Hetzer
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/1/6/0/57160-12716-64-720.jpg)
I love the excitement of starting a new project! Never know how it will come out....
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/1/6/1/57161-12716-25-720.jpg)
Resin wheels (top) compared to kit's (bottom). The kit wheels have the wrong number of bolts, and no detail on the back.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/1/9/7/57197-12716-90-720.jpg)
Ejector pin marks on the TOP of the fenders 🙁
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/1/9/8/57198-12716-88-720.jpg)
These ejector pin marks are shallow, but numerous. I usually fill these with cyanoacrylate glue, so that the glue is even-with or higher than the hole. After it dries good and tight, I shave it down level with a scalpel blade.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/2/0/8/57208-12716-55-720.jpg)
After shaving the pin marks, I'll sand them a little as needed. Here you can see "before" filling the pin marks (top) and "after" (bottom).
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/2/5/4/57254-12716-39-pristine.jpg)
Here's something I have not seen before. A spare antenna holder. My references show 4 posts; 2 solid and 2 hollow. So...
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/2/5/5/57255-12716-60-720.jpg)
Replaced the solid posts with wire to make it easier to add spare antennas later (they will slip over the wire).
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/2/9/0/57290-12716-61-720.jpg)
Added hinges and wing-nuts to the jack brackets.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/2/9/1/57291-12716-97-720.jpg)
Added a clip to help hold down the wire cutters (just a thin scrap of metal from an old photo-etch tree)
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/2/9/2/57292-12716-26-720.jpg)
Just test fitting the wheels and upper hull
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/3/9/8/57398-12716-34-pristine.jpg)
The kit comes with a nice little fret of photo-etch.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/3/9/9/57399-12716-16-720.jpg)
Added guides to the gunner's periscope slider.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/9/4/0/57940-12716-64-pristine.jpg)
Muffler and grill detail; added a rough texture to the muffler and a wing-nut to the sliding grill cover
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/9/4/1/57941-12716-34-720.jpg)
The metal machine gun shields needed some bolts added
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/9/4/2/57942-12716-99-720.jpg)
Notek light with wire and fuse added
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/9/4/8/57948-12716-99-720.jpg)
Decided to do the Flammpanzer version
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/9/4/9/57949-12716-51-720.jpg)
Notice the flame thrower inside the false barrel
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/9/5/0/57950-12716-77-720.jpg)
Time to start painting
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/0/8/6/58086-12716-83-pristine.jpg)
Added a scratch built periscope above the gun mantlet. The kit does not supply one.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/0/8/7/58087-12716-75-pristine.jpg)
I discovered that the rear of the flame suppressor on the muffler should be open (it was solid on the kit part). I removed the piece, hollowed out the back end, extended the muffler to the right length, and scratch built a bracket out of plastic sheet.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/1/1/0/58110-12716-94-720.jpg)
Using Model Master Acryl "Medium Green" as a base coat/primer
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/3/2/3/58323-12716-24-pristine.jpg)
Base colors applied.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/3/2/4/58324-12716-85-pristine.jpg)
The green was airbrushed, the others are hand brushed.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/4/7/4/58474-12716-51-720.jpg)
Gloss coated and decals added
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/9/8/2/58982-12716-29-pristine.jpg)
Drilling out a few track links to install track pins on the lead link of each set of spares
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/9/8/3/58983-12716-42-pristine.jpg)
Spare track links ready to be painted and installed
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/1/3/7/59137-12716-48-720.jpg)
Dry-brushed and ready for weathering and tracks.
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/3/3/8/59338-12716-52-720.jpg)
A little blast from a hair dryer softens the glued tracked. They bend like putty, and can be shaped to sag perfectly.
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/3/3/9/59339-12716-73-720.jpg)
Finished!
Kommentarer
28 March 2013, 20:54
![](/profiles/img/12740-s.jpg)
A nice one!
My favorite:
the wing-nuts ... they're small
... you must be a really patient man George!
7 April 2013, 01:45