leFH18/40, Sd.Kfz.11 - 'LOST!!'

A small update, the halftrack is moving along. I remembered to paint the inside of the cab before glueing it together :-

That's black Vallejo primer.



I even remembered to not glue the roof on the cab yet, until the clear parts for the windows are installed!
I'll add some masking in the cab before painting the outside, then add the windows last.


More soon, thanks for looking!

Cheers
JT

Lookin good JT:

I realise that it is still early, so that must be why it all looks so clean and new . And here I am again just barely able to wait to see what you do with this one .

Gary

Hi Gary, I was going to bend the fenders, then I was thinking -I'm not sure whether they are sheet metal. A lot of the cab is made out of wood, or a wood product, perhaps the fenders also. Not sure, they probably are metal and when I do chipping they will probably be portrayed as such, but I left them anyway.

I can hardly wait also to get painting and weathering!!

Cheers
JT

How do and here is an update!

The assembly is pretty much finished, to the stage of being ready to paint. I made a canvas for the back of the halftrack out of tissue paper, this is the paper often used for gift wrapping not kleenex tissue. The real covers were in sections joined with connectors which made it easier to make, it was basically a rectangle sheet for each side and the top. The tissue was doubled, cut out then placed on the frame, then PVA glue thinned with a little water was brushed over it. The real connectors were strap through loop doodads, they were portrayed here by strips of aluminium foil attached by superglue.






Comments welcome! For example, do you think I should add canvass covers to the muzzle and breach of the Howitzer? Thanks for following, cheers!
JT

John
The halftrack looks great.How is the fit to it? I have that in the stash. I would go for covering the muzzle and breech.

Oh excellent work JT , that canvas looks superb and is going to look amazing when painted and weathered ! Betcha can't wait ?

Jenny

Hi John

This is coming along beautifully.

I agree with covering the breech and muzzle in transit. But I think they also removed the sights, as they're very delicate pieces of equipment.

Simon

Hi Zod, thanks. There were some minor issues with locator pins too big or not quite in the right place, and a small gap where the sides meet the top of the cowling. Other than that pretty good, I've replaced a few things like the exhaust and side mirrors, I probably didn't need to.

Thanks Jenny, yeah I reckon!

Thanks Simon, I've found some photos of earlier leFH18s with pupose-made covers for the breach, rail and sights. They look hard to make..I'm thinking I might add sheets of cloth tied with rope round this equipment and the muzzle brake, improvised covers rather than official issue.

Cheers
JT

Hiya JT:

Lookin real good all the way around. The cargo bed cover looks real good, and I think that you are right about doing something to cover the gun also. And as far as the sights, I think that the roundy tubey thingys on the guns armor shield are for storing them. But I also think it looks good with them on, and most people wouldn't think about the sights stored or not, so I wouldn't bother trying to take em off now. But either way, it still looks good.

Gary

G Cooper wrote:
Hiya JT:

Lookin real good all the way around. The cargo bed cover looks real good, and I think that you are right about doing something to cover the gun also. And as far as the sights, I think that the roundy tubey thingys on the guns armor shield are for storing them. But I also think it looks good with them on, and most people wouldn't think about the sights stored or not, so I wouldn't bother trying to take em off now. But either way, it still looks good.

Gary

Ah that makes sense! Thanks Gary, and everyone for your help!

Cheers
JT

Hi, here is an update, a photo for each step:

Vallejo 73602 black primer:


The gargo bed painted (weathered) greyish wood and rust:


The salt technique, except using real finely seived crusher dust mixed in a little water, placed with a fine brush then allowed to dry:


Airbrushed Tamiya XF-60, then the dust removed with a wet brush.


The cab painted Vallejo Panzer Aces 301 light rust (a thin coat so it stays dark.)


Then 3 or 4 thin coats of AK Interactive Worn Effects Fluid, thinned with about 30% soapy water.
(no photo as the fluid is a clear satin)

Airbrushed Tamiya XF-60:


Immediately the surface is wet and scratches are made using a toothpick and wet paint brush.


I tried to restain myself, but I think I made too much chipping. It's so much fun.

Cheers
JT

Looking way excellent JT ! Now you are loosing me with some of these techamalogical terms . What exactly is a "gargo" bed ?

The chipperising looks good , not overdone at all .

I do like the butt crease on the tarp .

Jenny

Thanks Jenny Ah yes, a gargo bed is similar to a cargo bed, except used by people with a speech impediment.

Now it's got some paint on you can see the (butt) creases in the tarp

Things are moving along quickly, the tree is finished. I figured out a way to do the bark, so here's what I did:

1. For the trunk I should have used epoxy putty but instead I tried mixing talc with some Mr Surfacer to thicken it. It was brushed on but was too difficult to control so the trunk ended up bumpy.

2. So when it was dry I sanded it down.


3. Two thick layers of Vallejo Model Colour paint was brushed onto the trunk.

4. When dry a hobby knife was used to scrape some of the paint off, leaving some loose flaps behind.


Then it was all painted, this is the result:


Cheers
JT

That looks great JT. I don't think it is to much chipping either. It's juuuuust right I think. And your tree looks great.

Jenny Ryan wrote:I do like the butt crease on the tarp .

Jenny

John T wrote: Now it's got some paint on you can see the (butt) creases in the tarp

Ohhhh ! ! ! Thats $25 and another $25 . And using the now famous Jenny math that's another $113.67 for me .


Gary

Butt crease.

Here’s an update on this WIP. I tried something a bit new, in the way I applied dust to both the HT and Howitzer.

The tarp was painted with Vallejo acrylics, with some oil paint shadows, then the whole thing was airbrushed with two good coats of Humbrol enamel matt varnish. This was allowed to cure for at least a day.


After this the windows were glued in the cab using acrylic varnish, and the wiper trails masked.

Then the dust was airbrushed on, Tamiya Deck Tan XF-55.


This paint was airbrushed in such a way as to highlight the creases in the tarp. I did this by angling the spray from the side of each surface so that the stream skimmed over the top, catching the high points.

When done, I started to remove some of the dust as though it had been worn off by the crews’ hands or boots. This was done using Tamiya Lacquer thinner on a fine brush, this melts the Tamiya paint. This is why you must apply the enamel varnish first, to stop the thinner going right through to the plastic!






The Howitzer had its details painted, then dust covers were added. (just as well, it’s gonna get pretty dusty)


The same enamel varnish and Tamiya dust treatment were added here also.




Cheers
JT

Well JT....I dont have any words for this perfect work...
Looking forward to see more.
Great SbS with chipping and Tree

P.

Great work all round again JT.

Pavel and Roy, many thanks guys.

I've been working on the base, here's what I used:

Firestorm resin cobblestone road, and Firestorm resin footpath sections.


Firestorm ceramic brick wall sections.


Verlinden gates. I'm adding styrne strips and some Mr Surfacer 500 to thicken the flat PE.


The scene assembled and glued down to a polished hardwood base:


Cheers
JT

Hi everyone, the halftrack and howitzer are finished

I'm still working on the base but if I don't get it finished, at least the subjects of the project are done.

Pin washes and streaks were made from oils and white spirit, pigments were fixed with AK Interactive fixative.


















Thanks for following.
Cheers
JT

Way highly kewl weathering on both gun and tractor JT , loving it !

Jenny

Thanks Jenny! As always, weathering is my fave part.

Cheers
JT

The HT and howitzer look great John.

Thanks Chad

Every looks great Jhon! I realy like the wall and the street!. Figures?

Cheers.