Having recovered from new years party I have completed the building part of the kit and put on the primer. If all works as planned the NATO green will go on today. Hope for pictures at 11(pm)

Michael

all the parts are coated with a greasy and sticky substance that I've never witnessed before on model kit sprues. If this is their mold release agent, then this is where our used motor oil is going after recycling

I tried using warm water and liquid dish detergent to no success. Soaked it, scrubbed it . . .

had to break out with the solvents, Denatured Alcohol


agitated each sprue set, one by one


set each on paper towel to air dry

this worked very quickly and effectively

lower hull de-warped, assembled and done



some wheel assembly was done on the sprue then painted there





the bridge parts are clean, prepped and ready to assemble and glue together. All the round tubular parts had to be cleaned up minimally, then each accepting hole in the girder parts had to be enlarged very slightly
I'm going for a quick bike ride now to uncross my eyes

Wow KoSprueOne! That is a big project you have taken on. Am watching very closely. Keep up the great work.

Thanks!
after I get it assembled, I have to figure out how to paint it

Still plugging away here,
sneek peek, blog to follow when finished

Good work guys keep it up looking forward to seeing more.

alright, looks like another bridge

Just a quick update. I have managed to get the base coat down now using Humbrol enamels and decals on. Given her a cover in oils using the oil dot method to blend it all down a bit which seems to have worked. Now starting on some weathering by adding mud to her. Its the first time I have ever tried it this way (anyway in fact!) so any advice, more than welcome.



Cheers,
Nick.

looks good so-far. What is the 'mud' made from?

@ Nick, I would have added some color to the mud this way it all goes on at 1 time No worrying that you didnt paint it all

BRIDGE ASSEMBLY

the bridge assembly was surprisingly well designed for assembly and fit. Surprisingly because of all the parts that had to line up and fit together


the girder truss parts of the bridge had ejector pin and other molding flaws on one side of each of the ten identical parts.


I didn't want to clean up all of this so I flipped the three of these with the clean side facing outward and two facing inward. Their final position is close enough to hide the flaws



starting with the half tubular end spacer pieces (parts D3), I began assembly with plastic liquid cement.
Once five were lined up and in place, I ran the brush charged with liquid cement across the top along the line where each were butted against each other.
I assembled both bridge subassembly sides at the same time



next, each of the holes where the smaller poles (parts D1) were to be inserted had to be drilled out again.
This created an easy lined up fit. After all of the 24 were installed and equal spacing was 'eyeballed'.
Liquid cement was then touched to each contact point



the flat plate (part D2) was too thick to insert through all five slots and I found it too difficult to either sand evenly thinner or to enlarge the slots evenly.



new parts (4X) were scratchbuilt to replace the kit parts.
The kit parts were first measured, then duplicated with .023" styrene sheet material


once each side was completed, the larger poles (parts D4, D5, D6) mated both sides then liquid cement touch at each contact point.
These holes had to be re-drilled too.
At 15" (38 cm) in length, the bridge assembly is complete with exception to the wood boards that line up across the top of both sides.
Some little parts here and there needed a little putty or super glue fill but again, the design of assembly and fit of this model kit is very good

Thanks for the extension. Here is (I hope) a picture of my Bergepanzerwagen IV

Hay gang I must apologize for my absence unfortunately my computer crashed and died the other day so haven't been on line. Great work going on keep it up i am looking forward to seeing the end results.

KoSprueOne that is great work on that bridge. Making me want to get one of these kits.

Thanks, it's a fun kit

I'll have more WIP pics by tomorrow night. I've been working on the upper hull today and through tonight

So very close to being finished now gang.

nice, very nice

assembly on the bridgelayer is almost complete but I didn't even start painting yet

Been painting as I go with mine, only way to do the fiddly bits.

1 (ONE) WEEK to go?

Well I think this one is finished? I did a bit of a tidy up and seem to have lost a few bits but I don't think you will notice unless you are looking for them..

Scott, nice job, I like the weathering, that thing is a beast

yes, looks nice and dusty and worn in, Sudz

I am taking my build down to wire. I have all but two hydralic lines to put on and then paint. I have 5 days.

Erm... Ditto, I got an estimated 2 build evenings left....

We can do it! We just need to stay focused, not get too stressed and not make any major mistakes.

May need a beer or two as well.

Tony