Global Scale Modeller

My first try with a Dragon Model.
I received a parcel form Shane Smyth a fellow modeler from Galway. He held a subscriber give-away on his YouTube Channel which I won. Thanks Shane.
Its a Pz.Kpfw.I mit Abwurfvorrichtung (just try pronouncing that or even spelling it)

So many tiny little pieces some of which I just cant see without the magnifier. Its great and a little intimidating at the same time. 216 of those little grey track links, I think I`ll have to lay of the coffee before tackling them

It will be my first time working with etched brass parts. I can just see some of these bits being eaten by the carpet monster (Marv as he is known)







There are some things that are a bit odd like why not mould the two holes in the pieces rather than just one hole.
There are a couple of occasions where the piece pictured on the instructions and the corresponding part on the sprue just do not match.

That aside the detail and crispness is excellent.

I have this kit so i will be watching your build closely. Looking forward to the end product.

I have already made a few mistakes but that is how I learn

Also have this kit and was planning on building it soon. Will be following this one.

Pottering along getting bits and pieces done. I have been running into difficulties with the instructions giving wrong part numbers.

The part on the left matches the shape on the instructions however the part on the right matches the part number. For those following along at home these are parts of the jack and I went with the bit on the left.

Detailing the inside of the hatch. Only really necessary if you are going to leave it open, I have not decided yet so I went ahead with it.

Looking at some more photoetch parts. If you see the parts that look like a hinge, each of them has to be folded in half. The idea is to replace two of the bars on the plastic part with the brass strips which are held on and spaced with the tiny folded parts.

I went ahead and folded the bits. After that I realised that my eyes where just not up to the job of fitting these together and that none of my tweezers could even hold these little $%^£%^&s without them shooting of to the carpet. Its the plastic part for me!

You can see it here between the white v`s. Its all loosely placed together here.

My camera card got a bit corrupted and I lost a chunk of photos of the upper hull and turret builds. again there were a few parts with the wrong numbers. and some of the illustrations are rather vague too.

So you're the guy that one. Shane and I are quite good friends, I'll have to pull him in here to see this. Looks really good so far.

Outstanding build Rfeeney, got to like photo etch. Sometimes Dragon gets it right, where just enough PE to accent a kit, not bury it in so much PE, I'll have to set it aside to get my mojo back, lol. Again cool build.

Very very nice, I'm watching this closely from my side of the pond.
One tip if I may.
Those itty bitty track links are quite susceptable to damage from too much cement. When you form your track runs apply cement sparingly to each connection with a small brush like in the Tamiya bottle. Too much will melt them beyond recognition.
Don't ask how I know this.........
G

Looking good so far. I was hoping you would use the PE straps so i could have seen how you removed the plastic straps. Missed label parts in the instructions really suck. I hope this isn't the norm for Dragon.

d6mst0 wrote:Looking good so far. I was hoping you would use the PE straps so i could have seen how you removed the plastic straps. Missed label parts in the instructions really suck. I hope this isn't the norm for Dragon.

Dragon makes good models and terrible instructions. Mis-labelled parts, unclear drawing, parts suddenly appearing that weren't "added" earlier and at times showing things in a bad order are all part and parcel of Dragons.

mannloon wrote:So you're the guy that one. Shane and I are quite good friends, I'll have to pull him in here to see this. Looks really good so far.

Thats me:) I have been watching your vids as well, I have a Tamiya Tiger up next and no doubt I`ll be reviewing your Tiger videos again.

InitialProduction1 wrote:Outstanding build Rfeeney, got to like photo etch. Sometimes Dragon gets it right, where just enough PE to accent a kit, not bury it in so much PE, I'll have to set it aside to get my mojo back, lol. Again cool build.

Cheers, I know what you mean I had to walk away a couple of times when folding those tiny bits in half.

AgentG wrote:Very very nice, I'm watching this closely from my side of the pond.
One tip if I may.
Those itty bitty track links are quite susceptable to damage from too much cement. When you form your track runs apply cement sparingly to each connection with a small brush like in the Tamiya bottle. Too much will melt them beyond recognition.
Don't ask how I know this.........
G

Thanks, all hints and tip are gratefully accepted. Luckily enough I had gotten my hands on a bottle of the extra thin a couple of months ago. One side of them done now.

d6mst0 wrote:Looking good so far. I was hoping you would use the PE straps so i could have seen how you removed the plastic straps. Missed label parts in the instructions really suck. I hope this isn't the norm for Dragon.

Thanks. if I had gone ahead I would have just sliced off the plastic bars between the sets of supports. Then stick the first of the E shaped bits on one end, glue on the brass bars to this first one, add the second E to the far end making sure they are as straight and level as possible. Then the last 3 E`s in between.

ForbesHutton wrote: Dragon makes good models and terrible instructions. Mis-labelled parts, unclear drawing, parts suddenly appearing that weren't "added" earlier and at times showing things in a bad order are all part and parcel of Dragons.

Its good to know that its not just me

This is I think called the jack block. It didn't look right to me with the chunky triangles of plastic sticking out the sides. I spent some time looking for reference photos of this tank but there is not a lot of decent shots out there that i can find
http://forum.valka.cz/topic/view/31348/ ... ne-vozidlo
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4426/291 ... b37bf53_XL
I couldnt find any thing on the jack block so I looked at the cover of the box, and those chunky bits a notable by their absence. Just straight straps running down.

So I shaved them down to leave a much thinner strap behind. I added a couple of wire handles which seemed fairly common of similar tanks.

I scraped out a little opening in the exhaust using a home made tool. A compass point ground down to a semi-triangular profile.


The cable included in the kit seemed to be too large and would not fit through the holes in the plastic so I made a replacement with some find copper wire.

Its a little untidy here but I hope to tidy it up once the glue has cured fully.


A quick note on the tracks for any one planning on this build. When placing them together this seems to be the easier direction to fit them with out them knocking apart every time you add another. I'm not sure if I'm being clear there if not let me know and I`ll do it with photos

Nearly done with construction now

Most of the tools attached Hull glued and a tiny bit of filler here and there.
Now back to work.

Great build going on here, yea the tracks are a pain, you mean at an angle right. That's how I had to build them, if not I was watching them ping into thin air. again great build.

InitialProduction1 wrote:Great build going on here, yea the tracks are a pain, you mean at an angle right. That's how I had to build them, if not I was watching them ping into thin air. again great build.

I was trying to say that if you put the side with the gap in the middle down onto the side with the bit sticking out it seems not to disturb any previous tracks as much as if you try to put the side with the bit sticking out in the middle onto the side with the gap.
That sounds a little dirty when I read it back. And still it dosent read very clearly. I will try to take some pics later to illustrate.

That's cool. It still is a pain, cause there so small. But you have good thought on the build. Look forward to it.

I've build two dragon panzer I (different versions) and they don't correct the old mistake on the new instruction. Incredible indifferent... Anyway the build looks great! Good luck buddy

Such brilliant and clean work.

Thanks for all the comments
My shoulder locked up a bit on me and it slowed me down. But here are the photos of the track links that I was talking about

This way tends to knock the previous links loose

This way is not as bad I find

The "boom box" installed

All the construction apart form a couple of lights finished. I popped in a figure from a Tamiya late tiger. I wonder if the uniform would be suitable for use in this tank? If anyone with the Knowledge is reading please let me know.

Damn Rfeeney that's awesome work, looking forward to the paint work.

Cheers mate, the painting might have to wait a while. I do my primer spraying outdoors and its a bit chilly for the paint out there right now

Don't know where your at. But I was in the same boat, till I built a spray both. Used a fan off an old blow up slide from my kids, and an Old microwave stand, and a Old peace of plywood, 4x51/2. Works great. Again i Must say great build.

InitialProduction1 wrote:Don't know where your at. But I was in the same boat, till I built a spray both. Used a fan off an old blow up slide from my kids, and an Old microwave stand, and a Old peace of plywood, 4x51/2. Works great. Again i Must say great build.

I have a spry booth that I knocked together with an old desk fan and bits of some drawers and off cuts, it works fairly well with the air brush but with rattle can primer the smell does linger around the house a bit.
I have made a little progress with the painting though.
I decided to use the only bottle of airbrush primer that I have MIG black. I had not had much success with it previously.

It seemed to go on a little better for me this time.

I went ahead with some painting on the figure



I realised that i had forgotten about the eyes



A quick coat of German Grey on the tank with plenty more to do yet

Looking great RFeeney, ya those rattle cans do over power you with it's smell.

I have given it a clear coat before decals and I'm waiting on a delivery of some microset/sol before proceeding. Meanwhile I have started on a Tamiya Tiger

Awesome, love that Pz I, can't wait to see it all dressed up, like that Tiger idea. That dang Adam Mann, and coen, and a few "dozen more" lol, guys stuck the Tiger bug in me, so I got all my Tigers out, and started to putting them in order, this my friend is nuts, I have only a few minor things to do on my 14 shermans and they'll be done. Well two on Dios, anyway love to know when you start your kitty.

That tiger bug does seem to be catching. I have posted the start of my kitty, should be a post or two below this one

InitialProduction1 wrote:Awesome, love that Pz I, can't wait to see it all dressed up, like that Tiger idea. That dang Adam Mann, and coen, and a few "dozen more" lol, guys stuck the Tiger bug in me, so I got all my Tigers out, and started to putting them in order, this my friend is nuts, I have only a few minor things to do on my 14 shermans and they'll be done. Well two on Dios, anyway love to know when you start your kitty.

I'm a little honored that you partially blame me.

Partially, why do you think your at the top of the list, I've watched everything you put out onYouTube, and here, coen cause he, well let's get real it's coen. And I've been bombarded about tigers ever since I became a member. Love it.

Got the micro set/sol in the post. My first time using them and they are great for settling down the decals.

Painted up the tools and some other details


I added some white oil paint, blended it in with white spirit. I left it a bit streaky to suggest the after effects of rain.


Working on a muddy colored enamel wash.
Most of these effects do not show very well in the photos. Some of it is still not dry in the pics and will be lighter when dry.

Love how you brought out her eyes, that is awesome, all around RFeeney, always nice to see a build come to life.

InitialProduction1 wrote:Love how you brought out her eyes, that is awesome, all around RFeeney, always nice to see a build come to life.

If by eyes you mean the lights, its just a disk of tinfoil forced into the eyesocket!

Started a bit of work on a base for my panzer, an old picture frame to start, built up the rough contours with some Styrofoam, coated it in pva and put some das clay on top, added some thin slips of wood around the edges.

Added some stones half buried in the clay and tried out some bulrushes that I made a while back,started shaping the wood around the edges.


I had a little brown paint left in the air brush after painting the camo on my tiger so I sprayed it on. finished shaping the wood on the edges and painted it black.

The star in doing a rehearsal.

Figure of speech buddy, lol. Hey do you think that thing was just a suicide machine.? It was just so damn small. Comander would be like, you want us to do what? And put that bomb where? Yeah right. Here's the keys, we're out, Lol. Anyway very cool base, and build. Like the way you used your paint, better then dumping it out. I try doing the same thing, when I can.

InitialProduction1 wrote:Figure of speech buddy, lol. Hey do you think that thing was just a suicide machine.? It was just so damn small. Comander would be like, you want us to do what? And put that bomb where? Yeah right. Here's the keys, we're out, Lol. Anyway very cool base, and build. Like the way you used your paint, better then dumping it out. I try doing the same thing, when I can.

From what little i have managed to find out about this tank they seemed to by fairly successful early in the war but were phased out quickly as newer weapons proved to be more than a match for its armour. Cheers mate

Doing a bit more with the diorama base, added some static grass and some sand as little rocks. The bulrushes are in place, some moss for small bushes and a different moss for the first layer of foliage on my twig tree

The plan is to have a little pond/stream with the tank running through it. I have to finish up painting the tank and tracks before adding the water as it will hopefully be a little submerged into the water.

I have run into a little difficulty with my matt varnish, it no longer dries matt more of a satin\gloss result( I have stirred, shaken, even prayed to the many tentacled devourer that lives in the carpet but all to no avail). It has put a little delay on my plans until I can get some replacement.

Hey buddy, it still looks awesome. It's in the rain, it does look like that, add some rain sticks and boom you have awesome dio. Just say-n. Build looks awesome.

Brilliant work! Now, all that's left is to learn how to pronounce "Abwurfvorrichtung".

I like this very much, thanks for showing how you approached this kit

Pronouncing Abwurfvorrichtung is easy *ahem*
Splitting such words into sections helps.
Ab-wurf-vor-rich-tung

However, i always thought this vehicle was called "Ladungsleger"?

Apologies for the long delay in updates, real life has been rearing its ugly head and generally screwing with me.
It will be finished soon.
One set of tracks were damaged, the cat has suddenly discovered a way onto the bench and chaos ensued. It took me numerous attempts but they are repaired

InitialProduction1 wrote:Hey buddy, it still looks awesome. It's in the rain, it does look like that, add some rain sticks and boom you have awesome dio. Just say-n. Build looks awesome.

Thanks mate. I got the matt varnish finally so the wet look will be going bye bye.

Naedrux wrote:Brilliant work! Now, all that's left is to learn how to pronounce "Abwurfvorrichtung".

Cheers! I think Hamilkar has us covered on the pronunciation front

HamilkarBarkas wrote:I like this very much, thanks for showing how you approached this kit

Pronouncing Abwurfvorrichtung is easy *ahem*
Splitting such words into sections helps.
Ab-wurf-vor-rich-tung

However, i always thought this vehicle was called "Ladungsleger"?

Thanks Hamilkar, Love your videos
Ab -wurf -vor -rich -tung thanks for that even still I have difficulty warping my "tung" around that.
From what I have been able to find the Ladungsleger was the prototype version of which there were only 2 built and the production version was the Pz.Kpfw.I mit Abwurfvorrichtung.

Here she is, looking a little guilty.. or not. How she gets up there with two arthritic hips is beyond me.

Looks amazing! I hope you can continue sharing your progress now

Sergiotron wrote:Looks amazing! I hope you can continue sharing your progress now

Hopefully I`m over the worst of it now and things will be getting done again
The next step on this is the scary one - placing the tank and pouring the water. I haven't tried this before and its a bit nerve wracking

So much I need to learn. thanks for sharing! I'm watching all the good building going on here keep on tanking on!