I have a little more finished, Here the Driver controls are painted and installed.

The Fire Extinguishers have Placards made by Archer Fine Transfers.

For your Information.
Archer Fine Transfers
1/16th. German Fire Extinguisher Placards
#AR16014

Test fitting the Upper Hull.




You should trim off the push pin marks on the 2 thin strips shown or the engine deck may not sit evenly.


They sit on top the deviders in the engine compartment.

That's all for today.
Donald

I think you guys might really interested in this.
Here is a short bit about how I made the Drivers Hatches operable .
1St.

2nd.

3Rd.

4Th.

5Th.

6Th.

7Th.

8Th.

9Th.

10Th.

11Th.

12Th.

13Th.

14th.


Well that's how I did it, It's not really hard, you just need a really steady hand.
Here's a Pic. of the real thing.


That's all for now.
Donald

Nice progress!
#296 is not a flashlight. Its one of the demolition charges carried inside. Its called Sprengpatrone Z 72 It was used for all 75mm guns. You can also find this "flashlight" container on Pak40. 88mm guns used Sprengpatrone Z 85 etc.

Well I learned something today, I still think it looks like a flashlight.
It's a really stupid place to carry a demolition charge, it should be in a container out of the way so it doesn't get set off accidently.
Regards.
Donald

Cant argue about the shape of item
As for the placement, these are placer in easy accessible locations, so you can set them up even when you are in the hurry. You still have to take the charge out of the container, set delay fuse etc. You wont set it of just by accidentally kicking container.

A little more detailing the front fenders, there's a small section that hinges upward to clear the Shackles in certain instances.

I clamped a straight edge to the fender while scribing the lines.

The Engine hatch is finished.

Ofcourse I filled and sanded all the inperfections on the back side as it will be removable.

It's hinged and will operate if you are careful in the assembly.

I replaced the Pe. guard on the air intake with some thin rod.
The Pe. looked too flimsy.
Finished for now.
Donald

I have the radios and their storage rack assembled.I didn't go into great detail as the instructions are pretty good.


One important thing, You will need a realy good Photo -Etch bender to do this.
To make it a little easier, you should bend the back parts first then use the Radios as jigs to position the corner pieces being shure to only glue the corners not the radios.

On the side by side Radios glue the corner parts to the inside corners with one edge to the back side, then glue the center plate, joining the 2 radios together.
Like I said I used the Radios to position the Pe. parts of the racks.
I didn't do a complete step by step as that would be to complicated.

If you are going to make the Drivers area hatch removable you should fill the push pin mark shown.

These marks will be up against the front Glacious plate and not visible.

I'm not shure what this is, it's in the Drivers area.

The box might be the first Aid Kit ???


There are 4 spots where the Radio rack mounts show these will be visible .
Well I'm Finished for Today, I hope this helps on the Radios.
Regards.
Donald

Great build, superb photography & how perfect is that PE radio rack? It is perfect

Nice work so far. I'm pretty sure in pic 328 that is the gyrocompass.

#328 is the gyro compass

Like the one AFV Modeler offer here.
https://www.afvmodeller.com/product/116th-scale-standard-german-wwii-gyrocompass/

Much closer than the mg ammo bags that come with the kit.

Thanks so much for the blow-by-blow build up, warts, what shows and what does not and all. It will be really useful when I get my hands on one.
I'm still saving pennies and selling organs (my kid's organs mostly) to get a copy of the kit... -grin-

Yeh that's probably what it is.

I've been working on the Engine Deck
You will notice that the left side cooling intakes are closed, Hey don't blame me, that is how it comes.
Really STUPID if you ask me. That IDIOT in washington must have some investments in this company.


I added some bolt heads and an antenna wire.

Finished for now.
donald

I'm away from my references, but I'm pretty sure the louvers were only installed on one side

You are correct , THERE IS A BIG MISTAKE HERE.
after checking my refrences the louvers should not be used with this vershion only with the Raised Fan cover.
I'll be correcting this later today.
Donald

Well Here I Am to correct this.
I removed the Covers on the Intakes, they should only be used with the Raised Fan Housing.



Here's a Wrecked G with the Raised Fan but nothing on the intakes.

Note the circled area. it shows the open assist for the front Hatch.

Here's the layout for the Ausf.G with the Raised Fan and the Lovurs on the opposite side from the Fan.



These last 3 Pics. I found while searching on the net, they aren't mine.

I hope this corrects This.
Regards.
Donald

I just finished painting the Radio, and yess after seeing the Pics. I know I did a lousy job of it. Fortunatly most of it can't be seen once everything is closed up.

I hope I got the First Aid Marking in the right spot.

It looks a little better here.

The Mg. This came out pretty good

The real Drivers Periscope mount.
Note the Handles, & Head pratector rest ?