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Armor/AFV: 48th Scale
1/48 scale discussion group hosted by Rob Gronovius
Hosted by Darren Baker
Tamiya hetzer, Finished with a nice little re
crossracer
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Delaware, United States
Joined: April 26, 2005
KitMaker: 117 posts
Armorama: 116 posts
Posted: Monday, April 25, 2005 - 03:20 PM UTC
Ok, here is the little guy. Here is what i did.

Replaced all molded on handles with wire grab handles.
Replaced the periscope cover with bras flat stock bent to shape.

What i noticed about this kit.
Side skirts could be easily replaced with .05 or .10 sheet styrene
Rear muffler has no screen cover. All my photos of hetzers show this screen that wrapps around in place.
Need to add a wire for the front light.
On the rear deck, my photos show two more, small access doors on eaither corner oppisite the muffler. Easy to accomplish.
Gun barrel had a seam i ddin;t catch till to late. Replace with metal on e later.
Rear muffler has a way of attach to the hull which leaves a seam running thru it.
Gun shield for machine gun a little thick,could use a photoeched one.
Half moon periscope covers a little thick, could be replace easily with some photoeched left overs.
Tamiya put mounting holes for all the tools and equipment, neet ot fill and sand these in the future.
Decals were ok, but a aftermarket set might be better.
I removed the pin and rubber grommet holding the top of the hull to the bottom. A small bit of superglue to the front and back brought it together very nicly, with no seam up front.

The Good:
Real ease to put together.
No exposed sponsons.
No molded on tools
Very few injector pin marks on the tracks, and only on the pieces that wrap around the idler and driver. SO none show.
Very nice cast detail on the gun mallet. Se close up shot.
Tracks fit beautifuly., i mean it was a real joy to install.

Well i think thats it. I used tamiya dark yellow for the base, followed by both a lightened dark green and a redbrown. Then it took a wash of burt umber to give it a grimy look. After that, i dull coated it, and picked out a few details with a light dry brush of gun metal.

Well ther she is, i look forward to building another one of these.
Bill




rbeebe99
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Texas, United States
Joined: August 13, 2004
KitMaker: 540 posts
Armorama: 388 posts
Posted: Monday, April 25, 2005 - 03:41 PM UTC
Nice job hard to tell it isn't 1/35
Regards,
Robert
mother
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New York, United States
Joined: January 29, 2004
KitMaker: 3,836 posts
Armorama: 1,370 posts
Posted: Monday, April 25, 2005 - 03:53 PM UTC
Hello Crossracer anything to do with motorbikes...Hey welcome to Armorama. That looks real good, nice clean build. I like how your camo turned out the colors are well blended. Great job.
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
Posted: Monday, April 25, 2005 - 11:15 PM UTC
Sounds good, so you did have problems with the gun barrel? I've seen the review on the metal barrels, but didn't know if the expense was waorth it, I guess I may spring for the extra items.

The box art shows a mainly green vehicle, did you use a base coat of green or yellow?

How long did it take you to put this together?

BTW welcome to Armorama!
Drader
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Wales, United Kingdom
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 3,791 posts
Armorama: 2,798 posts
Posted: Monday, April 25, 2005 - 11:34 PM UTC
Based on reading Tom Jentz's plate commentary in the Osprey New Vanguard, I would say the Tamiya Hetzer was produced when the base colour was dunkelgelb. The book is the first reference in Terry Ashley's review in this link


http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/48/tamiya/tam32511.htm

jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Monday, April 25, 2005 - 11:37 PM UTC
Bill, first of all, welcome to the site and nice looking Hetzer - secondly, check your PM (personal message) box as i've just mailed you...Jim
Tarok
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: July 28, 2004
KitMaker: 10,889 posts
Armorama: 3,245 posts
Posted: Monday, April 25, 2005 - 11:45 PM UTC
Hi Bill,

Welcome to the Big A. Wow, what a way to introduce yourself!! Fantastic work on that kit! I think this is really putting all the 1/48 nay-sayers in their places!
Well done!!!!!

RR
crossracer
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Delaware, United States
Joined: April 26, 2005
KitMaker: 117 posts
Armorama: 116 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 03:44 AM UTC
I was going for a straight out of box build, but then i went to AMPS, and that really encouraged me. It probally took roughly 25 hours to build, but then again, i'm not the fastest person in the world.
I based it on an actual vechical, except the numbers should be 301 in yellow. But aside from that its pretty close. I hit it withthe yellow first, then the greeen, then the red. THe wash of burnt umber really brought it together.
I used the new tool from mission models for the grab irons, its pricy, but small and i wont lose it. I tend to build clean, so heavy weathering is not so important ot me. THe gun barrel had a seam that was very fait, the wash is what brought it out. you live, you learn. LOL
I am looking forward to getting ahold of the Hauler set for this and really dressing it up, it really is a fine kit.

Bill
Marlowe
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: June 12, 2005
KitMaker: 289 posts
Armorama: 286 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 11:17 AM UTC
Hauler PE sets should take care of all your detail concerns. By the way, you do not need the mesh cover for the muffler, as the Tamiya kit covers the production run from June to September and the screen was deleted during this time. Armourworkshop of Hong Kong offers a metal barrel and new mantlet for the Hetzer if you wish to replace the kit piece. Gaso.Line of France now makes a resin Flammenpanzer barrel so you can convert your Hetzer into one of those for an Ardennes offensive diorama. They also make a bergepanzer conversion kit.
Just though you'd like to know
Glenn
HastyP
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 1,117 posts
Armorama: 468 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 11:37 AM UTC
Awesome looking Hetzer there and welcome. I must get one of those babys.

HastyP
Rockfall
#202
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: December 19, 2004
KitMaker: 884 posts
Armorama: 602 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 01:53 PM UTC
Nice job and welcome to this big group.

Thats a real nice Hetzer you have there. I had the chance to photograph one a couple weeks ago and was amazed at how small it was.

Thanks for sharing.
Hwa-Rang
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Kobenhavn, Denmark
Joined: June 29, 2004
KitMaker: 6,760 posts
Armorama: 1,339 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 06:04 PM UTC
Very good looking Hetzer. Excellent paintjob.
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