Luft46's Blog

Firstly I will do a Melbourne show update but it may be a while.

I’m making progress on my three remaining KV2s but none are finished. AMS has set in on the 3 storey one so more details are being added slowly.

The Munitionschlepper is progressing slowly with most work being done on the diorama part. The mud has dried well with the little twigs in it but I had to work out a rough position for yhe model. Some mud has been added to the tank but more weathering will be done once it is all together.

Next up is the Stug. The body is sprayed in green but still needs the whitewash. The turret is unpainted as it is the test bed for adding the metal rungs. I now have a metal bending template and this produces accurate rungs. Incidentally bending in the 5mm place produces a 5.5mm gap between the ends. This is because of the rounded corners produced. The rungs produced are reasonably consistent in size at least.

The templates have seperate strips that can be broken off to use for marking out the holes to be drilled. The Milliput is for an earlier attempt at 5.00 mm wide not the required 5.50 mm

Next up is the 3 storey one. The photos show the holes to drill for pistol ports being 3 per side. Also seen here is the open front viewing port. The door plate and opening hinges are also done and awaiting fixing at the end.

The thinned empty light fitting has also been done but not added.

I need to added the pistol port plugs, inset steps and rungs.

Lastly is a shot of the workbench which is a bit crowded with kits, old DVD’S and other junk from a recent cleanup upstairs.

And a few other bits

I currently have 3 KV2s in various stages of completion along with the Meng toy version yet to be started.

Munition schlepper

This is almost there except for weathering. The rocket is yet to be painted due to the recent cold wet weather. Ive added the cross braces.

This tank will go on a small plinth with some AK Mud for the base. This is out in the lounge to get it dry

Next up is the Stug which is mostly waiting for the steps to be created using a tool coming from Japan. It needs a little sanding on the turret and will get a whitewash scheme.

Last up is the 3 storey turret which also needs steps but is coming together slowly. The base is slowly getting there also.

Off to Melbourne this weekend for the national show. Im aiming to fit in 2 games of AFL and 1 of VFL also. Hopefully I will arrive back inspired and ready to finish a few things.

I was not happy with the rungs on the Stug and potentially the 3 storey turret KV2 so I have ordered a wire bending jig from HLJ which will hopefully give me even looking rungs.

I’ll be doing some last pieces of bracing and weathering on the weapons carrier KV2 as a priority when i get home. I also have some tow ropes to complete so that will occupy next weekend complete with blue air based on previous occasions. Last on this update is my new jacket bought in rural Victoria last summer. I found it hot then unsurprisingly but its still quite warm in my unlined garage on a cold Sydney winter day!

Just some photos.

Firstly the rocket carrier. The first rail for a rocket is now on along with the boxes for the fins. In hindsight I could have fitted another rail but there would not be anywhere to put the fins anyway. The fins will be done on a light green with the main body in Dark Green 82.

Have added a turret fron the dpares box and eventually will add a night sight. I now have turret steps in wire added to replace the solid plastic steps of

the kit which were awful.

Below are some photos for the rail construction on the rocket carrier.

Just got this from Book Depository – much cheaper than local $85 vs $125 and packed well.

That the price includes postage is great.

On the right is the KV2 Munition schlepper with some of the storage bay for the rocket fins started on the front right.

On the left is the Stug KV2 version.

Both kits are in the process of having the tracks added. This is by far the hardest part of the kit to make it look half decent. I now do this on the bottom but there is lots of stretching and tweaking to get it right. I do not like one piece rubber band tracks.

This one is now finished. The turret is a resin conversion for a Panther tank from a time before the Dragon kit. The turret hole only needed a little widening to make it fit. The turret was done a year ago for a Panther kit which had 2 resin Flak turrets so it was good to give this one a permanent home. Weathering is many layers with various paints and pigments.

Honestly this was a bit dissapointing. My last visit 2 years ago wasn’t much better. The move to a larger venue has made it seem small and the number of entries and vendors seemed less also.

Below are a few photos as I dawdled and was still only an hour.

Last weekend went up to Newcastle. Frontline are scaling down their Newcastle store due to the new tram lines construction and have opened a large new store in Broadmeadow. You know its big when they have a customer toilet. Inevitably a few moved kits had breakages.