Sdkfz 263 Funkwagen

[Bravo Tango]

Well Folks the post Aussie Model Expo sabbatical is over.. back to the tools.

I want to try and get this..
http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_box.jpg

to look like this...
http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263scale.jpg
well not exactly like that, an Afrika Korps example actually

So I have done this..
http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_butcher.jpg

and ended with this... so far

http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_stage1.jpg

Anyway comments and tips welcome, especially tips.. I know there is a resin conversion out there but I am far too cheap to pay for a chunk of resin for what is basically a box on a 232 chassis.

A ways to go but we shall see how it progresses.
Brian T
:)

[Sheeds]

Funky Wagon BT. :thumb:

Will it be in Afika?

Willy.

[sam_dwyer]

Excellent BT, excellent.

I thought the Kevin, or the Conway was next ( i can never remember the correct name)

the 263 is looking ace

Sam

[MikkoH]

Good start. Keep posting!

Cheers Mikko

[Sticky]

Very nice, I kinda like the camo on the picture - you always see the 263's built up as Afrika Korps vehicles. One thing to note I do beleive the "fixed turret" was welded to a 232 hull, thus you will need a weld seam where you have done such a nice job of filling and sanding! :o

[MartinD]

It looks good so far. Those hack-n-glue projects are always interesting to follow. Good luck, MartinD

[Bravo Tango]

Thanks so far folks.

John, thanks for the tip on the welding, I will get the magnifying pics out on the reference shots I have to see exactly where, but it makes sense. Oh dont worry about the filling.. that was just to get it truly flush with the hull sides, nothing there a scriber can't fix

Have to see if I can get some more work done over the next couple of days.

Brian T

[hotdogrick]

i,m new this site looks good. i have been modeling for on and of for 30 plus years. mostly aircraft,armor.ships and scifi..hotdogrick :lol:

[Larry Bates]

BT,

Looking good. Interesting subject.

Larry

[James Tainton]

Here are a couple of scanned pics from Panzerspähwagen at War from Trojca.
https://panzerfaust.sslpowered.com/Planet%20armor%20pictures/General/2331.jpg

https://panzerfaust.sslpowered.com/Planet%20armor%20pictures/General/2332.jpg

[RC_Hill]

The weld seams are not that prominent on those...you can see where the fixed structures begin (the angles above the front vision ports for the driver)...perhaps they are very subtle? Or does such a think vary from vehicle to vehicle? I have my "Steel Masters" Mag that's the "War in the Desert" issue and and on the cover, there's a 263 and those weld seams really stick out :-/

RC

[Bravo Tango]

Thanks Guys, the pics and the commentary on the welds is really, really useful. I wanted to get the "turret" looking right before I proceeded much further (you could always hack the top of and go for the short 7.5cm version). It also confirms the slight "kink" in the antenna frame for the extendable mast I have seen in both the plans I am using (George Bradford) and other pix

I will proceed with vigour.

Thanks again for all your help.

Brian T :)

[Evan August]

Neat conversion you've got going here. I saw a couple of pics in SS Armor of LAH 263s, in a winter white wash. Looked pretty cool. From the one pic, it's hard to see weld seams on the sides, but they do seem rather prominent on the front of the superstructure.

[Bravo Tango]

Been a while of just tinkering, filling and stuff, but finally some headway on the model.

I have finally got around to putting on the PE and some of the other detail bits
http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_Nr4.jpg

http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_Nr5.jpg

http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_Nr6.jpg


Into a bit of the "Hmmm" territory about the antenna, although the Tamiya one is quite serviceable, it does not have the kink around the fixed mast on the rear deck. So to put that in, may mean making a new array from brass, not a trivial task, or trying to blend in a plastic portion.

More tinker time methinks!

Some more PE to go, Royal Models 232 Wheel set and clutter up with the detrious of an operational vehicle.
Still thinking Afrika Korps at this stage, although thanks to Mic Bradshaw I have some fantastic shots of French Campaign vehicles.

[Sheeds]

Hello MisTER BT!........and Members.

I think Afrika is the 1st option. See the three pics below. But if France is your bag, see the 4th pic below, it was the only one I could find on such short notice. ;)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Sheeds/263Afrika1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Sheeds/263Afrika.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Sheeds/263Afrika3.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Sheeds/SdKfz263Nov17-1941.jpg

Cheers, Willy.

[Panzergrenadier]

Nice progress! ;)
It looks good.

Siim

[Bravo Tango]

... and first retrofit about to happen.

First off thanks Willy for the shots,
I did noticed on Willy's shots that the rear door has only a single hinge.
Reference check... yep single hinge.

Looks like "ping the PE" time around the door to fix that up.

The strung HF wire antenna, which is what I make the "washing line" around the Afrika shots, is really different, could solve the fixed antenna issue. A somewhat novel way of doing a HF antenna but from my army Signals days, on a vehicle of this size totally feasible for higher HF frequencies. The good ol' AN-PRC 47 could load up a 30 foot sloping wire so the length shown in the pix is quite feasible.

Thanks

Brian T

[MartinD]

I like the work you've put into it so far. Nice detail, and the vehicle looks nice and bulky. Good luck BT!

[Sticky]

Originally posted by Bravo Tango@Jul 22 2006, 07:06 AM
I did noticed on Willy's shots that the rear door has only a single hinge.
Reference check... yep single hinge.


Brian The pic that Willy put up is of a later version than you are building, look at the vision ports on the hull side. Two hinge may be correct for the earlier version. Worth another look.

[Larry Bates]

Hi BT,

Very nice work you're doing. I just got SS amour on the eastern front in the mail the other day. It has a few shots of these vehicles if your interested.

Again, nice work.

Larry

[Bravo Tango]

Back again.. a long time between drinks really.

Must not have the same water in my area that Sam and Willy do for the speed build thing.

Anyway.
Nearing the end of the 263 build, all the basics done, some minor bits of Eduard PE to add, the goof coat of primer and then to the fun painting bit. I have decided that Afrika is the go as far as theater goes.

Here is where we are at as of .. last week actually
http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_final_1.jpg

http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_final_2.jpg

The inevitable Tichy Train rivets to replace the sanding casualties. The width markers have been added since but it all comes down to the painting and markings now.

Royal Models Wheels have been used, while not that different from the kit wheels, they are a tad easier to work with, but in need of a wheel alignment at the moment, but as they are only blue tac onto the suspension, not really that much of a trauma.
I have managed to bust a solder on the antenna but easily fixable (I hope ?). I decided that to build a new antenna array was simpler than trying to modify the kit one. Lets see how it pans out with final painting.

Brian T

[Bravo Tango]

The end is nigh!

Preliminary painting finished, Gloss coat, decal, some chips (which may disappear somewhat!) plus an ink wash.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_1.jpg

http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_2.jpg

http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_3.jpg

Wheels to paint next then final painting, a valiant attempt at post shading and covering the thing with stores.

More to follow
Brian T

[Larry Bates]

Nice progress BT'
She's looking very much the part. :thumb:

Larry

[Flak]

It looks good to me...Brian.

[Panzergrenadier]

The end is indeed very near. Very impressive build/painting so far!:thumb:


Siim

[lquah]

Brian

Super conversion work. :thumb: It's not a common modelling subject but I like it very much.

Lawrence

[Stuke Sowle]

Wow...missed this one the first time around. The Aussie contingent is still banging away down there. Must be cuz it's winter. :)

Great work on this conversion. I'm happy to see you went with the AK scheme..lends itself much more to beating the heck out of it. Will you be adding stowage to the kit?

Oh and good luck with the post shading. Another process Aussies seem to have mastered. :)

[sam_dwyer]

Gday BT
Mate the 263 is looking outstanding. Lucky youre not coming to the club tonight, I might have to accidentally break the antenna again! ;)


Sam

[Bravo Tango]

Well, I finally got off my dot and finished this.

The base proved to be a bit of a issue, DAS seems to have enough shrinkage to leave one wheel or the other "floating", finally got this nailed down.

Bits and pieces of stowage, you gotta love the Verlinden Wicker Basket set (thank Alex)

Now this is not any particulary Sdkfz 263 but it is AN sdkfz263 in Afrika.
Anyway....

http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_fin_rt.jpg

http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_fin_left.jpg

http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianth/btgallery/pa/263_fin_top.jpg

Now... what next ?????

Brian T

[sam_dwyer]

Looking excellent BT!!

As for whats next.. how about a DML Panther G smart kit? AHAHAH

See you on Saturday!

Sam

[brokeneagle]

Funky Brian. nice one.

[jagdpanzer]

Absolutely stunning! Great work and fantastic stowage,

Cheers Manuel

[Larry Bates]

That 263 is Ace Brian, :thumb:

I'll second what Sam has said, PAANTHERRRRRRRRRRRR! :D

Larry

[tamigawa]

Yeah, we really need another panther here at Panther Planet! lol
Great work!

[lquah]

Brian

Superb :thumb: Another vote for a Panther!

Lawrence

[Cadu Souza]

Very Nice! I love the figure:thumb:

Best regards
Cadu Souza

[Evan August]

Hell yeah! Came out great!

[Sturmmann]

Great work Brian!

Absolutely awesome conversion.

Dave