Here are a few photos of the Rail Gun Dora that I'm working on.
The problems with this model is "how to build so that I can paint it then assemble the major pieces without damaging the paint and weathering?"

Enjoy the photos. I will be sending new photos during the next few weeks so come back and comment often.

Tom Moon

The main assembly in dry fit. King Tiger to show size


Lower end of barrel with some of the rail car


Track bed with upper end of barrel


Over all look at the track bed - Almost 7 feet long


Close up of the breech block

My friends have also acquired that same kit. However, we plan to do it as a group build. How are the parts? do they fit well? any problems with the build and moulding? I'll be following this thread closely. Good luck!

Looking good! Keep us posted!!

SImply terrific!
Great start!

wow, look at that size of the gun, great looking. where are you going to keep it when you finish the model?

I am in the process of building mine as I type.I found painting the lower bogies,the"bridge" thing for them seperately,then joining them is the way to go.
I have gotten as far as the upper trunion sections,


and painted those last night.Leave off the railings around the sides,its easier to spray paint into the nooks and crannies.
Also,pull out the bags you need for a certain step,then replace it once you have cut off and assembeled the parts you need.
I am thinking of makin a mask,for the railroad ties.That way I can paint the ballast,then put the mask over the tie to spray them.

Hey Tom-

Baker here - lookin' good buddy. Gimme a call and we can talk about your painting problems I might have a few ideas. I just went through the same sort of problem with a large ship commission I recently finished. CYA buddy!

So far the fit has been fairly good. There are seams to remove and gaps to fill and ejector pin marks to fill or remove.
I highly suggest that you dry fit all major components and the accessories before gluing.
The catwalk and railings for the upper portion of the mainframe will not fit because of the munitions handling platform.
On the munitons handling platform there are two strips that are to be laid in after attaching (with screws) the platform to the mainframe and one side will not set flush with the platform.
There are several mistakes in the instructions
Page 31 step 17 refers to part M6 - it should be M11.
Page 22 step 7 has two R26 parts to be attached. The right hand one is shown correctly, the left hand one is pointing to the wrong spot.
There are two slots molded into the mainframe L2 and L1 but no corresponding part is shown glued into that slot.
I will probably use one of the small triangle piece B2 to fill that hole.
Be carefull with Parts T13 and O44, handles on the breech block. They will break off if you look at them hard.
Page 30 Step 16 There are two large wheels G8 are shown attached to the frame L8 but when you actually get the parts together there are no locating pins or marks. You have to guess where they go.
Page 34 step 24 the travel block is shown with only one wire holding it up. This block probably had four wires and maybe even a 5th so to make it look good and a little more accurate this should be modified.

If you run into any other problems let me know so I can document them for the next build.

Tom Moon

I'm in deep negotiations with my wife. She says garage, I say new fireplace mantle large enough to hold it.
We are still far apart on a settlement.

However, I may place it on the eBay market to see what I can get for it.

Tom Moon

Let me know how the mask system turns out.
I want to finish this by Mid August and you can help speed things up.

Tom Moon

Tom,I plan on keeping the rails out of the ties for painting.
1.paint the ballast,if it sprays onto the ties,no problem.
2.cut a STENCIL the size of a tie,and have a large border to cover surrounding ballast
3.Paint ties,low presure
4.paint the spike pades with a dark rust,by hand or a/b
5 Slide in rails
6 Mask along both sides of a railf ,ull length, to protect ties and ballast.
7.spray rails the same dark rust.
8.when dry,clean top of rail where wheel would wear on it.
9.apply very dark wash on ballast.

So I can assume, then, that the tank and truck models in your pics are 1/72 scale, right?




Just kidding. I'm trying to get up the courage to start my Dora. I'm still gazing fondly at the box.

There's a post in T-L under the "Modelling Forums - Kits" that the length of the barrel is about 33cm too long.

that is awesome!!!
please keep us posted!!
Ron

Every time I see photos of one of these being built, I stare in amazement at its size. Looking good so far, and hopefully you will keep us posted on the progress.

Tom,I saw the slots you mentioned,I think.If you remember part B6 going onto all those "boxes" on the upper trunnions,there are 2 similar boxes on the lower section.



And 1 hidden box higher up on the upper trunion section.Did you catch that?


As for teh barrel length,I will mock mine up,and try to photograph it from the same angle as the real photograph of all the soldiers looking at the complete gun.if the kit lengthh looks long I will edit my picture,and see how a shorter barrel looks.I am thinking the picture is shorter than what is supplied.

I did miss that! Thanks for solving my problem.
The last three nights I have been filling the ejector pin marks on the rail connectors. There are three pin holes per connector and there are 24 connectors. I should be finishe with them tonight and will start putting primer on most of the pieces. By Sunday I will have new photos to display.

Have you started any of the access ladders that come in two halves and are glued together? If not you may want to spend some time dry fitting them before gluing. If not you may have some distortion of the side rails and some gaps in the steps where they join together. I can fix the gaps but it still takes additional time.

Regards,
Tom Moon

I have been assembling the ladders for the first part of the lower sides.They align good,and I haven't had bend issues.
I noticed part of one of the attachment legs ahd broken,from being in and outr of the bag so much.But I have round styrene stock that I can use for repair.

Truly impressive.. the sheer size of this model would get me kicked out of my apartment!

I think my cat would move into the her new home.

Fernando,
The main box is big enough to use as a dog house.

This kit really amazes me.

I have no desire to build one, but I cant help staring.

Also,Tom,
I hoped you noticed,B-9's in every mounting on the sides.Ref the real pictures of the sides.I usd my Optivisor and loupe on that to look close.I think it is 74 parts.
Each side
mmhmm

This was discussed in another thread and it seems that the gent who posted that comment had measure the barrel included the breech which had put his measurements out. I've compared mine to the various historical pics and it looks OK - also I would be amazed if Soar Art got something as basic as that wrong considering the investment they must have in this monster.

Gents. I got my Dora kit a few days ago. Man, this thing is GIGANTIC ! I will be watching this thread (and a few others) closely. My big question right now is, are there any good online sources for wartime photos of the Dora ? (other then YT). All I have for references is the Squadron book on WWII German Railguns. Other then that, all I have are a few well-known shots, but they lack any detail that would be usefull in building this fantastic model !

Cheers !!

Robert

Yes, I noticed the B-9 handwheels. I did assume that more than the 4 shown in the instructions were to be placed on the model.
I'm planning to paint the mainframe first, do the wash and dry brush to highlight the bolt heads that are easily viewed with the handwheels installed prior to installing the handwheels.

Thanks for the headsup.
Tom Moon