Zis 30

[Flip Hendrickx]

Hi,

Recently I started this Maquette ZIS-30 1/35 kit. (ZIS-2 antitank gun on an artillery tractor)
This must be the worst kit ever! The plastic is a disaster and just melts away when you touch it with Tamiya liquid glue or MEK.
The parts don't fit at all. Detail is very very crude and completely incorrect
Since I really wanted to build this model, scratchbuilding was the only way forward.
Since I did not have sufficient reference material, new parts where cut out of plastic card using the original parts as masters.
Only last week a guy from spain sent me drawings and pictures so I could check for accuracy...Doh! This kit was totally wrong and I had to start all over again.
Right now I have made a new cabin, reworked the machine gun housing (not completely ready yet... it's only fitted temporary to the cabin structure) The aft structure is also ready but not in the picture.
The rivets are made with a beading tool. The plastic card strips are there to support the new fenders that I made out of brass sheet.
Also I made a new armoured shield for the gun. (Brass sheet as well)
Still a lot of work ahead, but I'm determined to make a decent model out of this very bad kit :-)

Cheers

Flip

http://users.pandora.be/solar/CRW_8352.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/solar/Zis-301.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/solar/schild.jpg

[Stuke Sowle]

Wow...just noticed this build Flip! :)

Amazing work scratching all that stuff. You have more talent and patience in one fingernail then I have on my whole body!!

[serpico]

Flip,

Greart work on the Zis 30...hmmmm how did you make the square hole in the brass sheet? Not to mention the other details in the brass? Is that the Komsomolets tractor?

Can you show a pic of the box cover?

Serpico

[Guest]

Thanks for the comments
@ Stuke: scratchbuilding is not as hard as it looks like. This is my first serious attempt, and believe me, if I can do it, everyone can :)

@Serpico

Yup, it's a Komsomolets tractor.
Unfortunatly I do not have a lot of reference pictures, so I have to guess here and there.
Here's a picture of the box art. Mind you, this is the worst plastic kit that I ever laid my eyes on! Fit and detail is terrible and accuracy is way off. If you ever want to build this one, be prepared for some serious scratchbuilding ;)

http://users.pandora.be/solar/foto.php.jpg

I cut the brass with a very sharp tiny stainless steel scissor, which works great.
The hole in the shield is made with a fresh sharp Swann and Morton scalpel (n° 15a)

Cheers

Flip

[Flip Hendrickx]

oops... looks like I forgot to log in.
Sorry

Cheers

Flip

[MartinD]

Hi Flip.

Nice to see you here as well. By the way, that boxart ... did you nick that from my photoalbum ?? :o

[Flip Hendrickx]

:o I'm afraid so Martin :-) Hope you don't mind ;)