Work in Progress

Airfix 1/76 88mm Flak en Sd.Kfz.7 tractor

Posted by Wiking on 01 May 2022, 19:54

Impressive work. and great painting, dry brushing.

Top !

:yeah:
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Wiking  Germany
 
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Posted by huib on 16 May 2022, 12:01

Thanks, Peter and Erik!

Final construction
Some last detail and final assembly of the model.

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Chipping using a graphite pencil. Left before chipping, right after.

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Chipping on the cruciform base.

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Chipping of the tractor.

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Decorated the different lights, using silver paint for the mirror and clearfix for the lense. The right headlight is left dark, as it is broken (or so I suggest).

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Tractor assembled.

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Almost ready.

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Gun assembled. It took some fiddling to get everything more or less straight in line and all wheels on the ground. The barrel got a dustcover and the tiller a lighting cable.

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Now only a crew.....
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by Peter on 17 May 2022, 12:48

Again a piece of art finished. :thumbup:

Will you come to FIGZ?
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Peter  Belgium

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Posted by Minuteman on 17 May 2022, 22:49

A masterpiece of detailed model engineering in 1/76. I would never have believed that this venerable old kit could turn out looking as good as this!
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Minuteman  United Kingdom
 
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Posted by huib on 19 May 2022, 20:28

Thanks, Peter and Minuteman!

Peter wrote:Will you come to FIGZ?

I´am still doubting, Peter. I´d like to but have a very busy period by then. We´ll see.
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by huib on 19 May 2022, 20:40

Crew

Such an open topped vehicle is very receptive for a crew. The four gnome-like figures Airfix supplies are much too small and ugly however. As a result it took me a while to find some suitable 1/76 seated Afrikakorps figures on Ebay.

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They are produced using a 3D-printer. The result is a bit stiff. It's all more or less the same figure, only with different clothes, headgear and equipment.

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So I repositioned a few arms and swapped some heads to make the scene a bit more lively and realistic.

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The figures are primed.

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Painted.

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The driver is united with his steering wheel.

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A testride after shadowing and highlighting.

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And finally the very last part of my model: the linking pin between tractor and gun limber.

Finished! On to the final pictures.
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by Peter on 20 May 2022, 08:41

Great painted crew Huib! :thumbup:

PS: come to FIGZ and you will meet some real fantastic guys! And I'm not talking about myself! :mrgreen: ;-)
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Peter  Belgium

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Posted by huib on 23 May 2022, 13:18

Thanks Peter!

Final pictures

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More pics in the Gallery
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by JueHue on 31 May 2022, 17:32

Sorry huilb,the DB10Halftrack itis Not my work.
Greetings Jürgen.
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Posted by huib on 06 Jun 2022, 13:31

Bunkerknacker
Time for a next step. As I have another box:

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A more recent reissue of the same kit in a red box.

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Inside is the typical old style Airfix mess of sprues from 1967.

What to do with it?
Well, I know already: a brutal conversion to:

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A Bunkerknacker.

In 1938 the German Heer came to the conclusion they needed a gun to destroy bunkers. A choice was quickly made for the 88mm anti-aircraft gun. Because of its high muzzle velocity and flat trajectory it had a superb accuracy. Tests proved that the gun had a first shot hit probability of 30% on a bunker embrasure at 800 to 900 meters. This also made the German Heer realise for the first time that the 88mm Flak might be very useful as an anti-tank gun.

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Ten pieces of 88mm Flak 18 AA gun including their Sd.Kfz.7 tractors were converted to so called Bunkerknackers (Bunker Busters). These vehicles were delivered the winter of 1938-1939 and operated in the attack on Poland in 1939, and the western campaign of 1940.

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The aiming devices of the 88mm were adapted for firing on ground targets. A six shot magazine was placed next to the breech for quick firing. A bigger shield was added to protect the crew from machinegun fire. And the cruciform was adapted for firing from the limbers.

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Also the Sd.Kfz.7 tractors were modified. The whole vehicle was lightly armoured, so it could tow the gun in position in small arms fire. On the back further storage for gun rounds was built.

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So, this conversion hopefully will lead to a lot of modelling fun! :-D
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by huib on 06 Jun 2022, 13:40

Chassis
With this model I start with the Sd.Kfz.7

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The chassis is not very exiting yet, but still I added some extra detail, comparable to my earlier model: steering arm, heigthened gearbox, pressed air cilinders.

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Exhaust system, and a new towing hook with some surrounding detail.

Now on with the body, which will be a bigger challenge! :mrgreen:
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by MABO on 11 Jun 2022, 14:01

I am late but once more blinded by the masterclass modelling. Good to see there is another new project. So sorry you have not been in Arnhem!!
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MABO  Europe
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Posted by Minuteman on 12 Jun 2022, 09:47

It seems that re-modelling and enhancing the old Airfix 88mm and Tractor set is popular! Will look forward to seeing this next project as it progresses.

The wartime b&w photos are great reference sources, thanks for sharing. :yeah:
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Minuteman  United Kingdom
 
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Posted by huib on 12 Jun 2022, 13:27

Thanks, MABO and Minuteman!!

Bodywork
After the chassis I continued building the body. Now it´s getting more challenging!

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Airfix´s body baseplate is the starting point.

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The ribs to glue the benches on are sanded flat, the slits for fitting the body sidewalls are filled, and the backpart of the mudguards are cut away. A tabula rasa for the next steps.

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Radiator, hood and bulkhead placed, windscreen removed. Cutaway mudguards filled out using plastic card.

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Now a lot of thinking and sketching. As you can see I try to work with an accuracy of 0,5mm.

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Armour for the radiator and hood.

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Fixed.

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An ammunition locker built from plastic card. And a new discovery: I have to cut away part of the baseplate to fit the ammunitionlocker in the correct position.

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Ammunitionlocker in place.

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And now for the most complex part: the armoured crew compartment. A few loose parts.

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Glued.

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Three more plates fited to the front, and some filler to get everything smooth.

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Crew compartment finished. It won't get glued in position yet.

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A dryfit.

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From behind..

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And a picture to illustrate the relative size.
Well, the structural work has been done. Now up to some detailing.
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by Peter on 07 Jul 2022, 13:10

Very interesting new project! Go on Huib! :thumbup:
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Peter  Belgium

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Posted by MABO on 07 Jul 2022, 13:26

Great scratchbuild again - which is well know here!
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MABO  Europe
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Posted by huib on 05 Aug 2022, 20:32

Thanks Peter and Mabo!

Detailling the upper hull (1)
Due to work, holidays and family activities my modelling almost came to a standstill last month. But now there is a bit of work done that can be shown to you.

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The hull is further detailed with lighting, hatches, handgrips, tools, fire extinguishers, width indicators, etc.

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Next to the ammunitionbox wedges are stored to stabilise the gun when firing from its wheels. Furthermore some more tools and a jack.

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I made the doors of the ammunitionbox opened, showing the shells. Some are used already.

Now I'll continue detailing the armoured cab.
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by Rich W on 05 Aug 2022, 23:58

Huge respect for the patience and attention to detail you have demonstrated!
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Posted by Hobbyinovator on 06 Aug 2022, 11:15

Great work with all the detailing. Also a good job with the figure conversions.
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Posted by Peter on 06 Aug 2022, 16:44

We all knew that you were taking hollidays so we decided to put down the forum for a couple of weeks so we could take some holliday to! :mrgreen: :joker:

Nice details you added! :thumbup:
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Peter  Belgium

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