As the pictures show, I did not only paint it, but I also started weathering the model a bit. Now only the driver, decals and the finish is missing.

Typ 166 Schwimmwagen Interior 1

Typ 166 Schwimmwagen Interior 2

I am not 100% happy with the result, since my hands slipped a couple of times and also the finish is not finished. So, I will take to some of the parts again with some paint. Overall the look is supposed to be a bit rough and used.

Typ 166 Schwimmwagen Interior 3

Typ 166 Schwimmwagen Interior 4

The kit does lack in some details as you can see in some reference images (I posted the links earlier). Some of those little “faults” and shortcomings I think I will be able to rectify, some others not …

Watch this space for further updates in the future …

The Schwimmwagen Type 128 was Ferdinand Porsche’s development based on the Type 82 “Kübelwagen”. It featured all wheel drive, a complete hull (!),  a retractable propeller and was able to do 10km/h on water. Notable is, that the cars, although able to swim where rarely used in the water but where mainly used as ATVs.

For reference I used some internet sites around the Type 166 Schwimmwagen with lots of good pictures:

• http://www.vw166.com/
• http://www.vwschwimmwagen.de/
• http://www.schwimmwagen.co.uk/
• http://www.primeportal.net/trucks/jan_peters/schwimmwagen/

There are various images, starting from restored ones in use, museum ones (not in use) and restoration projects. I think nearly all the detail images erquried to make a nice model out of it are present.

I started this build by painting the lower hull, axles and wheels. Images do vary for the axles between bodycolour and gray or black. I opted for black in this case. next step is the interieur with the wooden floorboards and simple seats. Before mounting it into the floorboard it will be coated with matt varnish.

Body and Wings mockup

Body and Wings seperate

The wing parts did show a bit the age of the kit since there was quite a lot to sand down (especially on the tips). I left all the attachment points for the weapons closed at the moment. Then I started pre-shading the engraved areas, again with the above mentioned dark gray. The cockpit was mounted into the body and again I started preshading in dark gray.

The Body alone

Underside of the Wings

I just finished the first go with the air brush and the RLM76 “light blue” as the base colour of the aircraft.

Frontside of the figures

Backside of the figures

The assembly did go quite easy, like expected since the parts are grouped by figure. Funnily enough, some of the figures where going together like a breeze but others had to be worked (sanded, scraped, etc.) a bit to make them fit. Next will be the painting, I started with the primer on the bodies since the add-on parts will be going on later.

Since i use white primer this is also the time when I see the left over seams best as well, so after this round of priming I can properly rework them.

Frontside of the primed figures

backside of the primed figures

]]> http://www.modelkit-builder.com/2009/09/british-infantry-on-patrol-%e2%80%a6-assembly-started/feed/ 0 http://www.modelkit-builder.com/2009/09/british-infantry-on-patrol-in-135/ http://www.modelkit-builder.com/2009/09/british-infantry-on-patrol-in-135/#comments Sun, 06 Sep 2009 08:17:35 +0000 Klaus Weitzel http://www.modelkit-builder.com/?p=1508 I bought this Tamiya set while we where on a visit in Italy. And, since our neighbours had a long house-warming party I started assembling the figures. The kit consists of 2 bags. The first bag contains the figures themselves. The parts are grouped together by figure. That means no long search for parts. The second bag consists of 2 sprue of the same kind, the accessories. Cool, we will have some leftovers for the spare parts box.

The front of the box

The back serves also the instruction sheet

Overall I think the quality is typical Tamiya, nicely done, well engineered. Only few seams and flush lines needed cleaning before assembly.Due to the fact that the bodies are grouped on the sprue this part of the assembly leaves no questions open unless you want to customise the figures.

The 2 parts bags

And the complete parts

For example you should have left over a Bren Mk. II Machine gun, a Sten Mk. II Machine pistol and a Lee Enfield No. 4 Mk. I Rifle. A couple of small parts like ammo puches and field cups (yes, they are included) and a helmet should be “obsolete” as well.

Here you go with some pictures:

The black painted cockpit 1

The black painted cockpit 2

This was the first time I actually worked with one of the new airbrush since the compressor arrived. I took the one with the 3mm nozzle. Overall a quite satisfying experience, not at all comparable to the crude beginner model I used before. I can imagine doing quite some good work with it.

The black painted cockpit 3

The black painted cockpit 4

Maybe I’ll try out the airbrush with the 2mm nozzle on the drivers head, since I am not satisfied with the current pain tjob … I’ll see.

Left side of the tank

front view

There are a couple of issues with the kit which, if it’s supposed to be a realistic model, need to be “covered up”. As example top hatch for the machine gun position. The opening would need to be turned by 90 degrees for this model or covered up.

right side view

and rear view

]]> http://www.modelkit-builder.com/2009/08/waiting-for-paint-sd-kfz-167-%e2%80%9csturmgeschutz-iv%e2%80%9d/feed/ 0 http://www.modelkit-builder.com/2009/08/sd-kfz-167-%e2%80%9csturmgeschutz-iv%e2%80%9d-in-172-by-trumpeter/ http://www.modelkit-builder.com/2009/08/sd-kfz-167-%e2%80%9csturmgeschutz-iv%e2%80%9d-in-172-by-trumpeter/#comments Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:09:31 +0000 Klaus Weitzel http://www.modelkit-builder.com/?p=1430 You have seen the box art already in my previous post, here you’ll find just a little round up of the different part sprues. For ease of production it seems that Trumpeter is giving you more parts than needed, see for example the wheels. During the build you need 18 but 24 are supplied. Additionally you’ll find that there are a couple of parts defined as “unused parts” by Trumpeter already in the instructions.

All the parts together on one pile

The loose parts

In general the parts are grouped together in a way that you only need to open 1 bag of parts to complete the different assemblies like chassis, hull or drive train. Consider the additional parts as goodies for your parts box or to decorate a little diorama.

Main traction wheel parts, twice the same

loads of wheels ... more than you need

In general the quality of the kit and the parts seem much better the the Revell / Matchbox T-80 B kit that I have started but more on that once I started building (which I did already …).

Upper hull assembly

Turet and guns

Now to me there is only one question left … build it completely like the T-80 and then paint it or paint the parts first and then assemble it.

]]> http://www.modelkit-builder.com/2009/08/sd-kfz-167-%e2%80%9csturmgeschutz-iv%e2%80%9d-in-172-by-trumpeter/feed/ 0 http://www.modelkit-builder.com/2009/08/new-aquisitions-trumpeter-triplets-in-172/ http://www.modelkit-builder.com/2009/08/new-aquisitions-trumpeter-triplets-in-172/#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:01:55 +0000 Klaus Weitzel http://www.modelkit-builder.com/?p=1419 When I saw the prices of these three 1:72 scale Trumpeter kits I just had to get them. That’s why I call them the “Trumpeter Triplets”. As first one I have a M2A2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, then a Sd.Kfz. 182 “King Tiger” with Porsche Turret and a Sd.Kfz. 167 “Sturmgeschütz IV”

All 3 of the Trumpeter Triplets

M2A2 "Bradley" IFV

The Bradley was the one I initially wanted because I read a review in a German modeller magazine called “Modell Fan” which unfortunately is going to stop going into print. I’ll have to find a different one I guess. What I liked about it is that it had “no restrictions about scale or topic” (you know that line, don’t you?). The other 2 I got because with the price it wasn’t worth paying the shipping for a single model. At the end, after having seen them, I don’t regret having bought them!

Sd.Kfz. 182 "King Tiger" with Porsche Turret

Sd.Kfz. 167 "Sturmgeschütz IV"

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