Here are my two LG40 Recoiless Guns. Turned out quite well, largely thanks to Martin’s airbrush. Must get myself one of those. Had trouble working out the crew since they were just chucked in with everything else. Some of these could be FlaK38 crew but I don’t really think it matters.
Elefant Tank Hunter project
I got two Elefant tanks with my 2nd hand lot of vehicles.
I have stripped them in Simple Green solution and brushed them. (Wire)
Tracks are re-glued on where necessary and the guns. One gun is so well glued on I am not trying to remove it for fear of damaging it. It is noticeable as the previous genius glued it on upside down!
I made up some hatch covers of the one piece variety. Used Milliput™ to sculpt the internal handle.
The other hatch cover was missing on both so I used Milliput™ to make both. Including outer hand holds.
I had putty left over.. Which is a real pain because I can’t stand wasting putty so I usually go-to-town and sculpt something…
In this case I sculpted a lunch on the bonnet on a cloth. Not very war like but I enjoyed it. Looking forward to painting two red streaky apples, black bread and canteen of artificial coffee. I took inspiration from the Battlefront painting guide with Remer with his cup of coffee in hand.
I also added some discarded shell casings to the rear deck of one of the panthers.
Milliput sets as hard as metal so you can file it later and carve any further details that would just mash up when soft.
Panther Platoon – project
Well I started the Panther construction phase in earnest this weekend just been.
Progress was as follows:
3 panthers stripped down in previous week. (Plus 2 Elephants, another story), pulled the tracks off where possible.
Re-levelled the tracks, Massive amount of filling to ensure the tracks sit both level and plumb to the tank body. These tank chassis sit so High that if it is out it does become noticeable.
Especially as one of the tanks has smashed front fender guards. These had to be cut with a modelling pull through saw and then filed gently to avoid taking off the two front lights. This tank is now my special Kompanie command tank.
I then brass brushed the tanks to remove any fine paint still stuck in the zimmerit finishes. Had to use the steel wire brush in some places. A steel brush is extremely harsh and cat practically sand down detail. As I am spray painting these I can afford to be a little heavy. A brass brush used in a circular or criss cross fashion can re-polish the resin surface. You wouldn’t know there was steel passed over it after this.
The exciting bit
Then I opened up my two new Panther blister packs, I was ready to clean then all (which I did later) and glue them all together (which I almost did) … why?
Well tank 2 was delivered with 2 left hand side tracks! Right! had this happen before when I bought a Tiger Tank… sent an email that Sunday afternoon and had a response that night. It is on its way from the Battlefront team as we speak.
So glued all together, AralditeV for the bulk of it but I did use Super Glue for the gun barrels. I prefer the Araldite™ because it is stronger for one (Buildings are built with Araldite™) and it isn’t liquid, which can run over and ruin your surface. (However I use it more later )
Next I chose two Panzer commander figures from my Peter Pig™ range, they are so much nicer than the BatteFront™ tank commanders. I picked a peaked capped one for the Kompanie Commander and a soft cap one for the Platoon Commander. I used some toe nail clippers to cut him at the waist and get a good pose.
As I was short of two commander hatch covers I decided to make the open hatch covers for the commanders. Here is my trick.
I templated the existing covers before gluing them closed on the three tanks (2 in the platoon and 1 in the 2ic tank, which might have no fenders too)
New note 20th May 2010:
New panther track arrived in post today. Wow… BF are great!
I have the track setting on the moel right now. May attempt to prime them tonight.
Reminds me I went to a guys place in Timaru a few years ago. A real student type flat… approched the back door porch and ther on a shelf along with dog lead, and back door gumboots etc is spray can of black minitures primer and white… I mentioned that all wargamers should have primer paint handy at at the back door for that quick job that needs priming.
