Stug E-100

Anastasios
Hi. I see you've started the Trumpeter Stug E-100.
I'm onto painting, and it looks like the 60/40 ratio of Brown/Red should be reversed; I cannot see any red with only 40% red in the mix and it looks nothing like the painting guide. I've gone 50/50 and it's still too brown.

Mike Pearce
Hello, yes just getting back into modelling and so far am impressed with the fit and relative simplicity of this kit. I haven't played with paint yet, but will consider trying the recommended mixes based on the Tamiya acrylics I have invested in. One possible mix I have seen used as a simulated red oxide finish, again based on Tamiya, is as follows: XF7 80%; XF1 10%; XF67 10%. Please feel free to share your experience with me as I hope to do through this really "cool" website. Cheers

Anastasios
I was wondering why they didn't recommend XF-9 Hull Red.
Mine is looking "OK". If I ever build this kit again (which I just might!), I will put the fenders on much earlier in the building process. I found them a bit fiddly to get on perfectly in line, and had to glue small surfaces at a time, allow to set so it would hold and then move on a few centimetres. Also, I managed to break off a small part or two while putting them on.
I initially built this with the back doors able to open and close, and was going to put in a simple interior and figure, but got impatient to finish the model and ended up gluing them shut. If you are going to have the top two doors able to open and close, I recommend you drill through the hinges and insert a wire; I found they kept falling off when only clicked into place. If you're going to glue them shut, it doesn't matter.

Mike Pearce
Hey again. So I just glued upper structure to lower, have a pile of wheels I am debating whether to glue them on now or after primer/paint and now looking at rear hatch options, looks like one has connectors for mufflers not shown on instructions. Will have to explore possible options. I have no idea on how to do the rubber tracks and whether they can be installed before or after the fenders. I really love the scale and geometry of this model yet it still has those teeny tiny parts that fly across the room lost forever.....

Anastasios
I put the wheels on AFTER primer paint and I am glad I did. Lots of small gaps to spray through with the wheels on. I then glued on all the wheels apart from the front/toothed wheel (so I could get the tracks on).
With the mufflers on the sprue, they must be for another kit; there is nowhere to put them, AND the exhausts are already there (pointing outwards either side).
With the rubber tracks, this is the first time I have encountered trouble. Maybe it is because I painted them first, but neither Tamiya extra thin or superglue worked, even after I scraped all the paint off. I ended up trying something I had heard of but scoffed at: I stapled them. WORKS GREAT!! I have the stapled connection at the top and it is covered by the skirts, and it is strong. You wouldn't want the staples visible, but with this kit they are well hidden.
Finally, it was just a little fiddly to get the stapled tracks on with the skirts installed, but it only took two or three minutes each. Then put the last wheel in and looks great.

Mike Pearce
Yes awesome thanks for the advice. So I tried the 60/40 mix with Tamiya red X7 and red brown XF64 and loved the colour even though it is not like the box art but pretty close to painting guide. Have to figure out how to share photos of work. I tried hull red XF-9 definitely redder than mix didn't give it a chance as I went with mixture since I had to make 100 drops worth of paint to blend sufficient quantity to test. I really have no idea about painting but never to late to learn, at least I hope not. Just received aqueous brown 79 so will start base colour coat and see where this goes! Yes haw!