I will try to make this AFV Club Sturmtiger this time.
In this area, I can build them without a manual.
You can adjust the slackness of the caterpillar by moving the spring loaded inside the mechanism. Because it is considerably tensioned and there is the worry of strength, it is better to remove the spring and bond it after winding the caterpillar. It seems to be difficult to fix if the inside is damaged later. I do not need a spring.
As the suspension is movable, it seems to fit well, even on uneven ground with a diorama.
I used this connected movable caterpillar. The package seems to be an initial type track. I also have an earlier type at hand for Tamiya’s Tiger I. I used a Tiger I track of the latter type.
(05-November-2018)
Everything was separated from the runner from the beginning. It’s nice!
I like this slack track. It is better to express this quickly if it is an articulated caterpillar. The movable track quickly becomes like this.
The movable mechanism of this kit is challenging to build the caterpillar. I fixed all the tracks with pouring adhesive. The Sturmtiger height may be a bit low.
Various molded parts colors.
Because the color of the Tamiya epoxy putty used for Zimmerit coating is different, it is more colorful, not flashy, though.
(07-November-2018)
I spread epoxy putty flat and Zimmerit coating. In the past, we also added petroleum to prevent putty on the blade. I used grease for a bicycle; it was helpful for a smooth coating. But it will be full of oil, so I’ll have to wash it carefully before painting.
It is an exciting shape cannon.
As is expected, AFV Club’s a good idea. Because nothing is detailed in the cannon, there is rifling in the photo-etched sheet, and it is designed to roll it to a cylindrical shape and stick it to the inner diameter. Because it is a metal sheet, it isn’t easy to roll and tightly stick. I heated the metal sheet with a gas range and annealed it before rolling it. Even if I fail and there is a gap, it will be all right because I will paint with the inside diameter black later.
A small crane is attached. The detail is good with photo-etched parts and nylon rope.
Tamiya’s kit is sold separately for such parts, sometimes sold out. When it is sold out, there are times of an overcharging price is. I am very thankful that the mesh engine cover is in this kit.
It was unusual for me to use clamps with Aber parts sold separately. It is a vehicle with less OVM and good accents of detail up points.
I removed the front fender and some side fenders. I dared to emphasize the caterpillar carefully.
Because I used grease during the Zimmerit coating, I washed off the oil with a strong detergent.
I also painted the whole surface in black for the time being.
It is tri-color camouflage of dark yellow, red-brown, and dark green. The German camouflage pattern in the latter part of World War II slightly raised the occupancy ratio of the other two colors, considering the declining ratio of dark yellow.
(09-November-2018)
Sturmtiger has been completed. It is equipped with a 38cm gun and is a rocket-propelled cannon. AFV with a distinctive design, someday I wanted to finish.
To build Sturmtiger, they had to remodel the Tiger I heavy tank, and it seems that General Heinz Wilhelm Guderian did not have an agreement to consume valuable Tiger tanks. So it was only 18 tanks to have been produced after all. It depends on the situation, but the 18 Tiger tanks are more valuable.
The initial type Tiger I tanks were remodeled. This work continued until December 1944.
Although Sturmtiger initially decided to develop it in early 1943 as a weapon for destroying the fortress in the first place, used in a real battle was in the summer of 1944 in Warsaw. I think the attack weapons were not very useful at this retreat time. It would be more appreciated if there were even one anti-tank weapon.
The painting was the 1001 Panzersturm Company in 1945 on the Western Front. I think that it is probably near Bonn. There is no decal in this kit. I attached the national parks and personal preference.
It won’t be very comforting if the armor penetrates and explodes. The weight of the ammunition of this rocket cannon was 345 kg, and it was carried to the tank by a simple crane. Fourteen rockets were able to be stocked.
The pistol port was a part reproduced the inside. I did additional work of hanging this from the inside with an excellent chain.
I think a tank with such characteristics is one of the attractions of German tanks that such tanks can be made as a kit. Because it was released in Tamiya in the old days, it’s a familiar AFV in the eyes of whom were former boys. This time it happened to be made with the kit of AFV Club. It was fun to make, including painting and Zimmerit Coating work.
(10-November-2018)
