Dragon sdkfz 165/1 Ausf A

[Fledermaus]

Hi to all ;), after reading David post I decided to join the SPG group build and here is the model I will be working on…the Dragon sdkfz 165-1 smart kit, it a nice and very detailed model, here is my work so far…

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture002.jpg

I started with the lower hull front and rear panels…..
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture004.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture005.jpg

Then followed with the running gear and suspension parts,this are composed by many parts as you can see in the following photos, the kit also has an extra panzer IV suspension that is not used so you have a nice bonus here
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture003.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture006.jpg

And here is how it looks so far with the running gear finished…….
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture008.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture009.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture010.jpg

That’s all by now, more to come soon, your comments are welcome…..;):D

[Flak]

Nice start...keep it up. Any after market pieces will use for replacement?

[Sturmmann]

Hi Din,

So the rummors were true. You really did started work on this one. Nice work so far.

Hey I heard the story of your dropping the bump stops all over the floor... hahah :D

dave

[Fledermaus]

Nice start...keep it up. Any after market pieces will use for replacement?

thanks flak, the model comes with some PE parts, a set of soldier gear as helmets weapons pouches for the interior, clear parts, magic track etc. its very complete so the original idea is to do it SFB but, you know how we are :D:D;)

Hi Din,

So the rummors were true. You really did started work on this one. Nice work so far.

Hey I heard the story of your dropping the bump stops all over the floor... hahah :D

dave
thanks DD ;), yes its true,since I received this kit I wanted to start building it so the group build was the perfect excuse,about the bumpers :mad::yell::D this small parts wanted to be hiding around the floor, several times I dropped some and ended face on the floor looking for it.

[Sturmmann]

...ended face on the floor looking for it.

20 Unas modeling!!! :D:p

[RickLawler]

Nice to see your bench fired-up again, Abdin. Not too much cut-n-paste on this one...a nice change of pace?

Rick

[Driver]

Good, you started another one! I hope this one doesn't take two years to finish so keep up the speed.:D

Ruben

[Fledermaus]

20 Unas modeling!!! :D:p
jejeje, yeeep, 20 nails modeling :D:D:rolleyes:

Nice to see your bench fired-up again, Abdin. Not too much cut-n-paste on this one...a nice change of pace
Rick

thanks Rick ;),this should be a walk in the park, then I will be finishing some multimedia and conversion kits I have waiting :p:rolleyes::D


Good, you started another one! I hope this one doesn't take two years to finish so keep up the speed.:D

Ruben

Ruben, this is going to be a fast sftb build so I can continue working on the other proyects..... I hope to finish on time:rolleyes::D

[Panzergrenadier]

This is cool vehicle and it is very nice to see you build it. I don't have one so it is especially interesting.

[Fledermaus]

thanks Siim ;), its a nice and very detailed kit with many parts, you will be pleased if you get one :rolleyes::D

[Fledermaus]

Well, time for another update…….
The front transmission cover and notek are installed…..
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture012.jpg

Next time for the rear intakes, assemble the intakes but before installing the covers you will like to install parts B4 and B3 to the hull first as this contains the outer sides of the intake covers and this way is easier to do the covers……….
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture014.jpg

The muffler and the intakes are installed but don’t put the covers yet….
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture024.jpg

Install these parts first……
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture017.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture021.jpg

Now the covers are easier to assemble…..
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture016.jpg

Next is time for the smoke candles rack……
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture020.jpg

It goes on top of the right intake cover……
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture018.jpg

Here are the interior ammo bins, very detailed and can be assembled closed or open to show the ammo……
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture022.jpg

Again I changed the steps on the instructions and glued the floor and firewall first Then I installed the ammo bins where the drawing pointed as there are no Pins or marks on the floor.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture023.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture026.jpg

Here are the ammo bins ready to install
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture027.jpg

This is how it looks with all the parts in position……
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture028.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture029.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture030.jpg

That’s all for now, thanks for watching, will be back with more soon

[serpico]

I presume the floor slats were wood, looking at this one reminds me of the Sturer Emil interior.

Really is an oddball lower chasis, Pz IV with only six roadwheels. Looks like 90 % of the interior is the Ammo!

Nice job so far...:thumb:

[Flak]

Another great updated...

[Fledermaus]

I presume the floor slats were wood, looking at this one reminds me of the Sturer Emil interior.

Really is an oddball lower chasis, Pz IV with only six roadwheels. Looks like 90 % of the interior is the Ammo!

Nice job so far...:thumb:

thanks serpico !! ;):rolleyes:yes the floor is wood, as you said it is a rare tank, the interior is very crowded with all the ammo bins, there is not much room for the crew to move around, and it also used a smaller engine (maybach HL66) and I presume a smaller transmission also as the space on the front is smaller than a regular panzer IV :D
Another great updated...
thanks flak ;):) it really is a nice kit:cool:

[Driver]

...used a smaller engine (maybach HL66) and I presume a smaller transmission...


The Maybach HL66P was the engine of the Panzer II G, H, M and the L (Luchs) so I'm willing to bet that the transmission was also the same as a Panzer II. (By the way, the A,B,C, F and L models used a 6 forward 1 reverse transmission as the 165/1 did.)

Ruben

[RickLawler]

Very cool, Abdin. It really starts rockin' with the inclusion of the ammo bins.

[Panzergrenadier]

Looks very cool!:thumb:

[Fledermaus]

Hello!! Time again for a little update…:D
Its Time to do the fenders, here are the fenders and its parts
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture031.jpg

I didn’t like the kit fender springs so I replaced it with cooper wire, here are the originals and the ones made with wire.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture038.jpg

I installed the front springs then removed the center of the spring and mounted the new ones using the original pins.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture040.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture043.jpg

On the rear ones I glued two mounting pins from styrene to install the new springs
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture042.jpg

Here are the fenders already attached to the hull with the new springs
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture071.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture070.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture072.jpg

Next came the tools and other fender details…..
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture075.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture076.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture079.jpg

Last step on the fenders was replacing the front lights cables with wire…

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x171/Fledermaus1/sdkfz%20165-1/Picture080.jpg
Well that’s all for now, next step is the turret, it is very detailed in and out
Thanks for watching and stay tuned…..;)

[Driver]

Good job Din!

Those spring looked more like a shock absorber than a spring.

Ruben

[Flak]

Another great update...