Raimondas, JDM, Alex, glad you like it! It sure has been a fun build so far. JDM if you want a set of seats, just PM me and I'll see if I can't crank a couple out.
Here are a couple of the more obvious shots of the running gear that I used for my version.


I've come accross some others that were actually out in the field and even with the mud and dust they sure look darker than anything else, so I went with it. I think it's cool to see different variations. If everyone built everthing exactly the same it would get kind of monotonous!
I should have some more progress on Tuesday (the gas caps are kicking my (%^##).
Have a good one, and thanks for looking!

Tremendous work Jonathan!
Truly deserving of a following here. I know the feeling you get when successfully scrathbuilding something and you are dealing with all this kits' intricacies well!
Look forward to the end product
Brad
P.S. Those greatcoat photos have been put to good use mate

All I can say is OUTSTANDING!!! That is some beautiful scratch building to the minutest detail. That top frame, cover and draped uniform add a special touch to the subject. I also like improving these old kits. You can have so much fun in the process.

Awesome! PM sent! Thanks for your time!

Progress is progress even if it is just a little. I finally got the gas caps done, I started with tube and putty...

...but the putty cracked when I cut the tube, so I tried 5 minute epoxy, that wasn't bad after two applications, but it wasn't the best. So I used a blob of JB weld and that was the ticket, until it fell over while it was drying and I didn't notice, so one more time and there it is! I scraped the sides with a razor knife to give it the finger grips.

I decided to change the mounts for the Hochhebstange (the thingy on top of the muffler) and added some home made chain (the twisted wire method that I found here).

Then I added the engine side of the prop drive.

I went back to the paint bench to add a little more dark brown "filtering" (I guess that is the proper term)to the lower hull and a little dark wash to some of the panel lines and small parts. I started a little filetering on the rims but it was too dark so the next one will have to be lightened up.

I am trying quite a few different ideas for rewoking the windshield frame, I'm just not happy with the one that I have now. Unfortunately none of my ideas are paying off right now. Oh yeah, I built a few more seat frames too.... that's right JDM!

have really enjoyed watching this take shape. Hope this tempts you a little since your skill at scratch building is really obvious! I would love to see you come up with some cross country/buggy type tires, I think the Schimmerwagon would look great in them, and you don't see many models with these types of tires. Awesome work so far mate! .

I was kicking around the idea of making the wide tires way back when I started this one, but at the time this was just the easier route to go. Since then I have picked up a set of kubelwagen sand tires that might make a good base for the cross country tires. I want to get this one done for AMPS so I'm thinking the skinny tires will have to be ones for this round.
Good news on the new windshield frame too, I think I may have a practice one on the bench now that is looking promising. I should have some photos and a finished product in the next couple of days.

Might nice indeed.
Good rework of an old kit.
But as I have been doing older kits myself,could of saved a bunch of time and just bought the new Tamiya one.

Just an idea.

But still very good work on it.

Cheers

Oh I know the new kits would have been much quicker, that's what put a halt to this project all those years ago... but heck it's been fun and it definately is one of a kind (for better or worse!). Besides what else am I going to do with my stash of antique kits!

Whoa! It's been a little while, but I have some more pictures. Earlier I was saying that I had some windshield experiments in the works, and well the first was a flop. I was using the styrene strips with Tenax, it warped, go figure. Hmmmm... I think I've been down that road before. Well the next version worked really good. Super glue and pre painted strips with copper sheet for the uprights.

And here it is.

Somehow I was able to measure it wrong though, and tonight one more time...
Besides the windshield I put a light filter on the rims.

And added decals...


After a satin coat and a dull coat it is all coming together.


Tonight one more windshield, some work on the tires, and start the base (maybe some weathering experiments too).
Bye for now.

Not quite all of the things I was planning on doing, but I did get some stuff done. The widshield saga is finally (I hope) done.

That is definately enough window building for me!
So on to some other bits and pieces...
Like the mirror finished off with a bit of foil.

Then the tie down strap for the prop.

And the mounting brackets for the oar and shovel.

Finally some paint chipping.

There was a near disaster when one of the wheels popped off and I dropped the whole thing! Fortunately it was over the painting bench and unbelievably nothing broke... Pshew.

That is SO FREAKING COOL. It definitely needs its own high quality album with hi-res photos... please!

Looking forward to your next project!

Well, JDM I'll have to see what I can do. I'm thinking the final shots, but I can't put that much hi res stuff on my photobucket. As far as pictures go last night was kinda light, I guess I got too far into the work (panic). I really need to remember to test things on scrap parts! I got it all ironed out though.
I went with a black swamp muck type mud.

Then started the base.

And here we are so far,

I added some paint to the tires, finished the MG, and plopped it down for a test fit. I think I'm gonna like it!

Nice! Would love to able to see this at a show!

Hey Babcat, that is certainly one sweet Schwimmwangen!

Also very glad to have seen it's journey from the early blog submissions. Verrry nice!!

Ok, let's see what went on last night. A little bit of Schwimm work and a whole lot of ground work. The base had been setting for about 24 hours, so it was firm enough to hold onto, I gave the sides a coat of my leveling compound and shot the gound with some cheap deparment store acrylics.

I mixed up a little white glue and water then dabbed it on and sprinkled static grass in sections.

I shot that with a little more color, added some tall weeds, and some short weeds.

I think I may need some more medium height grass up by the fence, I don't know, what do you think?
The Schwimmwagen finally got it's prop last night too!

I was kicking around tossing some branches for camo on the Schwimmwagen, so I pulled out an old wire bush...

...chopped off some branches, coated them, painted them, and glued on some leaves...

...and stuck them on the back, didn't like that, so I moved 'em up to the bow...

I'm still not sure if I'm going to use it or not, I'm thining of trying some smaller leaves and see I like that better. That's for later though, for now I just need to mop up the little odds and ends and get this baby finished.
JDM if all goes well this little schwimmer is going to the AMPS show in Indiana in a couple a weeks. Alex thanks for following along on this one I hope was both entertaining and informational.

Just a quick update with a couple of shots and lessons learned.
I put some liquid mask on the windshield to simulate the wiper pattern and added some dirt,

maybe not enough.

I got the headlights mounted and added some dirt to the tire tread.

And now the lessons learned...
When using celluclay, remember it shrinks... Duh, how come the simple stuff is what bites ya! It pulled the edges up a little, but the surface still looks fine, so now I just have to fill in around the bottom. I'll let ya know how that goes.
Lesson two, research is good, even when it is making a branch! The first one on the left was done under the idea "it's just a branch, how hard can it be". Not hard, but not good either! So with a little research and a little more work I made the two on the right. Bent leaves, grouping, and gloss coat make for a much better branch.

There is still some more touch up to do on them, but I'm not sure weather they will end up on the final product or not!

Hopefully I will be wrapping this one up in the next couple of days, my parts to build the cover should be in soon too. If anyone is interested in how that goes let me know and I will add it. I ordered some acrylic sheet and corner channel instead of using my usual glass and metal construction. So that's it for now...
Aloha

This little baby is next on the pile, thanks for sharing, this will come in very helpful

Stuart

I was cranking them out this week, time to get 'em ready for AMPS. So even though I don't have much more from the construction side here are the final photos of the Schwimmwagen.

The first base warped beyond repair so a new one was constructed, I think it's better because it is simpler and smaller, making the Schwimmwagen the focus.







And there you have it!
Until next season!

THIS THREAD BLEW MY MIND

I just got 2 Tamiya Schwimms today and honestly don't want to start them until I forget that they'll never look this good! haha

Amazing job indeed!! I LOVE it!

Very nice looking kit with some pretty amazing scratch-building skills on display! I don't go in much for the German stuff but this one I really like. Well done!