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Given this pre-production kit by my LHS to build for them...













Looks like it should be a straightforward Tamiya build - simplified by the rubber band tracks. Was also given a zimmerit decal set which will be interesting to try out.

Adam - this one will be OOTB

Gary

Can you help yourself Gary...not even going to replace the grab handles?

As tempting as it will be....

No point comemnting on the styrene as I fully expect that to be of a different type for the actual production run.
So far, fit is as you would expect from Tamiya. The zimmerit stickers are far easier to work with than I expected. A nice clean sharp blade works wonders. Decided it would be better to apply the main sections of zimmerit prior to adding futher kit parts and is working well for me at this stage...









I did find the spare track holder to be a little vague in its position so the spare track link is dry fitted to ensure the bar has the correct spacing from the front plate.



Gary

Very nice!

How about you write a few extra lines of text and turn this into a build review once you're done with construction?

Philipp

I'll see how I go.

Application of zimmerit to rear panel...



Just to clarify that the zimmerit is NOT part of the kit and needs to be purchased seperately.



Return rollers...



You essentially get 8 roadwheels with rubber rims and 8 with steel rims. Locations are set out in instructions depending on which vehicle you want to build.
Rear idler wheel and drive sprocket have a few mould lines which need to be addressed.



Exhaust...



Upper deck is one piece and includes fenders....



Forward zimmerit parts....



Needed a little CA gel to help with the transmission access door vent zimmerit parts....



Rear engine deck parts....



Gary

The Zimmerit sheets certainly look good....I wonder how they'll stand out under some paint and weathering.

Nice work on the Stupa too

Philipp

I'm curious too Phillip on that score.

Onto the main gun next - a 15 cm StuH 43/1. Tamiya have certainly tackled the prominant rifling in a very interesting way.



Certainly very effecfive....



... and far better than having a plain tube!

Elevation of the gun is via Tamiya's polycaps....



Builds up into a decent rendition of the 150mm gun....



Casemate style superstructuire. Extremely nice texture on the armour plates and great interlocking detail...



The rear panel fits perfectly (even if the edges are chamfered - Takom are you watching!!!!) Dry fitted to lower hull...



More zimmerit....









No slide mold technology for the MG34....



Sfl.Zf. 1a sight moves with the gun - nice touch.





Jack and spare wheels added....





Tow cables. String provided but no slide molding for the tow cable ends. Schürzen hangers go together easily enough....





Commander's hatch assembly...



Tracks on. Vinyl type which can be cemented together with styrene glue. I did leave the cement to cure over night before fitting them....





Not for the purists, but they'll be hidden by the schürzen anyway so no need to worry about the typical track sag you'd see on these vehicles.

Gary

Schürzen plates next...



Tamiya helpfully number them so no chance of getting placement wrong. A few pin marks to deal with, but nothing a few scrapes of a sharp blade can't deal with...



Typical Tamiya - couple of figures provided with the kit. Not usually a fan of styrene figures, but have to confess these are pretty good. Excellent poses and part fitment is perfect. Even the foot soldier's personal equipment has recesses in the uniform so parts fit 'naturally'. With a little scribing to improve definition, these will paint up very icely indeed...







And the completed kit....









And that concludes this blog. LHS want it to stay unpainted at this stage for display purposes.

All round a very nice easy kit to build with the bonues of two great figures. No doubt you could go to down and super detail this kit, but essentially nothing really wrong out of the box - just drill out that MG34 muzzle!

Gary

That was fast - classic Tamiya

Let's hope you get to paint it soon!

Philipp

Philipp Gross wrote: ↑23 Oct 2017, 08:48 That was fast - classic Tamiya

Philipp

Classic Gary

Vincent