20mm Flakvierling Sd.Kfz7/1 German 8 ton Half-Track Tamiya 1/35

The half-track in the middle of the assembly. Many figures are attached, and I think it is a realistic model.

I have built this type of flak many times. Differentiated parts depend on the manufacturer; it’s interesting.

It was fully assembled easier than Dragon Models. Both sides of the sheet are not yet being adhered to in preparation for the case to match the figure.

Like the 88mm anti-aircraft gun, this kit was one of the full-volume kits. I was able to buy it for 1,500 yen (USD15.00 at the current FX rate) by this volume at a particular time. It was a popular kit among children.

Metal shafts are used.

Because a parting line was in the center of the rubber tire, I sharpened it neatly.

I assembled these wheels without any question at that time.

Driver’s seat assembly is completed.

I have finished making all chassis.

It temporarily assembled a couple of modules.
(17-October-2016)

The front side of the belt caterpillar is pretty good.

It’s an old kit of the 50th item of the Tamiya military miniature series, the backside of the caterpillar is flat and unsatisfactory.

The photograph which I wound the caterpillar. It may look good that put a notch between the track outside of the belt by a cutter.

A caterpillar of Modelkasten or Friulmodel is the best, but it is in short supply, and the price is a little high.

After all, I bought this Modelkasten caterpillar. Hahahaha, Ummm… higher price than the kit. Anyway, it’s a great detail.

Oh no! I have already assembled the wheels. I noticed the Modelkasten kit includes the original wheels, which perfectly fit into the tracks. It’s not fit to Tamiya’s parts. It’s very regrettable; I’ll use the belt caterpillar.

The width does not match, too. By the way, this belt is very strong. I pulled it steadily to increase some length but returned to the original length.

The bonnet, front grille, front seat, and side panels were bonded—quite tricky.

It’s an old kit, so there is a lot of work in deleting parting lines. The fitting of parts is a little bad, but we manage it.

I fixed the panel on the dashboard.
(18-October-2016)

Even if it’s a belt caterpillar, if it adhered to the key points, it came out slack with a sense of weight.

Rare white color figure parts.

I think this face is detailed enough…

I changed it for resin heads. I had to be careful not to be hurt because I used my power with a chisel and cutter in various parts.

I used a high-performance primer for the belt caterpillar, which was challenging to paint. It is SOMAY-Q MICCHAKURON which I used several times in the past.
(19-October-2016)

The base color is German gray.

I glue chairs and buttocks together and adjust them later.

There are magazine cases, canvas, and rifles.

Combination with the anti-aircraft gun. It is quite a good sense of reality.

White was painted with the figures, but you don’t know which place was painted, right?

The rough painting was completed.

I thought to get it wet with water after painting water-based white because the white has low concealment power, and stack coating increased. Then paint film is thicker and does not permeate to the hair spray. It does not peel off easily. Some areas of hair spray air blast might be insufficient.

I cut the masking for the front window to leave a marking on the wiper.
(21-October-2016)

Tamiya 8t half-track was completed. Not only the transport type but various types of half-tracks were also made.

This vehicle is loaded with four coaxial machine-gun and with a dreadful anti-aircraft ability. There was a similar vehicle in the US, and it was called a “meat chopper.” I had that vehicle Smart Kit before but threw it out on the way. I want to make it sometime.

For the caterpillar, I felt that the quality was inferior compared to the fine detail of the Bronco and the Dragon Models.

So I prepared a Modelkasten caterpillar; after all, it did not work. I had already assembled the original parts of the road wheels and had not recovered.

The folding seat on the carrier was folded.

I wonder how much weathering and trial and error on the loading platform floor. In some areas of anti-slip molds, the white coating was peeled off a little.

With the balance of the wiper’s mud, I wonder if I should have done more weathering to the underbody.

If I could the belt caterpillar make slacking, the appearance would improve.

I think the sense of unity with five figures is splendid.

The white winter camouflage is often painted in an emergency at the front; it’s said they could often tear off easily. The German gray base color would be seen at many points in the early spring.

It is very kind of five figures to be attached. In this case, the best match is the winter camouflage.

I focused one by one on this photo. I changed all the faces to resin heads.

I was looking through the sight seriously to focus on targets.

They are rifles, barrel cases, and magazine cases. There are many accessories.

The overall length is about 20cm, which is quite large. A significant volume is good-looking when all carriers are in an open state and five figures are placed. The Modelkasten caterpillar is in the middle of assembling, and I would like to use it for other 8t half-track kits someday.
(22-October-2016)