Global Scale Modeller

Fresh off binning a couple of kits that were giving my mojo a hammering. Not something I like to do as it goes against the grain some what.
I picked out this Mautlier as a kit I've been promising myself I would do soon....well yesterday was the day. It was a bit of a surprise when I opened the box 5 large sprues ( admittedly the parts are spaced out more than usual ) and 3 or 4 smaller ones with not bad detail.
Here's the engines and chassis rails. I think it holds promise.





Would you agree and please don't sugar coat it....

Nice start, the engine looks well detailed.

Mpfiend wrote: Mon Mar 13, 2023 7:37 am Nice start, the engine looks well detailed.

Thanks
That's what I thought. Not super sharp detail, but details enough to make it look busy like a proper engine.


Ps...I haven't worried too much about removing seams yet, but I will go over it soon and remove the visible ones.

Looks like a good start Digger. I hope this one goes better for you!

BigWall wrote: Mon Mar 13, 2023 11:18 pm Looks like a good start Digger. I hope this one goes better for you!

Me too and it is so far.
I've only had one fit issue to date and it's minor. The wooden sides on the tray of this truck are a little under length on the short ends ie front and back with the front being the main offender. I've decided it's not going to be a major thing, glued it up and it would pass muster. The back one has a slight bow and that is bothering me. I may do something about that.


It's a busy little space under the tray, lots of small parts, not always molded perfectly and detail a little soft, but you know this one is fun it's going together perfectly.
The axles do have some movement and this is a little tricky to line up as it wants to move in 2 directions at the same time.The parts for the wheels when going together so well no glue required however


...what a surprise from Zvezda.....



PS.....been in my stash for 7-8yrs at least so before this lastest conflict.

Looks a good start to me. The engine has potential for detailing either by paint or additions. Chassis looks good too.
In fairness - I've not really had any issues with Zvezda kits. But most of the ones I've done are fairly dated releases.

RangerNeil wrote: Wed Mar 15, 2023 1:06 pm Looks a good start to me. The engine has potential for detailing either by paint or additions. Chassis looks good too.
In fairness - I've not really had any issues with Zvezda kits. But most of the ones I've done are fairly dated releases.

I did their tiger 1 when it was first released. The deck was bent at a 90 degree angle and also the tools wouldn't fit on, not enough room.

I've got their new release (2022) BRDM-2 in the stash. I was planning on building it OOB so maybe I'll bump it up the list so we can see how it compares.

RangerNeil wrote: Wed Mar 15, 2023 11:23 pm I've got their new release (2022) BRDM-2 in the stash. I was planning on building it OOB so maybe I'll bump it up the list so we can see how it compares.

I've got there 2006 tooling of a Sd.Kfz. 251/3 Ausf.B so if I've got my bench free at about the same time I might do this one. Tooled a year before the
maultier I'm working on.

I some how missed uploading this image of the finished subject...sorry guys


Not a lot of progress to show. More details added and I've started to paint up the inside of the cab, before I can assemble the cab and engine bonnet.

Nice progress, the painting of the seat looks very effective.

Mpfiend wrote: Thu Mar 23, 2023 5:06 am Nice progress, the painting of the seat looks very effective.

Thank you. I'm using Cor's favourite trick.
Ali foil with self adhesive, place it on burnish most of the wrinkles out.
Then I used red brown Stynylrez primer brush painted on.
Add some light yellow either in patches or as in this case I did all the corners to show wear.
The AK enamel wash for wood which is a really dark brown over the top, but another wash could be used.
That's the entire process really easy and really quick.


Ps....I deliberately left the ejector pin marks, because once the cabs on it won't be seen.

I've got the interior of the cab mostly done. One door is glued on and the other not so I can slip the driver in.
Engine is painted and largely unseen. Base coating is next.
Not really much more to see than in what I've already posted.
The doors are a bit hard to get a close fit. I probably should have tried to trim more than I did off the fire wall. I was a bit worried I'd trim too much of one side and throw the whole lot out of whack and be worse off.

I'm fascinated by these Maultiers - definitely a case of necessity being the mother of invention.

This one is coming together really nicely and the kit looks to have the right balance of complexity & practicality

Nice work, the seat in the cab looks very nice. Wil you be copying the camo from the box cover?

Tomcat64 wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 2:26 pm I'm fascinated by these Maultiers - definitely a case of necessity being the mother of invention.

This one is coming together really nicely and the kit looks to have the right balance of complexity & practicality

Yes I always wanted to build this for ages and so far it has been a pleasure to build.

Stokesy44 wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 3:30 pm Nice work, the seat in the cab looks very nice. Wil you be copying the camo from the box cover?

Thank you. I will be doing it in the style of the box art. I find trying to copy these things exactly.... painful.

Looking real nice digger. I like the bench seat, and the engine / chassis details look swell even though you said they were a little soft. I think this will be one of your great builds. As always, I like your selection of soft skin support vehicles, this one is no different.

digger303 wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 11:52 pm
Thank you. I will be doing it in the style of the box art. I find trying to copy these things exactly.... painful.

The phrase 'field applied camo' is the modeler's get out of jail free card!

Excellent choice, this Maultier is really interesting and another kind of half-track used by the german forces.

ForeverPlasticKits wrote: Tue Mar 28, 2023 9:17 pm Excellent choice, this Maultier is really interesting and another kind of half-track used by the german forces.

Thanks
I'm finding these tiny link and length tracks a pain and slowing me up some what.

Nice progress on an interesting vehicle.

Almost all done



I had a another track attack. These links are so small and the glueing surface area so small I made a mess of it, but they are on now. Not looking terribly natural, but I'm not having another go at them.
I'm trying to paint a figure to put behind the wheel. It's hard trying to come up with a acceptable skin tone. I bought a flesh set off Vallejo years ago and not one of those colours is close to what I think is ok. So I'm trying different mixes so far I've got a sun bronzed desert dweller....

That's come together really nicely even if the tracks are fighting you back!

flesh tones can be a real pita - I picked up a set by Andrea a few years back and seem to resort to that most of the time

Tomcat64 wrote: Fri Apr 21, 2023 3:16 pm That's come together really nicely even if the tracks are fighting you back!

flesh tones can be a real pita - I picked up a set by Andrea a few years back and seem to resort to that most of the time

Thanks
I shall have to have a look around for those then , but may have to order from afar. I've heard of it, but I've never seen that brand before with my own eye's.

Looking sharp Dig!

Ok all done.
Added a driver, wipers and a matte coat.







The wooden floor is actually at least 2 shades lighter than the pic and the messy black splodges are supposed to be spilt fuel stains.




Thanks for looking and supporting.


Edit.....I also forgot the steps, which I found during the bench clean up. Now reinstalled...yep I broke them off during painting.

Looks good mate. Finding aftrmarket figures to with vehicles is a PITA - my sympathies there!

It really looks great Digger! Nice work once again and a very interesting subject

BigWall wrote: Sat Apr 22, 2023 3:14 am Looking sharp Dig!

Thank you.

RangerNeil wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 10:28 pm Looks good mate. Finding after market figures to with vehicles is a PITA - my sympathies there!

A driver came with the kit and he fits so all good. The pic's just show his left arm.

BigWall wrote: Mon Apr 24, 2023 1:40 am It really looks great Digger! Nice work once again and a very interesting subject

Thank you. My bench is clear and I think I'll reach down the back for that A-10 which has been staring me down.

cheers to you all