An Austrian in Africa - Saurer Sd.Kfz. 254

undercarriage finished without any problems 

The resin wheels from BLITZ were a big dissapointment as all of the four wheels do have more or less big imperfections with the moldings. Two of the wheels do not just have bendings and profile imperfections at the moulding point but also at the opposite side so anyhow you will turn the wheel you will see the bad area... 

Therefore I decided wo use the kits vinyl tires 

after sanding they are looking indeed better then the resin ones 

After some blood and sweat the first side of the single link tracks is done. It was a fiddly work with some blood and sweat 

Finished the vehicle finally up. There are many fragile parts and one have to be very carefully during handling not to break anything away (which will surely happen during painting...). I kept the roadwheels of for a better painting later. They will get attached in the very last moment 

The forward exhaust pipe got lost forever to the carpet monster. Luckily this was an easy part to replace. The exhaust was treated with fine cast-a-coat powder for resembling a rusted muffler 

this is the wireless operator; it was taken out of the Taisho german tropical tank crew. The rest will reinforce the crew of my Afrika Tiger waiting in the stast  

This is the artillery officer; it was taken from a SOL Afrika Korps vignette. Nice clean figure 

finished the artillery officer 

...and his deputy observer / wireless operator