89AKurt Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 I call it the Panzer 1.0, the very first version without a turret or armament because of restrictions set after WW1. I built Bandai 1/48 military models when I was growing up, mostly German, really liked having interior and engine detail. When I got into 1/35 Tamiya kits, was disappointed there was no interior at all, felt ripped off. Fast forward about 45 years, so many interesting subjects being produced by numerous companies, in this case Tristar is the brand. The sophistication of the mold process is amazing, several parts have a third axis. Teeny tiny parts, almost no mold lines, zero flash. Includes photo-etch. And to drive you insane, individual track links, for the whole track (some kits have the flat sections as one part). I have been wanting to build a tank, so picked this because it had been started, there are extra parts such as the turret that I added to the Maus that I built in 2016. I've always been fascinated how the evolution of tank size grew during the war, the Maus turret is bigger than the Pz1 and could weigh 20 times more. The number of parts is ridiculous. Check out the engine block, with the third axis mold technique. Some parts are not used, will be handy for scratch-building. The three trees lower right are the track links. I skipped around the instructions, glued together sub-assemblies before painting. There was the option of two colors for the interior, grey or white. I understand everything was one color, but I wanted the engine/transmission to contrast. The flat four air-cooled engine, and transmission, have detail on the bottom that won't be seen. I masked, then airbrushed more grey. Because I don't like brush painting unless it beats crazy masking, I do things like the fire extinguisher. Most parts installed inside. Some parts were a tight fit, didn't need gluing. There are many parts that get hidden, the engine has a beautiful fan inside the air shroud, two pumps or distributors, that are under the oil cooler. Going to allow the engine deck to be removed, could glue hatches open, or really go nuts and use photo-etch hinges but then it wouldn't be Box Stock. Got the bogey wheel/suspension done. I did hand paint the tires, easy to spin on a sprue. ? I cut the sprue trees to reduce clutter (looking at my bench is another story ?) Getting the fenders and tools on will be a cinch. The tracks... ?
shoopdog Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 Fantastic work here so far, can't wait to see more.
Mike999 Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 Looks great! I have this one in the stash, and now have a better idea what I'm in for. Gulp... I call this the "Driver Training" version of the Panzer I. Before the Tristar kit, the only way to build this version was by using the ancient ITALERI Pz. I and doing a lot of scratch-building, including the whole interior. Some really good builders did that back in the day. If anyone wants one of these, you can find the same kit today in a Hobby Boss box. Tristar went out of business a few years ago and Hobby Boss got their molds.
89AKurt Posted August 31, 2019 Author Posted August 31, 2019 12 hours ago, shoopdog said: Fantastic work here so far, can't wait to see more. Thank you! I know the feeling. 7 hours ago, Mike999 said: Looks great! I have this one in the stash, and now have a better idea what I'm in for. Gulp... I call this the "Driver Training" version of the Panzer I. Before the Tristar kit, the only way to build this version was by using the ancient ITALERI Pz. I and doing a lot of scratch-building, including the whole interior. Some really good builders did that back in the day. If anyone wants one of these, you can find the same kit today in a Hobby Boss box. Tristar went out of business a few years ago and Hobby Boss got their molds. Thanks. Sorry to scare you, but I can't help it. ? I know Tamiya did the Pz2 long ago, also Bandai never did the Pz1, so those who scratch-built theirs must have been bummed when these came out. I have the Dragon Smart Kit of the Pz1 tank, looks as detailed. The photo-etch got done. What a stupid waste of technology to create microscopic detail that nobody will see! I lost the first PE-14 part when I was trying to bend it, decided it was a waste to sandwich and bury in superglue anyway. The tools have a part, that I rotated so it would glue down. Brush painted all these after gluing on, which hides the atomic size detail. The only p-e to put on is the muffler shields, which ought to be a cake walk; will need to airbrush after bending. Tracks are next, 87-88 links per side. ?
Mike999 Posted August 31, 2019 Posted August 31, 2019 1 hour ago, 89AKurt said: I know Tamiya did the Pz2 long ago, also Bandai never did the Pz1, so those who scratch-built theirs must have been bummed when these came out. I have the Dragon Smart Kit of the Pz1 tank, looks as detailed. If I ever get up the nerve, I may try combining the really good Dragon early Panzer I with the really bad Historic Plastic Models Panzer I "Modificado." That's a PzI used in the Spanish Civil War, modified with a raised turret and a 20mm cannon. I don't think any major company has ever done that one. If they did it could save me a lot of work. The HiPM kit may not be all that bad, but it looks like a short-run kit. Lots of flash, thick plastic, etc.
89AKurt Posted August 31, 2019 Author Posted August 31, 2019 4 hours ago, Mike999 said: If I ever get up the nerve, I may try combining the really good Dragon early Panzer I with the really bad Historic Plastic Models Panzer I "Modificado." That's a PzI used in the Spanish Civil War, modified with a raised turret and a 20mm cannon. I don't think any major company has ever done that one. If they did it could save me a lot of work. The HiPM kit may not be all that bad, but it looks like a short-run kit. Lots of flash, thick plastic, etc. I looked at the Dragon kit after I admitted having it. There is a bag of loose track links. No engine/transmission or interior hull detail. Interesting kit there, never heard of that brand. 4 hours ago, cobraman said: Yikes ! That is one heck of a kit. Yes it is. ?
Mike999 Posted August 31, 2019 Posted August 31, 2019 5 hours ago, 89AKurt said: I looked at the Dragon kit after I admitted having it. There is a bag of loose track links. No engine/transmission or interior hull detail. Interesting kit there, never heard of that brand. Historic Plastic Models was (is?) a Czech company that issued its first kits around 1998. They specialized in oddball armor/aircraft kits no one else was making. Along with a whole series of Panzer I variants, they did the early Sd.Kfz.231 & 232 6-wheeled armored cars. Scalemates shows them as still in business, but I'm not sure about that. The link takes you to a page showing all the HiPM kits. Scott Van Aken summed up their kits pretty well, in a review of their 1/48 scale MiG-19: "Mention 'HiPM' to anyone who has actually built one of their previous kits and you'll have to calmly talk them out of the fetal position. Actually, they aren't that bad, but they aren't that good, either." https://www.scalemates.com/brands/historic-plastic-models--1116
89AKurt Posted August 31, 2019 Author Posted August 31, 2019 3 hours ago, Mike999 said: Historic Plastic Models was (is?) a Czech company that issued its first kits around 1998. They specialized in oddball armor/aircraft kits no one else was making. Along with a whole series of Panzer I variants, they did the early Sd.Kfz.231 & 232 6-wheeled armored cars. Scalemates shows them as still in business, but I'm not sure about that. The link takes you to a page showing all the HiPM kits. Scott Van Aken summed up their kits pretty well, in a review of their 1/48 scale MiG-19: "Mention 'HiPM' to anyone who has actually built one of their previous kits and you'll have to calmly talk them out of the fetal position. Actually, they aren't that bad, but they aren't that good, either." https://www.scalemates.com/brands/historic-plastic-models--1116 Thanks for the information. Squadron sells all those, have considered the 6 axle armored car, but already have the AFV Club Sd Kfz 231 8 wheel kit that someone gave me. I did get the BV 141 airplane, with Hobby Boss box. I would say this Pz1 is very good kit, the parts are amazing, but the assembly results make or break your patience. Will not whine about doing plug wires ever again!
Mike999 Posted August 31, 2019 Posted August 31, 2019 4 hours ago, 89AKurt said: ...have considered the 6 axle armored car... Get the Italeri if you want a 6-wheeler. I've owned both and the Italian job is a lot less clunky and better detailed than the HiPM kit. Italeri did a basic SdKfz 232, and an upgraded kit that's really nice. It has a resin engine and interior, with both the front/rear driver positions. Even a photo-etched instrument panel with an acetate sheet for the gauges. I think it's out of production but turns up on eBay pretty often. Here's a review of it: https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/it/kit_it_6445.shtml
89AKurt Posted August 31, 2019 Author Posted August 31, 2019 2 hours ago, Mike999 said: Get the Italeri if you want a 6-wheeler. I've owned both and the Italian job is a lot less clunky and better detailed than the HiPM kit. Italeri did a basic SdKfz 232, and an upgraded kit that's really nice. It has a resin engine and interior, with both the front/rear driver positions. Even a photo-etched instrument panel with an acetate sheet for the gauges. I think it's out of production but turns up on eBay pretty often. Here's a review of it: https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/it/kit_it_6445.shtml Cool, thank you. I got the Italeri kit of the Camionetta AS 42 Sahariana that also has a resin engine and figures, plus the extra photo-etch parts. I got a vacuum-formed kit last century of this vehicle, so it's like Dark Ages vs. this century. I have also acquired other subjects, but better refocus on this project. Started the tracks. Got smart and made a jig. 2.25 hours just on this, but that includes making the wood form. Have two ends not glued, of course. ?
89AKurt Posted September 1, 2019 Author Posted September 1, 2019 Powered through getting the tracks done! The wood jig really helped out. But I caught a major screw-up, see if anyone catches what I did wrong. The second track took "only" 1.25 hours. Airbrushed the tracks a mixture of leather brown, with a little steel and black, then stippled brown and dry-brushed steel. Got the fenders glued on, exhaust and one more part that I don't know what it is, looks like a vent pipe. Shouldn't take long to finish! ? DONE! Airbrushed the muffler guards, glued on the last plastic parts, weathered. Time for bed.
89AKurt Posted September 2, 2019 Author Posted September 2, 2019 Final post on this subject..... took some finished pictures. This was a nice break from doing cars. Military modelers are bloody insane, with the microscopic photo-etch details, and individual track links. ? I did the usual flat clear mixed with Africa Korps tan, adding brown for the final coat. Then dusted with tile grout.
Codi Posted September 7, 2019 Posted September 7, 2019 That looks great and I really applaud your stepping out and doing this from your other builds. The weathering & detail are fantastic. cheers, tim
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