Becker's Specials - Build Complete-ish

Finally, after lots of failed attempts I've managed to get my scratch-built S307(f) finished and ready for painting together with the other vehicles intended for 21st Panzer in the Too Fat Lardies 'Kampfgruppe von Luck' campaign.

The reference in the title to them being not quite complete, is because the Pak40 on the S307 and the machine gun mounts on the P107 carriers are not yet attached to make the painting easier - see below.

The P107s are straight Early War Miniatures (EWM) 'kits' (resin body and white metal axle/wheels and tracks/running gear).  Once painted I will glue the driver and commander in the front seats and attach the machinegun mounting.  The 'passengers' have been attached to plasticard false floors so they can be removed as required.  Unlike the Sdkfz 135/1 SPG crew these are not just superglued on, but have holes drilled up into their legs and plastic rod inserted.  This rod is then passed through holes in the plasticard floor and rivetted with a hot blade.

The Sdkfz 135/1 gun crew are now more secure on their false floor with empty shell cases glued around their feet - see below. 

This vehicle is also a straight EWM build with a separate metal gun and recoil spade at the rear.  The only extras were a gun-rest, fashioned from a piece of scrap plastic from my bits box, and some steel wires as latches holding the spade in the raised position (not shown).

The Pak40 S307(f) now only requires the gun mounting to be attached, it's just resting in place in the photos below.

I'm pleased with the build, the gun mounting should be a bit lower, as should the top of the bonnet, but holding it up against a 1/76 scale drawing it's close enough.

I was rather pleased with some of the detailing like the engine hatches and tools all fabricated out plastic bits and pieces (the close-up below shows just how messy I am when using glue).

Other details (see below) include the shot rack below the gun breech, made from plastic rod (ends rivetted with a hot blade to create the cartridge rims[1]) and plasticard.  Also, in the photo below can be seen the magnets for holding the crew in place, and the rack of jerrycans on the back.

The jerrycans were 3D prints I bought especially off eBay from Diesel Dog Models as my bits box turned out to only have Allied jerrycans.  Nice prints as can be seen below, albeit I've spilt quite a bit of glue on them.

Next comes the painting, although I suspect a few more flaws might show up once I get the first coat on.

Notes:

[1.]  There should be 8 rounds in the rack, but seven was all I could fit in ...   :o(