Bovington Tank Museum #1

I finally had a chance to visit Tank Museum in Bovington, trip was quite long, 190 miles one way, but well worth it. I think it is a Must Visit for any tank modeler.

Before even approaching main buildings there are many examples of what can be seen (or poked) inside - tanks are everywhere. Tour around the Museum involves several displays, The Tank Story, Trench Experience, The Discovery Center and Battlegroup Afghanistan. There are plenty tanks to be seen across all these sections, from time of Great War  to very modern.  I did not even realize how big they actually are, Tiger is huge, but King Tiger or JagdTiger are monstrous. So are power-plants and engines (also on display) for such machines. It is pretty impressive seeing in reality how thick tank armor was, and how thin it may have seemed to what enemy may have prepared to use against. It all served and serves still one purpose though - breaking enemy resistance.
 

{Link to Part 2}

Trip to RAF Cosford

Having some spare time I took another trip to nearby based RAF Museum in Cosford. 20 miles done with no problem and no delay - quick & easy, only parking to be paid and that's all the cost. Friday morning was not bad choice at all, two coach parties of pupils and few adult visitors - perfect. Before kids appeared in the area where all War Planes are, I took closer look at few shown below:

Sdkfz 7/1 # 2 / Tracks & Sprockets /

Any paper model of a tank or a half track is very requiring and time consuming because of great number of parts for all wheels and track links. Without applying "cutting many in one go" methods the build would take even longer. For square shaped parts  it's good to use knife and metal ruler to guide blade avoiding wave like edges left by scissors. Perfect, if parts are grouped together (like in this kit:) and one cut sorts few out in one go. Tracks are made out of single links connected by a pin. Usually, but not always, 2 versions of tracks are provided: single links or strips (models for experienced modelers are usually supplied with only single link version, other option seems to be waste of space). Strip version of tracks can be made pretty quickly, main difference is thickness, flexibility and construction time. Single links are very flexible (pin-joints), take easy any curves especially around the sprocket, where strip may crack or be difficult to shape up. There is however third option, which is laser cut set of tracks. It looks like simple, strip version but with all details cut out (see Stug IV).   

SdKfz 7/1 #1 / Road Wheels /

This one was long(er) time coming, as my attention was drawn away for a bit, into wet and peculiar reality of Silent Hill "Downpour". New release of this old and famous horror series features Murphy Pendelton's story, escaped convict looking for a way out of prison bus crash site. He ends up in Silent Hill, a very dark town. Town itself  may not exactly scare, but give a bit of goose flesh, and that feeling of un-reality. Murphy is allowed to scout the town in certain limits, roads are still cut off, any available way out is blocked, but more areas are available to explore. Side quests are present in those extra locations and give some additional info about story line and Murphy's past (after all there must be a reason why he is in claws of madness). Game can be easily put in line with part 2, which is widely considered as best out of the series. The Downpour takes what is the best out of all previous games I suppose, novelty is escape or rather running away from "red nightmare" in different versions of "other world" (similarity to Silent Hill Shattered Memories for Wii). Game definitely deserves attention, it's "must have" for all fans. Completing it once is never enough especially having bonuses in second play through :D 

Sturmgeshutz IV #6

The fewer details it seems the longer it takes. Engine hatches and back engine plate with all details are done. Miniature of the gun came next, it's base with characteristic "snout" ("Saukopfblende") shape is made but not yet fixed to the upper hull. Gun barrel was rolled out of kit's card, after almost hour spent rolling can say I'd rather prefer offset paper as alternative. Offset is softer, easier to control and keep in line. Card is too thick for small diameters, moreover if too much pressure is applied while rolling surface my crack or bend leaving visible marks. For rolling I use 2 mm in diameter, few inches long steel bar. Surface for this method is important, it has to be soft and flexible. I use back side of old mause pad, which is "foamy" and ideal for this kind of job. The 'slope' part of gun's base has difficult shape, had to fold it first in proper areas than stick it piece by piece to the rest. Design here did not fail, but part requires extra attention especially on the "round" corners, angle is more than 90 - 100 degrees, curved and has to be flat on joining point. 

Sturmgeshutz IV #5

Stug finally stands on it's own wheels. All subcomponents of suspension are finished and ready for further assembly.

Subparts of suspension were added up in following order: first idler wheel with it's plate was fixed to the body, return rollers next. Before  connecting sprocket  to the body a length of tracks was applied and shaped onto it with long back section set to lay upon return rollers. Same method was used with idler section. Road wheels were then fixed to the trolleys and last bottom section of tracks was added. Tracks were over painted in flat color inside and drybrushed outside (more visible details).

Sturmgeshutz IV #4

After long time spent on making and cutting circles I feel I am almost there. Sprockets, spring equalizers with trolleys, return rollers, stretching wheels and road wheels are ready.

Stretching wheel though does not seem to be designed in right way if comparing against historical materials, but for quite simplified model like that it does not really matter. I also tried to apply rivets wherever applicable, and am quite glad how it looks and gives certain character to otherwise dull superstructure of model made in standard.

Sturmgeschutz IV #3

Main and the largest in quantity part of suspension is mostly done. 32 road wheels, 5 parts each made me feeling like working in circles. Assembly required a lot of patience, but I applied mass production procedures (which are necessary for models like that and bigger e.g. ships, I just have to say I admire ship builders because of number and size of components). All parts have been cut out first and everything here is numbered with sense with manual giving proper image of what to do and in what order.

Sturmgeschutz IV #2

 

I think most difficult part of that model is behind me. I had no problems covering carcass of superstructure, all parts were in right shape and size. Quite important thing to remember about carcass while making paper models is carcass is to be fitted to outer covers not covers to carcass. Sanding is necessary  in any case and leaves carcass smooth with no surface imperfections visible after covering (e.g. if a thicker spot of glue is left on surface it will create a visible bump or if too long edges on joints are left out may cause raised areas and general smoothness disturbance) . Having superstructure done I started works on suspension. Leaf spring are done and painted. There are 11 parts for one spring unit,  made out of different length strips.

Sturmgeschutz IV #1

My next project is again one of the German crawlers, assault/infantry support self propelled gun. Sturmgeschutz IV (SdKfz 163 according to assembly booklet, but browsing through available references and books I found it listed as SdKfz 167) is one of the most famous German constructions based upon Panzer IV ausf H chassis. First Stug was based upon Panzer III chassis, with low enveloping armored superstructure. It did not have the turret as low profile was specially requested.