HobbyBoss's Super Pershing Pilot (Part 4 - Final Reveal)

At long last I have finally completed my Pershing!  As only one of these Super Pershings saw combat at the tail of WWII, my model represents a fictitious version, had the war lasted longer and a few more seen action. The only after-market part is the main gun barrel which I upgraded for a metal version. Overall, an impressive kit which really pushed my skills to the limit, the tracks alone almost driving me to insanity (which may or may not have been my own fault!). What is for certain is, I will buy more HobbyBoss kits!

Contact

HobbyBoss's Super Pershing Pilot (Part 3)

Contact

HobbyBoss's Super Pershing Pilot (Part 2)

So where am I with the build?  I've managed to paint and weather the engine (which won't be seen at all) and seal up the lower hull and deck. 

Photo below is a shot of the engine before she was sealed in. 

Photo above: the exhausts were painted with a Vallejo rust colour and while still damp, I added some pastel dust, a mix of oranges and browns. Once dry I'm able to handle the exhausts without any of the pastel powder coming off, but just to make sure I can add a few drops of airbrush cleaner which makes the pastels set hard.

Photo below: And here she is, partially in primer.  

Photo below: With great difficulty I installed some photo-etch on the rear fenders (small rails to place stowage) but without the luxury of a photo-etch bending tool the job was not to my liking, and any attempts to straighten the flimsy-looking rails once fitted meant they just broke loose and damaged my paintwork......so, they had to go!  I am not modelling the one and only machine that saw action at the end of World War Two, so let's just say mine was the second machine that was not publicized.......... ;)

Click on the photos below to enlarge - I'll let the captions do the talking.

Photo below: because the weapon is such a large part on this particular kit, I ordered myself an aluminum barrel from eBay - it's a beauty! 

Okay, so that's it for now.  At the time of writing, my Super Pershing is waiting for a final coat of primer before I begin working on a new painting method.  

More soon, comrades! 

Contact

A new build for 2015 - Super Pershing Pilot (Part 1)

In early January I was reading through old scale modelling magazines when I came across a feature about a spectacular-looking machine offered by HobbyBoss in 1/35.  

In its normal guise it was a kit that wouldn't have interested me, but with its extra armour welded to both the glasis plate and gun mantlet, the story was different.  A little research told me that indeed, this beast really existed, and did I mention part of her extra mantlet armour was supposedly from a knocked out Panther?  Even more interesting!

In the photo above you can see I have the suspension all set up to depict this tank with a nose-down slant, due to the extra heavy armour.  This wasn't a kit option, so believe me when I say I regretted the decision during the building process. I will see if it was worth it at the end of this build. If you build this kit note that there are no poly caps to hold on the road wheels during test-fits, so I had to use yellow tack which isn't ideal. 

There are ejector pin marks everywhere and in the photo above you can see one I forgot, but luckily went back in to wipe from existence with my trusty sanding sticks. Did I mention this kit includes a full engine option?  Well it does and it's rather nice.

And here she is fitted roughly in place.  There is one part in the instructions that doesn't make sense, and that's the fitting of one belt to a radiator which seemingly floats in mid-air on one end! Sadly, most of my hard work will be hidden, even with the engine access hatches removed. Note to self: fix that wonky rad/cooling fan.

Okay, so that's all I've got for this one right now. A lot of hard work ahead of me but now it's starting to look like something I'm enjoying the build once again.

See part 2 HERE

Contact