Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper (sWS) armoured cargo version (constructing a base part 2)

Before I could add the AK Asphalt texture paste to the raised road section the piece required framing. I had purchased some Oak veneer but test fitting it exposed an issue with the cut of the Styrofoam on one of the sides. I had used a foam cutter, and I had started from what I figured was a nice straight edge. Unfortunately, I didn't spot a couple of wavy undulations in it and adding the veneer would only expose the flaw. So, to plan B and I had just enough Basswood left from a previous project.  These are 1.6mm thick. I marked, cut and added four nice straight side pieces instead. I cut them a tad long so I could sand them square...or as sqaure as I managed to cut the Styrofoam!

 

Once they had cured to the styrofoam with the aid of UHU Por glue, and each other, with wood glue, AK dark mud mixed with tea leaves and scatter was added into any small gaps that were left and blended into the existing terrain.

 

Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper (sWS) armoured cargo version (constructing a base part 1)

My intention was always to display the sWS on a small diorama. I had made some rough drawings before building began and had articulated the front suspension and angled the front wheels for this purpose. This was to be a simple base displaying the vehicle abandoned in a muddy field. It would include a small section of road, a shell crater and a telegraph pole and a single figure.

 

Sketching out the scene it became obvious that whilst the shell crater gave a little narrative as to why the vehicle had been abandoned, adding it would enlarge the size of the base more than I had first intended. To give it more interest I would raise the roadway on an embankment beyond a small ditch.

Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper (sWS) armoured cargo version. (More mud, dust and rust)

 I have started adding volume to the scratches and scuffs and dirt and mud has been added to both the top of the fenders and the load bed area.  Vallejo acrylic black brown was carefully painted into the centres of the exposed primer with a fine brush and enamel rust effects were spotted on with a brush and then blended out. Graphite will be added to edges to complete the worn look in the final steps.

 

Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper (sWS) armoured cargo version. (Pin wash and adding initial weathering effects to the cab exterior and loadbed)

With the running gear weathering complete it was time to work on the cab and load bed. To start things off a pin wash with MIG Neutral enamel was applied followed by adding AK enamel rust over the larger scratches and scuffs. Abtielung grease was added to the load bed. This will be allowed to dry before a second round of pin washes and further effects are added.

Zvezda Mercedes L4500A (Displaying on a diorama)

 After starting to build and paint some accessories I got side tracked, as I often do, so the truck and trailer were relegated to a nice dust free storage box. Early in 2024 I got some inspiration from the most excellent ‘The Army that got away' publication to restart the project. The book tells the story of how 15 Army largely escaped from their Atlantic coast defensive positions after D-Day. Pursued without any real urgency they escaped via the Scheldt estuary pretty much intact.  There is some great info and period images that I’ve never seen before, and it gave me some ideas on how I could finish of this project.

I started building a base that I could display both vehicles abandoned and pushed off the side of the road with GI's rummaging over the booty.

Starting with a long wooden picture frame and some polystyrene I began playing with ideas. Having weathered the underside of the truck with the intention of it being visible I eventually had them both sat in a roadside ditch. The bank behind them would contain a hedgerow and some trees.

 

Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper (sWS) armoured cargo version. (that exhaust muffler)

 

I have completed the visible portion of the exhaust muffler with the brilliant Lifecolor acrylic rust set.  I started with a pinky hot manifold base coat. Next came various applications of the three darkest rust tones, generally adding them lightest first but also going back and forth building up the layers until I felt I was getting somewhere. An extremely diluted lightest rust tone was added over the clamps. MIG smoke pigment was added in and around the end of the pipe.

 

Dragon 6253 1/35 Tiger I Late production (Gun mantlet and metal barrel)

The breech, mantlet and barrel assembly are to be constructed first. Dragon clearly points out the mantlet and muzzle brake options applicable to each variant. The ATAK Zimmerit kit includes two of these mantlet options in resin. The command variant option is the one not included but as this variant deleted the MG, it is easy enough to cover the MG hole on either of the resin options.  The ATAK parts are a perfect match to the plastic parts, so no extra work is required. You get both a plastic and turned metal barrel and these key in to either the earlier large or final smaller type muzzle brakes. 

 

Dragon 6253 1/35 Tiger I Late production (Applying ATAK Zimmerit)

 Skipping ahead of fitting the few interior engine components, I mulled over how best to approach adding the remaining hull zimmerit. The kit's separately moulded side armoured plates will first require fixing to the hull tub sides. Spacing is dictated by some very chunky holes in the hull tub moulding and so they fit precisely, butting up perfectly to the rear plate. Test fitting the zimmerit sheets against these side plates found that they also attach to the sides of the armoured front plate. This front plate is not added for a few more steps and is instructed to be attached to the top plate moulding. I didnt really want to add too many parts before having to handle the model getting the zimmerit down, but ideally I needed to add the armoured plate to the hull tub assembly. Checking over that fixing it to the hull tub would not disturb the build sequencing or impede any other parts placement, it was possible to add it to the hub as long as the glacis plate was fixed in place at the same time. Two glacis plates are offered. One with moulded on front track guards and one without, so you can add the PE ones if you wish.  As the front armoured plate, glacis and bow plate also require zimmerit, I could now attach it all at the same time. The side zimmerit sheets have a myriad of small square holes to open up to fit around moulded on track guard mounting studs and cable fixings. Once opened up the zimmerit fitted really well. Likewise, both front and rear sheets also mated up nicely. There is the inevitable small amount of tidy up to do and a smidgen of putty will be required to mate all four sheets as they meet at each corner but overall, I'm happy with the way it looks.

Dragon 6253 1/35 Tiger I Late production (Build time)

The next step was to decipher the infamous Dragon instructions. Credit to them they do clearly break down the various differences for each of the three variants at each stage, but I still double checked that these were correctly picked out and made additional notes from the David Byrden website. The instructions are ahem....extremely busy, but TBH, apart from a few dubious indicators of parts placement the instructions are general pretty good. Having three variant options on many of the steps makes it look far worse than it actually is. I simply highlighted the parts required wherever a variant choice appeared to keep me on track. I believe there are a few parts mis-labelled, but these are often on mirrored parts that are easy to spot.

The first steps build up the running gear. The lower hull tub is a one-piece affair to which you first add the front tow hook extensions, torsion bars, wheels and rear plate. To take advantage of the adjustable torsion bar engineering you simply guide them through the hull and fix them into the curved grooved slots (simulating the real movement range) in small fixings added to the opposite side. This system allows the torsion bar axle ends to then compress and rebound as they would do on the real vehicle. 

Dragon 6253 1/35 Tiger I Late production (Choosing a vehicle to build)

Knowing very little about the production history of these big cats I’ve turned to the David Byrden website. As mentioned above, for this kit David adds a few pointers to solve a few instruction discrepancies, some recommendations to modify a few small parts,  and advice on how to add a few small additions. Apart from adding the zimmerit, its pretty much all thats required.