Sd.Kfz 184 Ferdinand (Dragon 1/35 kit #6495) Chapter 1: The kit and the build

 

 

The Ferdinand was a heavy tank destroyer (self-propelled) used by German anti-tank units during World War II. Ninety-one units were built in 1943 under the name Ferdinand (after its designer Ferdinand Porsche) using VK 45.01 (P) tank hulls, which had been produced for the Tiger I tank before the competing Henchel design had been selected.

Following their use at the battle of Kursk, in January to April 1944 the surviving Ferdinands received modifications and upgrades. They were renamed Elefant in May 1944. The official German designation was Panzerjäger Tiger (P) Sd.Kfz.184. 

 

Should you keep your bench tidy? And why I rarely do!

09 October 2019

You probably should yes! Tis all well in theory, and I imagine it is fairly typical that folks clean up after each session. However, putting that into practice time after time, build after build etc is not always possible for me personally. I seem to be far more creative if I don’t continuously tidy up around me. It’s simply a distraction! Sure, I do clean up and when I do its usually out of necessity and will inevitably lead to a mammoth clean up. Although I know deep down it probably would be an easier space to manage without all the accumulated clutter, I’m not fastidious about routines. Being neurodivergent sees to that!

3.7cm Flak auf Fgst. Pz.Kpfw. IV (Sf) "Möbelwagen" Tamiya kit #35237

 

Tamiya 1/35 Flakpanzerwagen IV  'Mobelwagen'  Kit#35237. Kit details

Steyr 1500a (Tamiya 1/35)

 

Tamiya 1/35 Steyr 1500A #35255 with CMK 3013 resin engine set and Eduard photo etch set #35196

 

After having already built Tamiya's Steyr 1500a out of the box, I decided to build another, only this time I would spend a little more time adding a few additional items, such as CMK's engine kit and an aftermarket PE kit from Eduard.

Contructing a simple, cheap, framed groundwork base

Groundwork

I've not attempted too many bases for my finished models, and the ones I have had made have been minimal affairs utilising items I've found about the house. Old wooden name plates and even an Ikea shelf! Not the best looking or ideal material but they have been a test bed and cost me nothing. 

I have been slowly acquiring various groundwork products such as cheap picture frames, clays and sculpting materials, vegetation, ground mats and the like. To date I have only used a few of these materials, and the bases built from them have been very small affairs, showing simple road or track sections. As for buildings I have messed around with a selection of Miniart's vacuum products but didn't get on with them too well!

Sd.Kfz.10/4. Flak 30 & Horch Kfz.15 staff car (Italeri 1/35)

  

The kits

 

Both kits are very basic by modern standards and the detail is not great. There are injector pin marks everywhere and the fold down tarp on the Horch is terrible! As this was just a painting exercise project no PE or aftermarket parts were used, although I did thin a few parts and replace the kit's windscreens in both for a better scale appearance.

2017 Best made plans......

12 June 2017

After posting my intentions earlier in the year to get busy completing the numerous shelf queens, guess what? Procrastination set in yet again! 😳 A bunch of new purchases distracted my plans, and I set about building those immediately!  Models started are Dragon's medical version Kubelwagen, Miniart's Mercedes Typ 170V saloon, and my second Tamiya Steyr 1500A. All are ready for a coat of Tamiya fine primer.

There is a plan afoot I promised myself. After inspiration from a series of photographs, the plan is to display each of these recent builds on a series of interlinking bases showing a stretch of road with a single or several models on each base.

Dragon's relatively old Medi Kubel is a lovely little kit and apart from some additional sculpting of the canvas roof, fitted together painlessly. I found the styrene quite soft so removing small items from the sprue and sanding was very easy. The engine door, driver’s seat and wheels will be left off to aid painting and the all in one clear screen will require some masking on both sides before painting commences.

 

Back to the bench...

08 February 2017

 

It’s been a long 10 months since I touched a piece of styrene and a great deal more since I boxed all my modelling paraphernalia away for the house move. Over the last month I have been steadily getting the man cave operational. Such is the current state of the memory banks I had forgotten about a few purchases I had made since re-locating, which made discovering them again quite a nice surprise! 

Every day's a new day. 🤔

Anyway, the mancave has been up since Aug 2016 and weathering nicely on the outside. It’s only a 3x2m space but plenty big enough for my needs.

  

2015-2016 House move and keeping busy......

Productivity away from the bench 2015-2016

So it turns out I was quite busy for short periods at the (temporary) workstation I resided on during our prolonged house move!  No painting, but under the circumstances I was quite productive!  I started building the Dragon Ferdinand premium kit, an ICM Renault AHN (Lastkraftwagen) and Riich models Skoda RSO Radschlepper. I started the ancient Tamiya Sd.Kfz.7 primemover, Roden’s Opel Omnibus, Tamiya's Tiger I mid production, a Takom Type 2.5 VW crew cab, and lastly I kit bashed a soft skin. This comprised an Italeri ambulance, a Ford V300 chassis, together with Dnepro Model's resin fenders and Einsheitskabine (wooden cab)

 

Sd.Kfz.8 DB10 Gepanzerte 12t (Trumpeter) Chapter 1: Build history

Kit:                 Trumpeter # 01584
Tracks:           Kit indy-link workable tracks
Photo Etch:    Kit photo etch

Aftermarket:  MR Modellbau solid tyred wheels, Eduard fire extinguishire, Notek, jack fixings & 3D printed tool clasps

Start date:      February 2013

This is a kit that I started in 2013 and was about to start painting the exterior when we moved home in 2015. She made it to the new place intact but has sat on the shelf of shame ever since! I am still undecided what paintwork to apply as the box art is not too exciting and I have only seen other completed examples in a simple plain Dunkelgelb. Perhaps as only a few examples ever existed a bit of artistic license can be applied.

 
My original and ancient build blog can be found here Trumpeter DB10 Gepanzert 12T blog

 

The restored vehicle which was rescued from a Polish river. Notice in this image it has the solid tyred front road wheels it was found fitted with.

Chapter 2: Build resurrection