ZVEZDA's Sd.Kfz.251/3 Ausf.B with some additions
We begin with the Box Top art work, depicting the "B" model, but I will be making this into the "A" model with some extra vision blocks and some small internal 'adjustments'.
The detail in this kit is on a par with all the other major manufacturers, and in some instances, make the others look like amatures.
Teo bags, and no parts that have come adrift or pieces broken like the other builders had said.
The decal sheets are of fine quality and all in 'register'.
All nationalities are catered to when it comes to the instructions, and the diagrams are well laid out if in doubt.
There are a LOT of 'sub assemblies' to do as the build progresses, and these are indicated on the left collumn of which should be done first and where they are needed.
The 'parts' layout is crisp, and there are no unrequired parts indicated.
Everything is clearly indicated as to where it should go, BUT, check the fit a dozen times before gluing and refer to all the images you have too.
Building the track I really enjoyed, as it does take some fine balancing and minimal glue for the tracks to "work", if only to be flexable enough to go on the vehicle when needed.
The seperate portable 'generator' is a surprise and the engine is a gem, with all the tubes and pipes you need.
DETAIL that blew my mind. !! The rifels all have the slot in the butt for a strap to be fitted, and the broken fuel can frame was my fault, but easily fixed.
These are the seat mounting frames in the drivers compartment.
One disapointment was the lack of the access doors to the outside storage compartment bins. But I made some up from the spares I had from the Dragon kit.
The rear door hinge frames.
The strap slot and note the triggers are clean and flash free.
The tops of the outside storage bins.
These were one thing the other builders complained about. The 'dimples' on the rubber blocks, but I left that till last, filling them with a drop of super glue "gel".
The quality of the plastic was a bonus as well. taking the knife well, and not 'shattering or splintering', with the tamiya glue the best to use, as it is quick and goes hard very quickly.
This is part of the portable electrical generator.
One thing that really pleased me was the destinct lack of pronounced 'seam lines' and 'flash', something that was always noted on the 'cheaper' kits, but here, virtually none to be seen, but what there is can and is easily removed.
In the upper left hand corner is the top of the radio arial, delecate to say the least and obviously, WARNING, handle with extreme care.
The base of the crank mechanism of the mast.
Super fine seam lines are here, but easily removed if needed.
This to me is the crowning glory of model manufacture, ahving such fine detail and with no flash or seam lines. :-O
The engine is the first part you start and everything is there. Oil filters, starter motor, carby, the LOT.
This is where you MUST pay attention to the drawings and the position of the pieces required. As it will have a HUGE bearing on what is to be added later, especially the side pannels and rear doors and half shell. BE CAREFUL.
When the pieces go in, there are to be NO gaps and all slots and bits line up PERFECTLY.
This is CRITICAL. Make sure the slots on the bottom of the bar line up with the cutaway on the lowert piece of the floor pan.
VITAL. Trim off every sceric of excess plastic for a flush fit of all parts.
The side panels will line up perfectly with the due care and constant checking with the dry fit system.
I will be having a crew member working on the engine and by his side will be this "Voyager German tool box, with tools"
The "A" version with the extra viewing blocks attached. (Spares from the dragon kit).
My 1/35 unpainted and unassembled resin figures from "True Scale" in China.
All these figures are wearing the long leather coats, and there is a choice of different heads with different hats.
The top of the radio mast is in the kit. And SO delicate. PLEASE, be so gentle with this gem. 🙂
Now you know why I love this model company, as the detail they have included that would cost you so much more to buy as an "Add on" is all there, included in the price. 🙂
The head I positioned myself. Like he was listening intently to the talk between other crew member. 🙂
He looks really interested in what is happening to his right. The heads came seperatly, one with a helmet and bare headed..
Now the "positions everybody". time. I am wanting to get this right. 👍 🙂
Two are the same, but that is not what I want, and I have a few more on order.
You may have noticed. I have added the 'oil coolers' using some brass strip for the frame on the ones from the dragon kit. :-/
Oil coolers with scratch built frames, using the coolers from the dragon kit.
On the "A" models, these oil coolers were positioned high but on the "B"'s abd "C"'s, they were lower down closer to the engine compartment.
I have added some lock latch handles.
These items, including the gas mask canisters, are from an earlier 88 I had built, but never used the crew, so they are to be hung from the sides of the troop compartment and the water bottles will be in the storage bins.
The old 88's helmets,and I am going to cover these with mesh.
Covered by twisting the helmets into the mesh and supergluing the knot under the lip of the helmet and cutting it free.
I twisted it very tightly and that helped show the contours of the helmet edges.
The water bottles.
Comentarii
5 April 2017, 09:30
Holger KranichThe content looks seducing! So i wait till Revell brings it on the market for less money. At least i hope so!😢
5 April 2017, 09:46
Kerry COXHolger. This kit is as cheap as chips mate. I payed $80.00 Au for the "C" Dragon kit delivered from BNA in Melbourne, but this kit was $40.00 delivered from "Frontline hobbies" here at Newcastle in N.S.W. And fully worth every cent.
5 April 2017, 10:01
Holger KranichWell that sounds nice, Kerry! A look at the sprues makes my mouth wet.🙂 Lets see what it cost in germany...
5 April 2017, 12:45
Holger KranichThe cheapest offering is from Poland with 18,80€. My beloved hobbyshop wants 24,50€. So the price cant stop me from buying it!😄
5 April 2017, 12:52
Martin OostromOn the product page the prices are listed: scalemates.com/kits/106080-zvezda-3604-sd-kfz-251-3-ausf-b
Approx €25,- doesn't sound exessive
5 April 2017, 12:59
Kerry COXIt really is one of the best kits I have had to assemble, and as I always encourage everyone to do is Study the whole assembly in dry fit, as many times as possible as there are a couple of little things that will make a big difference later, and that is, the floor pan and the bits involved before the side walls and front end bits go together. And watch the rear end when the half shell has to go in, because the floor and side panels must be in the right place or you will run into a misfit, as I did, but that was before I glued.
5 April 2017, 13:42
Kerry COXRui, hehehe, but all for effect, but not so much 'problems', but lets say 'in field maintenance'. As I am sure they were all aware of how to check on things. 😉
Angel, thanks too mate. 😉 I have had a ball building it, but now its on to the diorama stage. !!!
5 April 2017, 18:22
Gauge1TrainsDKI appreciate the very thorough sprue pictures, they were a great help in assessing the kit's quality as far as flash and sharpness is concerned. It looks Dragon-like in quality, to be honest! Very impressed 🙂
5 April 2017, 18:31
Kerry COXGauge. That was why I posted all I could, as I had read a really terrible 'review' by some IPSM bloke in the US and he just ragged it all the way, but after my experience, I just HAD to set the record straight. It's an awesome kit and I am looking to buy some more, and just like 'Minniart', the detail is stunning. fortunately, that with their model making, it's not like their farm machinery quality some came to "expect of the Russians". 😉
5 April 2017, 19:21
Joerg R.Nice built Kerry, if I remember correctly, there was an issue with the interior, which is for the Ausf. C! The Eduard set corrects this.
6 April 2017, 07:27
Kerry COXJoerg. I am wondering what your meaning about the "C", as I have attempted to convert this "B" to what essentially will look like an "A".
Is there a conversion set that can be used for what I need to do. ? 🙂 👍
6 April 2017, 08:17
Kerry COXHi Holger. 👍
I have been looking for the overall outward 'appearance' between the "A" and the "B", and all I can find so far are the vision slots, of which, four are in the rear compartment. But I must ask professor Rui for some help on this one, as most of the info I get is in German, and Ich spreche kein deutsch :-/
6 April 2017, 10:41
Kerry COXOK. here comes the life brigade to the rescue. LOL 👍
Holger and Rui, I have just had a look at the "A" version that I am making out of the "B", and I have it right. 4 viewing slots and ariels in the right place, plus, I have added doors to my storage bins on the side.
6 April 2017, 11:20
Kerry COXI also took delivery today of the character who is resting with his back up againstt the rear wheel and straw all around him. 🙂
6 April 2017, 11:39
Rui SI can comment photo 87, with, within the cheapest price and, I love OOB... 👍
6 April 2017, 11:40
Rui SYes.
YOUR PHOTO COMMENT: "Now you know why I love this model company, as the detail they have included that would cost you so much more to buy as an "Add on" is all there, included in the price. 🙂 "
MY COMMENT: "included within the cheapest price and, I love OOB"
6 April 2017, 11:48
Kerry COXBart, it is almost too fragile. :-O
The aerial is just stunning in the way they have got it to behave.
6 April 2017, 11:50
Kerry COXHere in images 89 and 90 is the little relaxing trooper, in his huge coat . There is just so much 'expression' in the figures face. Resin figures are now being made by 3d printers for the blanks. 🙂🙂
6 April 2017, 11:51
Bart Goesaerteven when you are not into painting figures one would be tempted to try at least one more time when looking at these... are these costly?
6 April 2017, 12:06
Kerry COXI got them from this mob and very cheap.
d.aliexpress.com/ali..sg_id=19318260586761$059d0fb8f6a44bb1b4f621f0c7b33ded&ck=in_edm_other.
6 April 2017, 12:21
Kerry COXIt's a big web site in China, and you have to look for toy and hobbies and see what is on offer. aliexpress.com/item/..09-9934-c84579ce1a0d
6 April 2017, 12:23
Holger KranichSome real nice figures! Just a pitty that my figure painting skills are basicly not available...
6 April 2017, 13:01
Joerg R.Kerry, I meant, that the Interior from Ausf. A and B differs from the later versions of Ausf. C and D😉 Eduards Photoetchset for Zvezdas Ausf. B fixes that problem.
6 April 2017, 18:52
Kerry COXRui, at 5.29AM Friday, the we file is downloading and a huge file too. :-O Thanks mate. 🙂
Joerg, I will look at the eduard at a next time, (there WILL be more), for the correction kit. Cheers for letting me know. 👍
And Holger, Yes mate, these figures are really well made and I will now be going through what I can find on 'figure painting' now to get the best result. 🙂 👍
Bart. Did you get to see the link to the figures I posted. ? The second link I believe will put you right on the slot I was thinking of, so let me know if I can narrow it down a bit for you. 🙂
6 April 2017, 19:35
Rui SHi Kezza,
5,29AM??? do you sleep at all?
Be welcome Mate, just let me know when ypu see what's inside, and thanks for sharing that link. It's spot on Mate. 👍
6 April 2017, 19:58
Kerry COXRui. My friend. :-O
What can I say. ???
I have just spent the last hour looking at all the colour plates alone. WOW.
THEN. !! A quick flick through the Images of all the different places it was used and I am now. ADDICTED. !
I want more. LOL 🙂
The PDF file is extensive and all in German, but this is where I get my translator working to figure out a few things, but that is good, as I need to be a bit more 'knowledgeable' if I am to spruke what I know at the next Comp. !!
So many new ideas have come to mind on what I can add without making it look 'overdone' in the add on department. 🙂
Thank you a million times to you and ALL my mates from all over for helping me understand a whole lot more about this amazing vehicle. 👍 👍 👍
Rui, I also noticed some 250's in the images too. 😉
6 April 2017, 20:35
Kerry COXRui, I do hang from some rails in my closet to sleep occasionally. LOL, but I am just so active, I try to utilize all the time I am awake for something productive, and when you get older, you will find you want to do so much more with time, as there is not much left of it. hahahahahah 🙂 🙂
6 April 2017, 20:39
Kerry COXBTW. I now know where to put the wires that come from the antenna's on the side of the hull. 👍.
I also noted some small battery packs with wires running to connectors on the hull on top of the right rear fender, below the two shovels. That will be included in my dio too. 🙂
And I do believe the two protrusions either side of the drivers compartment, just in front of the side viewing slots are the oil coolers. OR, can they be something else. ? But that is what they look like to me. :-/
6 April 2017, 20:42
Rui SMate,
I've told previously somewhere, that I love some colour plates, but you also have PDFs not only in German, but also Russian, English, French and Pole. And yes, some are about 251 and 250 too.
Enjoy😉
6 April 2017, 21:34
Kerry COXRui, 🙂 I will assure you my enjoyment on this matter is huge. 🙂 But I will investigate the Pdf's now they are all here.
Cheers again Professor Rui. 👍
6 April 2017, 22:16
Bart GoesaertHey Kezza, thx for the link, will check these out. First link doesn't work, second one does.
7 April 2017, 06:28
Kerry COXBart. I am pleased it went well. I payed $6.50 for each figure and when they arrive, they are so well packed, it is quite hard to access what you get. Excellent really, but they come with a couple of heads capped and different types..👍
7 April 2017, 06:31
Rui SKezza, I'm no "professor" nor something similar.
Just Like to help and to exchange and share information.😉
7 April 2017, 11:42
Kerry COXRui. Calling to 'professor', It is a term of endearment, or if you like, utmost respect. 👍
maybe you haven't noticed, but we all come to you for your knowledge.🙂
👍 👍 👍
7 April 2017, 12:47
Rui SMate, I Don't think they are oil coolers but a "changing direction device with pivot arm" 👍 like in the old cars... similar to this ones:
olx.pt/anuncio/pisca..raqh.html#f3f3b73a3e
or:
google.pt/search?q=o..bX0LYgQA&spf=439
but with cover.
It's an Ausf A so they where used in early war...
7 April 2017, 19:03
Alistair GrahamLove that cantilever toolbox, identical design to the one I made as an apprentice engineering fitter in 1976. I want one
7 April 2017, 19:07
Kerry COXSo many friends dropping in. 👍. I love it. hahahaha
And Rui, I am amazed to think that they had indicators in the battle field. :-O :-O :-O, but it makes sense. Yet no mention of them have I found yet. Now that is a thing that has really got me determined to find out, and I do remember the early British cars with these in the door pillars.👍
Alistair, the tool box is by "Voyager Models", and four boxes on the sheet of brass. Item number PEA 269. google.com.au/url?sa..152180690,bs.2,d.dGc
Herbert, I am yet to have a look at the Revelle kit, or at least a review on one, as I do plan to add some more variants to what is now becoming a 'collection' of 251's. 👍
7 April 2017, 21:20
Kerry COXAlistair, I have an album on the tool boxes too. "Voyager" Etched brass German tool boxes. | Album by RedRoo
7 April 2017, 21:30
Rui SHi Kezza,
Not needed in battle field yes, but in columns and parades from the early years. They were called the Wehrmacht taxis, hehehe.
You can also see them in the Sd.Kfz 10, 1 Ton half track, trucks, etc. I'm posting some photos for you, in the MT4
7 April 2017, 23:02
Kerry COXI see what you mean Rui. So, what I have done is OK anyway really, and I am to assume that the same device was on the "C" too.
8 April 2017, 00:41
Rui SYes, as I said previously you have simulated the turning signal device not the oil coolers😎
8 April 2017, 00:44
Kerry COXRui, I have just seen MIG, and exactly as I thought after my looking through the decal sheets I had as spares here. 👍
8 April 2017, 20:21
Kerry COXChoppa, hopefully I can do the figures justice mate, and the tool box I did an album on if you care to have a look see. ?
"Voyager" Etched brass German tool boxes. | Album by RedRoo
8 April 2017, 21:14
Rui SHi kezza,
A bit more info about Guderians 2 Panzer Army:
MT4 | Album by mig (1:35)
Hope you Like it 😎
8 April 2017, 23:32
Album info
Zvezda's Kit came as a pleasant surprise to me, as I was expecting all kinds of dramas with it after reading some not so flattering comments on it by some I believe were too used to the popular brands being perfect all the time. :-/
But, it is not all that they say it is, as I have found that like with ANY kit. Take your time and do endless 'dry fitting' to make sure things are meeting up where they should be.