Sd.Kfz.8 DB10 Gepanzerte 12T (Trumpeter 1/35 kit #01584) Chapter 7: Construction completion of the exterior

  

 

Viewing the recovered vehicle a fair chunk of upper body armour plate has been replaced, and weld lines criss-cross the repaired sections. Some prominent welds, such as on the rear plate to the lower body may well be original so it is curious to note the absence of any significant weld lines at all on the kit. And whilst not all the welds may be original, I have decided to add my own in the most visible areas like where the rear plate attaches to both side and lower plates. I have also re-scribed the panel lines as I felt they were too shallow.

 

 

  

 

 

 

The kit supplies photoetch lifting hooks but after adding them to the engine plates I felt they were too one dimensional. I replaced six of them with plastic alternatives from the spares bin. With limited room the two on the rear plate were two kit PE parts stuck together and covered in Mr surfacer.

 

Other kit PE fixings were added. These included the kit front wheel/track guard step wells, track guard to side plate braces, and the jerry can straps. 

 

 

The kit jerry cans do not feature the central bracing so were replace with Bronco items. Although the box art shows small tie-down loops on the upper side plate the kit only moulds the fixing plates, so I added some loops from the PE spares bin.

 

 

The pioneer tools provided in the kit include an axe and spade on the offside engine plate and a pickaxe attached to the nearside. Unfortunately, no PE clasps are provided, and the clasp detail on the tools is crudely moulded on. I decided I will add some of the tools loose to the interior, so empty 3D printed clasps have been added.

 

Eduard 3D printed jack fixings and a Notek light have replaced the kit parts.

 

 

 

 

Copper wire has replaced many of the plastic kit handles.

 

 

 

 

Fixings for a tilt cover are present on both the restored vehicle and the kit and although I can see no evidence as to where the components were stored, I decided it might be interesting to add some of these features. 

The six frame mounts (I presume that's what they are) found on the kit are mounted internally to the top of the side plates, so I plan to scratch build some removeable ones.

There are a few tiny wingnuts to add to the jerry can straps and I might rework the spade head fixing but other than that it's ready for a good clean, then I can get a coat of red oxide primer down.