Jeff, no disappoinment, it's not that.
I know when real life gets in the way..
Just build what you can when you can

Take care Jeff !!

I see no activity here for the past 2 weeks but I did pull my kit out of the stash and hopefully will be starting soon

Lots of stuff in this box for a little vehicle may bring this 1 on vacation in 2 weeks and build it there

Nice kit Sal !!!

Got that one too, still in the box.
Another Turbocharged-Build ?

Is that a metal gunbarrel ?
Those tracks will give me a headache for sure ...

Just have tons of fun on your plastic-vacations !!!

Yes a metal barrel yeaaaaa and 11 different paint marking options
Magic tracks won't get built on vacation
Vacation will be up north in Maine, some hiking and outdoors stuff and lots of lobster and

So... Vacation... And no Magic Tracks will get built... And lots of lobster and beer...(YUMMY you lucky dog, you!)

Didn't you really mean to say that no MagicTracks will get built on beer,right? I KNOW I would stay well away from building such on beer were they mine! Heck, I'm lucky if I even open my brought-along travelkit to look at the stuff therein, let alone actually try to build anything when on vacay!

PS: Actually, the Tamiya Marder I am building (slowly) for this campaign is a long-time traveling build kit which I promised myself I would do as an in-the-hotels project while on biz travel... it saw more airports and hotel rooms than most kits, I'll bet. But NEVER EVER a sprue-cutter, Xacto, or cement-bottle! So the old spinster finally made it to this campaign and has enjoyed life! (And yes, this campaign has been quiet - I'll be posting my progress in the next couple days )

Cheers! And don't let the lobster and beer overwhelm you!

Bob

I have also started with my Marder build. As this will be my first WWII build other than a submarine or plane, I have opted for a cheapo kit:



The Tamiya Marder II, A '70s kit. But reviews tell me it is still a good one, even for todays standards.




Various parts of the gun, fresh from the sprue.



Started working on the gun barrel.


When I'm done with this, it will be going into a diorama. This is also a first for me so lot's of new stuff to try out. I'll keep you posted

Welcome Jeroen!

That is the same cheapo kit I am going to start... right after the V-2.



~ Jeff

Finally got back to work on my Marder I. Fruil tracks are together, Blast update parts going into the interior.

Those tracks really make it come alive, huh.



Jeff

Nice job Ryan !

Ryan the Fruil tracks really look good but I'm to cheap to put down the $$$ for those
Ok I took my build on the road with me to Maine and was able to get most of the lower hull assembled


but I noticed that the drive gears sit too high

I thought the upper hull would just fit over them
Then I took the kit on the road again to Pennsylvanian and got a lot of work done on the upper half


does anyone have a suggestion on what do to with the drive gears or should I just trim them down

Sal;

Out-of-place final drive units...

My opine; Just cut those boogers off and throw them away! You have already closed the inspection hatch on the front deck, so... they won't be seen after you assemble the beast. Don't let them get in the way and hold stuff up!

Bob

Some progress on my marder 39H.

Ryan: how much is included in the Blast set, is it worth buying. I think that you have more Marders in your stash that I have.

Hey Cam. The Blast set includes a bunch of interior improvements, engine, driveline,etc. fighting compartment stowage,radios, ammo bins, breech block, muzzle brake. Also exterior stowage stuff. Well worth buying. Funny how the $20 Trumpeter kit ends up costing $100.

I remember saving up my pocket money in the early 80s to buy this model, only cost about £6 which seemed like a kings ransom at the time! I look forward to seeing your build, so I can wallow in nostalgia

Hi everyone,

Holiday's time, marder's time : here is my new baby, a Marder IIIH from Dragon.

Well with the complaetion of my T-54B just around the corner it is almost time for me to pull out the Marder. I will be using the same Dragon kit as Sal.

Gary you are gunna get sick of me asking you questions during the build, as this will be my first ever build using Magic Tracks . My shelves consits of 11 x 1:35 WWII models, that just happen to resemble one of my garages in World of Tanks, but not one of those previous 11 tanks have had Magic Tracks.

I have my Blu-Tac ready to position the road wheels, and be able to remove when complete, as per your method for your awesome build. This will be started in the next day or two. Just have the paintwork to finish on the other tank.

Okay well I finished the T-54B tonight , so figured that tonight was as good a time as any to start the Marder





The start of the lower hull, put together minus Road Wheels

Arn P.;

Hi! Kicking off with a Dragon III-H, I see!

And, from the looks of things, you have made big progress towards Marderdom How I wish I could make as much progress!

I did see something that I hope is only a pause during partial assembly - but I'll mention this just in case to forestall an error which I think arises from much modeler enthusiasm and discussion without as much careful background...

It's the fenders and their braces. In particular, you have two braces - one on either side adjacent to the driver's front plate - which appear to be detached and floating over those fenders.

I would guess, seeing what looks like fenders bent down on both sides, that you are striving for some depiction of that fabled "38(t) fender-bend / tilt / sag" look.

History does document in many pictures that 38(t) fenders did often get bent and often appeared to sag - sometimes remarkably soon after the vehicle entered service! The fenders were evidently made of rather thin sheet-metal - as evidenced in part by that longitudinal ribbing stamped into them to impart some additional strength. And they did sag.

BUT - they very very seldom sagged at the points where those angled braces were. Those were there specifically to hold the flabby things up. Short of ripping the brace off at the hull end, or tearing it off the fender (leaving holes in same), it would need some ferocious bending to get it to sag and allow the attached fender to do so at that point. So, what seems to happen is that the fenders warped and sagged BETWEEN the braces - almost like track runs sagging between return rollers.

Also we need to bear in mind that the fenders were actually attached to the hull-side, so could not sag along that attachment line...

So what we really are trying to show is a fender which has bent or sagged down along its outer edge between adjacent braces. It's not a sag like in a ribbon slung between two things, but a rather more complex twisting-down along the outer edge only.

So... my suggestion is to curve and sag the fenders between the mounts / braces, and make sure that those braces are attached out to their ends - that, or damage them (and the fender) to indicate whatever brutal separation you are wanting!

Just a suggestion!

Bob

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your comment !

You're right : the driver's plate isn't glued ... it was just placed for the photo.

I'll glue it after painting the interior.

Arn

First efforts with PE haven't been exactly spectacular. I have fat fingers, and no magnifying glass. So I am combining PE parts and non-PE parts to get a good look, without stuffing this up too badly







Thanks for checking out my boring updates

Looks like Brad and I are building the same kit and your PE is looking fine
I have made some progress as I used this kit for my test bed of AK Primers that I received for review and it looks as the thinned Tamiya paints adhered well and covered smoothly

The figure was hanging around the workbench so I figured I would use him here

I also added that extra case to that back found that in the spare parts box

I still have to work on the Magic tracks and paint up the radio, tools and other things

Well in between helping my 9yo son with his 1:72 Churchill Crocodile, and RAF Battle of Britain sets, I have made some good progress this weekend.







As you can see, I am going for different camo to Sal. I will be doing a Winter camo, over the Dark Green. I may also get some cotton wadding, and drape some camo off it. This was the initial quick undercoat. I am happy so far, even though my skills are far from the great work I see on this site everyday

Well with real life finally out of the way, I can update where I am at with my Marder II









Can't say I am entirely happy with it. Comments are appreciated.

I think I am going to have to weather it, which will be another first for me. Think I need to go to the LHS and see what they have. Although funds are tight, as I am about to fly out for USA in less than a fortnight.