Sdkfz 124 Wespe #4

Carcass was covered with main body parts without any problems, but battle section required a bit more attention. Basic detailing goes with part numbers: drivers section was added with closed hatches and covers (there is no interior in this section unfortunately).

Sdkfz 124 Wespe #3

 Finally after couple weeks time all 10 equalizer springs are finished. The most difficult part of the process was getting to do it and cutting out all necessary bits. 

One equalizer is made out of 4 x 1mm shaped card reinforcements (40 in total) 2 of the same shape side covers as well as top and bottom strip covers, 7 spring leafs, screw nuts and small spring holding clips. I did not avoid a small mistake though, last 2 rear equalizers should have been made with different angle of springs, and I accidentally made all the same. It's nothing too difficult to sort out, as suspension can be bent a bit.

Sdkfz 124 Wespe #2

I have managed to finish all wheels. Sprockets, stretching wheels, main wheels and supporting wheels (20  in total, 10 main, 2 sprockets, 2 stretchers and 6 supporting).

Unfortunately main wheels had to be reworked (point where I almost lost motivation to carry out works on the model), width was to great (by 1mm) to fit onto single tracks. In effect every wheel had to be stripped down, and the top strip/edge cut down to required size. First I tried to push one side in, without disassembly, sand down sticking out edge and paint it over. It turned out to be too messy and time consuming, while cutting down stripped part to size proved better. Outcome is not great, but not the worst after all.

I did not fix any holding pins and other connections. Main wheels will have to fit exactly where the sprocket is, and wheel itself is mounted on equalizer spring unit which is finally fixed to lower hull. 10 of these units, single per wheel, are my next objective. I am currently preparing springs and completing main body reinforcements (same shape as body but 1mm thick, 4 per 1 so I have to cut out 40). I will also leave them for now without any connectors. 

Sdkfz 124 Wespe #1

For next project I picked up paper model of Sdkfz 124 Wespe from GPM, self propelled artillery in 1:25 scale. It is based upon Pzkpfw II chasis, which in French campaign proved to be not capable enough to compete with modern enemy units. It's qualities were appreciated though and vehicle stayed in service as support unit and artillery. 

Specifications

Weight 11 tonnes (24,250 lb)

Length 4.81 m (15 ft 9 in)

Width 2.28 m (7 ft 6 in)

Height 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)

Crew 5 (commander, driver, three gunners)

Armor 5 - 30 mm (.19 - 1.18 in)

Main armament 1x 10.5 cm leFH 18M L/28 with 40 rounds

Engine 6-cyl petrol Maybach HL62TR 140 hp (105 kW)

Power/weight 12.7 hp/tonne

Suspension leaf spring

Operational range 220 km (137 mi)

Speed 40 km/h (25 mph)

As usual I have started the build from the most time consuming and most, at least for me, boring part of the whole model - wheels. For now main wheels are done, but still require some detailing - front wheel cap and back support/connecting rod. 

Front cap is actually done, all I need to do now is to cut it out. I tried new way of dealing with many and small parts at once, in fixed position and with no mess and problems: main part has been left on small piece of paper grouped together, as picture shows, top layer has been glued in and fitted in right position to imitate screw sockets. Diameter of the cap is around 5 - 6mm, what is not easy to handle when fixing both parts cut out first. 

It is my first model from GPM, I have quite few of them in my possession though (in future, maybe not that distant plans: Pzkpfw III, Pzkpfw IV, Wirbelwind (flak gun mounted upon Panzer IV chasis), NeubarFarzeug (german prototype heavy multi turret tank), two bombers from Battle for Britain period - Heinkel 111 and Dornier 17). After putting few Modelik's together I got used to certain standard, but it's something different so I think is worth trying - subject is very interesting and quite uncommon for paper modeling after all. I have also decided to use laser cut tracks, to save some time and make model more interesting (I will stay with single pieces traction on larger models).