Global Scale Modeller

Been wanting to build this vehicle for ages, took time to assemble bits This is the fairly old Dragon kit with some aftermarket decals, Aber etch, and quite a bit of scratch building for the specific bits that make this vehicle unique. Sonderverband 288, Panzer-Grenadier Regiment -- Afrika contained the only Stug's in D.A.K. until Tunisia, so makes for an interesting subject.





Started with the main drive sprockets - for this specific vehicle one sprocket had been repaired in the field with a plate so this was replicated by chopping out a section, then adding plasticard with Mr Surfacer weld beads



Return rollers



Idler wheels



The next significant change - the Jerry can rack for the back deck. I drew this out, then cut from plastic card with my CraftRobo cutter . Then made up a lot of Italeri Jerrycans, and cast some more to have enough to fill the rack later.



Next variance - this particular vehicle carried spare torsion bars attached to the hull sides - Plastic rod, with lead foil for the mounting bracket with punched bolt head



Finished off the suspension - the idler adjustment has been left loose to assist with the tracks later.



Finally for the moment, the main wheels



Peter

Looking forward to this. I just finished my rendition of this rare Beastie. Do you know there is a gent restoring one of these? He found it in a scrapyard somewhere in England. Its confirmed that it is a StuG from svdb 288.

I've been following that dude for some time... at least I think that this is him.

https://www.facebook.com/StugIIIAusfDRe ... on?fref=ts

Interesting build subject, and nice work so far on the modifications.

Yes that's the one!

G

Great work, Peter! I love it when modelers go the extra mil to replicate a prototypical vehicle. One question I have: how did you make the bolt heads for the spare torsion bar mounting brackets? I've been making brackets from squashed lead solder for a long time but have never been able to recreate convincing mounting hardware. Can't wait to see this build progress!

More stuggage today - First added the read detail to the hull - this old Dragon kit is needing quite a lot of 'dabs' of filler, lots of 'nearly' fit



Then made up the upper hull and glued in place

SKANKSTA wrote:Great work, Peter! I love it when modelers go the extra mil to replicate a prototypical vehicle. One question I have: how did you make the bolt heads for the spare torsion bar mounting brackets? I've been making brackets from squashed lead solder for a long time but have never been able to recreate convincing mounting hardware. Can't wait to see this build progress!

Simply - just use some plasticard and one of these



Peter

Always something else to buy...egad!

This kit is hiding in the stash somewhere, it will be great to see built up, nice work and very cool mods too

Looks like a great start ! And a very interesting subject given the unit, placement and added field mods .
The RP Toolz punches are awesome but REALLY expensive I just renewed my worn out punch and dies with them .
Will look superb with the aber etch one of my favourite etch manufacturers , though I just bought some Tetra Model Works etch and it looks like a contender . I'll be watching with interest .

Interesting subject ! Didn't know this lonely Stug fighting in Africa...one of my favourite WWII tanks !

To follow this build , very interesting and looking promising !

Outstanding build Love the extra added detail of the spare torsion bar and repaired drive sprocket

Superb work on this cracking build..

Nice! I´m a big fan of Stugs myself and looking forward to follow this build.

Today's work on the Stug - the left hand side - added the Aber Etch for the main structural parts for the fenders - chopped off the guards at both end ready for the Aber replacements later.



Light and brush guard scratched from wire and soldered together. This is another bit that is unique to this vehicle.



Finally added the supplementary dust filter, with brackets made from plasticard, and solder for the feed into the main air intakes. Also updated the weld seam using 'green stuff'



Peter

More done today

Added the gun mantlet with the extra Aber PE



Added the lights with the Aber light covers



Added the fender for the right hand side, and green stuff for the weld seams



The pair of extra air filters in place



More weld seams



Peter

Peter,
Any idea how common the extra torsion bar storage was? My level of knowledge on Stugs mostly amounts to be able to tell the difference between a Stug III and a Stug IV.
Beautiful build! Scratch building and adding details is my fav part of any build.
Dave

Today's work on the stug - more etch and LOADS of soldering

First the horn, and an empty light bracket - this vehicle had lost it's right light



Then soldered up the front and rear fenders, complete with the tiny hinges with 0.3mm rods in the middle - they were fun. Not great at soldering, but getting better the more I do it, so there's that





But it does give nice details in places where you will never look



Peter

I've never gotten the hang of soldering. I know that it's a superior skill, but it's just one of those things.
They look excellent Peter. That's fine work bud.

More soldering today - first the smoke grenade rack



The rack for the wooden box on the fender - no idea what this contained



Then added the tools and spare wheels. Once again the spare wheels were mounted differently, so had to scratch the mounts, and steal some wing nuts from the aber etch.





Fitted the jerry can rack as well - at that point called it a day. Next weekend start on the Spade Ace tracks... drill, pin, drill, pin - repeat......

Peter

Another day of superior work.

i love stugs so am following along with interest, great job so far.
Jase

Nice work!

Today's work - started with the last of the brass - the 8 pieces that make the fire extinguisher and the rear lights



Then start with the tracks - these are Spade Ace tracks - need a bit of cleanup on some of them and the wire supplied it very hard to work with.

Got 40 links done so far before my thumb got too sore, need about 83 per side, so about half of one side, then the extra links for the front.



Peter

Day off today, so got some more done today. Drill, pin, drill, pin repeats..... until there's 91 links ( more than the 83 it should have but I think these links are a tiny bit small).

Slotted the sprocket and idler in place and a couple of the running wheels and tried the track in place - just pinning the last 3 links. I've abandoned the provided wire, and gone to softer copper wire which is easier to work with apart from when you bend it.





That's it for now, as i'm suffering a bit with Fruil thumb ( even though they are spade ace tracks )

Peter

What do you think of the spade ace compared to the Fruils Peter, better, worse, same?
The struggle looks amazing by the way!!!

Coen wrote:What do you think of the spade ace compared to the Fruils Peter, better, worse, same?
The struggle looks amazing by the way!!!

Not having used Fruil's Pzr III/IV tracks I can't give a direct comparison, but in general terms i'd say they are very slightly inferior, but not enough to put anyone off. For example so far there's been about 6 links that were really badly miscast, and quite a few that need a bit of cleanup, but you get *lots* of spares. The steel wire they give you is incredibly hard, which makes it a real pain to work with , but replacing with copper wire makes life easier.

They were about £4 cheaper than the equivalent Fruils, which feels about right - i've got another set of T-54/62 tracks which look very similar quality.

Overall if Fruil's are a 9/10 these are an 8.5/10 - I'd recommend trying them in the least

HTH

Peter

Today's work - Another 40 links done



Peter

Very cool. Thanks Peter.

Today's track tickling - finally finished !



This side has 90 links as opposed to 91 on the other side, but sounds about right. Once again, last pin just slotted in place



However there's a sting in the tail - the spare links carried at the front - oh well, drill, pin - well you get the story



Cleaned the tracks with Vinegar, then dunked in Ultimate Burnishing fluid - only took about 5 mins to get them like this. Then ran 1200 grit wet and dry along the track pads.



Then finally get some paint on - Alclad Black primer







Well that's the big Hump on this build over - now the fun bit, painting and weathering.

Peter

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Jesus that's beautiful. Good results for burnishing after assembly. Rest of the build is very clean. Top notch.

Today's work - first preshading with greys gradually getting lighter from the black base





Then on with a coat of RAL 8020





Then on with the RAL 7027 SandGrey



Finally a coat of Klear over the top to prep for the decals



Peter

Good job looks great liking all the extras

Looks great. Pre shading is spot on

Excellently done bud.

Today's work started by putting the decals on ( all 3 of them )





Started planning on where to fit the extra stowage - something like this eventually



Painted the rubber on the wheels





Taking advantage of the fact that it's glossy and waiting for the rubber paint to dry , did a pin wash to pick out the details



Sprayed some Washable Dust and Sand under the fenders to give a base for later





Then using a wet brush, merge all the dust / sand together



Then put the wheels and tracks in place





Sprayed a base coat of German Grey over all the Jerry cans and one stowage box



Finally for the day, sprayed a coat of Matt varnish over everything



Peter

So much fine detail. Very nice!

cheers

Today's work - first put a light brown filter over the Stug



Then put some 'Worn Effects' on the Jerry cans, followed by masking tape for the water cans



Sprayed the white, and the petrol cans with a slightly different shade of Desert yellow from the Stug. Sprayed base brown on the wooden stowage boxes.



Started chipping, and added the Jerrycans to the rack after wearing them back a bit.



More chipping, and painting the tools



Stowage in place - the wooden boxes and the metal box with some chipping



Painted the exhausts with Rust, then added various rust pigments



Just a few details to add, and more dust and it's nearly done



Peter

Wow!

Very nice.

G

Today's work - started by adding the rest of the stowage. Ended up with it slightly differently to the original plan



Fitted the sight



Then dusted down with both Ammo 'dust' and 'African dust' airbrushed on, then stumped back, and pigments.







Very nearly done, just needs a few stains adding next weekend once the enamels have completely cured.

Peter

Looking awesome!!
How did you do your chipping?

cheers

hansolo wrote:Looking awesome!!
How did you do your chipping?

cheers

Chipping was done in 3 passes - first a sponge, then fine brush to work specific areas, then a prismatic pencil to give a lighter contrast in some places.

Peter

pmarshall wrote:

hansolo wrote:Looking awesome!!
How did you do your chipping?

cheers

Chipping was done in 3 passes - first a sponge, then fine brush to work specific areas, then a prismatic pencil to give a lighter contrast in some places.

Peter

Thanks! It looks really great!!

cheers

She's a Beauty Queen ....well at least for us armor buffs.

I'm loving it!

G

Beautiful work mate, absolutely top notch!!

Hi great work,can you please tell me what a prismatic pencil is sorry to show my ignorance thanks Pete

privatepete wrote:Hi great work,can you please tell me what a prismatic pencil is sorry to show my ignorance thanks Pete

Oops - should be Prismacolor pencils.

Got a range of greys and browns which makes it easy to get contrast.

HTH

Peter

now finished - in RFI here