Tamiya 1/35 Hanomag Sdkfz251/1

[alextheblue]

Well, I searched and searched for something that had both tracks and wings, but I couldn't find a single thing. So, I thought that tracks and wheels would be the next best thing. I was stumbling around my local Hobbycraft looking at their paltry offerings and I saw this.....



It's an old kit and the not the most detailed, but more importantly, it was cheap!! Real cheap. So I bought it. The last 251 I built was by Dragon and this is a mere shadow by comparison.



Sprues









Main tub



And my most favourite tracks in the world! Not!



I'm tempted to go the aftermarket route, but that defeats the object of getting a cheap kit. And, if all else fails,I can ask David Copperfield or Dynamo to "glue" them together with magic. Nah!! Who am I kidding, even that wouldn't work!

Destructions







And the decals. Typical Tamiya - good colour and register, just a bit too thick. I've been getting a bit lazy recently and haven't bothered with the decals for my German armour. The markings are minimal anyway and after a bit of mud and battle wear, what is there can hardly be seen.

This shouldn't take long to build. The figures will be the longest part as they'll need a fair bit of clean-up, but you can usually get a half-decent result. Well, until I get my mitts on them that is.

First update should be along soon.

Oh, before I forget - where is everyone on this GB!!! Only 9 entries and with such a wide range of topics. If you're starting a new build and it flys or runs on tracks, consider chucking your build progress up here!

Thanks for taking a look!

[alextheblue]

Update One

Thought I'd get stuck straight into this one. It's an old kit - 1973!!!! Almost as old as me!



Tons of seams to clean up and EPM's everywhere. Luckily, most of them won't be seen once it's all together. Where better to start then Step 1.



The steering wheel is literally a round peg into a square hole, but plenty of Extra Thin will sort that out. Some paltry details on the interior.



Crew seating glued in place, but the dash is only test fitted as I'll probably paint this separately. See, I've built too many planes now!! I'm used to painting sub-assemblies and then fixing them in place. Gone are my old armour habits of -

Step 1 - build it
Step 2 - paint it
Step 3 - weather it

Finished!!

Who am I kidding - I'm still going to do that!!

Quick test fit of the interior.




And now the upper hull.



And this is all you're going to see of the interior. I'm still going to detail paint it and weather it though. Well, you've got to!



And that's where I'm at.

Thanks for taking a look!

[Kevthemodeller]

I'm so looking forward to this build This was the third Tamiya kit I ever built would have been about 75, my nun bought it for me, just lovely memories

[digger303]

I'm so looking forward to this build This was the third Tamiya kit I ever built would have been about 75, my nun bought it for me, just lovely memories

Lucky beggar with your own nun, I had to share...

[Quax]

You had a nun to share!? We only had one for Christmas or was it a penguin...?

Nice to see this going together, I often see them on evilbay and wonder what they're like. Now I get to watch an expert at work
Paul

[Kevthemodeller]

Lucky beggar with your own nun, I had to share...

That should have been Nan, good old predictive txt, posting from my phone and being a bit too quick with the submit button

[alextheblue]

I'm so looking forward to this build This was the third Tamiya kit I ever built would have been about 75, my nun bought it for me, just lovely memories

Exactly why I bought this kit. Brought back memories of wanting one as a kid.

I'm so looking forward to this build This was the third Tamiya kit I ever built would have been about 75, my nun bought it for me, just lovely memories

Lucky beggar with your own nun, I had to share...

Hahahahahahaha!!

Don't you just hate it when you pishype your worms!

You had a nun to share!? We only had one for Christmas or was it a penguin...?

Nice to see this going together, I often see them on evilbay and wonder what they're like. Now I get to watch an expert at work
Paul

What! Someone else is building the same model! Send me the link Paul and I'll watch him instead. Gotta be better than mine.

[digger303]

I started to build this same one for a fun build a few months ago and it now sits on my self of doom with the grey base coat completed.
The reason it's on that particular shelf is I ran into a problem. My vinyl tracks were too short. Possibly my fault, but I didn't dry fit the tracks at all. So not sure if it could have been corrected at a early stage.....Ho hum not to worry.

[CygnusX1]

Looking good so far.

Some of these old kits have a bunch of mould seam lines, ejector pin marks and flash, pretty much on every part. This one doesn't look too bad though.

[alextheblue]

Looking good so far.

Some of these old kits have a bunch of mould seam lines, ejector pin marks and flash, pretty much on every part. This one doesn't look too bad though.

Thanks Cygnus! This kit is awash with seam lines and once you've scrapped/sanded them off, you almost have to bathe each part in TET to get all the crud off. It's not too bad for EPMs though. Have to say, I am enjoying building it!

[alextheblue]

Update Two

Wife's out, so I thought I'd get plenty of bench time today. Couple more bits done on the half-track.

Wheels, sprockets and front suspension all done.





Rear crew doors and you can have them either closed or open. Nice touch for a kit that's less than $15





Thanks for taking a look!

[alextheblue]

Update Three

Got the figures all cleaned up and part-assembled. For figures that are almost forty years old, they're not too bad. Plenty of seams to clean up and the details are a little soft, but I've seen worse. I'll paint up the interior, fit it all together, mask it off and then paint the exterior. I won't go too mad as not a lot of it will be seen.

Not a lot to see, but here's what's done. Ultimate grey primer as always. Sprayed through an H&S Evolution with 0.4 needle at about 24 psi.







And Take That before the split!!



Thanks for taking a look!

[Quax]

Take That? That's all your credibility gone right there

Btw did you mean when Robbie and Howard were still in?
Otherwise all looking good!
Paul

[gaz45]

Nice start there mate

[Kevthemodeller]

Coming together really nicely

[alextheblue]

Take That? That's all your credibility gone right there

Btw did you mean when Robbie and Howard were still in?
Otherwise all looking good!
Paul

Thanks Paul. Yup, Take That pre-wrinkles and grey hair. They look like me know!!

Nice start there mate

Cheers gaz.

Coming together really nicely

Cheers Kev!

[alextheblue]

Update Four

Modelling time has been a bit scarce the last few weeks. Just started a new job and now I'm office based again. Got a bit done though. Not much, but the interior is pretty much finished.







I haven't spent too much time on it as it's thrust into darkness once the upper bodywork is attached.



Barry Garlow and the boys have had some make-up applied.





Shouldn't take too much longer now the interior is done. Attach the body, paint it all, then weather it. As easy as that!!

Thanks for taking a look!

[mse240966]

Cracking build. This kit brings back child hood memories.

[alextheblue]

Cracking build. This kit brings back child hood memories.

Yeah, it's an oldie but goldie!!

[alextheblue]

Update Five

I've been pootling away at this one and it's slowly coming together. Not looking forward to the tracks as they are the old rubber band type. You know the ones - there's no known glue on the face of this earth that will stick them together!! In the past I've tried melting the plastic as per the instructions and have had mixed success. I've resulted to stapling them before now, but that method is going to be too noticeable on this one. Might try stitching them instead - see how that goes.

Barry Garlow and the boys have had a lick of paint.



Busting some moves!



Some touch ups and highlights, but they are almost done.

The 251 has been painted. Used the AK Interactive set (the original ones from a few years back). Had them on the shelf and thought I would give them a go. Truly horrible paints and they need a lot of patience to lay down. Not overly happy with the results/colour, but once weathered, it'll do.

Decals on and they are the usual Tamiya affair. Again, once they are distressed and weathered, they'll be fine.









I've got to say, this might be an old kit, (I can just imagine Queen Victoria watching with admiration as a young Prince Edward splodges on the finishing touches!), but I am really enjoying building it.

Thanks for taking a look!

[KalebB]

Looking good bud. She may be an old kit but you're doing her some justice!

[gaz45]

Very nice work there mate

[Tomcat64]

That's superb work and a great trip down memory lane Alex!

Love the shading and tonal variations you've got in the interior and out on the body shell itself.

[Kevthemodeller]

That's superb work and a great trip down memory lane Alex!

I agree This was one of the first Tamiya kits I built, wasn't as good as this build. They figures look superb

[alextheblue]

Looking good bud. She may be an old kit but you're doing her some justice!

Thanks Kaleb! This kit is almost as old as me!

Very nice work there mate

Cheers gaz!

That's superb work and a great trip down memory lane Alex!

Love the shading and tonal variations you've got in the interior and out on the body shell itself.

Cheers Tomcat! Ah, nostalgia ain't what it used to be!

That's superb work and a great trip down memory lane Alex!

I agree This was one of the first Tamiya kits I built, wasn't as good as this build. They figures look superb

Thanks Kev. They're not the best figures in the world, but considering the age, they clean up well and I've seen worse.

[alextheblue]

Update Six

Still picking away at this one, but I keep getting distracted. More about that later!!

I sat staring at this for a while, wondering whether to add some more tones of the grey, but decided instead to get stuck into the weathering. It's a relatively small vehicle and once the mud and dirt is applied, it will cover up a lot of the body colour.

With that in mind, I applied the first sweep of Vallejo Model Air mud brown.







The figures are more or less done.





You may have noticed that I have re-done the bonnet. Wasn't feeling the tonal variations. The AK paint is utter crap and just doesn't lie down well. I sanded it back and used VMA German grey. Once this is dry I will add white and spay in some highlights.

As I mentioned =, I have got a little distracted with this project. Having been bitten by the nostalgia bug, I decided to get the Tamiya Stug IV from the same era. For a smidgen over £13, you would be mad not too.

Loved building it and had no major problems. Not the greatest detail and there's a few errors, but I'm no rivet counter - far from it!! In no time at all, I had this........











Apologies, a complete distraction and nothing at all to do with this thread, but I thought I should at least try and justify why the 251/1 is taking so long!!!

Thanks for taking a look!

[Donkeywalloper]

Evening Alex

Sometimes all you need in life is a simple build, and if its cheap to purchase, no sense in smothering it in AfterMarket, and bumping up price per pound .
Nice steady build, from a master Modeller.
DW

[Hawkmoon]

Stug stugs are good in my book and doing good on the other thingy too

[Tomcat64]

Can't have too many StuGs in my book either and that's a cracking result from an old kit too!

Nice progress on the halftrack as well

[alextheblue]

Evening Alex

Sometimes all you need in life is a simple build, and if its cheap to purchase, no sense in smothering it in AfterMarket, and bumping up price per pound .
Nice steady build, from a master Modeller.
DW

Thanks DW! What can I say, a simple build for a simple man!

Stug stugs are good in my book and doing good on the other thingy too

Cheers Hawkmoon. You can never go wrong with a Stug!

Can't have too many StuGs in my book either and that's a cracking result from an old kit too!

Nice progress on the halftrack as well

Cheers Tomcat! I was going for a real Stug of the Dump look!

[alextheblue]

Update Seven

Nearing the end now. Not too much to show as I've been applying some mud and fitting on all the greebles and widgets. It looks a bit odd at the minute as these still have to be weathered. I chose to add these bits after all the bulk of the weathering was finished, as I know what I'm like. I usually end up knocking most of these bits off anyway have to reattach them.













And that's where I'm at. I'm leaving the drive sprockets until the tracks are done, but to be honest, I still haven't tackled these. I'm still debating how best to join them together. Heat or stitch, heat or stitch....... I refuse to go aftermarket as these will end up costing more than the kit!!

Thanks for taking a look!

[Quax]

Looks great and the tonal variance is super The only thing I can suggest regarding the tracks is to consider stapling as I find it's a stronger connection and not too difficult to hide by getting it in the right place.

Paul

[KalebB]

Looking good bud!

Weathering on her so far looks spot on!

And yeah as far as those tracks go I would definitely consider stapling them. I've given up melting them together as it seems to be a good way to just frustrate yourself

[digger303]

Update Seven

And that's where I'm at. I'm leaving the drive sprockets until the tracks are done, but to be honest, I still haven't tackled these. I'm still debating how best to join them together. Heat or stitch, heat or stitch....... I refuse to go aftermarket as these will end up costing more than the kit!!

Thanks for taking a look!

I have this kit on my shelf of doom as I got as far wanting to put the tracks on and found them way too short. I built mine from a older boxing and strongly suspect that over time the tracks have shrunk a bit and were probably a tight fit when they were first manufactured. Something to keep in mind.

[Kevthemodeller]

Looking good

[Tomcat64]

Superb work mate - love the look of this

I keep going back and looking how you've done those benches.

[gaz45]

Great work love the weathering

[alextheblue]

Looks great and the tonal variance is super The only thing I can suggest regarding the tracks is to consider stapling as I find it's a stronger connection and not too difficult to hide by getting it in the right place.

Paul

Thanks Paul and you're right, stitching is probably the best option. I don't think thread will be secure enough once there's a bit of tension on the tracks!

Update Seven
I have this kit on my shelf of doom as I got as far wanting to put the tracks on and found them way too short. I built mine from a older boxing and strongly suspect that over time the tracks have shrunk a bit and were probably a tight fit when they were first manufactured. Something to keep in mind.

Thanks digger, appreciate the heads up! I quickly measured the tracks and I think they're going to be all right length wise. At least that's one good thing about them!!

Looking good bud!

Weathering on her so far looks spot on!

And yeah as far as those tracks go I would definitely consider stapling them. I've given up melting them together as it seems to be a good way to just frustrate yourself

Thanks Kaleb! You're right, I've tried melting these type of tracks in the past and it never ended well!!

Looking good

Cheers Kev!

Superb work mate - love the look of this

I keep going back and looking how you've done those benches.

Cheers Tomcat! For the benches I used LifeColor Acrylics, the wood finish set. They're nice and thin so you can build up the colours and blend them with plain old water. I dry-brush with a fairly stiff brush in the direction of the wood grain and then dry-brush the edges and corners with a light wood colour to give a worn look on the bits of the bench that would get a lot of wear. Trial and error. Sometimes it works - sometimes not!

Great work love the weathering

Thanks Gaz! Got to admit - I don't mind a bit of weathering!

[alextheblue]

Update Eight

Almost finished and the end is in sight. Having said that, this has been an easy build and it hasn't taken too long. Starting a new job has cut into the old bench time, so this was probably a good kit to pick in hindsight.

And on to the tracks!

There were as bad as I was expecting. I tried stitching them with nylon thread, but that was a non-starter. It held the tracks together really nicely, but as soon as you applied any tension, it started to unravel. Tightening the thread just made things worse and one of the tracks split causing me to loose three or four links.

I then moved on to the trusty old stapler, but the one I have is just too big. The staples were too obvious and no matter how I tried to place them, they could be seen.

After sitting staring at FruilModel tracks online for over twenty minutes, my finger hoovering over the "Buy Now" button, I had a sudden epiphany. Fuse wire!! Make my own staples!! It was as fiddly as hell, but armed with my trusty old Tamiya PE benders, I managed to get it done. It still looks like an abomination from hell, but not quite as bad as the staples. Plus, it was better than paying 25 quid for Fruils.

And onto a base. I'm running out of time, so I decided to recycle some bits from a couple of old dios.



And a quick mock up of the base.









Still a few bits to do - tools, MG's, touch-ups and the like. The figures are literally just balanced, but I'm not sure about it - there's something missing.

Anywho, the wife's screaming at me to get into the loft and get the Christmas decorations and my pointing out that this is the 21st century and I thought equality was the order of the day, doesn't seem to have gone down too well!!!

Thanks for taking a look!

[Kevthemodeller]

Oh yes, what a result cracking base the grass is superb

As for the Mrs, I couldn't possibly comment cake and eat it springs to mind I didn't say that

[KalebB]

I figured you'd have issues with those damn spaghetti string tracks

Good job using that wire to fix them up though

I like the look of her on that Dio, it's gonna turn out great I'm sure

[TommyKillander]

Awesome work! (just catched up on this build)

The dio looks really good sofar



Best of luck with the Christmas decorations... Our house have been totally crazy today


Tommy

[Donkeywalloper]

Wow, wow, wow, that grass and shrubbery is just amazing
Great joh.

DW

[alextheblue]

Oh yes, what a result cracking base the grass is superb

As for the Mrs, I couldn't possibly comment cake and eat it springs to mind I didn't say that

No worries Kev - I never heard it!!!

I figured you'd have issues with those damn spaghetti string tracks

Good job using that wire to fix them up though

I like the look of her on that Dio, it's gonna turn out great I'm sure

Excellent description of those tracks Kaleb - spaghetti string tracks!!!

Awesome work! (just catched up on this build)

The dio looks really good sofar



Best of luck with the Christmas decorations... Our house have been totally crazy today


Tommy

Cheers Tommy. Xmas decs up and I only fell off the ladder twice!!

Wow, wow, wow, that grass and shrubbery is just amazing
Great joh.

DW

Cheers DW! Can't take full credit for it. It's a scenic mat with a couple of bits added. Used it to just speed things up as I was running out of time!

[alextheblue]

The End!

Well, I'm calling it done here!



I'll put some more pics up in the reveal section.

Thanks as always for taking a look and an especially huge thanks for all the comments. Always appreciated!

[gaz45]

Looking awesome there mate

[Meliodas2019]

great job Alex looks brilliant and great scene setting, showed you dont need to spend alot to come out with a top model at the end