Das Werk: 3cm Flakvierling 103/38

[prichrd1]

Steve,
Thanks, weathering is not one of my strong points!! :flushed: but will probably give it a darker "sandy" wash once assembled. The level of detail, and the parts fit is excellent.

Had a look round the net yesterday at reviews for other DW kits, and, their all really positive.
There are two excellent build reviews, one for the 35th scale Faun L900 & SdANH 115 here :- Faun
and the 32nd scale JU EF-126 / EF-127 here :- JU E-126

And what makes it worse - John @ SMS has them in stock!!!! :cold-sweat:

Jack - I think that I'll start with the customary Dunkelgelb and take it from there.
The Ardennes pattern is probably the easiest of the camouflage effects and there is none on
the base !!!!:thumb2: :smiling2: (So it also ticks a box for me!! :smiling5::flushed::smiling2.

Paul.
:smiling2:

[prichrd1]

Have now given the base and pedestal the first brush coat of Lifecolor dunkelgelb, seems to have covered the primer fairly well. I will give it a second coat later today let it dry overnight.

Also done some work on the magazine cases and I mentioned in an earlier post that there are 10 shell magazines - well after accusing the hoover and carpet monsters of theft :angry: - realized that there are only 9 on the sprue's - :flushed: :flushed: but in my defense there are 10 carrying handles supplied!!!! :smiling2:



Plucked up the courage, closed my eyes and drilled and cleaned up the flash guards.
8 Holes @ 1 mm diameter drill :cold-sweat::cold-sweat:.


Drilled from 1 side - 20 turns then from the other side 20 ish turns. Drilled down through 4 holes then cleaned the rubbish off.


Paul.
:smiling2:

[prichrd1]

Yesterday, Tuesday, managed a second coat of color on the base and pedestal :-


Also gave the magazine drums a bit of variety, top to bottom:-
Humbrol 111 - Field Grey, Lifecolor DGelb & Lifecolor Slate Grey.


Flashy things at the end of the pop guns, MrMetal Stainless, high lighted with
MrMetal Chrome - holes Tamiya Flat Black.


Dry fit of the gun/magazine assembly an added a couple of highlights.

Steve - those "lovely" magazine belts are in there, if you look closely you can see at
least one shell :disappointed2:, but at least I know there there!!!! :smiling2:

Also did a little work on the gun sights, you can also pick out the holes drilled into the seat base!!


Drilled & painted -


Next job - a little weathering.
Any advice welcome.
I was going to weather the base and pedestal before attaching the guns.
Or would it be better to assemble the whole lot - then weather it??
:anguished::anguished:

Paul.
:smiling2:

[prichrd1]

Marked out approximate lines for splinter camouflage in pencil,


Then painted, Lifecolor RAL8017 Schokoladenbraun!
between the lines :smiling5: :thumb2:


Next is the final assembly.


Step 4.1 looks like you have to insert part A30 into the pedestal & then glue on the
two gun "sides". Take it from me - it fits - no need to dry fit test run!!
The best method is to glue it first to one of the gun "sides" and then fit it !!

(Ever tried playing "track maze game" blindfolded - with a scalpel, cotton bud and tweezers???)
:flushed::cold-sweat::flushed:


4.3 Is the assembly of the sights and lever mechanism, this is identical to the Tamiya method !
On my part #A25 - there was no pin to "melt", so out comes the surgery kit!! :sick:

0.9 mm Drill bit - drilled then super glued a piece of 0.7 mm wire into the hole.

Finally arrived at this point:-

All the bits ready to fasten together!! :smiling2:

Paul.
:smiling2:

[prichrd1]

Last night I applied some Tamiya clear gloss to the two gun panels and the front of the pedestal.
So, today is sticker book day!!!!

From what I can gather the decals supplied are for fictitious "units".
Very clearly printed on the carrier.
You get a selection of black or white "kill" marks, unit markings and what look like insignia badges.

Already cut out the four that I like, a white "bat" style, red "insignia" mark and two white
"kill" markings - one for aircraft the other for tanks.

These do not take long once immersed in water - in fact it's seconds!
Once applied they adhere straight away !! Not much room for error!! :flushed:


I will let these dry and then finish off assembly, before giving it a matt coat to seal it :thumb2:

Paul.
:smiling2:

[Allen Dewire]

Wow Paul,

You are really going to town on this puppy and doing a wonderful job to boot. If fact, you're almost done with it. Was drilling out the flash suppressor holes really a tough one or did you just get into a rhythm and did them??? Looking good Sir!!!...

Prost
Allen

[prichrd1]

Allen

Thanks for the kind words, I took my time drilling the "flash" holes and yes once I had completed one the others just seemed easier. Its also a testament to the kit as well. The quality of the plastic is a lot better than most. I've tried micro surgery on other kits in the past and ended up really ruining them. :flushed: :flushed:

Paul.
:smiling2:

[Jim R]

Hi Paul
Well that looks like great progress to me. Really nice paint job and as Steve said earlier a bit of weathering will alter the colours slightly and tone things down.
Jim

[prichrd1]

Jim,
Thanks, glad you like it so far, finished giving it a matt coat this evening.
Will try and give it a "dusting" over the weekend. :smiling2:

Paul.
:smiling2:

[JR]

Hi Paul, just had a read through, looking good. Nice detailing going on .

[prichrd1]

Nice detailing going on

Thanks John,
And yes fire is involved in the assembly of this little beastie!!
You have to heat up a flat blade for a "hot" weld on the sighting arm!!!!
Put me asbestos gloves on just to be safe, don't tell matron!! :worried:

Paul.
:smiling2:

[prichrd1]

Little bit more done yesterday,
Das Werk supply a little "wooden" ammunition box - with lid - obviously for anyone who wants to
incorporate this gun into a diorama!


The lid has a nice wood grain molded onto it, as does the inside base of the box. But sadly there are four pin parks on the inside !! :disappointed2:

Rather than fill the holes & re-scribe the wood grain, I assembled the box with the lid on, and painted!
(Anything for an easy life!!!!:thumb2



The magazine drums on the actual gun only contain a strip of 3 shells each - 'cos you can't see them on the assembled gun!!:disappointed2:. So this left me with 4 spare magazine belts, I cut these and fed them into three of the "spare" magazine drums



Started some weathering to the gun - will leave it overnight (Friday) to dry & see what it looks like.
:anguished:

Paul.
:smiling2:

[JR]

Nice additions Paul, when's the " fire " I'm getting quite excited.:smiling3:

[prichrd1]

I'm getting quite excited

Calm down, Calm down!! Doesn't do you're blood pressure any good!! :flushed: :smiling2::smiling5:
Matron will be around shortly with you're pills & injection!! :sick:
Already done the fire eating trick!! :smiling2: I should have video'd it for you 453 !:smiling5:

Paul.
:smiling2:

[JR]

Calm down, Calm down!! Doesn't do you're blood pressure any good!! :flushed: :smiling2::smiling5:
Matron will be around shortly with you're pills & injection!! :sick:
Already done the fire eating trick!! :smiling2: I should have video'd it for you 453 !:smiling5:

Paul.
:smiling2:

As Basil Fawlty would say "another avenue of pleasure closed " :smiling3::cold-sweat: