hey all..

since a few months i've restarted builing models, but more seriously than 15 years ago

tomorrow i'm picking up a new kit.. it's the dragon/CHC 6468 Sd.Kfz.138 Ausf.M Marder III Initial Production w/Stadtgas

to be well prepared, i was lloking for info on this special armor, but appart from some review info there's not much i can find on the web..

maybe some of you can help me on this?

i only found 1 pic of it, and that was a scan someone made in b&w, so not very helpfull, appart from seeing what a cool tank it was..

all i know, that it's suppositely used as a drivingschool version of the initial Marder III, fueled with gas..

thanks for your help.. i'll post some shots tomorrow of the kit (which amazingly is in stock at my local hobbyshop, as are several other exclusive kits which are stated everywhere as sold out! i got to watch out, before i buy them all )
and maybe some other extra's as almost all Aber, griffon, friul,... well.. all of the big brands.. are just on stock there..

also, i've seen that Aber doesn't have a PE kit for the Dragon kit, but apparantly Griffon has one, which is normally used for Dragon kit 6464 Marder III M initial
since that one is basicly as the one i'm planning to buy, will the griffon kit be good for it? also, is the griffon brass thick enough for scaling the correct with of the panzer armor? (i know on some kits, Griffon is too thin, so it loses realism.. )

so.. hope someone can help me a bit on this rare panzer jager..

ok.. i have got the kit, + the Griffon update kit

been building almost all weekend, as weather here was realy winter-like, i had enough time..

my first impressions are:

the kit is very complete, with much extra parts, but it does seem to be assembled from serveral older kits. the dragon assembly manual has some wrong numberings, and it's pretty confusing sometimes, one must pay very good attention and study of the manual is a must before assembly.

the griffon kit is very cool and thickness is very good & realistic

no comments so far.. :/

some more details (better camera)

Good work lots of great detail. One thing- should the gas bottles have the seam lines removed ?

Very nice work with the PE. I agree about the gas tanks: the mold seems need to be removed; they are very prominent and will only get worse with weathering.

noticed it aswell as i was uploading the images.. cheers

won't be weathering it too much though.. will be a basic "dunkel gelb" with some small weathering near the seems, rivets and bolts.. as it's a driving instruction vehicle.. so maybe just some slight brown filters all over, few weathering and pigments..

Looks good Alex.....some of that PE looks similar to Parts PE sets.

This is indeed cool as you said Alex. I think you just convinced me to buy one for myself.

I myself have only seen one photo of one of a Marder III Ausf. M with the Stadtgas bottels on it, not a bad picture, but not the best either.

That Griffon set looks like a substantial upgrade with some very tiny bits of brass to deal with. You're doing it justice!

thanks for the comments, it's realy encouraging with all that PE work

ok.. so i have an important question..
since i'm installing the fenders, and some parts of the fenders, at the front, are connected to the upper hul, i need to paint the interior..
so i'm putting on the primer for the interior tonight, and paint tomorrow or later this week..

does anyone know what colour the interior should be?
i was thinking about making it a medium grey for the steel parts
but i have no reference at all as what colour the engine parts etc should be

if anyone has a reference or any idea, please help me on this

Alex,

I would paint the interior the same color as the exterior......except for the gun breech etc.

Here are a few links for ya:

http://byrden.com/panzers/Colours/

(Panzer Colors reference page, looks a little daunting but good info)

Here's another model site for Marder pics: Excellent site hosted by James Tainton

http://panzerfaust.ca/ArmourWorkshop/gallery/album.php?album_id=36

(I didn't see any engine pics but pretty good on the interior)

Another from the Samurs Museum:

http://jtrowbridge5.smugmug.com/Saumurs-german-Tanks

(Click on the Marder 38H pics for the engine color..... good pics of a vehicle in original condition)

Hope these help....

Regards, Paul

hey Paul, thanks for the info..

im i mistaken, or does on that last link, the interior look a bit more green-like?

so basicly, these ware pretty boring panzers, paint wise? everything seems to be in one and the same colour, engine and all, even the tranny.. :s

Alex,

Well I guess it depends on what "green" is? I would still stick to a good yellow tone (Dunkelgelb).for a basecoat on the exterior, not sure what paints you're using.

Did you read the info on David Byrden's site?

Here's a post from planetarmor by another modeler (Lawrence Quah) which shows how he painted the interior of his Flakpanzer 38t to give you maybe a better contrast with the exterior.....

link:

http://www.planetarmor.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4746&page=5

Paul

had seen that one.. i've used a lighter colour aswell, just to make the interior slightly visible trough the open hatch..
i didn't want to go too far with the interior, as it's almost all covered up..

i've put on the hull part now, and fixed the fender brackets. so no turning back on that now..

all the rest will be in Tamiya dunkel gelb

now going on with the PE parts, which take up almost the entire back deck

thanks for all the info guys.. greatly appreciated

Nice build Alex. Looking forward to the paint job.

small update

Alex,

I think the tranny was also green, but it still looks good.

Nice fender work.

Paul

yeah, i know, tranny, engine, everything was a sort of light green, leaning towards light olive.. oh well.. this'll do, as it's almost all hidden..
next time i do interior, i'll take a panzer with more refs to the interior

update

update

too bad there's not a lot of feedback :/

Hey Alex,

i have been following this and i am very impressed with your work. i dont know how you have the patients to apply all the photoetch. i suck with the small PE so i usually skip it and use the plastic parts. looking forward to see a paint job
on it. keep up the good work!

Gary

cheers man.. it's beginning to test my patience aswell

only need some small PE finnishing touches for tools and handles

dryfit so far

Alex,

you did a great job on the tracks. the sag looks perfect! what color (or colors) are you gonna paint it?

Gary