Early hobby builds

 

Carrying out home improvements recently has unearthed a stash of old finished and part finished models, of which a few have since been cleaned and re-photographed. Still finding my feet and experimenting with all sorts of new materials, many early builds were painted in rattle can base coats! There are a few early attempts at adding resin and photoetch aftermarket parts. I hated the stuff until I finally discovered the rubberised black CA. There are a few builds I am still proud of, and I still like to look at them, but there are also some terrible builds with some shocking construction flaws and paint finishes. Getting a consistent paint finish without any construction gaffs 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 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 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. I was getting to grips with much improved pinwash applications with this one.

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 below 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 never altered it. An early model I still enjoy looking at.

Pak 40 (AFV Club)

I don’t remember much about construction on this build, but I recall that the Tamiya base coat went down nice and smooth by mixing in some of their clear.

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 receiving a multitude of experimental weathering effects.

Panzer IV Ausf H (Dragon)

I think this was my first kit that I applied a large amount of photoetch on and those infamous Dragon instructions made the mega high parts 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 and it was way overdone. Then, during a productive airbrush session with Tamiya acrylics, I left it too long in front of a warm air blower to cure the paint. It deformed the glacis ☹ 

I carried on and tried to hide my lazy error as I was so pleased with the overall effects.

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 it much approved upon the inaccurate flak ammo trailers offered in the Trumpeter Sd.Kfz.7 Flak kits. I never quite managed to iron out the wonky resin panels using hot water, but an enjoyable experience was had painting with Tamiya acrylics. Early hairspray and possibly oil work 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, 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 construct and paint method adopted backfired. Fixing glaring build/kit flaws after paint did not turn out well. Woes were compounded by inexperience airbrushing with Mr Hobby lacquers.

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 camo colours on it at a later date. 

Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf C  (Cyber Hobby)

This was my first serious attempt at adding aftermarket accessories and it all started so well!  The build was soon hindered by an overscale Verlinden resin engine and interior parts set. I also used Friul metal tracks for the first time. Unfortunately, the upper and lower hull was not a great match, 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 witness marks on the upper hull exterior beforehand ☹ I unwittingly then added SS insignia 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. The first included an aftermarket stowage set taking up most of the rear. To this day the steering wheel and driver are still curiously absent!

The second was built much later and included a resin engine and photoetch set. This one is displayed with a Kubelwagen on a small base with but remains unfinished and currently resides on the shelf of possibilities😊

Tiger II (Tamiya)

My second ever tank build after the Panther G. Built in one session and again ruined with an overzealous and glutinous application of Tamiya rattle can paints. It remains another handy weathering effects mule.