Just started building Trumpeter’s E-10 for the World War Two Experimentals Campaign.


Overall a somewhat odd looking vehicle. After looking at it for a few days I decided those giant road wheels needed to be “in action” to give the kit a more animated look. So…


Step #1 the Suspension Arms. Very poor fit (had to cut off mounting lugs and sand mating faces smooth and still gaps). Putty and sand, putty and sand. White discs are some sheet plastic I punched out.



Step #2 Mount Suspension. The suspension arms have a D-Shaped lug, left that on but drilled out the mounting holes. Inserted arms and glued discs to rear. Result: movable suspension arms.

Drilling out D holes. LOL





There up.



There down.




Normally I would not start the base this early but this needs it to set the wheel locations. Cut an oval out of rigid foam insulation. Added some scrap styrofoam for height. I like to use that – keeps the dio light. Red line will be the face of a building (going to carve a quick one out of drywall).








NEO

Although I'm not into paper-panzers, this one looks very interesting so far. I like the idea of wheels in action... Thanks for sharing.

i was thinking of giving my E10 a working suspension , hope you don't mind if i use you method , looking forward to your next post .

Thanks guys, feel free to use whatever you need – glad to help.


Day Two


Only a little progress on the kit – concentrating on the base today. Won’t do much more – want the model to be the focus.








Mounted the road & control wheels. I’m using the rubber band track to set the suspension and I’ll replace them w/ the individual link ones for the final build. I’ll set the suspension to the elevations and grades on the dio base, and I’ll glue the control arms in place. I’ll set a bolt or nut thru the floor of the model before I seal it up to hold the kit to the dio. base.








NEO

Hi Neo. Good work on the suspension. Really gives this an edge and a sense of action. A suitable figure in the turret, holding-on tightly, will also add to this effect!

Great progress, Neo… Unfortunately, it seems to me that the view on the side of the vehicle with significantly more track “action” is actually obstructed by the wall. The other side (with the clear view) doesn’t look that dynamic. I think your effort deserves to be seen. Just an observation…

Thanks for the feedback guys – Great minds think alike – LOL

I’ll definitely add a figure (maybe yelling “watch out”) and I chopped the wall in half.


Day Three

Not much accomplished (SYMBO required dinning out).

I did get the suspension fixed in place. This is only my second time using individual link track so I wanted to make it easy on myself.






And lowered the building wall to allow a better view of that side of the vehicle.




NEO

Working hard (slowly) on this one...
:|

Another missed campaign deadline - but I will finish some day !

Base painted and done.







Some minor interior work (hatches will be open).


Suspension in action (paint bottle for weight).



Upper structure and first crewman.




More to come - but I will finish some day !
LOL

That suspension in action is really well executed. Certainly keep it up!

looks really good to me!

keep the work going and let us see how the final result looks like ...

Thanks for the encouragement guys.


More photos to follow...

Three day weekend and this is all I could get done:

Kit came w/ plastic tow cables so I made up my own and a PE mount. I moved these to the rear like a Hetzer (the kit called for them to go on top).

wow great suspension! im watchin this with great intrest!

Last update before paint.

Left and right sides:



Lot of add's in the rear:


Added commander figure ( MiniArt self-propelled gun crew)


My first time using MiniArt figures - I am loving and hating at the same time.

Nice head and arm/hands, lots of folds on uniform to shadow BUT...
no detail on hats, collars, belts, medals, (if you can call a round blob of plastic a detail) etc...
AND figures not whats shown on box. I bought this because the commander is yelling in the box art but he has blank expression on the molded head.

Small update - finished base coat of camo and started on tools (no weathering on the upper surfaces yet). Had a seam open up on the rear plate - had to add a quick weld bead repair.

It's good to see this build advancing.