I feel the need... for Shake and Bake... Tamiya StuG

[GazzaS]

Hello, friends!

     I've taken a diversion from two rather intense builds for something easier.  However...  there is something I've always wanted to do...  build an AFV with some fenders ripped off.  So, I even took a diversion from shake and bake to do this:

Along the side of the StuG are two pieces of angle-iron bolted to the hull and bolted together.  So, with no fender, I had to create some detail.  Fortunately I have a sheet of Meng boltheads and nuts.

 

It's funny...  once you start doing research....  when you realize just how much detail is left-off by model companies.   Where the brackets holding the fender are ripped off, I'll install some sheared bolts and surround the area previously hidden by the bracket with a facsimile of red-oxide primer.

 

For tracks I have some Friul winterketten.  So...  since I can't seem to find photos of them being used during fair weather, I'll have to do some winter camo, too.

[Bomber_County]

Looking forward to this Gaz, I have a KT in the stash with PE fenders, I was complicating the same .......... ever done a Stug........

[AlanG]

I built a Tamiya STuG IV oob for my first ever armour build. Was so easy to do. Not great detail though. Showing it's age really. But still a very enjoyable build.

Looking forward to watching this one

[belugawhaleman]

14 hours ago, GazzaS said:

Hello, friends!

     I've taken a diversion from two rather intense builds for something easier.  However...  there is something I've always wanted to do...  build an AFV with some fenders ripped off.  So, I even took a diversion from shake and bake to do this:

Along the side of the StuG are two pieces of angle-iron bolted to the hull and bolted together.  So, with no fender, I had to create some detail.  Fortunately I have a sheet of Meng boltheads and nuts.

 

It's funny...  once you start doing research....  when you realize just how much detail is left-off by model companies.   Where the brackets holding the fender are ripped off, I'll install some sheared bolts and surround the area previously hidden by the bracket with a facsimile of red-oxide primer.

 

For tracks I have some Friul winterketten.  So...  since I can't seem to find photos of them being used during fair weather, I'll have to do some winter camo, too.

That's a lot of tiny bolts you've added there! Those Meng sheets are really useful.

I recently assembled the Tamiya Char 1 bis. It went together like a dream! it's been put

aside for now waiting to be painted. I'll get to that------someday.

[AlanG]

Are you going to stick with the rubber band tracks or get a decent set?

[GazzaS]

7 hours ago, Bomber_County said:

Looking forward to this Gaz, I have a KT in the stash with PE fenders, I was complicating the same .......... ever done a Stug........

PE fenders are better because you can put some great, realistic metal bends in them.  I'll look forward to seeing your results.

[GazzaS]

25 minutes ago, AlanG said:

Are you going to stick with the rubber band tracks or get a decent set?

I've got these for it:

[DocRob]

Really like your shake 'n bake approach, with all these nuts, Friuls and PE. What is left out is the Zimmerit. Do you have any plans for that? 
I have a started Dragon Stug IV in my stash, which will be in winter finish too, along with metal tracks, Attack Zim and some great figures, but this has to wait a little before compleation. Meanwhile I take yours as a canvas.

Cheers Rob

[BlrwestSiR]

Nice work Gaz!

You've gone and done it. I've just ordered the Takom Stug III kit. We'll see how that kit is shortly. 

[GazzaS]

6 hours ago, DocRob said:

Really like your shake 'n bake approach, with all these nuts, Friuls and PE. What is left out is the Zimmerit. Do you have any plans for that? 
I have a started Dragon Stug IV in my stash, which will be in winter finish too, along with metal tracks, Attack Zim and some great figures, but this has to wait a little before compleation. Meanwhile I take yours as a canvas.

Cheers Rob

Thank you, Rob!  I'm modelling and early StuG.  Not a specific machine mind you.  But more a conglomeration of pre-zimmerit machines...  without Schurzen.  I have some great photos to work with, but usually only one shot of any given machine.

Like this one:

 

[GazzaS]

5 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said:

Nice work Gaz!

You've gone and done it. I've just ordered the Takom Stug III kit. We'll see how that kit is shortly. 

Thanks mate!  I'll be curious to see your Takom kit.  Does it have Zimmerit?

[BlrwestSiR]

@GazzaS, I just ordered it so depending on what Canada Post does with it it should be here at some point soon. 

I don't think it has zimmerit on it. My understanding is it falls between the Tamiya and Dragon kits in terms of complexity and details. 

 

[GazzaS]

1 hour ago, BlrwestSiR said:

@GazzaS, I just ordered it so depending on what Canada Post does with it it should be here at some point soon. 

I don't think it has zimmerit on it. My understanding is it falls between the Tamiya and Dragon kits in terms of complexity and details. 

 

I have done Zimmerit on a couple Tigers and a Brummbar.  But they use a different pattern than the Stug or Panther...  I may have to break down and get ATAK for those kinds of models.

[GazzaS]

With the warship and the FW under way, I've been slow on this build.  But...  I'm ready for paint.

Otherwise, not very noteworthy.

 

[BlrwestSiR]

Looks good there Gaz. Did you swap out the barrel?

[GazzaS]

Thank you, Carl!  Yes, it's a Dragon one-piece barrel.  It's about 14 scale inches shorter than the Tamiya two-piece barrel and looks a lot less chunky.

 

Gaz

[GazzaS]

Because this will be a winter-white covered StuG, I decided to experiment with Panzer Putty.  I tend to let the dark yellow color dominate.  So, I decided to go the other way.  I'm sure it would benefit from touch up and a filter or two.

[DocRob]

That will look great under a winter camo with some abrasions here and there.

Cheers Rob

[Kaireckstadt]

1 hour ago, DocRob said:

That will look great under a winter camo with some abrasions here and there.

Cheers Rob

Can only copy Rob. The camo you chose is not easy to do with all these corners and edges. But perfectly done up to now! 

[Peterpools]

Gaz

Shake and bake - not in my book

Will be following all the way

Keep ‘em comin

Peter

[GazzaS]

Well...  after an hour of laying more panzer putty, I've a final painted result.  I suffered a little paint lift in an area where I did no sanding.  You can also see where the torn off brackets are. 

 

I'm not overly sure I'll ever go through the process again.  While it prevents over-spray, it also causes lines that don't look natural for something that would have been painted with a paint gun.  I'm hoping a couple filters will soften and blend everything.

 

On this occasion I tried something I never did before:  I thinned the SMS  lacquer paint with Bunning's Diggers lacquer thinner in the purple can.  Seemed to work alright.

 

I also painted most of the mantlet, gun, and bow freehand.  That is because Panzer putty has no adhesive properties.

 

The two blurry photos are what photos look like when I don;t use the tripod.

[GazzaS]

My first attempt at snow using the chipping method.  I decanted some cheap hairspray into an old paint bottle and applied it with my airbrush.

I'm not happy about the over-spray.

They said to work in small areas.

Anyway...  once I get it all on, I'm hoping that regular weathering effects will make it look more realistic.

 

Gaz

[DocRob]

On the first pics, your STUG looks like covered with dark caramel sauce, sweet . I like the resulting camo though and think it's well worth the effort. I worked on a winter STUG project in an early phase as well, with only most of the Zimmerit applied. My plans for the winter camo were to use washable white colour by Ammo of Mig, applied by brush, to hinder overspray. I haven't tested the method until now, but will post the results.
I like hairspray chipping and have used it to my liking on several occasions, but never decanted the stuff. Two or three passes, directly from the can were sufficent, depending on the planned effect.

Cheers Rob

[Bomber_County]

Hmmmmm you guys have got me thinking about my next AFV, looking good Gaz, following your experiments closely...

[BlrwestSiR]

The camo looks good there Gaz. If you're covering the whole tank in white wash, does the but of overspray become that critical? Or are you just whitewashing the lower hull?

Carl