For my entry I am going with a scene involving elements of a German recon unit. They're taking a break at a captured enemy position while they wait for the rest of their forces to catch up.

The focus of the scene will be the Hobbyboss Sd.Kfz. 223 armored radio car. I didn't have the kit when the campaign started and I had to order it. While waiting for the kit to arrive I went ahead and started on the motorbike elements.

There will be at least two BMW R75 bikes with sidecars. I am using the old Tamiya kits. One of the kits is being built for the Moto Madness Campaign and will be used in this diorama. The one that I am showing here was begun back in the 90s and has been gathering dust since.



The first thing I had to do was repaint it. I'm going with field gray and I hand painted it with a paintbrush due to the vehicle's size. The picture is a little dark but you can see the other bike in the background.



Repainted and partially assembled. Using stretched sprue, I added handlebar levers and fender supports. I'll be adding a few other tidbits to make it look more like a R75 but I won't be going overboard with it. The kit is almost as old as I am and has its limitations.

The picture also shows another element of the scene. It's ICM's 45mm Antitank Gun and will represent the taken enemy position. I have had this kit for a while but assembled it a couple of years ago. It was built as the early version with the shorter barrel and spoked rimmed wheels.



So my order arrived. I started off with the frame and suspension. Assembled, I shot it with a quick coat of flat black to serve as a primer coat.





Anyway, that's it for now. I am playing it by ear for the figures and such. I just wanted to get some progress pictures up.

Alex that is quite a diorama you got planned. When you mentioned the scene would be of resting troops, I immediately thought of the resin figures by STALINGRAD brand. They can be bought individually.



regards,
Jack

Here's the update



Priming







Will start painting the ammo & equipment.

Jack, Thanks. And those figures look nice. I think I should be good for figures. I'll have to see how things come together as the kits get built.

That's it. Done !

Tamyia 8ton Sd.kfz 7/1 + AFV Club 20mm Flakvierling 38

Here is a little update on my progress

Should have it ready for paint by the end of the week.

Looks good Jon, what scale ?

1/48th

@Nito74: The Sdkfz is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations

Muchas Gracias Jose !!

Thanks for the compliment !

I`ve still got to start this and some people are already finished: that`s...quite intimidating. The kit I selected isn`t doing much to remedy that.





The Eastern Express Zis-42. It is every inch the feral junkyard mutt you expect it to be, but I like the look of this vehicle. Might look even better with a quad Maxim mount on there. Anyway, let`s see how bad it is.


This is how EE envisions the chassis...

http://data3.primeportal.net/trucks/yuri_pasholok/zis-5/images/zis-5_133_of_162.jpg
http://data3.primeportal.net/trucks/yuri_pasholok/zis-5/images/zis-5_158_of_162.jpg
And that is what it should look like. U-profiles instead of blocks and a lot more holes than one the kit part. (Photos courtesy of Primeportal).

Next up is the engine hood:

Kit piece is molded all-solid

http://data3.primeportal.net/trucks/yuri_pasholok/zis-5/images/zis-5_085_of_162.jpg
This is what it should look like. (picture again from Primeportal).


The tracks give me the shivers...


and the canvas cover for the cargo bed will probably just become trashcan filler

So I have my work cut out for me, next to all the other stuff in the works...

Yeah, but it has character and promise!









~ Jeff

Don't be Benjamin !
Doing a Eastern Express kit is not a task for everyone...

Hang in there !!!

John - This is one of your best. The weathering, the color/texture of the canvas cover and flakvierling look superb!


Ben - Quad maxim mount has a nice ring too it! Good luck!

Nate

John nice finish, I like the winter weathering looks real good, but you got some sloppy Germans manning that gun with all those magazines laying around what happened to the crew that came with the kit:D

Thanks Nathan !!!!



Thanks Sal !!!
It's simple, I couldn't fit all the magazines into their slots without risking to damage some of the PE dividers.
The crew that came with the kit, I didn't use, I usually don't do figures...

Jose: Interesting choice, never been a fan of the one-piece running gear but it doesn't look bad.

John: I agree, I'm always hesitant at that point myself. However the paint should work to help keep the delicate parts connected. It looks like you made it through without incident? The kill markings are fun, and I think it would look better under some proper lighting. I haven't seen a lot of your work, but overall I agree with Nathan and I think your build deserves to stand out more.

Alex: Wow, you have a lot going on there!

Jon: Keep it coming!

Benjamin: That is a very cool vehicle! I've always found the tracked running gear fascinating on those trucks. John is right, those kits are not easy, but with a little work you can have a nice model of a really interesting subject. Just keep at it and you'll get there

Jeremy:
Thanks for your comments. I never been a fan of the one-piece running gear too, but its the only way to make it...

I picked back up on the Emil and the next step were the roadwheels, but I started assembling this multi-piece barrel I picked because it looks better than the first one piece I selected.









So, naturally I started on the gun assembly so it will finish off sprue C.













Slight difference in the two pieces.



NOW, to the roadwheels and then the fighting compartment (my favorite part and a warm-up to the TD Campaign) and most of it will be completed.







~ Jeff

Jeff,
Nice very nice!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Friends,

Allow me to join with the great campaign even though nearly 2 months have passed. I cant possibly let this campaign also slip by

Its been nearly 5 year since I dropped out of modeling due to work and travel. The campaigns and the team sprit is what I need to start up again.

I will be pitching in with the Trump's KV1 for this campaign. Wish me luck



Have checked the builds you people have started and they are great. Keep up the good work.

Nice Jeff, as you know I'm doing that same kit for another Campaign. The gun looks great

Hey John!

When you get to step 15, cement C23 to the main body BEFORE attaching C13 and C12. It will be much easier in that order as it's a bit harder the way it's shown as a sub-assembly.

You might not have a problem that way (as I almost did) but I found you're at risk of at least breaking off C12 doing it their way.

Just an FYI.








~ Jeff

Got it ! Thanks !!

I just wonder if a white gun carriage/breach would look alright in an open top fighting compartment on the Sturer Emil?

Not many pictures of that and most completed kits are the same color as the rest of the vehicle.








~ Jeff