Early hobby builds

 

Carrying out home improvements recently has unearthed a stash of old finished and part finished models, of which a selected few have since been cleaned and re-photographed. Still finding my feet and experimenting with all sorts of new materials, many of these early builds have so many building and paint finish flaws that it makes me cringe to look at them again. But we all have to start somewhere! 

All my early builds were painted with rattle cans before I realised an airbrush was definately the way to go! As I slowly began to accumulate all the necessary basic tools and gained inspiration from other modellers I also made some early attempts at building resin kits, adding photoetch with more and more aftermarket parts. I hated PE until I fairly recently discovered rubberised black CA glues. Although 3D printed parts are slowly taking over, due to its strength and ability to be manipulated PE still has a place in the hobby.

There are many builds I remember being so proud of at the time and I still like to look at them now, but so many of them have rudimentry construction flaws and less than flattering paint finishes. Completing builds without construction gaffs whilst acheiving a consistent paint finish was still a long way off. They might all be flawed in some aspect or another, but they are all physical evidence of my creative journey. May I apologise in advance for some of the terrible photography.

 

In no particular order:

10.5mm Le Fh 18 Howitzer (AFV Club) 

I don’t remember too much about this build other than I'm pretty sure I used the salt method to distress the base coat layer. It also had a terribly miniscule hub to wheel connection, which made the wheels immediately sag and eventually just fall off!

Citroen Traction (Tamiya)

Low parts count and flawless engineering but lacks detail without the addition of aftermarket enhancements. One of the first builds I used the hairspray technique on and it looks to have a much improved pinwash application.

Flak 88 (Tamiya)

I don’t remember even building this one, let alone painting it! It's peppered in shrapnel holes and I've no idea what happened to the kit's vinyl tyres!

Horsch car (Italeri)

Hated the crappy rubber tyres so modelled it abandoned and without them! Most seat cushions and canvas pilfered too!

Kapitan car (ICM)

Lots of tiny parts and typical early ICM brittle plastic, and apart from the front doors, built up pretty well. Spoiled by a nightmare experience airbrushing with Vallejo paints.

Opel Blitz (Tamiya) 

My very first attempt at a wreck. I took this one apart so much I could have filled a shoe box with the shavings!  Just like the early Sd.Kfz.11 furthere down the page I intended to display it on a small base, but it never happened.

Opel Blitz (Tamiya)

My second build of the infamous Blitz kit with the addition of a MIG productions tilt cover. My airbrush settings and paint mix ratios looked to have been OK, as I managed to achieve a nice sharp (slug on amphetamine) camo effect. The resin tilt cover is not a great fit out of the box and I dont appear to have altered it. I like the overall colour tones used on this build and I still enjoy looking at it.

Pak 40 (AFV Club)

I don’t remember much about construction on this build, but I discovered that mixing in some of their clear into the Tamiya base coat colour ensured it both airbrushed nicely and left a satin finish, which avoided the need for an additional flat coat.

Panther G (Tamiya)

My first full tank build after returning to the hobby. Built out of the box in one sitting, then completely ruined with an overly thick application of Tamiya rattle can paint! I continue to use this as a paint mule with it having endured a multitude of experimental weathering effects.

Panzer IV Ausf H (Dragon)

I think this was my first kit that I applied a fairly large kit fret of photoetch. Those infamous Dragon instructions made the mega high part count tricky to navigate. I did struggle, but I remember the fit was generally good. I built it as an abandoned vehicle with a broken track. I utilised the salt method and crudely chipped the paint finish. It was way overdone but added to the worn apperance. Then, during a productive airbrush session with Tamiya acrylics, I left it too long in front of a warm air blower to cure, and the glacis plate deformed ☹ 

Schwimmwagen (Tamiya)

Pretty similar build experience as the Citroen traction above only I then struggled with the airbrush when applying the camo. 

Sd.Ah.57 (Wiener Moddelbau)

This was my second resin kit and although it is quite a simplified rendition of the real thing, it built up well and much approved upon the inaccurate flak ammo trailers offered in the Trumpeter Sd.Kfz.7 kits. I never quite managed to fully iron out the wonky resin panels using hot water, but an enjoyable experience was had painting with Tamiya acrylics. Employed hairspray chipping and looks like some early work with oil paints too.

 

Sd.Kfz.7 KM11 (Trumpeter)

This was my first go at what I now know is widely accepted as a challenging kit to build. Looking at it now, with the screen sat on the bench and the engine and front bodywork panels missing, I probably should have left it in the box. Not for a beginner this one. 

Sd.Kfz.8 DB9 (Trumpeter)     

Started off well but a new paint before construction method trial I adopted backfired. Fixing glaring part fitment flaws after paint did not turn out well. Woes were compounded with less than inspiring results airbrushing with Mr Hobby lacquers for the first time!

Sd.Kfz.10/4 Flak 30 (Italeri)

Simple engineering and bulky detail meant this was always going to be an 'inbetweener' quick fun build. Spoiled by some dodgy looking paintwork results attributed to lack of knowledge and consideration for airbrushing in very high ambient temps.

Sd.Kfz.11 early version (AFV Club)

Apart from the vinyl tracks this was a nice little build as I recall. In fact, I still have a tiny plastic tub containing all the blown off parts which were intended to be spread about a debris field on a small vignette. Alas, that never materialised, and it sits as a standalone 90% finished build. The salt technique worked pretty well depicting shrapnel damage onto the paintwork, and this was my first time using the excellent Lifecolor rust paint set.

Sd.Kfz.251/17 Flak 30 (Dragon)

Another very early build. Had fun with this one but never got around to adding a lovely resin Africa Korps flak crew I purchased. This was originally base coated in an early Tropen scheme so I'm pretty sure I practised airbrushing these late tri-tone camo colours on it at a later date. 

Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf C  (Cyber Hobby)

This was my first serious attempt at adding an aftermarket engine & interior, and it all started so well!  The build was soon hindered as it became obvious that the Verlinden resin set was overscale. I also used Friul metal tracks for the first time. The kit upper and lower hull was not a great match either so I ended up puncturing a hole through one side! I then tried but ultimately failed in displaying a burnt-out interior but by then it was too late. The airbrushed Vallejo paint went down surprisingly well as I recall, but I see I had neglected to remove a myriad of  optional part witness marks on the upper hull exterior beforehand ☹ I then unwittingly added SS insignia decals together with a Wehrmacht licence plate which pretty much summed up the project. First half was promising. Second half turned to shit!

Sd.Kfz.251/9 (Stummel) Ausf D (Dragon)

One of Dragon’s many flawed 251 versions with the kit omitting many vital parts and detail. It also had some glaring inaccuracies. I had a first go at a soft edged tritonal camo which came out OK only to be spoilt by a careless application of weathering effects.

Steyr 1500A  (Tamiya)

This is an old kit now but still a beauty to build and I've made two of them to date. This first one included an aftermarket stowage set taking up most of the rear. To this day the steering wheel and driver remain curiously absent!

This second Steyr build came much later and included a resin engine and photoetch set. This is displayed with a medivac Kubelwagen on a small base but remains unfinished and currently resides on the shelf of possibilities😊

Tiger II (Tamiya)

My second ever tank build after the Panther G. Again built in an over zelous one daily session, and again ruined with a glutinous application of Tamiya rattle can paint. It remains another handy weathering effects mule.