. I think the lockdown here in the UK has induced a kind of dopiness in me in that if I dont make sure I am properly occupied I am finding myself drifting off.

Anyway, here's the update for what I did manage to get done.

I started on the turret, interior bits and bobs



Lots of nice detail on the hatch doors. They will be posed open on completion

I will mask off the viewport section of the vision blocks come painting time then gloss the remaining glass so it stands out.









Next up is the breach, gun mount and barrel. Starting to look like a real tank now.

[digger303]

AT least 3 hrs have passed now....and no up date
I'm going to have to wait until the morning

I'm sorry mate. The day didnt go accordingly to plan. I got in a good AM session but I conked out in the afternoon when I fell asleep in front of the rugby. Its been happening a bit lately. I think the lockdown here in the UK has induced a kind of dopiness in me in that if I dont make sure I am properly occupied I am finding myself drifting off.

Anyway, here's the update for what I did manage to get done.

I started on the turret, interior bits and bobs



Lots of nice detail on the hatch doors. They will be posed open on completion

I will mask off the viewport section of the vision blocks come painting time then gloss the remaining glass so it stands out.









Next up is the breach, gun mount and barrel. Starting to look like a real tank now.

All in jest my friend.
The turret isn't disappointing either and is up to the usual high standards in detail, but I just got to thinking. There is all this extra detail and sharpness and I'm guessing the paint and weathering required is going to be a whole lot more in order to do it justice. The time required is going to take a monumental leap sky wards. I'll look forward to it all.

[Stokesy44]

Started on the gun and mount this morning.

Interior, main front panel - the injector pin marks will be dealt with. Only the 2 at each end will need work as the remainder get covered with parts.



Breech needed a bit of filler - oh the humanity!!!







Test fit



Recoil guard and shell catch





Internal support braces added









Lots more to go in, gunner's sight, co-ax machine gun to name but a few.....

[Quax]

Still going together beautifully but I can't help thinking this is going to cost you an absolute fortune in paint!

Paul

[digger303]

Is it missing any weld detail at all ?

[BigWall]

It's looking absolutely great!

[Tomcat64]

Lovely update mate & well worth the wait - the turret detail certainly doesn't disappoint

[Donkeywalloper]

Wow mate, really top notch work on a super kit. And the Star Modeller award goes to???????? You
DW

[Stokesy44]

Is it missing any weld detail at all ?

Internally maybe but on the outside the detail is very nice for the weld seams

[digger303]

Is it missing any weld detail at all ?

Internally maybe but on the outside the detail is very nice for the weld seams

Hard to find fault with this kit, ya got a good un.

[Kevthemodeller]

More superb work mate

I can't help thinking this is going to cost you an absolute fortune in paint!

That's an interesting point, I wonder how much you'll actually end up using over a 1/35?

[Stokesy44]

More superb work mate

I can't help thinking this is going to cost you an absolute fortune in paint!

That's an interesting point, I wonder how much you'll actually end up using over a 1/35?

I'm going to apply it with a broom!

Got through a couple of evening sessions this week. Added the sight, the co-ax MG and the vision ports to the front armour plate for the turret.





It all sits nicely in the turret, even down to a little bracket suspended from the roof to mate to the sight.



I glued the turret basket struts to the turret ring with everything all set in place to ensure it went on straight. I've seen a review where someone said they put the basket together while it was free standing and ended up with a turret that was wonky. This way ensures the angles are spot on.





Nice and level



Then it was adding all the bits and bobs to the ring. Turret rotation motor, commander's seat, various controls. I really like the little set of dials next to the turret motor. There's a decal for them so they'll look good when the painting's done







Next up are the seats for the gunner and loader which attach to the rear basket struts then there's a load of stuff for the basket floor.

[BigWall]

Very nice progress. I'm looking forward to seeing the turret interior painted up.

[digger303]

Lovely stuff. I always wondered about the turret motors and this just looks so small compared to the job it has to do. A little amazed by the amount of power it must have.

[Tomcat64]

Great progress mate and the detail just continues to impress.

And nicely done to get the basket struts all aligned too

[Stokesy44]

Lovely stuff. I always wondered about the turret motors and this just looks so small compared to the job it has to do. A little amazed by the amount of power it must have.

It must have been superbly balanced with ball bearings etc. I'm no engineer but I know the Allies went after the ball bearing factories as they were so vital to the German war machine.

[Stokesy44]

Great progress mate and the detail just continues to impress.

And nicely done to get the basket struts all aligned too

Thanks mate. The kit is a bit like a puzzle or even a chess game. You have to think a few moves ahead to avoid running up a dead end and finding you've done something you cant walk back.

Its good fun though and even though its taking a while, I'm having a proper ball

[Stokesy44]

Got a bit more done yesterday.

Installed the seats and all the gubbins on the struts and basket floor.







There's an optional shell bin for the basket floor which replaces the 2 units that face each other either side of the forward basket struts. Its PE but I'll give it a go because it looks good and will be great with shells in it.

[digger303]

Convinced me....

[ForeverPlasticKits]

So huge at this scale!

[Stokesy44]

Convinced me....

Worked on the turret exterior and main gun. As much as I love the metal barrel the kit comes with its just too darn heavy. There isnt enough resistance in the gun mount to offset it and it would take some serious weight (probably in the shell basket attached to the recoil guard) to even it up. The plastic barrel is a 2 piece job but it was a beautiful fit and and just needed careful sanding. Its still a fraction heavy but a little filler hidden in the basket should even it out.

The mantlet and gun are now properly attached. The main glacis and turret itself are only test fitted.







Some nice detail up close.



I need to make the PE shell box bin that sits on the floor of the turret basket but then its painting the basket and turret interior then I will have to start thinking about exterior painting.

[digger303]

Your trying to frighten me showing that big gap, but we all know it will go like a key in a lock...perfect...

[BigWall]

Such a neat build!

[Stokesy44]

Such a neat build!

Its a beautifully engineered kit so it lends itself to an orderly build. I'm also a bit of a neat freak as a builder so it suits me well

[Stokesy44]

Your trying to frighten me showing that big gap, but we all know it will go like a key in a lock...perfect...

As a test fit it does look like you could drive a car through that gap but rest assured, a bit of TLC (or as I call it, brute force and ignorance) will see it closed up nicely.

[Stokesy44]

I think the turret interior is finished now the shell bin has been completed.

It was a bit of a faff but it beats the 2 little plastic pieces that were the alternative.







Sanded the edges, filled the gaps and put the retainer on. The shells still slide in so it can all be painted without them.





That's the turret interior and basket built. Priming and base coat are next.

[digger303]

PE shown at it s best, plastic wouldn't have looked as good. ....Excellent .