GERMAN TANK DESTROYER MARDER III Ausf H TRISTAR 1/35

It is Tristar Marder III. I made it in September 2014.

Now I’m waiting to dry the putty putting into the fighter plane Raiden’s gap between the main wing and body joint, I pick up the next model Marder III Ausf H. It is a masterpiece of Tristar. This manufacturer released many items of good craftsmanship constantly in the past and I would like to support him all the time, but does not seem to release the new product now. There are 38(t) and Mark IV, Mark I type early, these are requested to release for a long time to come, I suppose.
(23-August-2014)

The first step was the box composing of the chassis and the assembling of the gearbox. It is the start to let me feel the spirit, but too detailed work is tiring. After having made all, almost interiors are not seen so much.

This driver’s sheet and the gearbox are very near. Because a base is light tank 38(t) origin, the internal working space seems to be considerably smaller.

It was the option which I attached a shell rack or the left seat, I had attached left seat earlier, I didn’t use the rack.

I think even simple painting effects good atmosphere of the internal driver’s compartment. I felt to complete big job even only inside of the tank, it is far from completion.
(23-August-2014)

Assembling of the suspensions and road wheels seemed to be complicated at a glance, but I was getting used when I made one set, and three others were relatively smooth. I had to be careful not to break sprocket wheels. It’s very thin parts.

I painted inside of the vehicle. Radio and transmission are black, I suppose.

Weathering. I felt it overdone too strong. But the fighting vehicle in the mud of Russian front was dirtier. And another thing, it is an open top vehicle, and cleaning time is almost nothing if a battle begins.

I watched “Lebanon” which is Israeli movie before, maybe the subject is tank operation inside the tank of Centurion. Anyway, it was terribly dirty, contaminated by mud and filthy matter on the floor. I don’t know it’s real or fiction, this photo is cleaner than that. I wonder the inside remain the car like museum display, difficult point.
(24-August-2014)

It is during the caterpillar tread assembling. This process was indicated after attaching a fender in the instruction manual, I decided firstly to wind the caterpillar up where the gap between the fender and guide wheels so small.
Against the above comment, inside weathering was changed moderate in white after all. Though it is hard to look with this photograph, I think it’s better.

When the natural slack of the caterpillar treads good appears, I am glad. It is hard to cut off all the parts one by one, unlike magic track of Dragon models, but is easy to wind up without the skewness, mold is sharp and good looking.
(26-August-2014)

Before I make the complicated gun structure,　I make this Tristar German Self-Propelled Gun Crew Set which I have been stockpiling it. I suppose it’s already out of production.

The injection plastic color is dark yellow and because of it, the mold looks dull, but not so much, rather I can say it sharp mold.

This sculptor is Mr. Hirano who is Japanese famous one. I like his figure, natural posing. They are a little smaller than Dragon Models figure that I often make. These Tristar figures are 49mm height so equal to 170cm. I think it’s shorter for a German soldier. If he is the Japanese soldier at this time, the height is matched.

Only the right guy is smoking at ease, other three is working hard… Maybe this smoking soldier is commander.

There is binoculars cap on the back of the neck through the strap. I’m not an authority of sculptor, but I would like to say these four figures are masterpiece even it’s a very old kit.
(07-September-2014)

The assembling of Marder 3 Ausf. H was completed. Because I use photo-etched parts here and there, careful work is required.

There are 3 large platforms on the rear chassis. It was supported by six photo-etched parts. These strengths are uneasy a little, I adhered them fixed well with adhesive superglue.

The cannon parts are from AFV Club. Probably there would be collaborating in Tristar and AFV Club at that time. Injection plastic color is brighter than Tristar original.

Gun module and chassis will be attached after inside painting.

The periscope is made of clear parts, and an atmosphere of the bulletproof glass is well performed.

It takes stress very much for the handling of the photo-etched parts of the small hook on the armor plate…

Blew surfacer lightly.

I took a three-color camouflage of dark yellow, dark green, the red brown this time. As for the Painting guide, the ratio of these three colors is around 4:3:3 , On the main body and armor, dark yellow was base color, but almost areas are filled with dark green and red brown, I took these characteristic in mind and painted.
By the way, it is an Italian front of the summer of 1944. This vehicle had rolls an active part in defense lines against allied forces such as the “Reinhard line” “Hitler line” “Gustav line” “Kaiser Line”.

Self -Propelled crews are painted in basic colors.
(11-September-2014)

Marder 3 was developed to counter against the Russian new tank T-34.

It is the tank destroyer which carried a 7.5cm antitank gun on the body of a Czech light tank 38(t).

Paint and marking is the 29th PzGr-Div., Italy, Summer 1944 on the instruction manual.

Combat room’s armor and the body was not a good joint correctly, it’s difficult for me. Mud is painted on the chassis lightly.

I think it’s too much gloss of metal color on the caterpillar and tools. Because the body color was low visibility, I want sharp accent.

I like the gold color of shell’s on the rack. I didn’t do weathering on the shell body.

I think it’s good work of camouflage pattern, and like the jack stand metal and wood part painting.

After assembling, the inside is dark and almost no visibility, but I lighted the inside efforts with the MagLite. There are two sheets of driver and machine-gunner, behind the sheets, there are shell racks and extinguisher. I made the clutch pedal and driving levers but no sight.

The camouflage pattern is like the last stage of WWII, base color is dark yellow and almost area was painted in red brown and dark green.

From the front shot, the caterpillar was a little twisted that I felt regrettable mistake. Combination caterpillar parts is good looking from side , well, almost OK…

Periscope was painted in dark green blue and after that I glossed in clear.

Mud has 3D texture, each grain is a little large.

Same as above.

Anti-tank gun crew is carrying shell.

These crew insignia is Waffen-SS. One is private and the other is a staff sergeant. We can see the men wearing the garrison cap is also Waffen-SS because of the skull mark on the cap.

Tank crew and self propelled anti-tank crew’s shoulder mark color is pink in Germany, Artillery is red. I think this situation is pink.

Maybe the tank’s division mark and the soldier was not matched.

The radio operator’s holding chart is very realistic.

Two crews camouflage pants are interesting. The open top vehicle was tough working generally because I should paint the inside.
(20-September-2014)