What if

Starting point.  This kit...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50554033736_a91471e516_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k2hCXj)Sd.Kfz 251 in British Service 01 (https://flic.kr/p/2k2hCXj) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50554168817_d6cc05a794_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k2ik7i)Sd.Kfz 251 in British Service 02 (https://flic.kr/p/2k2ik7i) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
...armed with stuff from these kits.  Note the Tamiya kit has the correct "crouching down with hands on ears" figure to accompany the mortar.   ;)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50554168812_5f91629ce2_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k2ik7d)Sd.Kfz 251 in British Service 03 (https://flic.kr/p/2k2ik7d) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50554033706_b71891d84e_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k2hCWN)Sd.Kfz 251 in British Service 04 (https://flic.kr/p/2k2hCWN) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50554033691_b101914598_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k2hCWx)Sd.Kfz 251 in British Service 05 (https://flic.kr/p/2k2hCWx) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50554168657_90ed96550a_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k2ik4x)Sd.Kfz 251 in British Service 06 (https://flic.kr/p/2k2ik4x) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

You could even go a step further, using a Breda 20 mm gun on it. 2 captured items in the same build! ;D
British or south african troops did that in real life, on Marmon Herrington armoured cars etc

Quote from: loupgarou on November 01, 2020, 03:21:54 AM
You could even go a step further, using a Breda 20 mm gun on it. 2 captured items in the same build! ;D
British or south african troops did that in real life, on Marmon Herrington armoured cars etc

I believe the LRDG and/or SAS used them on Chevrolet trucks.
But I don't have one of them and I do have the QF 2lber.  Which I bought originally intending to mount on a Universal Carrier until I discovered it wasn't a Whiff.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/ScwMmjqdaq8Dy6k60rsfTllU7f6KKM9O1pnvBOiNO6l0nppD1COvMeGZOwOFsZwUIXog6E5biDZAgnzT4IH8PzUaMRPY6wSQlLe2nXAcmleYj1qFRdmP798JjLBY)

Ok, I am keen to see where this goes.

If somewhat baffled with the US figures on a British build ?
I am pretty sure that, knowing how you work with extensive mods, that they will end up looking just the ticket when it is all revealed

I'll just change their heads for those with pommy helmets - et voila British soldiers.   ;D
That's if I put any in.  I dug out the Tamiya set mainly for the weapons.

The half track was originally a Zvezda kit, reboxed by Revell.  It has, IMO unnecessarily broken down parts.
Here is where I am at.  I have glued together about a million parts to get to this point.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50558355227_69e1cf1186_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k2EMzM)Sd.Kfz 251 WIP 02-11-2020 (https://flic.kr/p/2k2EMzM) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

Another thousand parts added.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50572443352_a196dfab08_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k3UZuu)Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service WIP 06-11-2020 (https://flic.kr/p/2k3UZuu) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
And i've started putting the QF 2 pounder together.

Looking at the parts breakdown is why I'm put off getting any recently tooled 1/35 armour. I'd like to give some a try, but the thought of individual track links, possibly made from multiple parts, terrifies me and is beyond the capabilities of my eyesight and hand/eye co-ordination skills nowadays  :-\

I'm interested to see what the 2.pdr looks like as it's small even in this scale.

Quote from: NARSES2 on November 06, 2020, 07:00:13 AM
Looking at the parts breakdown is why I'm put off getting any recently tooled 1/35 armour. I'd like to give some a try, but the thought of individual track links, possibly made from multiple parts, terrifies me and is beyond the capabilities of my eyesight and hand/eye co-ordination skills nowadays  :-\

I'm interested to see what the 2.pdr looks like as it's small even in this scale.

Luckily Tamiya is still using a rational approach to engineering and parts count, unlike
the Chinese, Ukrainian and Russian companies. AFV Club also seem to not have fallen
into the parts count arms race.

Even Revell do it, viz their Lancaster that I'm using for the S77. :(

Link and length tracks seem to be coming to the forefront and are better than individual links.
Although for whiffing individual links do give the most flexibility if one is modifying track layout or wheelbase etc.

I'll take a snap of the 2 pounder.  Parts breakdown is almost to the individual pieces of the prototypical weapon but it's very crisply moulded and is fitting well.

The US weapons set has a 50 cal and a water-cooled 30 as well as a US radio and tommy gun.  I also have the weapons from a Tamiya Bren Gun Carrier somewhere.  Some or all of these will be thrown into the mix.

Specially for Kit, picture of the QF 2 pounder assembly.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50574570548_7a7e727707_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k46TQh)QF 2 Pounder WIP 07-11-2020 (https://flic.kr/p/2k46TQh) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

So, the kitmaker takes a QF 2pdr, breaks it down into its individual components, models each of them & puts them on a sprue for some poor modeller to piece together. :o

More or less, yes.
Looking at the instructions up there I can't see why parts A1, A9, and A2 have to be three pieces.

Perhaps they're thinking you may want to model the breech in the open position?

But they don't mention it on the instruction sheet.  :banghead:

An "Easter Egg" for an intrepid modeller to build...   :thumbsup:

The gun barrel could have been one piece .

At least they didn't model the individual nuts and bolts

Thanks for that Fred  :thumbsup:

I may look for armour with link and length tracks and give it a go. Maybe a Christmas present to myself ?  ;)

with the breech I know from experience the Tamiya 25lber can be built so that the block moves in the breech, perhaps for the same effect ?  :unsure:

Waiting for a build of the 2pdr from one of those crazy Japanese modellers who accurize
everything and make all the movable bits movable, no doubt the block will move when
the breech operating lever is moved.
:wacko:

Ahh Fred, the modern Military Vehicle/Gun kit is becoming a mini competition around the parts count. Must have a box with contains x hundred parts printed on the lid. I too agree that the need to create a scale replica of the real thing is sometimes a little over the top.

The sliding breach is a common feature really across many AT gun/Artillery kits, the venerable Tamiya 25 Pounder and 6 Pounder both had the same feature. Just offers some posability
The Vulcan 2 Pounder is a little gem (of course appearing after I had purchased the Sovereign Resin kit) and well worth the effort. Those tiny assemblies do really pop under paint.

Quote from: NARSES2 on November 07, 2020, 06:31:44 AM
Thanks for that Fred  :thumbsup:

I may look for armour with link and length tracks and give it a go. Maybe a Christmas present to myself ?  ;)

Try a Tamiya 1/48 kit.  No interior detail and link & length tracks.  The T-55 looks good in the box and the Su-122 builds up nicely.
Don't be tempted by a Hobby Boss 1/48 T-34 if you want simplicity - they still have link & length tracks but combine it with full interior detail.  And I mean full.  There is an engine, crew positions, gun breech etc.

Another million parts glued together today.
Zvezda engineered the body of the half track as a lot of separtsate panels.  The ones I have got together so far have fitted OK but there is adjusting and PSR in my future.  Location of the lower sides
was not positive and I have to test fit other parts to confirm fore and aft placement.  Although this could have been due to me leaving a heap of parts out (seats, back rests, storage etc) so as to make room for the gun.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50578209733_7dc4d4acc1_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k4qxCR)Sd.Kfx 251 in Alied Service WIP 08-11-2020 (https://flic.kr/p/2k4qxCR) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
I want 360º traverse which means either mount the gun high or cut down the sides of the rear body.  I'm going for the cut down.
Here's where the gun is at.  It is looking good and parts fit is very positive so far.  Next stage of to fit the actual gun to the mount and I want to get some paint on it before I do that otherwise there will be hard to reach areas.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50579075772_44f2b30350_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k4uZ5y)QF 2 Pounder WIP 08-11-2020 (https://flic.kr/p/2k4uZ5y) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

Looking good mate and thanks for the kit tips  :thumbsup:

I've been working on the gun some more.  It had to be painted as it went together else there would have been nooks and crannies that would have been impossible to get to.
It's nearly done and then I can scratch up a mount for it and see where to cut down the upper body armour and then get on with the rest of the half track construction.

For a change, here are some wheels.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50632353317_f4b5fd6a69_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k9d3CV)Sd.Kfz 251 WIP 22-11-2020 (https://flic.kr/p/2k9d3CV) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
I stacked them up on the axles to see how they fitted.  And then upon removal twisted off one of the rear axles as the fit was tight.
D'oh!
That is now gluing and I have painted the tyres.  That's eight double wheels and 12 singles.  All hand painted.  Plus the rubber shock absorbing lumps on the drive wheels at the front.

Just think....it could be 1/72 ?  ;)

What's the old song ? "Always look on the bright side of ......................" ?

Coming on well mate  :thumbsup:

Quote from: NARSES2 on November 23, 2020, 06:25:30 AM

Just think....it could be 1/72 ?  ;)

That doesn't bare thinking about!  :o

I can't wait until I build the tracks - individual links...

Quote from: zenrat on November 24, 2020, 01:21:35 AM
I can't wait until I build the tracks - individual links...

You pulled the kit out of the stash and now you want sympathy  :angel: ;)

Quote from: NARSES2 on November 23, 2020, 06:25:30 AM
Just think....it could be 1/72 ?  ;)

What's the old song ? "Always look on the bright side of ......................" ?

Well, if 1:72 scares you, there are aftermarket sets available with full tracks and wheels cast in massive resin. Still painful to paint, though.

Quote from: NARSES2 on November 24, 2020, 06:12:36 AM

Quote from: zenrat on November 24, 2020, 01:21:35 AM
I can't wait until I build the tracks - individual links...

You pulled the kit out of the stash and now you want sympathy  :angel: ;)

No.  Understanding...

;D

I understand ... & you have my sympathy! :drink:

Enough of the gun is together now for me to scratch up the mounting.  Hopefully i'll get it done this weekend.  Or at least a large part of it.

Gun mounting is built and attached.  Here is a mock up.
I had to cut down the armour to allow the gun to traverse but i'll be building some back up again to cover the gap.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50660007377_0c1ce39759_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kbDMe4)Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service WIP 29-11-2020 (https://flic.kr/p/2kbDMe4) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

Tracks have 55 links on each side.  Links are connected by pads  They would go together fairly easily if it wasn't for the misaligned moulds requiring each link to be sanded.
D'oh!

Quote from: zenrat on November 29, 2020, 02:01:42 AM

  They would go together fairly easily if it wasn't for the misaligned moulds requiring each link to be sanded.
D'oh!

Oh, DEEP joy!  :banghead:

The model itself looks pretty good to me so far (but what do I know about tanks, eh?  ;D)

Interesting.  I'd assumed it was going to be like a SdKfz 251/10 with the gun mounted over the driving compartment. 

I didn't want to sit the gun up that high.  I has a relatively high profile as it is.  I suppose I could have cut down the gun shield but I wanted to keep it recognisable.
Having it where it is gives it a 360º traverse.

Tracks, tracks, tracks.

Put this lot together today.  30 links.
Each side needs 55 so I am 27% done.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50681092768_33c76a22f2_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kdvRbh)Sd.Kfz 251 WIP 05-12-2020 (https://flic.kr/p/2kdvRbh) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
I dropped one link, couldn't find it and then tipped over the aluminium tray containing the track pads flicking about half of them on the floor.
While picking them up I found the link I dropped but have lost two track pads.  There are spares but i'd rather not have lost any at this early stage.
The good news is that the sprue attachment points for the links are on the ends meaning I can clean them up en mass after the links are joined.
The bad news is that there is a slight mould misalignment meaning I have to sand both sides of the tounge of each link which fits through a slot in the adjacent link.
The other good news is that this is a relatively clean process so I will be able to sit at the dinner table and do it while watching the idiot's lantern.

After this, and the 1/35 Dragon Pz IV and 1/72 Platz Pig Tank in the stash, no more kits with individual track links ever.

That's an interesting combination there, Fred - it's going to look quite different when it's done.

I picked up an AFV Club 'Whells and Tracks' (sic) set for the 251 once - they include rubber bands, so it's actually going to get used rather than languishing on the unloved pile.
(Single-link tracks? You can keep them and I'll keep my money, thanks!)

And yeah, that's the thing I remember about the US figures - there's some nice poses and they fit together like they should.

Apart from the above mentioned two, all the other tanks in my stash are 1/48.  Easier to store when finished.
The 1/35 military kits I do have are all armoured cars and trucks.

Jeepers, doing that'd put me off building tanks for life! :(

Quote from: zenrat on December 05, 2020, 03:04:16 AM
Apart from the above mentioned two, all the other tanks in my stash are 1/48.  Easier to store when finished.
The 1/35 military kits I do have are all armoured cars and trucks.

True, the larger vehicles can take up a fair amount of real estate on the shelf.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on December 05, 2020, 04:01:07 AM
Jeepers, doing that'd put me off building tanks for life! :(

And being a half track there are less links than on a tank.

I gritted my teeth and finished both sets off today.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50685178998_aeb364ff55_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kdSMSw)Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service WIP 06-12-2020 02 (https://flic.kr/p/2kdSMSw) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50685933251_4d97686b9a_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kdWE5T)Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service WIP 06-12-2020 03 (https://flic.kr/p/2kdWE5T) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

Looking Good and I can see it being the sort of thing that might well have happened .

Did I mention that every single track pad has a sink mark in it?

Anyhoo, i've built the sides of the body back up and painted the interior.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50702033757_3391acabff_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kfnbcP)Sd.Kfz 251 WIP 10-12-2020 (https://flic.kr/p/2kfnbcP) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

 :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Works for me. I think you did a bang up job on the tracks.

Thanks mate.

Quote from: zenrat on December 10, 2020, 02:29:58 AM
Did I mention that every single track pad has a sink mark in it?

I don't recall you mentioning that (but I've a memory like a sieve), however it looks to be coming along nicely. :thumbsup:

It is thank you Womby.  I'm not working this weekend so assuming I can get all my chores done I should be able to press on with it.

This kit has a multi part body.  I have started assembling it.  Fit is needing to be adjusted as I go and clothes pegs used to clamp panels in place.

It has some nice working features like the rear door hinges and the front wheels steering which so far I have managed not to glue up by mistake.

Slow progress.  A combination of ill-fitting bodywork (not sure if it's Zvezda's fault or mine) and the need to paint the interior before I glue the top part of the body on as it will be highly visible but almost impossible to paint well once closed up.
And of course while most of the interior is DAK Dark Yellow the parts added by the captors would not be painted in that colour but in Portland Stone which does not cover well needing at least three coats.

The fit on this thing really is giving me the sh*ts.  There is PSR in my future.

Mudguards and front nose bit attached.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50754285527_556b7edac9_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kjYYQp)Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service WIP 24-12-2020 (https://flic.kr/p/2kjYYQp) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

PSR time.  Not much, but some is needed to hide poor panel fit.

Painting has begun.  Base coat of the Caunter Scheme is Portland Stone.  Insides and undersides remain DAK Dark Yellow as I feel they wouldn't have bothered repainting the bits that were hard to get to.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50799377286_1e3bb203f2_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2koY63w)Sd.Kfz251 in Allied service WIP 04-01-2021 (https://flic.kr/p/2koY63w) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

 :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Yup,  :thumbsup: indeed

Certainly hitting the mark there Fred.

Looking the business  :thumbsup:

Quote from: zenrat on December 10, 2020, 02:29:58 AM
Did I mention that every single track pad has a sink mark in it?

Those aren't dimples, they're to make the ride smoother over cobblestone streets.

JoeP

Thanks folks.
I've got a second coat on.  Might need three.

That's looking great. BTW, the interior might have been dark grey - material sent to Africa was mostly taken from standard stock on short notice, so that all-grey vehicles were frequent and just camouflaged in desert colors on site, also using Italian paint stocks and even captured British stuff. I doubt that anyone had wasted time to re-paint the interior, but there were certainly late transfers that were alreday painted in appropriate colors at the factories (happened AFAIK with Panzer IIIs).

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on January 05, 2021, 04:06:27 AM
That's looking great. BTW, the interior might have been dark grey - material sent to Africa was mostly taken from standard stock on short notice, so that all-grey vehicles were frequent and just camouflaged in desert colors on site, also using Italian paint stocks and even captured British stuff. I doubt that anyone had wasted time to re-paint the interior, but there were certainly late transfers that were alreday painted in appropriate colors at the factories (happened AFAIK with Panzer IIIs).

Lucky its not a RW build then.   :mellow:

Thanks Dizz.

Day off today so I got to add the second colour (Dark Green) of the Caunter Scheme and test the third (sources say Silver Grey but the Silver Grey I have looks nothing like references so I used what looks close - IAF/IDF Green).

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50813394787_9364afce6c_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kqcVXz)Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service WIP 08-01-2021 (https://flic.kr/p/2kqcVXz) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

AIUT the Silver Gey is the contentious colour in Caunter Schemes.  The one Bovington mistook for blue.  Previous builds I used USAF Light Grey but this time I chose something closer to the three views I found on line.
One day i'll do a build and paint it with a blue Caunter.

That's looking great.  :thumbsup:

All three colours on.  Touching up and tidying needed then tracks, wheels, fiddly bits, and weathering.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50816872467_cda54a6d18_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kqvKKz)Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service WIP 09-01-2021 01 (https://flic.kr/p/2kqvKKz) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50816773566_36da65faf5_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kqvfmo)Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service WIP 09-01-2021 02 (https://flic.kr/p/2kqvfmo) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50816872377_283d073a6f_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kqvKJ2)Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service WIP 09-01-2021 03 (https://flic.kr/p/2kqvKJ2) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

Really nice paint work, Fred! :thumbsup:

Quote from: Old Wombat on January 09, 2021, 04:44:11 AM
Really nice paint work, Fred! :thumbsup:

'Tis indeed.

I can see that scheme totally throwing any ground strafing pilot attacking from the rear.

This is coming along very nicely indeed.

It reminds me of something maybe Naval camouflage

Fred, dabbling with the Caunter scheme is sometimes a challenge, so well done. Been a fan of the Caunter scheme and have quite a few RW subjects daubed as such.
Whilst the colours might not be exactly to Mike Starmer specs, they are working. :thumbsup:

This build is working out just fine and looks quite striking

Quote from: buzzbomb on January 09, 2021, 03:15:57 PM
Whilst the colours might not be exactly to Mike Starmer specs, they are working. :thumbsup:

IM likeing the look of this build  :thumbsup:

I know Mike moderately well, he lives around ten miles away from me. He truly knows his stuff.

I got to know him when I tagged along with my dad on a visit to Mikes place, The old man was buying a load of British army decals off Mike. I got a tour of his study/library/workshop. His model collection even had a few very discrete whiffs. (mostly older builds using incorrect shades that later reseach corrected)

Looking good, and it's a highly credible whiff.  :thumbsup:

Glad you all like it so far.
Today I mostly did the touch ups, put a Portland to tie the colours together more, and added the air recognition marking.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50820089096_e42c83f35a_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kqNeWG)Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service WIP 10-01-2021 (https://flic.kr/p/2kqNeWG) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

Yes, IRL it would have probly been a white star, but I followed the precedent I set with my BA3.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/1960/43152330920_3904eea1bc_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28KdYzw)BA3 Armoured Car012 (https://flic.kr/p/28KdYzw) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

Actually, in the period the Caunter scheme was used (or shortly thereafter) the air recognition symbol was, usually a yellow ringed roundel similar to the RAF Type A.2 roundel

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/RAF_Type_A1_Roundel_Variant.svg/75px-RAF_Type_A1_Roundel_Variant.svg.png)
https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_roundels (https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_roundels)

My Google-fu sucks, right now, & I can't find any photo's of the real things ... Not a problem when I'm not looking for them! :banghead:

Quote from: Old Wombat on January 10, 2021, 04:59:46 AM

My Google-fu sucks, right now, & I can't find any photo's of the real things ... Not a problem when I'm not looking for them! :banghead:

Ain't it always the way?
It applies when you're looking through the spares parts bin, too... :banghead:

They'd run out of yellow paint at the depot.  It had all been borrowed by the navy to paint submarines.

Not much time today but I did weather the roundel.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50824497692_67bb043b2a_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2krbQsY)Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service WIP 11-01-2021 (https://flic.kr/p/2krbQsY) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

Tracks and wheels are on.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50873508366_8b63875b20_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kvw2CA)Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service WIP 25-01-2021 (https://flic.kr/p/2kvw2CA) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

Nice one Fred  :thumbsup:

Great, the colors are very good.  :thumbsup:

Thanks folks.
I finished off all the paint touch ups today and gave it a coat of satin clear.  Some light weathering and it'll be done.

Quote from: buzzbomb on January 26, 2021, 01:53:08 AM
Nice one Fred  :thumbsup:

Definitely! :thumbsup:

Sd.Kfz 251 in Allied Service.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50893833442_6487808c16_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kxjcyW)Sd.Kfz 251 - 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2kxjcyW) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

The Sd.Kfz 251 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251) half-track was a World War II German armored personnel carrier designed by the Hanomag company, based on its earlier, unarmored Sd.Kfz 11 vehicle.  The Sd.Kfz 251 was designed to transport the Panzergrenadier (German mechanized infantry) into battle.  Sd.Kfz 251s were the most widely produced German half-tracks of the war, with at least 15,252 vehicles and variants produced by seven manufacturers.  Some sources state that the Sd.Kfz 251 was commonly referred to simply as "Hanomag" by both German and Allied soldiers after the manufacturer of the vehicle; this has been questioned, and may have been only a postwar label.  German officers referred to them as SPW (Schützenpanzerwagen, or armored infantry vehicle) in their daily orders and memoirs.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50893716806_3bbb45a811_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kxiATY)Sd.Kfz 251 - 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2kxiATY) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

The vehicle pictured is an Sd.Kfz 251/3 - mittlerer Kommandopanzerwagen (Funkpanzerwagen).  Originally a communications vehicle fitted with extra radio equipment for command it has been captured by Allied forces in the Western Desert.  The extra radio equipment has been removed and a Quick Firing 2 pounder anti tank gun had been fitted on an improvised mount.  Some modification to the body sides have been carried out to enable the weapon to traverse.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50893716536_70b79e7f30_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kxiAPj)Sd.Kfz 251 - 9 (https://flic.kr/p/2kxiAPj) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

The vehicle has been repainted in the Caunter Scheme which was in use between 1940 and 1941 and was named after its reputed inventor, Colonel Caunter of the 4th Armoured Brigade.  A large "RAF" roundel has been painted on the bonnet in an attempt to provide some recognition for Allied pilots and prevent a "friendly fire" incident.
A rear mounted Bren Gun provides some defence and a number of Lee-Enfield rifles are stowed inside the rear of the body.  The co-driver has a Tommy Gun wedged next to his seat.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50893002253_558be61346_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kxeWu6)Sd.Kfz 251 - 23 (https://flic.kr/p/2kxeWu6) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

The Model.
1/35 Revell (formerly Zvezda) Sd.Kfz 251/3 Ausf B.
1/35 Vulcan Ordnance QF 2 Pounder Mark IX Carriage Mk II
I have deliberately restricted weathering to a waft of neutral "dust" (OK, so it's very thinned USAF Light Grey acrylic).  It'll get more if I mount it on a base as then I can dirty it up more to fit the scenery.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50893002543_8f98b58ccc_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kxeWz6)Sd.Kfz 251 - 17 (https://flic.kr/p/2kxeWz6) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

The kit has some nice features (opening rear doors for example) but suffers from the "parts breakdown" disease which sees some components being in more parts than they need to.  Tracks are individual links but were not too much of a pain to build in the end.  Mainly because there were only 55 on each side and each consisted of only two parts – the track link and the track pad.  Every track pad does however have a sink mark on it.
I left out the detailed engine and radiator as the rest of the underbonnet detail was non existent.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50893002318_2344edd6af_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kxeWvd)Sd.Kfz 251 - 21 (https://flic.kr/p/2kxeWvd) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr

That is really nice, Fred! :thumbsup: :bow:

Nice!  :thumbsup:

A splendid piece of work there Fred.  :thumbsup:

I like the addition of the Bren on the back, it's JUST what the 8th Army would have done. 'Of all else fails, stick a Bren on it!'  ;D

Thanks folks.

That does look good, particularly like the camouflage scheme  :thumbsup:

Thanks Chris.

Nice work!  :thumbsup:

Thanks Rick.