Jennys Build : Dragon Marder II ALL FINISHED SEPTEMBER 6th !!!!!!

Well I plan at this stage to make Dragons Marder II , I will use the Voyager update & fenders plus a set of WWII Production indi tracks .

Jenny

Well I am waiting for figures for my Gainful so I have shelved this into the showcase until the figures turn up .

I started my Marder II today , although I have been studying my references , making construction notes & of course collecting after market for the build .

Let me start by saying if you are going to build a Marder II get this book .

Read my review of the book here.

Well we start assembly with the road wheels , there is a mold seam down the centre of each road wheel in the Dragon kit , do not remove it , it is meant to be there !


The road wheels have CONTINENTAU written on them , with a deft hand & a sharp knife cut the last bit off the U making it into an L ! CONTINENTAL is a licenced product & every licence a kit maker buys , will add to the cost , so for little work with some enginuity from Dragon we can fix everything


More soon

Jenny

Well I have finished the suspension bits , the idlers & sprocket are not attached yet (they may get in the way ) & the roadwheels are not glued on for ease of painting .



It is funny actually , I read a review in a magazine complaining of the complexities of the suspension , like fun !!!!! Honestly , I enjoy modelling , there is nothing complex about the build , four little rivets need to be added to the sprocket housing but that takes about a minute ! Everything lines up fairly well , on to the interior !

Jenny

nice progress jenny!

Jenny Croft wrote:It is funny actually , I read a review in a magazine complaining of the complexities of the suspension

WHAT??? ROFL!

and if ... isn't it fun and satisfying to overcome more complex aspects of a kit?

have fun with the interior!!!

GO JENNY! GO! GO! GO!

Good start Jenny, looking forward to more........

Tancred

Jenny, Jenny, Jenny!
If you would spend less time on TnT you might get a little more accomplished! LOL just bust'n on ya!
Looks good so far.
Panzer

Panzer wrote:Jenny, Jenny, Jenny!
If you would spend less time on TnT you might get a little more accomplished! LOL just bust'n on ya!
Looks good so far.
Panzer

Well we are still waiting to see your Marder get wheeled out

Jenny

Hi dearest!

...very good choice...a good start...I´ll be following with a big interest!

Regards!

Luiz.

Thank you Luiz , Laura & Tancred for the encouraging words .

Well today I have been working on the interior of the Marder , the Dragon kit really is sweet . Only some pipes, brake springs & wiring need to be added the previously mentioned Marder II reference is invaluable .



The transmission is as sweet as . The flooring anti slip is shaved off & replaced with the finer patterned etch from Voyager


The only other etch added at this stage is the clutch & brake footpedals .

More soon

Jenny

the marder looks so kewl already! makes hungry for further updates!

Hi dearest!

...nice shots...they´ll help me lot to do the mine!

Thanks for sharing!

Luiz.

Thanks Luiz & Laura for the encouragement !

Well , studying pictures of the interior of the Marder , the one area that the Dragon kit is really lacking , as in my recent Flakpanzer I , was the hull walls . The DML kit walls are dead flat where the real thing is studded with attachments for the suspension springs & return rollers as well as the lock nuts for the fenders .



I used the excellent Lion Roar boltheads & Bronco locknuts for fender supports

I did not worry about adding the Locknuts for the drivers area as these will not be visible . The plastic strip was added to the DML Hull as per the instructions on the Voyager fenders , this is to bring the hull to the correct height when the plastic fender is removed . No bolt heads need to be added to the right hand side as the fuel tank fits there , in front of that is a stowage compartment next to the transmission which covers the area .

More soon

Looks really nice, and love this SBS comparison with the real thing

Regards
Tibor

muahaha - jenny goes nuts&bolts! great update!!!

Jenny
Great eye for detail! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK..
Panzer

Hi dearest!

...as I said before,I have a Marder like yours...and seeing your thread,I don´t need to buy any reference material...with your permission I´ll save your job onto my pc...as Herr Panzer said:...keep up the good work!

Regards.

Luiz.

Thanks Laura , Chris & Luiz for your encouragement .

Well today I have had to perform delicate surgery on the upper hull .



The shaded fenders have to be removed for the etched ones . Doing so basically cuts the piece into three subsections , the front section , the rear section & the top of the fuel tank . The two plastic card sections are the sponson bottoms , templates are provided for these in the Voyager Fender instructions . On the real vehicle the sponsons are bolted directly to the fenders , on the dragon kit as can be seen the two parts are moulded integrally .



After the surgery we now have three parts , be careful , test fit all parts regularly , using these PE parts there are likely to be more fit issues than with a standard build . On the other hand , the build will be more accurate . By building these parts in this way is exactly the same as the original .

I then turned my attention to the right hand sponson






It all goes together really , really well , the spaced armour slots in very easily to the sponson side , this actually is a very secure fixture due to nice location slots on the sponson side !

More soon

Jenny

courageous jenny!

i wouldn't have dared to cut the upper hull to pieces before i had assembled the pe fenders to have a backdoor!

the more i have to admire your work!

What a lot of PE! When looking at armor WIP, sometimes it looks so great, I almost don't want to see them painted. I think this will be one of those. I just commented on your flakpanzer diorama, and now I'm committed to building one of those in the Extremely little and lethal build. You raised the bar on me with that one!

I will keep watch on the Marder as it progresses.

Bob

Have Faith, Jenny ! LOL!
Panzer

Hi dearest!

...as you know,I have this model...and I´m planning to buy some aftermarket parts for it...please can you post an image of the art box of the item from Voyager that you are using in your Marder?...it will be very appreciate!

Thanking you in advance...................Luiz.

Sure Luiz

Here is the fender set.


Here is the fender set review



Here is the Basic set review

Jenny

Thank you for the comments Bob , it means heaps that you are liking my build !

Well I am still working on the right sponson interior ,




The excellent cleaning rods come with the "Basic" Voyager kit , these , the MG 34 & the aerial are not attached .

Next I have to make up the radio rack & wire the whole thing together .

I also made up the right hand fender

So again I can test fit everything .

I have also done a little more on the lower hull , added the fuel tank & the engine firewalls .

More tomorrow

Jenny

what a significant update! this already looks so cool!

your pace is amazing jenny!

Yeah, I thought I was fast!!! Lookin' great!

Bob