Pz.IV Ausf J. Which one hits hardest? Dragon #6575 or Border Models #BT-008

After finally tracking down Dragon’s elusive #6575 Ausf J kit last year I was curious to know how this well-respected 2012 kit stood up to a much more recent release in Border Models 2019 kit #BT-008. This came out around the same time RFM and Miniart both released Ausf J's, and although manufacturer's moved the 1/35 armour game on to StuG kits in 2021, I thought it would be interesting to do a side-by-side build comparison.

I’ve built a few Dragon Pz.IV variants over the years and although it appears I was fortunate, I have since discovered many turn out to be less than enjoyable to build. Dragon's heyday is very much perceived to be in the mid noughties where they offered not only great value, but produced some of their most accurate and well-engineered kits. Sadly, releases have been thin on the ground since, with what they do offer being re-packaged kits, often with a much-depleted parts count. The rest of the industry has since moved the game on but as we will see there are an alarmingly number of similarities that are proof that the Dragon recipe still remains the gold standard in many departments.

Fiat 626 truck (Victoria Model 1/35 Resin kit) Lost in Normandy

This still remains one of my most pleasurable builds since getting back into the hobby. It represents a Normandy casualty with a battered Opel car dumped on its back.

The truck is an Italian Fiat 626. This is a resin kit made 1/35 Model Victoria. The car is a Bronco Opel Olympia staff car

 

Both kits were built out of the box with subtle damage added to both. The truck screens were replaced with cake wrapping plastic. They were painted in whatever paints I had available at the time. From memory I am pretty sure this included both Vallejo and Tamiya acrylics.

Sd.Kfz 135 Marder I (Tamiya 35370. 1/35)

 

 

Tamiya Marder Sd.Kfz 135 Marder I  

Skoda RSO-Radschlepper Ost (Riich Models RV35005/1:35)

March 2021

 

Skoda RSO-Radschlepper Ost (Riich Models RV35005. 1/35 kit)

 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/riichmodels-rv35005-skoda-rso-radschlepper-ost--136824

 

The strangest of times, self assessment and back to the bench

01 March 2021

With the lockdown restictions many of us have been experiencing it has been a difficult time for all of us and although I have had more hobby time over the last twelve months it has been increasingly difficult to motivate myself.  Now things are looking more positive and Spring is upon us, the creative juices are flowing, and it is time to get creative in the cave again. Whilst away from the bench, I had been evaluating why I had struggled with a few processes and techniques over the last year. Being self-critical is one way I continue to better myself as there is always room for improvement.

Sd.Kfz 247 Ausf B (1/35 ICM)

 ICM Kit # 35110

 

This is a 2020 release and depicts a rare early war command vehicle. Based on the 4x4 Horch it was a relatively short lived operational vehicle, which was quite early on replaced by the Sd.Kfz 250 series. As no vehicle survived the war intact it is quite speculative as to how accurate this kit is, especially in areas of the interior and in particular the radio sets. There are however a few wartime pics of the exterior which ICM overall have managed to replicate. It is unfortunate that the engine cooling louvres are moulded solid and the tyres are rubber items. Some areas such as the weld seams and the mounting hardware on the fenders lack detail and many of the smaller items are overscale. The pioneer tool clasps are moulded on extremely crudely and there is a strange diamond pattern on the floorplate.  What can be commended is the engineering as it all slots together extremely well, especially the main upper and lower sections which left no visible gap along the whole connection.

A full build blog can be found here:  https://www.track-link.com/forums/site_blogs/45766/flat

 

 

Mancave re-shuffle

15 June 2020

It has been almost four years since my little outdoor mancave was built and in this time it has turned out to be a fantastic purchase, fulfilling all my hobby expectations and keeping my other half eminently happier.  Although I would have liked a little more room, the garden footprint available was restricted so it took a little while to figure out how to make the available space work. Up until now it has been relatively easy to update and add a few components here and there, but the time has now come for a complete overhaul.

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