Finally finished Model #3. Actually, it's been started, stopped, re-started and finished for some time in a way but it was never going to be fully finished unless it was covered in foliage and pretending to be a bush in order to escape Allied 'Jabos'.
So what is it? The Sd.Kfz 7/1 was a a specialist anti-aircraft variant of the Wehrmacht's highly successful 8 ton Sd.Kfz. 7 prime mover. Fitted with either the quadruple 2cm Flak 38 mounting or a single 3.7cm Flak 36, 442 examples were adapted in this way, making it a significant sub-variant of the original vehicle.
The kit itself is from Revell. I've done mine up in the colours of the Sd. Kfz. 7/1 of Flak-Regiment 79 (motorisiert), 1 Flak-Brigade, Normandy, 1944 plus added some foliage as camouflage as per the photos I've seen on the internet below.
Paints and techniques used
- The model was primed using Vallejo Surface Primer in black (70.602).
- Paint wise, I used the Dunkelgelb aus '44 DG I and Resedagrun from AK Interactive's 1945 German Late War Colours (AK 554) set without any modification.
- Filter wise, I got a bit scared of the The Filter variety as it seemed messy and made up my own acrylic version. Not sure it made a lot of difference and I'm probably cool with The Filter stuff now having completed Model #2.
- Vallejo Satin Varnish (70.522) was used to seal the model ready for weathering although I did have some issues with bits melting off and having to be re-glued so not sure how well that worked or how well I painted on the varnish.
Weathering techniques used.
- MIG Productions Dark Wash was used for the washes. The excess was cleaned away with white spirits. That's what caused bits to follow up. It's a bit 'hot'. Have order the AK version plus AK turpentine to see if that causes less issues in future.
- I painted on chips using using 71.042 Camouflage Black Brown frpm Vallejo's Rust & Chipping Effects set. This was followed up by AK Rust Streaks around the bolts again and the chips plus a little streaking. Somewhere I screwed up on something and I do notice some weird yellow orange effect on the front of the armoured cabin. Mmmmm.
- I used graphite pencil along the edges of the panels for more definition as well creating more scratches. Also on the raised parts of the tracks.
- The whole model was thinly coated (from a distance) with AK Interactive's Dust Effects (AK015) with some heavy coating around the tracks and front wheels. I liked the overall effect. It toned down the colours and made the green stripes look less garish.
- The foliage was based on Heki #1672 foliage. Looks great. And covers up some of my mistakes. Ha ha ha. it could probably do with some more foliage based on some pictures I have seen but I decided not to overdo it.
Here's the kit
Here's the source photos I used to inspire my foliage fetish
Here are some photos taken on the iPhone.
Overall, I am pretty happy with how it's turned out - especially as I don't have one of these in my collection of WW2 German AFVs. I think it's a pretty spectacular looking model with the foliage. Obviously, there's some bits wrong that could do with some improvement but that's another model.
