Rubicon Jagdpanzer 38(t)

I recently bought a second Jagdpanzer 38(t) from Wayland's Forge in Birmingham. The first one is assembled and has been painted but not finished.

The kit comes in one of Rubicon's standard boxes.

It is a three sprue kit. It includes options to build early, middle and late versions plus a flame thrower version.

The decal set includes examples of the vehicles seized by the  the Soviet backed Czech army.

The kit went together well, though there was an issue getting the gun mount to stick properly, and the exhaust silencer assembly would not go together properly. The latter resulted in the loss of the part and a replacement had to be fabricated. I did look for the part on the previous model's sprue, but I could not find it.

Rubicon use an ABS based plastic which is more robust, but it is not very impressed with normal liquid poly. I normally use Tamiya thin liquid poly, but assembling the kit at the height of summer makes it more difficult, the glue evaporating before it gets a chance to soften the plastic.

For the gun mount, I painted Tamiya thin liquid poly on both parts, and then used some Humbrol liquid poly. The combination seemed to provide a grip. Once the parts were joined, I put more Tamiya thin liquid poly into the gap to ensure there was a good bond.

The replacement exhaust part was made with a piece of Evergreen plastic tube, supported by a piece of plastic rod.

This would then be wrapped in green stuff.

 Here is the original Jagdpanzer 38(t) partly painted and the new one.

The story behind this particular paint job is that the vehicle has been undercoated and issued to the troops. Balkenkreuz and vehicle numbers were added before issue. This example had a damaged exhaust silencer repaired with asbestos tape.

Detail shot of the exhaust.

Warlord Games Marder III - built - comparison with Warlord Games Resin Panzer 38(t)

Here is a comparison photograph with the old Warlord Games Resin Panzer 38(t).

The plastic Panzer 38(t) is due out later in the year.

Warlord Games Marder III - built

So the SDKFZ 139 Marder III is now built.

Overall it is a nice kit. There are issues with the instructions, specifically the assembly of the nose section to the hull tub, the rivet detail on the inside of the track units prevents the insertion of the nose section between them, The instructions for the assembly of the bracing/handles inside the gun shield are unclear, and if you fix the gun mounting to the hull very difficult to fit (I needed to access them from beneath to get them in the sort of correct position).

The gun is very detailed compared to the normal turret mount weapons, You can see two of the braces/handles between the gun mount and the gun shields. Not completely convinced that they are in the correct orientation.

 I drilled out three of the ready rounds as if they had been fired and not replaced in the racks. They are slightly smaller in diameter that the rounds but I was not convinced the plastic would have taken a larger diameter hole.

Overhead shot.

 Comparison shoots of the Marder III (based on the Panzer 38(t)) and a Rubicon Jagdpanzer 38(t).

The Jagdpanzer is also based on the Panzer 38(t) but has a lengthened and widened chassis.

Overhead shot, showing I should of dusted the Jagdpanzer. I will finish it someday.

"If you're not ill, it will fix your car..."

Well I painted the stuff I got from Big Audio Dynamite over the Hetzer and the spots have begun to clear...

The problem is making sure the spots are covered but getting a smooth finish.

Spots...

I think I got carried away...

I am probably going to re do this.

Work In Progress Rubicon Hetzer

Having just assembled the Hetzer I bought at Salute, here are some pictures.

This is a late model variant, but with the full silencer.

I do need to do some work on the track at the rear.

This is the point where some shackles would be useful.