Thanks for the link but that's the one I've been using. Oh well. I enlarged some B&W pics this afternoon and there seems to be different configurations of connecting it up so I've gone for the most basic. The air was blue while I was attaching the cables. I used fuse wire and superglue but it wasn't playing sticky today apart from sticking things to my fingers. Got there in the end though.Glad you like the camo. I think if I practice enough I may get there in the end. It's got to be some of the hardest camouflage to paint. I suppose they do look big Ron lol. I think it's because the 250's so small. I don't know how you got so much stuff in yours on your blog lol. They're figures out of the DML Verfungstruppe set. I knew I'd find a use for them one day I've got a cupboard with about 100 unopened DML figure boxes inside (mainly Germans). I pick them up when I see a bargain but without any idea what I am actually going to use them for. I eventually find a use for them though lol. If I'm honest I forget what I've got so now if I'm thinking of a project I consult the cupboard first. More often than not there's some figures in there that fit what I'm up to. Having said that I've got two boxes of the half track crew and they're too bloody big! Oh well...here's where I'm up to now.









I've noticed that I need to touch up the rubbers on the periscope eyepieces. There weren't any on it so I cut them off a pair of binos from the spares box. Now the insides finished I can assemble the hull and then start on the tracks. That's the great thing about taking photos as it shows you the things that the Mk1 Eyeball doesn't pick up.

Hi
My entry to the build

Welcome on board Rob. Look forward to see this being built. If I get time I may build another track for the campaign from the stash. I'm leaning towards the DML 251/9 as I've got a few of their 3 in 1 kits which are pretty good.

Progress Photos





Sorry for the photo quality. I'm still trying to work it out. Adjusting ISO, Fstop, Shutter Speed, macro mode, but not having much luck with the depth of field that I want.

Years ago I could have helped you out with that Joe as I worked in a camera shop but I can't remember any of it now lol. It is tricky when using an SLR which is why automatic cameras took over. Your 251's coming on well. Which make is it? The grab rails on the top of the hull are a nice addition in kits these days but they're just so fragile. I've broken a couple getting them off sprues when I've been trying to be careful. I like the way you've used the storage boxes on the side of the hull and put all sorts of bits of kit in there. I think it adds something extra and makes them look lived in.

Thanks Karl. I think that lighting may have something to do with it as well. I'm in the basement with all kinds of lamps. The grab handles are stretched sprue and bits of evergreen. And I've already had to replace one-silly sausage fingers!

Hello everyone

After going through this thread, I am not sure if I made a good decision to join this campaign. I lurk mainly on AeroScale and build winged things. I would like to join you guys with the Tamiya Sdkfz251/1. See if I can do some justice to it.

Classic Box Shot.



May even try my hand at a figure or 2 while I am at it.

Cheers
Ted

Welcome on board Ted. Glad to have you with us. You'll find that everyone on here's of a friendly disposition so if you have any questions feel free to ask and we'll endeavour to help you out.

Hi all, been slowly working on my Dragon 250 Neu, doing it straight out of the box.. I built the "cabin area" in a few hours, then had to take a break before painting. Masters degree, work, family responsibilities, but now taking a week off from work and skipping a term for classes so I can decompress a bit and finish this build this week.

the date stamp

About 4 hours of work

first layers of paint, trying my hand at the salt method.

Hope I can do it some justice.

Dan

Finally finished buiding the 250/5. Bits of it were enjoyable but some bits were a nightmare. The main antenna got broken three times (my clumsiness) so I've had to make one out of fuse wire. If you look at it normally it looks okay but in photos it looks a bit off. Mk One eyeball wins.The assembly sequence makes no sense for this kit so I did it in a sequence that was logical. Mind you some bits just don't fit. I put the periscope seat in the only position it could go in but then the bracing wouldn't reach so I've had to leave that off. As I decided to have the back door open to let some air in I improvised the latch mechanism which is fairly true to the original so I'm quite pleased with that. After doing all the research and wiring the radio up properly you can't see it lol. Mind you the same applies to the dashboard and corrected kit stowage. Was a bit disappointed after I'd put the decals on as my Micros sol hasn't softened them enough and there's a bit of an air bubble on the side number. (I'm very critical of my own work lol). I'm reasonably happy with the crew and they're a bit different as I've mixed the cam. Any comments or critique gratefully received.

















The kit had Wiking Div markings for it but I put Liebstandarte ones on instead as I have plans for it. They're from an Archers set which is quite a good set as there's all the variants of the LAH Divisional insignia from 39-45. There's another 4 divisions on the sheet as well. I've only done partial weathering on it so far as it's going in a dio so I'll do the main part when I crack on with that. Plus I've got to put some vegetation on it yet. Just out of curiosity what colour do people use when doing chips as I'm not 100% happy with my attempt

I'm not sure what to do now as I've still got a pile of 251's and another 250 to build. I think I'll go for a 251/9 or a 251/7 next. I've got a 7 I built for the 500 Campaign that needs finishing off but that shouldn't take long as it just needs spraying etc as it's finished apart from camouflage but I've got another one to build. Then again I may have a break for a week or so and do a building I've got lined up.

The 250 looks great!! Really really crowded in there with the three guys.
J

Karl-- figures and model are superb! Great job
DJ

Karl, very nice

Thanks guys. Glad everyone approves :-) . Will have alook through the stash later for my next project as I want a few half tracks for the dio I've got planned. Having said that the amount of completed vehicles I've got now means it's getting bigger and bigger lol

Construction phase complete:

The under carriage has already been given a muddy basecoat. Next will be priming and painting the rest of it. The canvas cover was just laid on for the photo. It will be permanently attached after the rest of the model is painted.

I like the tatp Mark. Is it paper, plastic.

Cheers,

Tat

Tat,
It is tissue paper treated with acrylic caulk using Vinnie Branigan's method for realistic tarps. I then used iso alcohol to wet and soften it in order to form it to the model.

Thanks for the link Mark!

Here's where I am at the moment. All the basic subassemblies are together, and I'm ready to start paining the interior. I'll paint the exterior once it's all together.

I really like this tarp. One of the best I have seen. It has a perfect shape and th painting and accents are spot on.
J

Thanks, Jerry! Really was not sure I'd be able to pull it off. We'll see how the final assembly goes...

The tarps texture actually looks like it does in real life. What I especially like are the areas where it has worn and faded. Looks exactly as I remember them from my time in the army. Superb job on that. How did you do it?

Thanks for the kind words, Karl.

I started with Vinnie Branigan's technique for making tarps and laid that material over the frame. Next I used alcohol to soften the material and get it to conform to the shape I wanted. Once dry and after carefully cutting it to shape I started painting with standard automotive primer in a rattle can(probably didn't need this step, but I thought it would help the whole thing hold it's shape) then brush painted with Tamiya Field Grey. I highlighted the high areas with AV Hemp heavily thinned with AV Glaze Medium for transparency, and finally dry-brushed the spots that would have gotten lots of wear (e.g.: where the canopy was ran over the stretchers and in the corners) with Tamiya Field Grey lightened with Buff. The tie-downs are small strips of tarp material painted with Tamiya Red Brown. Last step was to shoot the whole thing with AV Matt Varnish to get rid of any trace of shine.

Have not yet applied any washes--not decided whether I want to go there or not.

Hope this helps.

In the meantime, my first attempt with camo on the vehicle turned out pretty sketchy so going to paint over it and try again today:

Mark, thanks for the heads up. I may give that a try. It's really hard deciding on a pattern isn't it. I did exactly the same with my 250. I didn't think it looked right so repainted the dunkel gelb and redid it lol. Probably did look okay but I was convinced it didn't.

Some very good progress here!
I really like that tarp. Thanks for the explanation!

And that 250... Love it, but it looks like the fitting of the hull halves will be a challenge.... as we are used to with Dragonkits of that era.