VK601 PANZERKAMPFWAGEN I Ausf C GERMAN LIGHT TANK HOBBY BOSS 1/35

Dragon Models German officer figure of Kursk and Hobby Boss VK601 tank. I built them from December 2012 to March 2013.

It’s suddenly become cold recently. I don’t feel like paint the kit fully opening the balcony windows and I started to make a new model. It’s a small tank as the box art.

Parts is small except for the caterpillar. I can be expected to finish high quality because it’s also contains photo-etched parts.

Assembly of the Chassis is proceeding without problems. At the back are the instructions of the painting.

C type has adopted staggered wheels like Tiger and Panther. Black left and right parts are caterpillar. At this time, I had not been considered the caterpillar assembly is very hard.
(19-December-2012)

First, the mounting caterpillar illustration is reversible, This is a mistake. Very dangerous here. Although I checked it with my documents in hand, but the box picture is most helpful after all. This kit’s caterpillar parts are hard to assemble compare with the kit I assembled in the past. It’s hard to joint, one of the reasons is that these are made of not usual plastic parts like dragon models, but a kind of vinyl. Parts fitting is not so good. Fundamentally, sprocket wheel pitch and caterpillar are not matched.

I thought the quick method is like a photo, cutting the teeth of the sprocket wheel, after all the caterpillar was adhered, I re-bond these teeth. Overall, it would be OK, some part is unnatural.
(20-December-2012)

I was very busy for account closing job and was not able to get Year ends and New Year holidays. I did not feel inclined to make a model at the last Saturday and Sunday cause of holiday working. I can take holiday today and at last I completed panzer Ic assembly. Compared with the next Zippo lighter, it’s very small vehicle.

It was difficult to attach this caterpillar.

The photo-etched parts were used moderately and the precision feeling has risen. These reserve caterpillars of the vehicle’s rear originally were bad shape, I chose the excess parts of caterpillar assembly.

The size of a hatch is small and it is likely to be hard to make fit with the tank commander. I have to look for a figure from somewhere. Since the antenna was likely to be broken by the painting process, it has made sturdy using piano wire.
(9-February-2013)

It’s Dragon Models “the German officer (Kursk 1943)”, which was rolling in the closet was unearthed. The military uniform which has rolled up all sleeves on summer clothes is seldom seen.

The first is the officer who is arranging with the strategy map. The expression is good, although it is an injection figure.

Since general tools are seldom attached to the tank crew body, manufacture is simple. But there are many general tools among foot soldiers. Board weight was cut down for the leather strip of the sub-machine gun, and it was pasted.

In the box art, it is the helmet which the soldier who is wiping the frame hotly has. However, the inner side of the helmet is not truly reproduced like the photograph right. Then, additional work was carried out with the board weight, etc. which were used above. Inner side had a leather pat with many small holes of air vent, I tried to reappearance them.

Highly motivated looking, two hand grenades to a belt. Since this soldier wears the camouflage smock, it takes long time to paint camouflage pattern.

It’s my favorite pose in four bodies. Although the expression of the face of an old injection figure was the not quite satisfactory result, this one is doing quite good expression. It seldom changes to the product made from resin. The fingertip and their eyes, which have pointed out the direction were coincided. Pistol size differs between this tank crew and other officers’ pistol. May be tank crew possesses Walther, and officers may be a Luger.

Since they are attached with wood blocks, the interval of a figure is large, but it is such touch when a layout like the box art. Tank crew was sitting on a Panzer Ic rear. The box art crew is sitting on the Panzer IV, and this photo crew posing seems very natural.
(10-February-2013)

It was working on a holiday this week because of monthly closing. Therefore, undercoat was substituted for the airbrush, although the paint process seldom progressed.

I used the Tamiya spray work painting stand set, it’s convenient.

Paint of German gray. A little, it has become bluish. it is the influence of a fluorescent lighting.

Since it was tedious touch when it was monochrome, the airbrushing in the somewhat bright color. After that, I blew clear at the place which is due to paste decals.
(3-March-2013)

German light tank I type C was a completed. It was completely different design concept from the Pzkpfw Ia and Ib which were often seen.

The real vehicle was produced a total of 40 cars in late 1942. As for battle disposition, test employment of the two cars was carried out by the 1st armored division, and the others were used for training.

After the periscopes were painted in metallic blue, I painted them over clear and make them glossy. Since it is a reconnaissance tank, many periscopes are attached.

This tank was two-person riding. I guessed that it was serious to make treatment of reconnaissance and handling arms in an operation and driving only two people. It seems to be narrow the inside of a tank.

Is paint of a reserve caterpillar slightly unnatural? If you can see this photo carefully, the hair of the rabbit (my pet) is attached to the muffler. It must be careful before taking photo.

Wood stocks of OVM painted in gloss except the jack stand attached rear of the turret. Since it is monochrome paint, it becomes good accent.

Since the attached decal differs from high quality dragon models, I’m worried about how it is. But these decals are good adherence and silvering did not occur, either.

The square style looks smart.

Because the large space was under the fender, I painted mud dirt color in here. Expression of rust was also added.

Muddy effect was attached, using the pastel and resin of the MIG production. Since it solidifies early very well, handling is difficult.

Although the expression under assembly was rather good, paint was difficult for it. But is it such a thing well? It was surprising that skull mark on the field cap is reproduced correctly.

He is second lieutenant or first lieutenant. Since the ribbon of the second class iron cross had been removed from decal pasteboard by mistake, I attached it to the bosom.

Photography of the figure is more difficult than vehicles without knowing why. Sometimes it is to become dark too much, sometimes become much to bright. His class is the highest of four persons. He is a major general.

The pause smoking tobacco in relaxing. I suppose the bellow photo’s soldier is SS, he has the same pattern covered helmet from the waist, he’s not SS. He is an army officer, captain.

Ummmm…. I feel the base color of a camouflaged smoking jacket is different from real color. The person of the box art is winding the bandanna or the scarf around the neck, I painted it on this figure. It is conspicuous too much on the battlefield. Maybe this is under tactical exercise. I painted his hair expressed in silver hair.

It is not possible to sit at the end of a tank toward a major general and talking. It’s just a good pausing situation.

Marking of rank and medal, I used the WWII German Military Insignia Decal Set by Tamiya as much as possible. Since appearance worsens, if the decals are not suiting the form of a part, cautions are required. Some of my figures are actually shifted when sticking decals on parts.

The upper photograph — the soldier of a camouflage smock — go a bit out of focus, retaking this. In the photo from this distance, the figures look natural.

Although I’m worried how do I do for map, since the 1/35 scale of the map is attached to the box of Tristar’s figure kit, it is diverted. The map was dipped in water, the back side was removed, thinly, and it’s pasted with the woodwork bond. I think it’s pretty good reality.

Even it’s a small tank, making together with four figures took time very well. Unexpectedly the figure, I took the time. Although it does not become a very much precise figure finishing, puts on the side of a tank, presence will rise. The assembly of tank also enjoyable that the strong individuality shape.
(09-Mar-2013)