DML Marder II

[sam_dwyer]

Well, now seems to be as good a time as any to start a new vBench - this time on the DML Marder II.
First off, I want to say a special thanks to Larry Bates, he generously offered to pick this kit up for me at DX06 and then mailed it out to me - once again Larry, thanks, you're a gentleman!

I have a special place in my heart for Marders, in fact if I had had more time, i'd have included this type of Marder II in my Osprey book:
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_deta...e=S8553&ser=MOD (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php?title=S8553&ser=MOD)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/S8553AL.jpg

The old Tamiya kit.. well lets just say it was possible to update it (Tamiya Wespe running gear, Tamiya Marder IIIM gun, Aber gun shields.. a gallon of tears) - I decided to do the other Marder II instead.

The moment I saw DML were to release the Marder II, well I knew I just had to do one.. and fast!

Once the kit arrived, everything on the desk got shoved aside.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7219.jpg

My Initial impressions of the kit are well, mixed. Undoubtedly, the kit contains a huge amount of detail, but in a very unDML like fashion, there is a little bit of flash here and there (James does your kit have this too?). It almost looks to me like they have (almost) rushed it into production.

From a preliminary dry fit point of view, most of the major pieces go together perfectly, so I think i'll push on with construction.

I'll modify mine where appropriate, although a great kit can be built out of box (and what a box!) - I didnt get the Cyberhobby update, Im going to update this kit, where necessary, using old time modelling skillz, not by throwing a mountain of aftermarket at it (which I usually like doing!)

So, pics to start rolling on soon.

Sam

[RC_Hill]

Cool Sam! :lol:

[sam_dwyer]

Roadwheels -

Comparison between the DML and Tamiya wheels (from their tasty Wespe) -

DML have done their usual trick with the tyre markings, 'Continentau' - check out the flash, well largish mold lines on the roadwheel rubber.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7220.jpg

The DML wheels are 16.8mm, the Tamiya wheels are 16.6mm.. the plans in Achtung Panzer No.7 show them as 16.9 - close enough for me.

Sam

[Plushy]

Hi Sam ,
looks like you will be busy for awhile building this Marder as well as the Char B1 Flamethrower that i see on your workbench , I have some photos of the flamethrower if you want i can post them up or just pm /email them to you ?

Cheers Plushy

[James Tainton]

My Initial impressions of the kit are well, mixed. Undoubtedly, the kit contains a huge amount of detail, but in a very unDML like fashion, there is a little bit of flash here and there (James does your kit have this too?).

Hi Sam,
to tell you the truth I haven't noticed any flash to speak of.
Maybe I should wait till you are done yours to get some tips :)

[Evan August]

It's always a pleasure to watch you build Sam! I look forward to your updates. I really wasn't interested in this kit, but after seeing a few shots in SS Armor I might change my mind!

[Uruk-Hai]

Im gonna follow this thread.

Anyone knows were I can pick up one of those Dragon Marder II?

Between, the Char looks a bit small besides the Dragon Box.

Cheers

[Flak]

So, pics to start rolling on soon.

We are watching ;)

[Panzergrenadier]

Cool, two Marder II at once. :)

Siim

[Larry Bates]

Sam,

Your welcome buddy.

I will be watching your build closely, so do lots of sbs pics ok? ;)

I might even get one.

Larry

[sam_dwyer]

I thought that at this stage I should probably post some images of the MArder II im going to do:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/ComparisonShotof115withCrewKOdatBal.jpg

This shot shows nr 115 of some unknown (to me anyway) unit at, and after, the battle at Lake Balaton, right near the end of the war. The marking '266' is done by the Russian battlefield intel guys after the battle.
Here's a shot of the next one in the column '267':
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/Pict0003.jpg

So, looking at 115/266, it looks to have the earlier sprocket, with the holes between the bolts, but the later style idler, with the cone shaped cover over the hub bolts
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/crop-115-266-sprocket.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/crop-115-266-idler.jpg

SO, I think i'll start with the start, and do the suspension first!

SAm

[Larry Bates]

Nice pics Sam!

Go Go!!!!

Larry

[Andrew Hall]

This shot shows nr 115 of some unknown (to me anyway) unit

A clue......... :o

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/Andrewausfa/1pd.jpg

Looking forward to this one Sam, I love the Marders. Well the Ausf. IIs and IIIs anyway.

Cheers _Andrew

[sam_dwyer]

Thanks Andrew, 23 Panzer Div it is then! hehe ;)

So, suspension went together real easy.

The buffer stop configuration is correct for a late version, with springs or buffers on the 1st, 2nd and 5th station, and bump stops on 3 and 4.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7224.jpg

The final drive housing is a nicely molded piece, 4 bolts are added from one of the sprues
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7223.jpg

Earlier pattern sprocket
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7222.jpg

All the roadwheels are pushed on to their suspension arms, ill glue the tracks to the wheels, then remove the whole shebang for ease of painting, as I did on my Pz IVE
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7221.jpg

DML include magic track, and its a pretty good fit. I made up a run of 97 or so links per side, all in 1 run, then ran Tamiya super thin liquid glue along it, then draped it over the wheels, maybe 30 minutes per side, at the most. The tracks are handed, left and right, and are a slightly different shade of grey, like their Pz IV kits. Clever.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7225.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7226.jpg

Once the glue has hardenned, ill pop the entire suspension off and continue with the build.

Sam

[Panzergrenadier]

Nice! ;)

Siim

[Flak]

Very nice...keep the great work coming ;)

[Larry Bates]

Looks great Sam,

Another thing I noticed about the mader is how incredibly small the track links are.

Larry

[panamadan]

Originally posted by sam_dwyer@Jul 9 2006, 07:26 PM
Thanks Andrew, 23 Panzer Div it is then! hehe ;)

So, suspension went together real easy.

The buffer stop configuration is correct for a late version, with springs or buffers on the 1st, 2nd and 5th station, and bump stops on 3 and 4.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7224.jpg

The final drive housing is a nicely molded piece, 4 bolts are added from one of the sprues
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7223.jpg

Earlier pattern sprocket
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7222.jpg

All the roadwheels are pushed on to their suspension arms, ill glue the tracks to the wheels, then remove the whole shebang for ease of painting, as I did on my Pz IVE
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7221.jpg

DML include magic track, and its a pretty good fit. I made up a run of 97 or so links per side, all in 1 run, then ran Tamiya super thin liquid glue along it, then draped it over the wheels, maybe 30 minutes per side, at the most. The tracks are handed, left and right, and are a slightly different shade of grey, like their Pz IV kits. Clever.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7225.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7226.jpg

Once the glue has hardenned, ill pop the entire suspension off and continue with the build.

Sam
Sam, Open guide teeth? Dan

[Larry Bates]

Dan,

See James' build for pics of the leaf spring ends.

Larry

[James Tainton]

Wow you are really bah-lazing ahead with this!... nice work so far, can't wait to see the finished product. How were the links to go together?

[sam_dwyer]

Gday Dan - yep, open guide horns, really delicate detail.

James, yeah blazing ahead, im tackling the easy stuff like suspension first.. mind you ive leapt a head just a little to start to play with the interior.. but the pain in my right eye grew unbearable.. tying to work out how on earth part B53 attaches.. In regards to the tracks, they are a simple push together job, followed by liquid glue - couldnt be easier.

[D.A.Kinder66]

The progress look's awsome thanks for sharing

[Sticky]

Do you sleep? Supa!

[sam_dwyer]

Gday John, gday guys,

ahaha yeah I do sleep, occasionally! Ive got 4 year old twins, so ive learnt to compartmentalise my time, and model like a demon when I do get time to myself!

So Ive been detailing up the interior. I really think that there is not a lot of the drivers' compartment to be seen, especially when the upper sides and gun is on, but I thought it needed some extra detailing anyway. Again, nothing spectacular, just some basic stuff.
Having said that ive decided that there is exactly nothing to be seen of the drivers compartment upper interior/ceiling. Nothing really fit well here at all, once again this smacks of the kit being rushed out for DX06. I couldnt be assed removing all those pin marks, there isnt a judges' dental mirror that can see this bit!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7232.jpg
The rear of the fighting compartment sides are nicely detailed, all I really added was some wiring the the gunners intercom box. Once the thing is together, there is a small amount of cabling to be added that sort of travels behind the drive shaft shield, but it can be added later, its the power cable for the radios. Still there are a few little gaps and so on that need attention here, ill attack those before painting.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7231.jpg

The transmission is a great little 10 piece assembly, all i added was a clutch linkage, and hollowed out part C38, the gear shifter.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7235.jpg

There are some chunky pin marks on the inside of the front plate, some of them are covered by the plate that holds the pedals, but some needed attention, i covered them with a section of 10thou evergreen.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7236.jpg

I added linkages for the pedals, using various Evergreen shapes, and stretched Evergreen rod. Also added was the brake tensioning springs. THis is just fine copper wire that I wound around a number 80 drill bit. Pics of surviving examples show these springs to be of varying lenghts, with a V shaped section at the end.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7237.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7234.jpg

Also added all the bolts on the inside of the hull - these are the back ends of the retaining bolts for the top of the leaf springs, and the return rollers etc. Oh yeah, and another 'Atemsloch' or what ever theyre called, basically a rubber tube that extended the filter dealy for the crew's gas masks, and another gas mask container. Next to the drivers' station I added an intercom box, some internal bracing (the white triangles) and also the transmission coolant trunking. This was just some solder that I wrapped some really fine solder around.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7233.jpg

[Flak]

Superb ;) It looks DML has provided everything on the driver compartment...

[D.A.Kinder66]

Thanks Sam it's looking good i like the idea of adding the linkage to the shifter and this kit is very detailed right out of box WOW!!

[Sheeds]

Looking good, there should be laws against how fast you build. :thumb:

Willy.

[Andrew Hall]

Good stuff Sam :)

Willy raised a point which I made mention of in another of your posts; in all seriousness how do you build so quick? For example, all that extra detailing you've added isn't quick to do as some time's got to be put in measuring, cutting and test fitting etc etc. And this isn't a kit you would have built before so again some time must be spent familiarising yourself with it, researching the details etc.

So, speedbuilding out of the box is one thing, adding the extras takes time. How long would an average modelling session for you be and how long did filling out the hull interior take?

Cheers _Andrew

[Larry Bates]

Sam,

That's looking awesome dude. I wish I could build half as fast as you . :lol:

Keep it coming.

Larry

[Sticky]

Great stuff here Sam! I really like the linkage - nice job!

[panamadan]

Sam, your build is a good advery for this kit. Dan :lol:

[mnickolson]

Sam,

Nice as always :)

[johnnyboy]

wow this is and awesome build your doing a great job and the kit looks great i must have one thanks for sharing johnny

[Tuna]

Awsome pics.. it looks like a really sweet kit!.. teh Suspension Detail.. Interior Detail!.. looks like a winner!..

Thanks for sharing.. :lol:

[Evan August]

That interior detail is really impressive, almost looks as good as some resin interiors! I had no idea that Dragon had included that in the kit. Looking great Sam, keep it up!

[James Tainton]

Hi Sam
Most impressive work. It really will help me detail mine up, should I ever find modelling time again :(
I was wondering what books you are using for reference or pictures for that matter of the inside details. I have the old Royal Models update set (somewhere in storage!) and it did include the linkage detail etc. Are you going to replace the kit's radio set, I want to use the excelent Aber set to redo mine. I might actually replace the side armor panels with either plastic card or sheet brass. Keep up the great work and please don't take down the pictures, I'll want to refer to them when and if I ever get to mine again :lol:

[sam_dwyer]

Hi James, hi guys,

Im using the Achtung Panzer (no.7?) as my primary reference, but ive also got some shots of the Marder II at Axvall in Sweden. It seems to be the most complete one, and has most of the interior fittings... or you can tell where most of the fittings went ;) I dont think im going to redo the radios, I like what DML provide.. and having seen the job that Steve van Beveren did with the Aber ones on his Panther G - well I cant match that, so im not gonna try!
Putty time.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7248.jpg

As ive said earlier, I think this kit was either a little rushed into production, or its been sitting on the shelves at DML for a while. Unlike all of their other recent releases, this kit has some gaps and some areas that need finessing to get a perfect fit.

Having said that, the ammo lockers fit perfectly
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/ammo.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/ammo.jpg

Ive glued some stretched sprue along the rear edge of the ammo lockers, which i'll texture up later for welds.

Sam

[MikkoH]

Looking good sam! :)

Cheers Mikko

[Flak]

Great job :thumb: It looks really COOL...

[Larry Bates]

Looking good Samuel. :thumb:

Larry

[MartinD]

Nice work! How long has it taken you to build it this far?

MartinD

[Panzergrenadier]

Looking nice. ;)




Siim

[D.A.Kinder66]

Thanks Looks like a awsome little kit keep it coming. :)

[mnickolson]

Sam looking good. I gota get me one of these. :lol:

[sam_dwyer]

Hi Guys,

Its been a while since i've updated this bench, so here goes. Everything is just placed in position in these shots, hence some things are a little wavy gravy!

Construction is basically done. Just a few little things need attending to before I start painting the interior.

DML PaK 40 is a gem. This is the 3rd one ive built, and I still havent done one on trails yet!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7304.jpg

Ive added the trigger cable here using solder. The trav and elev wheels still havent been added
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7303.jpg

Having used the CH update on the 234/4, i was loath to use it again on this. I really like the look of the plastic sheilds, and they sure as [censored] fit together better than the etch ones!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7302.jpg

The Marder II specific extras fit perfectly to the sheild, all i did was redo some welds
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7301.jpg

Replaced the coolant transfer tubing with solder, and the MP40 with one already in a rack
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7300.jpg

The Gen2 MG34 is a gem. There is something not right about the fit of things on this inner wall..there is a small stowage box that just doesnt fit here, you can see where im filling the location hole for it.. and with the radio rack in place, the episcope wont fit.. so i just fitted the empty mount.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7299.jpg

Front end. Lovely weld detail here. This is just sitting in situ here, it will all be glued when the interior is painted.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7298.jpg

Fighting comp interior. Nice and busy, very well detailed out of the box
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7296.jpg

Radio rack. Probably the best bit of the kit. All ive done is replace the handles and wired it up as per the diagram in Achtung Panzer
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7295.jpg

Rear end. Bit of mucking around here to get things right.. DML have left a couple of parts out of their instructions, A23 for one, and it need butchering to get it in there, i chopped it where it goes behind the exhaust.. its not right, but at least it fits!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7294.jpg

Tool stowage is typically DML ace
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7293.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7291.jpg

The Notek light is now a 4 part assembly, DML include the locking clamp for the front cover
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7292.jpg


And so we're virtually ready for paint. More updates to come soon.. ish
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7290.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7289.jpg


Sam

[D.A.Kinder66]

Sam nice build one question i had read i believe on ML that Dragon forgot to include a fuel cap i know this sounds goofy but is the place to put gas in that hole near the radios to the left in the head on shot of the radios
Thanks :)

[Flak]

Great job :thumb:

[MikkoH]

Great job as usual Sam. And pretty fast building. Keep it coming. :)

Cheers Mikko

[Larry Bates]

Sam,

That looks great. It is a really well detailed model for out of the box. I noticed when I looked at James' that the track links for these are very small. Did you hav eany issues with cleanup or fit? or any pin release marks?

Larry

[James Tainton]

Wal Sam, looks like yo' gotchers done befo'e me. ah so wanted t'beat gittin' a "noo" release done befo'e yo' but alas th' time Gods ett up all mah free time wif other projecks. Still ah hope t'find some time in th' future t'git mine done. Th' radio looks pow'ful excellent a-comin' straight fum th' box don't it. ;)

[Larry Bates]

Originally posted by panzerfaust@Jul 24 2006, 11:46 PM
Wal Sam, looks like yo' gotchers done befo'e me. ah so wanted t'beat gittin' a "noo" release done befo'e yo' but alas th' time Gods ett up all mah free time wif other projecks. Still ah hope t'find some time in th' future t'git mine done. Th' radio looks pow'ful excellent a-comin' straight fum th' box don't it. ;)
Dude ,

What movie did you just watch? :lol:

Larry

[Sheeds]

Some-thang with John Wayne in I'll bet! ;)

Nice work Sam. :thumb:

Willy.

[Panzergrenadier]

Nice Marder II. ;)

Siim

[amba]

Great Marder II, Sam. And a fast build as well :)

-Ambjoern

[sam_dwyer]

Finally, some paint.
Base coat with acrylics, tamiya and gunze.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7336.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7340.jpg

Then have at it with the post shade mix
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7342.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7343.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7345.jpg

Now its time to really kick off the weathering. More pics to follow soon.

Sam

[Flak]

Yep!!! It looks nice... ;)

[MartinD]

Good start Sam! Looking forward to seeing more.

[Larry Bates]

Yea!!!
Paint!

Love your post shading Sam.

Larry

[MartinD]

A bit late for fitting on this gun, but AFV Club also has Pak40 shields. I dunno much 'bout German kits, but wouldn't these make a good replacement?

.. ooh, and sorry for the strange post. I was rereading Sam's progress, and noticed he didn't .... ehhm, like th CH shields.

[D.A.Kinder66]

glad to see some paint all this is helpfull i got my Marder2 last week ;)

[sbuss]

Hi Sam,

shouldn't the fire extinguisher be of a different colour than the "modern museum red"? I always thought that up to '43 they were delivered non-coloured (raw metal), and after that date in nice dunkelgelb...

My 2 centimes,

Stefan

[Sticky]

Looks nice Sam - I was holding off ordering one, but now maybe....

[Evan August]

It's looking super Sam! I always enjoy watching your builds. Any figures planned for this one?

[RC_Hill]

Cool Sam!

What color is that tranny? It looks kinda blue/gray to me :-/ j/w

~RC

[sam_dwyer]

Gday Guys,

RC - yep, its blue grey. The best colour is Humbrol 115 (IIRC), but this is Tamiya XF23, close enough, and its about to be really heavily weathered, oily etc, so the base coat is almost irrelevant.

Evan - yeah I will use a figure or two, depending on how long it takes me to finish. Im getting it done for MMI, so ill try to squeeze a figure in.

Sam

[brokeneagle]

Great build Sammy, I love the interior detail and the extra parts you have added. I did not realise that they had so much detail in the interior as I have only ever seen the Tamiya model as a guide/ref. I might have to get one of these too....as well as the 'umpteen' other kits I have said I will get while I've been at PA :lol:
Great modelling Sammy.

[sam_dwyer]

Weathering - thats our word of the day!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7347.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7348.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7353.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7352.jpg

Everything is weathered enough now for me to glue the upper to the lower hull, and glue the upper armour sheilds on... if id have glued it all together before now, there's no way i'd have been able to weather the interior.

Sam

[Sticky]

Looking sweet Sam!

[Larry Bates]

Fan-freekin tasktic dude! ;) :lol:

Larry

[RC_Hill]

Awesome man! :lol:

~RC

[MikkoH]

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/MikkoHeikkinen/thumb.jpg http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/MikkoHeikkinen/thumb.jpg http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/MikkoHeikkinen/thumb.jpg

Cheers Mikko

[Panzergrenadier]

COOL :thumb:


Siim

[BillC]

Hi Sam,
As a new member I am impressed with your build as I have been with other models you have done.
I am awaiting my Marder II with baited breath as it is one of my favorite vehicles. I have a couple of the old Tamiya ones built and detailed.

A question please, what about this missing fuel filler cap, would it be similar to the panzer 4 or was it descrete to this vehicle?

[lquah]

Sam

Superb paint job and weathering. :thumb:

Looking forward for your next update.

Lawrence

[Flak]

Love it...Super paint job :thumb: :thumb:

[olin]

Sam,
This is a very interesting build to watch. I have never been really interested in the Marder II but your's has me thinking otherwise! One question, what brand and color are you using for your post shading? I am beginning to think there might be someting to this post shading stuff :lol:
Paul

[ATJ]

Wow.. cool! I really like it.. :thumb: :thumb:

[Bravo Tango]

As usual.. I am stunned.
the finish is excellent. Really something to strive for.

[sam_dwyer]

Alrighty then.
Fast forward to now, ive not posted any updates on this for a while, too many other projects getting in the way.
Lets revisit the vehicle im basing mine on:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/ComparisonShotof115withCrewKOdatBal.jpg

The model was basecoated in Vallejo buff and Tamiya XF 59, then I brush painted the camouflage colours with Vallejos. Sorry about the pics, ive not worked out the color balance on my new monitor, i suspect these look really really YELLOW on your monitors?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7447.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7448.jpg

The inside of the hatch and the gun crutch are only base coated as of now.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7449.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7450.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7451.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7452.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7453.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7454.jpg

The markings were hand painted with Vallejos and the mud is a mix of MIG pigments, water and static grass.

So, to finish up, im going to do up a couple of figures (maybe) and some stowage for the back deck. In the wartime shot above, the crew are in padded winter gear, and there are PaK40 ammo boxes on the back deck.


Sam

[Stuke Sowle]

ACE!! This one belongs in your Marder book. :)

The camo turned out real nice. How many coats it take painting it by brush?

And the mud on the chassis and roadwheels. That brings back memories.

[Andrew Hall]

Cracking Sam, excellent interpretation of that vehicle.

Colour looks fine on my monitor.

A

[Flak]

Awesome work :thumb: and I like the "Mud" finished ;)

[lquah]

Sam

What a stunner!! :o I was just wondering what happened to your build. Super job!

Are you going to hand paint the divisional insignia next to the number as well?

Lawrence

[brokeneagle]

;) nice one Sammy, looks great! I love the hand painted cammo and numbers.

[MikkoH]

Nice looking Marder Sam! Camo looks good and hand painted numbers great! Not gonna happen with my hands!;)

Cheers Mikko

[mnickolson]

Sam

What a super nice looking Marder :) I love the weathering, so real.. :thumb:

Mike

[Panzergrenadier]

Indeed, a nice looking marder. ;)

Siim

[Larry Bates]

AHHHHHHHHH!

I missed this update, during my move. Looks GREAT!!!!!:thumb:

Nice job Sam, I think I'll get that Osprey on the Marder now that you have made me get one!:eek: :)

Larry

[DAK66]

It looks awesome i can't wait to see it completed.

[Uruk-Hai]

Hello Sam!

Great thread about this kit and great pr too.

I have some questions though regarding this kit.
What are those two items on the port side wall, and I dont mean the MP-40 or the vision block, and should they have the base colour? :)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/samd1/Marder%20II/_DSC7300.jpg

Cheers

[Robert Lockie]

The tube is apparently a coolant transfer pipe (Sam referred to it earlier in the thread) and the lollipop thing higher up looks like one of those traffic control batons - modern ones have a light in the centre of the circle so that it is more visible to drivers but I think the wartime ones were less sophisticated.

Actually, I see the Hummel has a similar length of tube, which is described in the N&B book as being for refilling the recuperator with compressed air - I'm not much of an authority on German recoil systems or indeed stowage so I'll let others decide what it is on the Panzerjaeger.

[Uruk-Hai]

Thanks Robert!

I have however bought the Achtung Panzer book on this subject wherein all my questions could be answered.

Cheers

[Sticky]

Nice finish, don't know how I missed it?