M109G - In Progress

The M109 has come to the painting table.  To make a M109G I needed to add some smoke dischargers and change the cupola over.  To do I that I have used the spare SD from the Leopard 1A3/4 Kits. They aren't correct but are good enough. For the cupola I am going to use a spare M113 one with my standard brass wire MG mount.

I have also tried out using the decals for the Battery and Gun marking. Not 1985 correct but I have evidence that the M109A3 G adopted it at some point.  I am not going to add any more and I think it is a little over the top

Leopard 1A1A1 - 7. PanzerAufklarungsBataillon

Next up are a pair of Leopard 1A1A1 from BF.  Nice kit with a couple of places to do some work.

The barrel is moulded fitted with the environment cap fitted to the muzzle which makes it seem a little chunky.  If you want to drill out you also need to sand down the outer barrel.

The other minor thing is that the turret has the mount for the white light searchlight on the wrong side.  You can blag it by using that to put on the PZB 200 LLTV and make a Leopard 1A1A2 but you still need to mount the searchlight on the LHS which needs two small pieces to be added.

Panzermorser Progress

Bit of progress

PanzerMorser

The BF M113 PanzerMorser uses the M106 as its base. Unfortunately, the Top hatch is a two piece rectangular opening. So I carved the standard M113 hull and printed some new top hatch covers.  The mortar itself needs a little bit of work.  I am also looking at a better way of doing the headlights this time around to make them more repeatable as I have a couple of M113 variants to do for my West Germans

Leopards

More In Progress

West German - Gepards

A little more work done over the last couple of days on the pair of Flakpanzer Gepard A1/A2 that I have. More reliance on the Panzer-Model website which is an invaluable resource

Decals going on

Work to add markings has now started as well as finishing off the tools, optics and minor details

West German update

Update on the West Germans with the addition of some Luchs and Fuchs

20 Minute Challenge - Day 123

Day 123 (27 Apr)
Lick of paint to tie it all together.  VJ NATO Green Surface primer

20 Minute Challenge - Day 122

Day 122 (26 Apr)

The M113A1 G Beobachtungspanzer is coming along.  Tried to smooth out the top plate using liquid green stuff. It needs to cure before I give it another go and then find some better files to get into the gaps

Top View

Other side

Rear view before and after

20 Minute Challenge - Day 121

Day 121 (25 Apr)

Radio mounts and light clusters ready to be fitted

20 Minute Challenge - Day 120

Day 119 (24 Apr)

More tinkering completed and now have decided to go firm with the idea of using the plate mounted version.  Have also now added the rear stowage bin. 

Next print run will do the detail for the rear of the hull: Radios, light clusters and cable reels.


Previous version testing out the self levelling paint and filling options to smooth out the print

20 Minute Challenge - Day 115

Day 115 (20 Apr)

Designed and printed an initial version of the M113 Beobachtungspanzer superstructure. The one on the left is the original scratch built version.  I have since designed a new version which has the optics and the second hatch in the closed position rather than having to butcher two BF M113 kits just to get the hatches.  Had to fudge the dimensions a little bit to make it fit the BF hull which seems to be a little narrower than the drawings I am working from. Oh well these are for gaming.  Might try and get a high quality print done just to see what it looks like

Day 103 - 8 April

Day 103 (8 April)

Bundeswehr Bo-105 PAH-1 Completed

20 Minute Challenge - Day 66

Day 66 - (2 March)
West German Infantry based and work on my Late War WW2 Germans progressed. 

20 Minute Challenge - Day 65

Day 65 (2 March)
Just a trio of Jaguar tank destroyers.  I am looking at use the TOW launchers for my Canadian !! M113 Tow vehicles as drop ins