For those who need to post photos in the Gallery, here's the link:

Anti-Aircraft Gallery

Kevin: Great start. I think the base is just right. Some rubble and a crew is all you need now.

Happy Modeling, -zon

Some progress. Getting the tracks together. I like the "Magic tracks". I always thought the worst part of Indy link tracks was the cleanup. So far this kit is going together quite nicely. I've noticed the detail is quite refined when compared to the Tamiya Marder III M I've been working on.

@Kevin:

Hi! The 3.7cm Flak 43 was a relative late-comer to the war - series production and field issue actually pretty much started up only in Spring of 1944. Also it was relatively rare and perhaps fewer then 1050 were produced and fielded all-up. It did apparently serve on all 1944+ fronts, with the majority being in mobile mounts (vehicles).

So... Paint schemes would be those of the carrier vehicle (probably, as this was from early 44 on, ALL base-coated in dunkelgelb), with gun-shields camo'd or not. There are not apparently a whole lot of pictures of these things and fewer still of towed guns in-tow or on the ground. Of these, it looks like most towed guns were not camo'd. There are pics of mounted guns on sWS and other big half-tracks showing that shields were at least sometimes camo'd - with the prevailing rotbraun, olivgrun, etc. over the dunkelgelb.

Note that the barrel was a changeable item, and these were probably not camo'd or even painted - probably some version of a dark gray or metal black would be appropriate.

So go my thoughts on this one!

Bob

Thanks very much Bob. I'd like for it to at least be somewhat accurate, and what you suggest as a possibility sounds great.

Incidentally, I found a great walk-around on the Flak 43, and it seems that the Italeri kit is very accurate, (for the most part anyway).

http://www.primeportal.net/artillery/yuri_pasholok/3.7_cm_flak_43/index.php?Page=1

Jeff B. That thing looks BAD A$$!!!

Im liking the 1/16th quad flak gun....bet Jeff S. is DROOLING!

Great progress Ryan....tracks look nice.

Fellas, Ive been side tracked doing a Napoleonic Bust figure. Will be done soon and ill jump right back on the 7/2!.

Cheers,
Gary

Got the clips partially painted. Colors may or may not be right, but I'm OK with it.

I tried my hand at replacing the molded driver's hatch mesh screen with some real screen material. The weave may be too course, but it looks better than the original.

I also found it easier, and safer for the thin plastic parts, to assemble the cannons and drill out the barrels with the barrels still on the sprue tree.



Next up--add some detail to the guns and install the smoke dischargers and she'll be ready for paint!

Keith

Looking good Keith.

All sub assemblies (minus shell collection mechanism), are done, and ready for paint.

More details on the Gepard. Removed the blob of plastic from the tow device and inserted a metal rod, replaced the handles with wire, adjusted the turret hoist points about 45 degrees, added gun details, used some straight sprue to make the search antenna removable, and other minor details.





Keith

I'm having lots of fun here. This is the preliminary debris field for the base. Once all this is dry, I'll add the next layer. (I'm a total amateur at this.)

I spotted a few bolt heads that Italeri hadn't added, so I went ahead and took care of that. I also doctored up the gun a tad, as I wasn't happy, in particular, with the brace behind the shield. I also finished building the spent shell bin framework, which, as it turns out, won't fit on the model! (I figure I screwed up something.)

Not much to report here..a few coats of paint, and waiting for the fun part. I did find out that painting gloss white ( missiles) requires numerous coats of thin paint ! The color took forever to build up, but looks sharp!

Ryan- your builds coming along great, the tracks look perfect!

Keith- the Gepard details are looking good! I love the 35mm cannons .

Kevin- thats your 1st time building a scene ? looks awesome, w the rubble and debris! Your Flak 43 will look amazing on the base!

Not the first time Jeff, it's just that I've seen so many that are better at it than myself. I just sort of stumble along, making it up as I go. I hope it ends up looking cool too.

Base coat (Tamiya XF-59), showed up several small errors that will have to be addressed. Tomorrow, I'll correct those things best that I can, then repaint.

Lots of progress guys.

Kevin, really like the base.

little more progress... interior painted up - thinking the weathering is a little hard but you wont see much... sort of getting there with it but a lot to improve on. Also all the running gear primed & painted (using Vallejo Model Air German Grey)...

I seriously thought about what you suggested, but I don't dare add figures for two reasons, I can't paint them worth a darn, and if I add figures, it'd throw this into the diorama category. Here in St Louis, it isn't all too uncommon for Lewis Pruneau to show up and enter that category, so I think I'm better off to just display it as a stand alone piece.

Time to get cracking on this one.

The first thing I did was move the sprues to a two-piece box. Then I jumped ahead to start on the hull. It's a multi-piece lower hull...which I have a strong dislike for. My kit was warped so I dislike it a bit more.


Creative clamping ensued.


And tape.


I stepped back to assemble the roadwheels. Nothing really out of the ordinary.


While the hull set up, I decided to jump ahead to the Stinger Missile launchers. Not a big issue. They required some clanup, but went together okay.


Dried, I removed the tape and checked the fit. It'll need soem filler.


Anyway, that's where I am at now. I'll start on adding the suspension and running gear next. And I'm taking Paul's suggestions with the road wheels. It's a tiny vehicle with a lot of pieces and parts. And for those looking, it is smaller than a post card...hint hint.

Keith, the mess screening looks way better then the molded kit part. Nicely done.
Joel

just a quick update - wheels painted and bogey/wheel construction done... placed on for the photo



also built the jack block and fire extinguisher (Dragon/Tristar kit bash - the Tristar extinguisher didnt have the cradle that the Dragon one did)

next stop



INDI LINK TRACKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

found the following photo

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i319/LeungKwokOn/Marco-PA-Forum-Pictures/FlakPanzer/FlakPanzer-12.jpg

which shows a crew sitting on the front of a Pz1a flak... also shows 3 rows of spare track (can be done)....

any thoughts on figures I could use to depict these 5 crew? lookign around, any "at rest" seem to be later in the war or more "formallY" attired....

thanks