Getting back in the saddle..

[Stuke Sowle]

So a few days ago, I dove into storage and after much digging and cursing was able to extract my modeling goods.

I soon realized that it's been at least a year since I had built anything and my skills were rusty to say the least. So I decided to take on some small projects to start building my skills back up to par.

Below are a few shots of the Tri-star Flakpanzer trailer and Tamiya 1/48 Schwimmy. I built each over the course of one night. I'll give more detail to each as the blog progresses. Just wanted to prove that I'm back at it!

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=36948&img=Trailer1.JPG

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=36950&img=Schwim1.JPG

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=36949&img=SidebySide.JPG

A side note: I'm halfway through a StuG III B/C project and was wondering if anyone has ever seen them hauling a trailer similiar to the Flakpanzer one?

[Sticky]

Glad to see you build somthing! Now paint them!

[RickLawler]

There you go! ;) Good to see your name in lights again!

[pwranta193]

Time for new photo as well :)

I've not seen any pics of C/Ds pulling trailers that I can think of - I think that in most cases they still had the 253's assigned to that role, and in the TO&E? That doesn't mean that you couldn't wing it - I've got a grabbed Ebay album of the Stub Abt that used the different colored skulls for unit markings, and their Barbarossa travelling loads looked like camel caravans.

Good to see you back at it, brother!

[Tuna]

Hey Stuke..

Good to see you building again!!.. Now if I could just get my lazy ass moving.. lol maybe I need to start a new project with one of those 'new' kits out there..

[panamadan]

Good to see you back having fun! Those 48th scale kits are a blast. Dan

[Sticky]

Hey Stuke..

Good to see you building again!!.. Now if I could just get my lazy ass moving.. lol maybe I need to start a new project with one of those 'new' kits out there..

Aint' that the truth Tuna!

[brokeneagle]

:thumb:Well it's wayyyy overdue Stuke. Good to see you enjoying yourself. I think your choices are perfect to get you back in the saddle.

[Uruk-Hai]

Why the year long absence?

Cheers

[Stuke Sowle]

Thanks for the words of encouragment guys! I need them. I feel like I'm working with no thumbs right now. Kinda glad I started with these little kits. It'll make my other stuff feel like huge bits of plastic!

John and Rick, a big thumbs up to you guys for posting your fabulous work and driving me back into this hobby.

Paul, yeah the camera work is shady. I'm using something that is more for the quick picture taking at bars and clubs. Yeah, don't ask! I figured that they used mostly 253's but I swear up and down I've seen shots of them pulling trailers filled with fuel drums somewhere. Unfortunately, my ref's are still buried in storage. Seem's plausible though as they raced across the Russian steppes?

Charlie, def get back into it! Feels great to be gluing.

Janne, just kinda burned out on the hobby for a bit. Plus a lot of moving around never allowed me to find a place to be comfortable sitting down and getting to work. But I have to be honest and admit that a lot of skirt chasing and partying got in the way of the hobby. Kinda like the first break I took right after I started college. :)

[Stuke Sowle]

Ok, some more shots as promised. Again, sorry about the quality of the shots. I need some more practice with the camera and the lighting angles. Well, that and the damn things are so small!

First up is the Tristar Flakpanzer trailer. All the bits were on one sprue about thirty total I believe. I've read a lot of praise for Tristar kits but I must say this one seems to have a lot of flash and some pretty heavy mold lines. The most difficult task though was separating some of the bits from the sprue. That attachment points are pretty darn robust and at times interfere with the detail. However it cleans up and goes together nicely.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=36954&img=Trailer2.JPG

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=36955&img=Trailer3.JPG

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=36956&img=Trailer4.JPG

Great thing about photos is they somewhat error proof your work. I can see some bits that need some more cleaning up!

Again, I want to include this with a StuG build that I have going.

[Stuke Sowle]

Next up is the Schwimmy! All I can think to describe this kit is..SMALL!!! When I first opened it I nearly cried. I didn't think I had any chance of getting something so miniscule together without smashing it. However, it is a Tamiya kit and as such, beautifully engineered.

Minimal flash and mold lines. Sprue attachment points are delicate and fit is superb. Took me about two hours to complete.

The seats have been left out for ease of painting.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=36951&img=Schwim2.JPG

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=36952&img=Schwim3.JPG

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=36953&img=Schwim4.JPG

Will get them primered and hopefully basecoated this weekend!

[Driver]

Good to have you back working with some models again Stuke!

Ruben

[Uruk-Hai]

I see, I didnt model at all between 17-27. Thoose were the days....:cool:
Now the skirt chase is only a 4-meter course.:o

Cheers

[Panzergrenadier]

Good to see you back IN.:cool: Crack open some big kits now!:D

[Flak]

Welcome back...Stuke. Great work always...

[James Tainton]

OMG- Go big or go home- maybe jump in with a Leopold or Br 52? :D
Hope that the unemployment is just as long as it needs to be and you do get back to work again. But for now good to see you enjoy your "time off".:thumb:

BTW gonna fill that interior seam before paint?

[Stuke Sowle]

OMG- Go big or go home- maybe jump in with a Leopold or Br 52? :D
Hope that the unemployment is just as long as it needs to be and you do get back to work again. But for now good to see you enjoy your "time off".:thumb:

BTW gonna fill that interior seam before paint?

Yeah, that seam has me sweating. Haven't figured out a good way to get her done without breaking the tiny thing!

[Sticky]

Hey Stuke, try some mr surfacer. Just build it up slowly and you should be all set.

[Stuke Sowle]

Hey Stuke, try some mr surfacer. Just build it up slowly and you should be all set.

Hi John!

Same thought occurred to me this weekend, so I'm trying to slowly build it up. That's pretty much going to be my only solution. The space is just too small to work with putty and sanding.

Looking forward to getting back to 1/35th!!! :)

[Stuke Sowle]

Alright, got distracted by some bigger, better models!

First up, a CMK Beetle I found packed away. I really needed to get my airbrush skills fired up, so I thought this kit a perfect oppurtunity to try some free-hand German camo:

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=37184&img=DSC00602.JPG

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=37185&img=DSC00605.JPG

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=37186&img=DSC00607.JPG

Wheels are just tacked in place, and need some further detail painting.

[Stuke Sowle]

And now Tristar's 38(t). Nice little kit.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=37187&img=DSC00598.JPG


http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=37188&img=DSC00601.JPG

[Stuke Sowle]

Finally Tristar's Flakpanzer I:

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=37189&img=DSC00608.JPG

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=37190&img=DSC00611.JPG

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=37191&img=DSC00613.JPG

[RickLawler]

Man, that's a flakpanzer Xtra Large!

Still lovin' the bug...the photos don't do the camo justice. Happy wet M-Day STuke!

rick

[Stuke Sowle]

Thanks Rick!

Yeah, crappy camera, crappy set-up. But proof that I do in fact, model! :)

[anthony roberts]

Hello Stuke,

I really like the Tristar 38 (t)! Hope you are well!

Tony

[Ruud]

Hoi Stuke,

Indeed, they (especially the VW with it's full camo) looked better in person. The VW scheme looks very nice.

later
Ruud

[Finnmodeler]

Hi John!

Same thought occurred to me this weekend, so I'm trying to slowly build it up. That's pretty much going to be my only solution. The space is just too small to work with putty and sanding.

Looking forward to getting back to 1/35th!!! :)

Hi Stuke, how about trying to fill it with some stretched sprue? It might work out pretty nicely.

Niko

[Ropi]

I really like the Beattle

[Stuke Sowle]

Thank you guys!

Maybe Rick will bring his fancy pants camera to the next meeting so we can get some better shots. I don't have the patience for this picture stuff.

Niko, cool idea regarding the seam. I tried to build up the Mr. Surfacer and was unsuccessful. There is so little room to work in that tiny kit!

[Paccus]

Good to see an update from you Stuke.

I really like the VW. Nice work with the airbrush. Get it weathered !

Isn't it hard to stay focused when working with so many kits at the same time ? Just don't get tired on them.

Keep it up :thumb:.

Regards / Mattias Larsson, Sweden :cool: