1/32 Hetzer rebuild
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:51 am
Usually I stick to 1/16 or 1/18 armor, but recently I purchased a 21st Century Marder IIIM and was extremely impressed…forget the comparisons to 1/32 FOV, 21st Century has produced a scale model that rivals Dragon’s pre painted 1/35 scale for a ¼ of the price.
I was so happy I ordered the Marder III and initial 38T. So when the Hetzer came out I did not hesitate to grab one. When it arrived I removed it from the box expecting the same level of craftsmanship and detail that was lavished on the previous releases based on the 38T….Surprise! this one is a turd.
My first thought was that the fenders were glued on the vehicle in the wrong place, mounted so low that they were pushing the tracks down and no where near the fender braces at the rear of the vehicle. Where is the notek light, remote mg, jack and gunner periscope???? Must be somewhere in the box, broken off….
Nope, this is the way it is. Still it has a good start as a Hetzer, so time to polish it.
Started with the remote mg, used thin sheet tin for the shields and a left over mg from a FOV vehicle and scratch built the mount and periscope. Next up the notek light and cable. Luckily I had a 1/35 spare for that, as well as a jack. Next broke off the side fenders, filled the hole and remounted them in the correct place. Drilled out the mantlet holes, removed and replaced all the periscope guards and added periscopes for the gunner, loader and commander rear. Cut out the grill and added internal braces and screen. Drilled out the exhaust tube, repositioned it and added a new brace. Sanded off the antenna holders on the side as well as the extra hook and added tubes and latch as well as the holder on the rear, removed the track links on the side skirt and then cut and separated the side skirts. Added a handle and lock bar for the comanders hatch and scratch built the Commander’s scissor scope and mounted it in the open hatch. Drilled out the tow/lift extensions front and rear, scratch built the pry bar and mount, and moved the antenna mount to the correct location. The supplied antenna was too short and fat for a 1/32 scale 2 meter antenna, so I made two (one for the mount and one for the side spare holder) from spring steel and ground to a taper. Made the rear convoy light from a clear plastic rod and painted clear blue using future mixed with blue food coloring, and mounted to a the brace. Added rear tow cables and straps. Finally I repainted the little beast in a late factory scheme.
Still need to weather it, and do not know if I will add numbers for a Hetzer with the Pz.Jg.Abt.97, 97 Jäger Division, Czechoslovakia, May 1945 with vehicle numbers in red with white outline or display it without any markings as one of the Hetzers picked up by Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502 when their King Tigers were not available for delivery at the end of the war.
I will post pictures tonight after I do some weathering, but must say I LOVE this Hetzer.
It just needed some polishing.
I was so happy I ordered the Marder III and initial 38T. So when the Hetzer came out I did not hesitate to grab one. When it arrived I removed it from the box expecting the same level of craftsmanship and detail that was lavished on the previous releases based on the 38T….Surprise! this one is a turd.
My first thought was that the fenders were glued on the vehicle in the wrong place, mounted so low that they were pushing the tracks down and no where near the fender braces at the rear of the vehicle. Where is the notek light, remote mg, jack and gunner periscope???? Must be somewhere in the box, broken off….
Nope, this is the way it is. Still it has a good start as a Hetzer, so time to polish it.
Started with the remote mg, used thin sheet tin for the shields and a left over mg from a FOV vehicle and scratch built the mount and periscope. Next up the notek light and cable. Luckily I had a 1/35 spare for that, as well as a jack. Next broke off the side fenders, filled the hole and remounted them in the correct place. Drilled out the mantlet holes, removed and replaced all the periscope guards and added periscopes for the gunner, loader and commander rear. Cut out the grill and added internal braces and screen. Drilled out the exhaust tube, repositioned it and added a new brace. Sanded off the antenna holders on the side as well as the extra hook and added tubes and latch as well as the holder on the rear, removed the track links on the side skirt and then cut and separated the side skirts. Added a handle and lock bar for the comanders hatch and scratch built the Commander’s scissor scope and mounted it in the open hatch. Drilled out the tow/lift extensions front and rear, scratch built the pry bar and mount, and moved the antenna mount to the correct location. The supplied antenna was too short and fat for a 1/32 scale 2 meter antenna, so I made two (one for the mount and one for the side spare holder) from spring steel and ground to a taper. Made the rear convoy light from a clear plastic rod and painted clear blue using future mixed with blue food coloring, and mounted to a the brace. Added rear tow cables and straps. Finally I repainted the little beast in a late factory scheme.
Still need to weather it, and do not know if I will add numbers for a Hetzer with the Pz.Jg.Abt.97, 97 Jäger Division, Czechoslovakia, May 1945 with vehicle numbers in red with white outline or display it without any markings as one of the Hetzers picked up by Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502 when their King Tigers were not available for delivery at the end of the war.
I will post pictures tonight after I do some weathering, but must say I LOVE this Hetzer.
It just needed some polishing.
