Hi guys,

I don't write much on the forum cause I don't have much time for my hobby.....
Now,the core of this post.
I recently came in possess of Dragon's kit n°6221 of SDKFZ 234/4 and I must say it's an awesome kit....no need to make any extras if u want to reach a good level..
My problem is that I'm not very familiar with german wheeled vehicles so I have no idea about how to proceed with building and painting.
What do u guys can suggest?Better assemble all first,and then paint or paint little by little while I assemble hull,driving compartment and so on??

many thanks for those who will answer
Michele

Michele;

Hi! That sure is an awesome kit, IMO! And I think you be right to say it does not need much if anything to hit a good (even great) level!

It's glory and goodness lie in part in it's relative completeness, both inside and out. Because it is open on top, and this inside stuff is seen, you want to address it carefully. I suggest that you do your build in sub-assemblies or units. Some subs and steps might be - assemble and paint suspension minus wheels (allowing you to get paint and some base weathering in behind the wheels - which I would do separately and later mount once stuff is painted behind them), assemble and paint wheels, assemble and paint inside of hull / crew compartment (maybe leaving out some things to get better access to floors and sides, etc.), assemble and paint gun barrel and mount, assemble and paint inside of upper hull. Once these subs are painted, assemble the entire hull and gun minus wheels, and paint the exterior (mask the open inside). After all the exterior is done, mount on gas-cans and maybe tools and stuff, and those pre-painted wheels. Detail the tools, do some chipping and decals and then weather it, and you be done!

That would be my suggested approach! Enjoy the kit and the build!

Bob

Hi Bob,

many thanks for your precious suggestions.
I'll start out immediately because I don't see the time to have it finished and ready for some model contest...but I also imagine it'll be a tough and quite different challenge comparing it to my "specialties" like conventional tanks.
If I can,I'll add some pics during the assembly steps so you could tell me if I'm doing right or not.

Michele

Mich;

There's been a lot done with this kit and great blogs and logs show up in various sites over the past several years. I highly recommend taking in the great build-log done by Andy Mitchell over on MilitaryModeller.com/forums/ - starting on 26/10/2008 for seeing what-all a guy/gal can do with this cool thing! He went pretty far "to town" with it - but seeing the steps and reading the bits along the way is worth it whether you do everything or not. Do a search for SdKfz 234/4 on Armorama and you'll come across lots of things with pics that you will find interesting and informative. Also, painting of these things is both cool and full of neat questions (and answers) - I am sure you'll have Q's and decisions to make! I have found it extremely interesting and informative (and way consumptive of modelling time, too ) to Google the kit and scan thru the "images" available - lots of great builds to see and inspirational!

I'll be watching and following what you might post on your project with great interest - it's one of my fav non-tanks (heck - the whole 234 series is just the coolest!) and every time I see someone post on their go with the Dragon kit, I pull mine down and get closer to actually building it! You might just be the proverbial straw...

Bob

Michele

I am building the 234 series, if you need help send me a e-mail and will help you out.

Anthony

Dear recceboy,

thanks for help and no doubt about it...i'll write you soon...
First thing i'd like to ask to you is about interior colours.
Before making some mistakes,i'd like to hear some opinions from those who knows a lot more than me...which colours are to be used for inside floor,walls,boxes etc?

many thanks for the answer
michele

Hey Michele,

I'm also currently building the same kit. The interior color is the same as the base color. I'm also going to try to add wiring to the radio for the first time. There is a build and painting of the 234/3 on this forum you can reference:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/104789

Same concept but different gun and upper hull.

Here is the other forum build and painting for the 234/4:

http://www.militarymodelling.com/forums/postings.asp?th=22720

Hope this helps you.

Mike

Thanks Mike,

I found the 234/3's walkup very very useful.Now I'm going to assemble the steering complex on the undercarriage but I'd like to do it with some wheels turned...how can I turn both wheels with correct angle on both sides?

Michele

Hi guys,

as I promised I'm posting the first photos of my work in progress on the sdkfz 234/4.
The only question I have is how can I steer the wheels with the correct angle of steering

Here a couple of other pics with some extra details added on the ammo box

Other than the well documented issues with the gun shield notches being too deep or tall , I had no real troubles building mine right up to the very end.

As I come into the home strech, I am having some trouble with the upper and lower hull final fit on mine.
I can't quite tell if it is the firewall or the rear hull plate with is causing things to hang up.

From the fighting compartment forward, things fit very well, but the rear half of the hull is not snugging down as well as I would like.

Mike

Dear Mike,

I'm experiencing same problems with lower and upper hull final mount.maybe the 2 pieces just need to be pressed and well glued to fit well...
Anyway,do you know which operational theatres the sdkfz 234/4 was used in?
Any ideas about some good figures to add in a possible diorama?

thanks
michele

Not sure about the figures, but later war winter uniforms mostly.

I've shaved down the top of the firewall and the 'steps' for the hull sides and rear , but have still not located the problem area.

I've been trying all the noon to locate the problem but nothing here too...it nearly seems that the upper hull comes on the sprue a bit bended towards the outside if u get what i mean...maybe it can be fixed with a sort of opposite bending...towards the lower hull....

michele

The 234/4 didn't start production until Dec '44 so your choice of theater options is rather limited by that fact. They weren't produced in large numbers but it would make sense for them to see action on either the Western or Eastern fronts depending...so far as I know none were sent to fight in Italy.

Here I am again with some new pics.
I've started painting and weathering the interiors but I'm quite uncertain about the result...hope you guys can give me some advice

Great work Michele, just the right amount I'd reckon, looks very believable for a hard working vehicle.

I agree. It's at that point where it feels like you should add just a little bit more, which means it's just about perfect and should be left alone

I love these kits, I'll be watching this one for sure.

Here I am again with some new pics and a little doubt.
Does any of you have this kit?Do you also experience some troubles with the fit between lower and upper hull?

Hi guys,

I'm back with some pics but today,the pics are for the building that should be in the same diorama.
I'm quite new to painting house and bricks so I'd like to hear from someone more expert than me which techniques I could use in order to get a real "brick house" effect

Michele,
What you have done so far looks great! One small tip for assembly, which helps with painting and the upper hull warping. I've found, having done 3 of these 234 range vehicles, that if you assemble the mudguards and stowage boxes off the vehicle, and then snap them on afterwards, they are a very tight fit, and will hold the hull halves together while you paint the big colour areas, then can be removed while you touch in the details. Because they are a close fit, they also help pull the hull halves together. Hope this helps.

Hi Michele. Very nice start to this build. Have never built any of them myself, but I do have the Sd.Kfz 234/2 in the stash!!
Theres also a nice build of this ongoing on Planet Armor at the moment by Chad Perkins, if you want some further info; Direct Link

Can the big doors in the hull sides be assembled open?
Tom