Robert... hope all goes well.

Okay back to work on the Crusader AA. Being based on their old Crusader 3 kit, this one has inherited the same issues, but Italeri created even more. As an open topped turret, the interior is visible. However, rather than modify their existing moulds to create an accurate one for this kit, they simply adjusted the interior components to fit the existing moulds. This means the turret opening in the hull is very, very small and the interior is far too cramped. So much so, that a scale crew member would not fit.

As a result they had to create a notch in the turret race to allow the guns a modicum of elevation when in real life they could go almost vertical. Added to that is the gun controls on a pillar that rises from the floor of the turret basket. This would mean the gunner would have to be on his knees on the turret floor (and that is impossible due to the size of the basket) with his vision obscured by the turret roof so he would be firing blind!

Plus there are no stowage racks for drum magazines, etc.

Photos of the turret interior are all but non-existent, despite Saumur having one. I have one pic only and used that as a basis for a scratchbuild:



I guess this is also what Italeri used and due to perspective, it appears the gun controls are on a pillar, but closer look nd you can see the circular plate on the floor behind it. The pic also shows the Italeri round seats to be wrong too.

Accurate Armour do a conversion which appears to be inaccurate armour especially as they supply a shelf for the spare drum magazine that would mean the loader's head would be inside the shelf! Even more bizarre is the two trays on either side of the gunner's seat are the drum racks! Also AA place the gunner's seat way back on the turret floor, which would mean he would be bent double by the inward slanting turret rear, plus his knees would be on the turret floor, not bent down into the turret basket area.

Enough blather, the pics should do the talking

What Italeri give you showing max elevation




The replacement turret floor I made in styrene placed on Italeri's floor - notice how much bigger the hole should be. This also means I had to cut out part of the kit hull too. You can also see the pillar where they expect the gun controls to be.


The almost completed interior - notice the foot pegs for the gunner. This is an assumption on my behalf. Italeri has these as two pipes running straight out of the side of the pillar into the basket floor. It makes more sense to me to be this given the angles of the pipe visible in the interior pic, location , etc...

I also gave the gunner's seat back one slat support the same as the two loader's ones. Italeri and AA give you one with a slat each side, which begs why the difference?

Yeah, Robert, like I said in the Trumpeter Mk. 5 campaign, I‘ll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Richard, your Ganef is coming along nicely.

Peter, wow, Italeri really messed up their Crusader AA kit, and Accurate Armour just compounded the problem. Ouch! Great job fixing it so far, looking forward to further developments!

Work on my ZSU-57-2 will resume in the next week, after I‘ve finished my build for the Trumpeter campaign.

Happy modelling,

Jerry

Looking forward to seeing it Jerry

Peter, you solution of the problem is quite effective. Great idea.

Interestingly neither gun scored well enough to even get a bronze medal at Armorcon yesterday.




I do prefer the AMPS system over the IPMS 1st, 2nd,3rd system, but even there you are at the whim of the abilities of the volunteer judges and the skills of the table captain.
They both sat to be judged until almost the very end of the day, for what that's worth. Maybe I'll go back and read the comments later, but probably not. I mean, what's the point.
But overall I'm pretty happy with the both of them

Hi Mike. I stopped entering models in our Big Annual comp for the same reason. In fact, the volunteer judges were chosen from people who did not build armour - truck and Car builders, aircraft builders, etc. It was meant to stop Cronyism, but just led to people with little understanding making the decision. Once Silver went to a SdKfz 10 whose outer road wheels were outside the track, upper run was airborne and the MG was painted silver.... another time Bronze on a Panther where the inside of the road wheels (seen from the rear) were not even painted...

yeah Peter, this is the US AMPS (armor builders) but they're still at the mercy of who shows up and volunteers to judge. In THEORY, you are competing against a standard, not the rest of the folks on the table (ala IPMS) for 1st 2nd 3rd places. But all things considered, it's still got flaws.
I'll still show up and participate, and judge, and try to steer the big ship. But not for too much longer.
There were a LOT of experten, some sour grapes, and some blowhards. Plus a guy in an SS division T-shirt..
SO maybe my days there are numbered.

Aloha All,

Decided to jump in on this one a while back, but haven't posted until now. Tamiya 1/35 German 3.7cm Flak 37.











Happy Modeling,
Zon

Hi all.
In picked up the 88 gun to get it over the finish. Most of the work is done, al has paint except for the shields and some detail work.
Detail painting and decals still need to be done.
For display little detail was added to the Sd.Ah.202. Germans call it Zwischenzugstange. As shown on the pictures both Sd.Ah. were coupled to move them from the firing location using a truck.



Shown are the Sd.Ah. with cable reels. I have another set where reels are empty. Gives some opportunities for display.
Have to finish one shield and then get some paint on both before installing them. Weathering comes as last stage up to the finishing line. So I might be in time before the end of this month.

Kind regards,

Robert Jan

Great to see you at the bench Robert. Looking great.

Nice job on the thin camo Zon. Good old Tamiya buildability

Thanks Peter. Takes about ages to get something done, but at least there is progress. For anyone interested, these pictures come in handy when you want to extra detail the Sd.Ah.202.


Images come from "Die Geschutze, Ortungs- und Feuerleitgeraete der Schweren Flak".

Kind regards,

Robert Jan

Shows the correct position of the barrel for transport mode.


Kind regards,

Robert Jan

Mike,

I was at Armorcon and remember seeing your two builds. For what its worth, while I didn't actually judge them I did give them a good look on the display table and thought they were very nice so I was surprised when I read that they didn't medal.

Hope yo see you in Harrisburg next year.

Nice references Robert. Looks like a great book to own.

Little update
I was working really hard to finish everything. All parts are in place, all painted in base color. Still lot of work left.

So, here we have
5 X flak 38
Sd.Ah.51
Flak 36
Sd.Ah.202
Opel Blitz
Sd.Kfz.10/5
Sd.Kfz.7
Horch 108
... and 3 weeks to finish...

Most people are content to build one model for a group build, but not Bogi. If he did only one, he would think he was being lazy!

Nice production line up...

Damn over-achiever!


Looks good, Bogi!

while Bogi builds an entire Flak battery

Impressive!

Thank's guys... Your support means a lot. All I need now is campaign administrator to extend this campaign so I can enjoy this builds properly.

I'm in with Bogi Bg to extend, I would need extra 2 weeks to properly finish the build.

Kind regards,

Robert Jan

I wouldn’t mind a couple extra weeks to finish my SA-4. I just started priming some of the parts on the launcher this evening.

Pete: thanks for the kind words. My first time doing the thin line and I'm pretty happy with the results, particularly as stressed as I was while doing it.

Robert: the 88 is coming along nicely.

Bogi: quite the collection there.

I could also benefit from some additional time on this effort, mostly because I'm finding my bench time is limited as of late.

Thanks,
Zon

Pretty much all the construction is done. Just a few small details to add around the air cleaners and a few nut heads on the outside of the rear engine louvres.

Then onto the Fruil tracks.

Added some cast texture and missing detail to the exterior of the turret.





and the exhaust and brackets to the louvres.

Love your builds Peter. One can save himself research time. Hopefully, there would be a new Crusader kit before I have to do this.
Looks good so far.