Here is my take on Dragon's Neubaufahrzeug Nr 3-5













Overall, a nice kit, but it is quite shocking that all the hatches all molded flat, so can't really leave them open, unless you scratchbuild the interior details. It went together well, though I kind of messed up with the 2nd colour of the camouflage, which was supposed to be dunkelbraun and I used rotbraun. Once I realised how far off I was, I resprayed the whole kit with a panzergrau mist to tone down the rotbraun and blend it with the base coat.

Had I read Terry Ashley's comparison prior to me getting this kit, I would have gone for the Amusing Hobby kit.

Thanks for watching,

Christos

Looks good, not sure about how the rust has been chipped off the track surfaces though.

nice job, I think you nailed it

Thank you both for thumbs up, much appreciated!

Timothy, can you please point out which track surface you are referring to? I haven't applied any rust effect on the tracks; the lower hull and the running gear have been treated with the same pigment, only to replicate dirt/dust accumulation

Regards

Christos

Tracks look fine. Overall look, assembly, paint and just enough weathering is also very nice.

Might want to drill out the exhaust tubes and give them a light dusting with black pigment. Maybe a little dab of rose on the rear lamp or use red and dust it a little.

Nice job.

Nice job, Christos. I've ordered the Amusing Hobby version (after reading the comparison. Sorry!) from Hobby Link Japan and should receive it soon. You've made me look forward to it! I'll be sure to pay attention to the paint, too!

wow! amazing work!! the weathering is very cool!

Hi Tom,

Thank you very much for the kind comments and also the points you highlight; I have completely missed the rear lamp, will get to it!

Cheers

Christos

Thank you very much Karl!

I would have bought the Amusing Hobby myself had I read the comparison first! I am glad that my build has you eagerly anticipating to get cracking at yours!

Thank you for the thumbs up Brian, much appreciated!

Yeah, I ordered the Amusing Hobby kit. SHould be here in two to three weeks. About the time I will have finished my Trumpeter bergepanzer project.

I like the weathering which is very accurate. IIRC only five were produced. The project was named "New Construction tractor"to mask its development in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. One, a prototype, was assembled using mild steel. THe design was not the most effective and it was determined not make a production run. They were mostly used for propaganda. THree? were shipped to Norway. THe mild steel unit was sent to replace one that was destroyed by its crew when it got buried in a swamp. Since they were primarily used for propaganda they wouldn't have shown a lot of wear. I don't think any survived the war.

Tony

I read somewhere that all surviving Nbfzs were sent to scrap, I think it was some time around 1942, but I can't recall precisely.

You are correct Christos,

THey were ordered scrapped in 1941. By 1942 the work was completed just as the Emil project was in full swing. Scrapping the tanks provided much needed steel for the Emil.

The only action they saw was in and around Oslo. One was lost in a swamp, destroyed by its crew. That unit was replaced by the mild steel prototype. There is little information about the tank although it was the first "heavy" tank the Germans developed in the early thirties. THe name came from the projects name "New Construction Tractor" to mask its development in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. It was obsolete by 1940-'41.

None survived the war. Only a road wheel and a couple of tread plates exist in a museum in Norway.

The model is finished as they looked during their existence. The actions in Norway were not long lived and when over they were delegated to propaganda duty. Same for the units in France. As such they would have been maintained mechanically and cosmetically.