Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf.C Command Vehikle AFV Club

Christian Meyerhoff
First steps on my third Sd.Kfz. 251. Not the easiest kit to build, but perfect details.
Happy modelling!

Gábor Bélik
Following

Christian Meyerhoff
Many THX Gabor!

Christian Lehmann
Na da bleibe ich mal bei.

Christian Meyerhoff
Danke Lemmy! Das Teil ist schon fast fertig. Und ich habe nächste Woche Urlaub. Das Ding und mein Sd.Kfz.7 sollten da doch fertig werden.

Christian Meyerhoff
Ready for painting!

Wayne Hale
Good start, I am looking forward to following your work in progress.

John Van Kooten
Superb, Christian! 👍

I also love the level of detail of the AFV Sd.Kfz.251 kits! They are magnificent, even without adding any AM sets whatsoever 🙂

Great job so far and looking forward to it getting painted! 👍 👍

Mike Kryza
👍

Christian Meyerhoff
Many Thx mates!
@ John: The 251 range from AFV is very nice. Details are outstanding, but building them is sometimes tricky. Not the easiest kit.

John Van Kooten
Indeed, totally agree 🙂 they are for the intermediate to advanced level modelers, I'd say. Not a beginners kit. But the end result, as we can already see in your model, is always worth the trouble, in my opinion 🙂

Jonns Pfeiffenberger
👍 👍

Holger Kranich
That looks quite cool, Christian! What kind of colour have you used for the interior painting? Panzergrau?

Christian Meyerhoff
Many thx Jonns and Holger!
@Holger: The interior was painted with revell no.74 which is a little brighter than panzergrau. I lighted up the details by drybrushing. The outside of the models will be panzergrey.

Holger Kranich
What i always wanted to ask, do you have 2 airguns? One for enamel and one for acrylics?
On my Herpa, i have interchangeable nozzles with needles. I have one for enamels (although i never use it), one for acrylics and one for Alclad, exclusively.

Christian Meyerhoff
Hi Holger! I have 3 airguns that I use for enamels and acrylics as well. A 25 year old Badger 150, an Evolution two in one and a Veda WD-180 from China. This Veda gun is excellent and can be ordered for a very interesting price. When it comes to paint I`m a die hard enamel fan. I Don`t like acrylics very much. If you paint your models in your home acrylics are the better choice because of the smell and the fumes. I paint my models in my workshop, were I paint motorbikes as well. So I don`t care about that.
Youtube Video

Holger Kranich
Thanks for the info, Chrisch!
And i will keep my eyes open regarding the Veda!

Christian Meyerhoff
Painted the hull this afternoon. With some paint on this kit shows it`s real class. This is an excellent offer made by AFV Club. This kit is worth the work building it !

Christian Meyerhoff
Just forgot... Got a Verlinden Telex kit from my mate MOJO. Perfect set for this kit.

Joerg R.
What a nice model, I love the 251 's

Christian Meyerhoff
Many THX Joerg! It`s my third Hanomag after building two Dragon Kits. Not my last one for sure, got four others in my stash. 🙂

Christian Meyerhoff
Added the wheels, running gear and started with the radio equipment. Headphones and wiring still have to be added.

Mike Kryza
Es wird spannend!

Christian Meyerhoff
Danke Mike! Dauert aber noch ein wenig, das Ding braucht mehr Arbeit als gedacht. Besonders im Innenraum sieht das noch nicht so aus wie ich mir das vorstelle.

Christian Meyerhoff
Some further Progress. Added the tracks, finished the hull and put on the decals. I'm not happy with these rubber tracks because they are too short. One link is missing on each side. I will replace them by some others. BTW... Is there anybody who has a set of Dragon EZ tracks which he does not need anymore ? With a coat of future the decals went on excellent. The next steps will be correcting some paint mistakes, paint the last Details and put on flat clear to get rid of the glossy shine. I will prepare some additional Radios and a telex mashine as well. Wireing all those Radios will be a challenge.

Kerry COX
Haven't you achieved some wonderful results with this build, just stunning and a real eye pleaser mate 🙂

Christian Meyerhoff
Many thanks Kerry, but you are too quick mate 🙂 There is plenty of work left and right now it looks awful with that glossy finish. Let`s see where we end up...

Kerry COX
fair call Christian, and I am not going anywhere just yet, so I am happy to drop in and see what your up to mate L🙂

Christian Meyerhoff
🙂

John Van Kooten
Great work so far, Christian! 👍 Really love the radio setup and if you add the additional sets, it will be even more impressive 👍

Too bad those tracks are indeed too short... it doesn't look good, with probably no (easy) way to fix that. I'm sorry to say that I haven't got a spare set of tracks left because I am actually also using the extra sets from the Dragon kits to replace the rubber bands from the AFV Club Sd.Kfz.251 kits. Those rubber bands are really bad 🤔 If I had any left I would have sent them your way immediately. So sorry...

Not sure if it helps but these Dragon kits, that I know of, have double sets of tracks, maybe you still have one of those hidden somewhere in your stash? 😉

Dragon 6217 - Sd.Kfz.251/21 Ausf.D Drilling
Dragon 6223 - Sd.Kfz.251/7 Ausf.D (3 in 1) Pioneerpanzerwagen, Pioneerpanzerwagen Command, Pioneerpanzerwagen w/2.8cm sPzB 41 AT Gun
Dragon 6233 - Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D (3 in 1) 251/1 sMG, 251/1 "Falke", 251/9 7.5cm KwK37 (L/24) Kanonenwagon
Dragon 6247 - Sd.Kfz.251/16 Ausf.D Flammpanzerwagen
Dragon 6292 - Sd.Kfz.251/17 Ausf.D w/2cm Schwebelafette

Holger Kranich
Verdammte Axt! Chrischan, dat kiekt aber mol sehr moij ut!!!!!👍

Kerry COX
I agree with what ever Holger said, and some !!! 🙂

Christian Meyerhoff
Many Thanks mates!
@ John: I will take a look in my stash this evening may be I can find something. Many THX again!
@ Kerry: Nothing to worry ! Sometimes Holger and me use this special germen language because we are neighbors. Holger was just saying that this one is looking fine. 🙂

Kerry COX
Christian, I look it up in my translator and I eventually :get the drift" ha ha 🙂

Wayne Hale
Christian I have a couple of the 6233 and will gladly send you a set of the type of tracks you need

Gerald
Schönes grau schön gealtert 👍

Christian Meyerhoff
Many Thanks Wayne and Gerald!
@Wayne: Many thanks for your kindness, but I don't Need these tracks anymore. I found a complete set among my spare parts which were left over from a Dragon kit I build many years ago. Just forgot about it.
So only+240 links and rubber pads to clean up and the Party can start again!

Christian Meyerhoff
Small update: Started to solve the track Problem and started painting a Radio Operator.

John Van Kooten
Hey that's great you found some spare tracks! So your back on track, literally! 😄 👍

Christian Meyerhoff
@John: If you did not gave me that hind, those tracks were still sleeping in my workshop. Many thanks for waking me up mate! 🙂

John Van Kooten
Cool! 🙂 Very glad to hear I was able to help you out a little bit, Christian! 👍

Looking forward to more updates on this build. I really love German half-tracks and yours is going great! The figure with the headset as well. Can't wait see that one finished 👍

Ingo Ramin
Sieht ja schon mal sehr gut aus. Wo stammt der Funker her (vielleicht hab' ich's überlesen?!?)

Christian Meyerhoff
Danke Dir Ingo! Der Funker ist von Dragon:
Halftrack Crewmen (Dragon 6193, 1:35)

Christian Meyerhoff
AFV kit plus Dragon tracks. A perfect combination. No more rubber bands 🙂

John Van Kooten
Superb!! 👍

It's great, right? That they fit around the sprocket without issues 🙂 I was also really happy with that 🙂

Mike Kryza
Na - sieht doch schon aus wie 'ne Halbkette... 👍

Christian Meyerhoff
Yes John! Great stuff once put together.
Jo mike... so bi lütten ward dat wat. 🙂

Christian Meyerhoff
Made some Progress on the Radio Equipment and the Operator.Still some work to do but this one is Close to finish.

George Bacon
Beautiful, just beautiful! I really like the radios, wood grain, figure, and ... I guess - everything! Well done! 👍

Christian Meyerhoff
Many thx George! I like that you like it!

Kerry COX
Christian, Are you going to give it some "age" ha ha. ? As it does look, as it should at the moment, like its just rolled off the assembly line, and that is NOT a criticism mate, just a question. because it has some wonderful detailing been done here. 🙂

Christian Meyerhoff
Well Kerry! This one will be covered with some dust but nothing else. This was a command vehicle which saw no combat Action at all. When you take a look at original Pictures you will find many vehicles covered with dust and dirt, but in excellent condition as well. A vehicle that was put into Service in 1939 was only 6 years old when the war ended. Even not so many survieved the whole war.

arne vd burg
i like it allot 👍

MoJo
super geworden 👍

Kerry COX
Thank you for the info Christian, as I was not aware of that at all. 🙂

John Van Kooten
Very nicely done, Christian! I love it! 👍 The figure is particularly great as well! As are the radio sets 🙂

And those are very valid points you mentioned. Often overlooked indeed.

Another important thing that should be considered is that vehicles were properly cared for and maintained when withdrawn from active combat. An army that doesn't maintain its arms and armour is defeated by default.
They didn't get their weapons and vehicles all dirty and covered in mud, retreat from combat and call it a day. If they did, they would be rendered useless in a matter of weeks, maybe even days, if you consider the conditions of battlefields like those on the Eastern front😉

What I mean is, vehicles didn't look dirty and/or worn all of the time, which is especially true, as Christian said, for vehicles behind the lines that didn't take part in actual combat.

Having said that, adding some wear and tear for artistic purposes, if one wants to do that, is totally fine of course 🙂 it gives the viewer even more interesting things to look at. But there's a big difference between artistic license and reality😉

Christian Meyerhoff
Many thx mates!
@John: You are right. This is exact what I wanted to say. If you are building a Stug for example, you have a vehicle which was made for combat and nothing else. For such a vehicle heavy weathering and damages are quite usual. But a radio car was one of the high tech items of it`s time and very well maintained if possible.

Christian Meyerhoff
Finished!

Kerry COX
A beautifully presented model Christian, the detail is superb and richly deserves the praise you get here and anywhere else you present it. 🙂

Holger Kranich
Great work, Christian! I never expected anything else from you!
But one thing, please... How on earth have you painted the "Kriegsverdienstkreuz II"?
[img1]

John Van Kooten
Very nice, Christian! 👍 👍 I really like it! Good job!

@Holger: it's the ribbon of the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class). But I was actually wondering the same thing! 😄 also for the shoulder boards and collar tabs. Are they decals maybe?

Holger Kranich
@John: The pic, i posted above is a Kriegsverdienstkreuz ribbon. I had the EK 2 in mind, too but they look so similar... How ever, his work on the figure is really tight! Yep, could be decals, maybe?

I want those decals! 😄

Mike Kryza
Holger - you have a steady hand and good eyes... ...paint it!

Holger Kranich
Mike, I stood in the first row as god issued us "lazyness"!

Mike Kryza
Ahhh... now I know - you were the man beside me...🙂

Christian Meyerhoff
Many thanks for your kind words Mates! I like it when you like it. None of the uniform insignia was painted. They are decals. Please take a look at this link:

German Equipment Decal Set (Passion Models P35D-002, 1:35)

These decals are excellent printed and cheap. I buy them directly from Singapore. If anybody is interested please send me a pm. Added thome images of those decals as well.

John Van Kooten
@Holger: yes, they are very similar 🙂 But the colors are inversed. Kriegsverdienst has the black color in the center + red on the edges. EK2 has the red color in the center and black on the outer edges 🙂 While I was collecting WWII gear I made up my own rule to remember them : Blac-K-riegsverdienst. This way I always know that black center color is KVK 🙂

Those decals are really nice! Thanks very much for the info, Christian! 👍

Stefan Fraundorfer
Saubere Arbeit Christian. Halbketten gefallen mir als Modell immer wieder, weil sie so martialisch aussehen. Die Figur ist top, aber sind das nicht Abzeichen vom Heer und das Sd.Kfz. von der Luftwaffe? ich kenne mich da nicht so aus. Und wenn es so wäre, würde es auch nix machen. hat er halt mal bei der LW ausgeholfen.

Fabian D.
uhh, those seem to be "all you can whish for" decal sets, thanks for the hint.
Nice work with your 251 aswell 👍

Christian Meyerhoff
Many thanks again mates!
@Stefan: Du hast vollkomen recht. Diese Fahrzeuge gehörten zur Luftwaffen Division " Herrman Göring " und so sollte auch der Funker eine Luftwaffen-Uniform tragen. Mir persönlich gefällt diese Uniform nicht so gut im Zusammenhang mit dem Fahrzeug. Historisch wäre es wohl korrekt, aber etwas "künstlerische Freiheit" macht so ein Modell halt etwas individueller. ( Schwache Entschuldigung, aber mir fiehl nix besseres ein😉 )