StuG.IV (Late)

Aghis Barberopoulos
Photo 1 alternative title: In the beginning there was chaos...🙂

Burkhard D
There's a part mssing on the sprue third from left... LOL

Mike Kryza
I agree with Aghis! - And the next question is - how many mistakes were hidden in the instruction sheet? -😉

Albi Hitz
Oh yes! (Not only in the beginning 😉 (Dragon instructions!!!)
Its almost the same with the Dragon Pz. III or IV kits .... a lot of parts where not used.

Albi Hitz
@ Mike ... you don't need to search the mistakes ... they will come on step 1 or 2 or ... latest on step 3 😉

Mike Kryza
Yes, Albi I know this phenomenon of the DML-Instructions - surely no kits for beginners. But I'm looking with interset on your upcoming StuG. Will surely become a beauty!

Kim Branders
Thats a lot of plastic my friend. Nice start. I am tuned in

Albi Hitz
@ Mike: I agree with you. DML are very good, high detailed kits. Nothing for beginners. They should double check they're instruction sheet and it would be perfect (almost).
Thank you for the compliment. Pressure up! 😉 I give my best ...
@ Kim: Indeed. A lot of plastic, and a lot of it is surplus. Thank you for your words and I hope I can show you more of this Stug IV in the next few days ...

Albi Hitz
... pics from the inside ...

Heico van der Heide
Nice work. A lot of parts also, like we are used to from Dragon. That interior just screams for an open hatch doens't it😉

Roy McKenzie
Albi, looking good.

Mike Kryza
Coming up very good - 👍

Albi Hitz
Thank you mates.
@ Heico: No all hatches closed 😉 ... No, i will open the top hatches. And the roof will be removable (even if there is not the full interior ....)

Aghis Barberopoulos
That looks really good!

Albi Hitz
Thank you Aghis

Albi Hitz
testfit of the "Seitenschürzen" ....

james johnson
Watching, Albi....this exact kit is 2 builds down the road for me.....any heads ups on instruction mistakes would be most helpful! I'm not real big on modeling parts that won't be seen so I'll have to think about this one......right off a diorama comes to mind...

Eend
The Schürzen look amazing.. 🙂

Maarten Kruizenga
i agree, where's my magnet, i want to make sure it's not real metal........

Albi Hitz
@ james: no big deal with the interior if you close the hatches.
There was something wrong with the exhaust pipe. I cut i off because you can't see the small tube anyway!
mmm ... I think I'm getting used to the mistakes with Dragon instructions ... you should drill small holes for the spare track holders but i don't think its necessary.
The markings of the first "Schürzen-Blech" (front) was to low ... (you see it on photo 16)

Albi Hitz
@ Eend and Maarten: Thank you guys ... i attempted to do something different ... 😉
(btw: Dragon made the "Schürzen" in real metal .... so the magnet-test would work as well 🙂

Maarten Kruizenga
awesome, they look fantastic

Aghis Barberopoulos
Very nice progress Albi.

Albi Hitz
Thank you Aghis. I'll keep pushing 🙂

Roy McKenzie
Albi, it's looking fantastic. Love the finish on the side armor.

Albi Hitz
Thank you Roy. I always try to develop my skills ...
on this buils i keep an eye on the "Schürzen" side armor ....

james johnson
Nice job Albi! Are the mounting brackets for the Schurzen photo etch? (Pic 16)

Albi Hitz
Hi James. Thank you. No in this kit the mounting brackets are made of plastic. the side armor is the usual dragon metal part.

Kim Branders
Nice nice nice😉

Michel Huijghe
How many sprues are that? Very nice start.

Albi Hitz
Thank you Guys
@ Michael ... there are 24 sprures 😉 ...

Albi Hitz
so ... The StuG is donne ... Next step will be de Diorama ...

Eend
Very nice 🙂

Frank Krause
Nice result, Albi! This is a clear 👍 up. I like your style.

Mike Kryza
Hi Albi - I like the result. 🙂

Albi Hitz
Hello mates ...
Thank you for your nice and motivating words. I'm happy you like my work.
I want to improve myself every time and your hints, fair comment are all a part of my projects.
Thank you guys.

Michel Huijghe
I love that blast effect on the shield. Very impressive.

Eend
Albi, thank you for sharing your projects with us 🙂 it's because of people like you that keep me motivated to keep me building and improving my skills.

Albi Hitz
Thank you Michel.

Albi Hitz
Thank you very much Eend ... I feel honored about your words! I think all the good examples around keep the motivation high and thats one of the good point on scale modeling ... A lot of people share they're knowledge with others so everybody could benefit from each other. That helps everybody to keep the motivation high and try to improve the skills for the next project.

neil kerr
sweet

james johnson
Very Good Albi! Two questions: What paint did you use to get the base color? & What is your next project that I may look forward to?

Albi Hitz
Thank you Neil.

Albi Hitz
Thanks for your words James.
Usually i use the grey primer from Vallejo, sometimes i go with the grey Tamiya primer (it depend on my stash 😉 )
As "basecoat" for the metal parts i start using the acid solutions like the AK Interactive "Metal Brunishing" to avoid bare metal shining scratches.
After de base coat i use Vallejo Air color on my armor models.

My next projects are a russian Su-100 (its on hold because i made a big error (thanks Dragon for clear instructions!!) so I start a Panzer III from the Afrika Korps as the latest project.

After finishing my Mitsubishi "Raiden" i will start with the 1/32 Mitsubishi "Zero" ....

I hope you like watching the progress ... I feel honored about it and will try to do my best. Tanks.

james johnson
That base color looks more like a Model Air Sand or Hemp rather than a dunkelgelb is why I ask......I like it!
Don't you just love Dragon instructions?
Tuned in.....working on an Airfix Beaver, 1/72 scale,...after that a JS 2

Albi Hitz
a relatively small difference between A Beaver and the JS 2 😉.
I'll take a seat ....
Talkin about base coat on german WWII armor:
After the base layer (primer) I use the Vallejo Dark Yellow right from the bottle an then i poor more and more white in it, to brighten up the more exposed areas.
I guess that is what happened very often to these colors they use (especially by the last years of the second world war).
No replacement, changing quality and no time for recovery ... But but its only speculation .... and to me it looks like "the real thing" ... 😉