Bronco 1/35 Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper (SWS) armoured version halftrack

[Panzerwrecker]

Quick update. Seing as our UK weather is rather warm and pleasant for now...... I figured I could get some rattle can primer on outdoors.

Started with Mr Surfacer Grey before giving my head a wobble and realising a red oxide colour (Tamiya Fine) would be much easier to spray over the grey coloured styrene. :flushed:

[adt70hk]

That's definitely red!

[Guest]

Well, there’s an answer to the question of what to build it as right there: at the factory, before the chap with the spray gun got to do his thing

[Panzerwrecker]

That's definitely red!

Fire support truck???

[Panzerwrecker]

Well, there’s an answer to the question of what to build it as right there: at the factory, before the chap with the spray gun got to do his thing :smiling3:

Just the rubber wheels to paint and I'm done :smiling3:

[Jim R]

Hi Los
Looks as if the primer went on smoothly - grey and red :thumb2:
Jim

[Panzerwrecker]

Hi Los
Looks as if the primer went on smoothly - grey and red :thumb2:
Jim

Cheers Jim

Why I didn't just use the Red Oxide god only knows. Fancy trying to spray a grey coat over grey styrene, What a numpty :rolling: Oddly the Mr Surfacer rattle can grey seemed to spray a lot finer than the Tamiya 'Fine' rattle can primer:thinking: The running gear and lower chassis received a good coat of Red Oxide but as the upper armour already had a grey coat I just fine misted the red oxide over it. The tyres do have grey primer on, it's just I added a little red oxide to the wheels to give the option to chip them using hairspray.

Spraying outside is not ideal and I did have a few pesky midges spoil the party and typical land in prominent places before it completely dried! The good thing about both these rattles can primers is they do dry good and hard after 24hrs, so can be quickly and easily sanded smooth again.

[scottie3158]

Los,
Coming on very nicely.

[Panzerwrecker]

I tried out VMS's paper & shaper for the first time and after moulding the cab canvas on, decided to check out the VMS promo video. To my horror I found out it is advisable to use this BEFORE adding paint:anguished: I was planning on using magic sculp with the aid of talc as it can be moulded over a painted surface but I changed my mind at the last minute! Not so with the VMS shaper liquid. VMS advise using their own paint remover (Clean Slate) to clean up:surprised: Too late for me on the cab canvas. I had to resort to sanding down the few painted areas that got contaminated! After this mistake I used cling film to protect the load bed area if I did need to use it as a template. The paper on the load bed accessories does require a little clean up at its edges where it dried out on the clingfilm.

This is the video I should have watched first :flushed: It shows how you can turn the paper into an almost flexible resin cast should you wish to. https://www.vms-supplies.com/vms-paper-shaper

Progress so far.

[Panzerwrecker]

Well, well, well! so, just a small sixteen month hiatus on this then :flushed:

Taking a break from another project I figured it was time to give the sWS some love and get a base coat down.

I used MRP-216 RAL 7028 variant 2 Ausgabe 1944 over a couple of coats of hairspray. I then added a few chips to the base coat down to primer. I applied very light wear on the cab metalwork, fenders and wheels but went to town on the cargo bed.

Next up is to paint and weather the tracks

[Mini Me]

Glad you are back at it Los...chipping looks great! :thumb2:

[Panzerwrecker]

Cheers Rick

Yep, long overdue :hugging-face:

[Scratchbuilder]

Los, appologies for not dropping in to see your build earlier, but what I have seen up to now - brilliant.
That 'Paper Shaper' is a product I wish was around decades ago, it saves so much mess and trouble.
Looking forward to more of your build.
Mike.

[Panzerwrecker]

It's been a while since the sWS got any quality attention but I have been pottering with it on and off this year. The road wheel tyres were airbrushed with Tamiya Tyre Black and individual accessories painted.



Before the cab assemblies can be fixed together the instrument binnacle, radio and wiring, seats and roof tarp were brush painted with Vallejo acrylics and the instrument decals added. My kit included two sets which was fortunate as decal number one did not represent the large left hand dial in anyway shape or form. Decal number two was used twice to represent the largest dials and some extra placards were also added from my decal spares box.

To seal in the paintwork and prepare for the external decals and all the upcoming weathering stages I turned to my favourite product, VMS satin varnish. This can be airbrushed direct from the bottle with a little thinner giving the model a good wet coat to level. It can be left a couple of hours in-between coats if required.

Exterior decals for this kit include just Wehrmacht number plates which you can add your own individual numbers, a weight stencil, one divisional insignia and a 'Thor' vehicle name seen on one period image. I added just the weight and number plates. These were sealed with another coat of VMS satin varnish.

This is the only internal reference pic I have. The instrument binnacle appears to sit a little higher than it does in the open top cargo variant. I'm not convinced a radio was fitted to these cargo vehicles. As I added the one provided in the kit I will now have to find a suitable spot on the exterior to add the aerial mount.






Before the cab received its final weathering and tones down all those severe chipped effects, a light coat of sand coloured lifecolor acrylics was airbrushed over a coat of hairspray over all the sub assemblies and scrubbed back, leaving remnants of the sand colour to simulate the first layers of dust and light dirt build up. A further coat of VMS satin varnish sealed all the work in preparation for the upcoming pin washes.


As I would like to represent this vehicle in a late 1944 ETO setting the wet and damp conditions will require a darker coloured pin wash to add to the muddy running gear and lift the contrast to the monochrome base coat. More vibrant colours will be added by way of the accessories in the load area.




Next up is to complete the cab interior, close it up and get some muddy wet weathering effects on the lower chassis.

[Panzerwrecker]

The cab has been closed up. There are only four tiny locating holes to connect top and bottom cab assemblies and with the lower half having a slight downward bow a few clamps were required to hold it while the glue cured. There is a little clean up required but TBH it could just as well be hidden with dust and debris.

I have taken a few pics looking inside and while these images are always tricky to shoot with so little light available, I think there is just enough to see. While the two halves were separate I used a MIG neutral wash to highlight raised detail with a drop of MIG Dark wash added to darken corners and use to lightly speckly the floor and sidewalls. I still need to use a pencil to add a burnished sheen to a few places






Next up is to get the muddy running gear ref pics out and weather up the chassis and wheels.