ausf
Master at Arms
I just finished a Stug for IR battling. You might be familiar with Tamiya's 1/16 RC line, but there's also a small market of cheaper, toy quality RC tanks that can be salvaged with a bit of work.
Contrary to my days of 1/35 static kits, use of PE and much detail is a waste of these monsters since they'll likely be knocked off in battle. Everything has to be secured pretty tight and paint relatively secure.
This one started life as a plastic Heng Long StuG, which is roughly StuG shaped, but as mentioned, really just a toy that sells for around $100 RTR.
I gutted the hull, reinforced it with aluminum, rebuilt the guttywuts with Tamiya compatible electronics, added a German sound system loaded with Maybach Pz III engine sound. Added both traverse and elevation as well as proper recoil to the main gun and installed working periscopes to direct the IR signals for battle. The missing bolt hole on the mantlet holds the IR emitter to fire along the axis of the main gun. The Notek and convoy light are functional with SMD LEDs, the convoy light tube is satin black when off, green when lit. There's a white LED in the muzzle (club rules dictate there must be a visible flash when firing).
After that, I went on to the modeling side of it, using Aves to add waffle zim and brass stock to make the removeable Schurzen. All the detail bits were spares from other kits, the tow cables picture frame wire. It's painted with Vallejo primer and colors, Dunkelgelb with a green disruptive pattern. After that, Future, washes, and dry pigments.
My goal was to create something that's been through the wringer, a tired old vet showing age with remnants of camo. The tarps are mainly to cover really bad shortcomings in the models or spots were bolts, etc were necessary for the mechanical stuff.
Here it is, let me know what you think:
Contrary to my days of 1/35 static kits, use of PE and much detail is a waste of these monsters since they'll likely be knocked off in battle. Everything has to be secured pretty tight and paint relatively secure.
This one started life as a plastic Heng Long StuG, which is roughly StuG shaped, but as mentioned, really just a toy that sells for around $100 RTR.
I gutted the hull, reinforced it with aluminum, rebuilt the guttywuts with Tamiya compatible electronics, added a German sound system loaded with Maybach Pz III engine sound. Added both traverse and elevation as well as proper recoil to the main gun and installed working periscopes to direct the IR signals for battle. The missing bolt hole on the mantlet holds the IR emitter to fire along the axis of the main gun. The Notek and convoy light are functional with SMD LEDs, the convoy light tube is satin black when off, green when lit. There's a white LED in the muzzle (club rules dictate there must be a visible flash when firing).
After that, I went on to the modeling side of it, using Aves to add waffle zim and brass stock to make the removeable Schurzen. All the detail bits were spares from other kits, the tow cables picture frame wire. It's painted with Vallejo primer and colors, Dunkelgelb with a green disruptive pattern. After that, Future, washes, and dry pigments.
My goal was to create something that's been through the wringer, a tired old vet showing age with remnants of camo. The tarps are mainly to cover really bad shortcomings in the models or spots were bolts, etc were necessary for the mechanical stuff.
Here it is, let me know what you think:
