I usually let the Future dry about 24 hours before handling, but I only let it dry for 3 hours this time to see what would happen. Applied the decals, all 4 of them, with Solvaset. The Future turned milky white until the setting solution dried and then cleared up, still, I'd recommend letting the Future cure for a day before applying decals. Some testors Dullcote in the rattle can went on next in preparation for the rest of the build and weathering.

Before mounting the gun, I gave the casemate side of it some weathering with brown, black and gray washes. This is the first time I'm trying gray wash, just mixed up some white and black oil paint to give it a shot. Then a little graphite pencil, well maybe quite a bit of graphite! The gun is a tight fit so support the fighting compartment sides while coaxing it into place. The engine compartment hatches need to be installed after the gun placement due to the curved shields.

I also tried the gray wash on the roadwheels, I like it on the rubber tires, but I applied it much to heavy on the wheels themselves and will need to 'wash' most of the wash off! I also added a support for the engine hatches with some styrene stock to keep them from falling inwards.

Not much of an update but that's where she stands at this point.







Thanks for stopping by

Well,well,well......this build log ended up nothing as I had hoped! Life seemed to have grabbed me and only left bits of build time, and as a result not much progress was captured on film. It didn't seem that I was accomplishing much and then all of a sudden I was done.

One of the items that was noted on PMMS by Terry, and can be seen on reference photos, was the spacing under the front travel lock. Since this needs to stay loose to mount it on the barrel, I popped it off and filed/sanded the bottom a bit to give a little more gap.



Still unsure of how I wanted to finish this one, I assembled the Magic tracks and finished installing the bits and pieces. Then it was just a matter of painting the on-board tools and doodads.





Decided to give mud a try, so mixed up some Warpigs pigments, Migs acrylic resin, plaster and a little static grass. Liked the look and decided to go with it, and glad I did......as I was putting the track on the left side I tightened the idler a bit too much and blew the track apart. I glued them back as best I could and let the mud cover as much of the mistake as possible. I left the rest of the weathering very light, to my standards, with just some light acrylic washes. Anyway, she's done.........











Thanks for looking

A very good model.It just keeps you looking at it.

Nice to see this one cross the finish line James! The detail of the wire through the tarp loops is a nice touch.

Thanks Nick, appreciate the compliment!

Bill, the way this one seemed to go I'm glad to see it finished too! I wanted the build log to go better with the review, thought I should at least show it complete! Not sure if they used the loops for camo wire on these, but thought it'd look cool. Thanks!

I like the subtle green camo stripes, they're just right. Nicely detailed fighting compartiment ! The mud is very realistic. G.

I also like your paint scheme, not too much, not too little. Your detailing is incredible. Thanks for sharing

Nice job on looks to be a complicated kit.

I guess trying to out do Tamiya on there's but a little late in the game I feel.

Guy, Thomo, Jeff...thanks for the comments, very much appreciated

Never too late for another 38(t), Jeff

James, very nice build. I just purchased this kit a couple of weeks ago. Does anyone have info on crew uniforms for 12 SS in Normandy?

Nice finish on your Marder James. I really like the camo on this one. Those simple lines add a nice sudlety to the subject. Well done.

Thanks Mike, you should enjoy building it.

Jim, where have you been? Where's your beautiful Tiger? Good to see you around and thanks for the comments

the next to last set of photos, the pictures taken from above and behind the gun, there is a flat plate and two rods visable. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/RandWvette/IMG_2802.jpg

I believe these are supposed to be glued into the bottom the the gun and the two rods should travel through a plate with two holes in it mounted inside the u-shaped trough.

In addition, and I dont have a good solution to it either having build 3-4 Pak 40's and vehicle mounted versions, that trough that the gun is mounted in has a wicked seam running down the center.
I have tried cutting evergreen sheet to cover it, filling it with Mr Surfacer or streched sprue..

I usually solve it by draping a crew member jacket over the end of the assembly.

Overall I love the build and admire folks who finish more models than I do, which it to say anyone who finishes anything...

Mike

Thanks for pointing that out, Mike.
For some reason I thought it was a 2 piece trough and the seam would be natural! Now I know for the next one.
As far as the 2 rods, memory fails me as to what I did there, I'll try and find a good photo of what it's supposed to look like.

Just a quick update.......

After Mike pointed out a couple of glaring mistakes in this photo........



I went back and took a better look at the instructions, sure enough they show that the rods should slide through a mount fastened under the gun. Not realistically able to correct it at this stage, I just removed the whole assembly.

The second item Mike brought to my attention was the very visible seam, which I mistakenly thought was supposed to be there. With nothing to lose, I grabbed some thin (.010 ?) Evergreen strip and glued it in the trough. This would have been much easier during assembly, but now I know for next time. Thanks Mike!

Great job on the interior James. Can't wait to see the finished project. Good luck and happy building/painting.

I can't see any photo u post here!!

i have a question about those decals..
on the decals for the ammo...did you use it?
And what kind?
becos the nrs are wrong on the manual..

And you won't see any photos on the 7 year-old thread, Dude! Photobucket hijacked people's pics, so you are SOL I'm afraid.