Panzer 38(t) Ausf.E/F Kaputt

[Derek Baker]

Hi Dario

You did an excellent job with the interior. The rusted pipe almost fooled me into thinking it was another photo of the tank being restored!!

Also, I really like your idea for the diorama because it is possible to tell a story with your plan!

I wonder if you will need to add some figures to make the story more obvious. Perhaps you could have a few soldiers looking at the tank from the road, or firing in the directio the antitank shell came from?

Perhaps you could make the scene look like it just happened. Two members of the crew could be climbing out of the tank with some cuts and bruises, and since the commander and gunner were in the turret, they could have already gotten out of the tank. Perhaps the commander could be inspecting the damaged drive sprocket and the other crew member could be trying to lift the track that is still on the road?

Or, if you didn't want to do figures, then perhaps you could include a recovery vehicle or an ambulance on the road ready to help.

Of course, these are only suggestions that I could think of now. It is your diorama and you already have a great idea, and you are already much more creative than I will ever be!

Cheers,

Derek

[Juan Lázaro]

Greetings Dario. For visual aesthetics or logic I would not put the broken chain at that position. I do not know if it would remain so rigid.
The appearance of the engine is very believable. Good job there.

[Dario Risso]

Thanks for your opinions, guys.
Derek, I still have not idea about the figures: perhaps a crew smoking, waiting for the berge or mechanics; or maybe a pair of mechanics...or a pair of russian looking inside the tank...Just don't know yet.
Juan, the broken track will run to the back of the tank; I use the old Italeri kits just for the pic; the Dragon one has Magic Tracks.

I change my mind about the ditch...the ditch is gone
This is the new layout:







The tree needs more leaves; I will work on that this weekend.

Cheers
Darío

[Roy Schlicht]

An abandoned tank with some Red Army soldiers looking it over is pretty cool. That would help explain the open engine compartment and such. I would think that the MG would be pulled out though. When a crew abandoned a tank they usually took the MGs with them unless it was done in a hurry. I also don't know how easy it was to pull out the MG in a 38(t).

Roy

[Dario Risso]

Thanks Roy for the suggestions.
I made little advances:
Details added to the clutch/brakes system



Interior parts ready for painting


Some color added


I made a little parenthesis in the building to share some details of this vehicle

1) You can see Herr Otto Carius Panzer 38(t) in the Photos section of the book Panzers in the Mud


2) 4 little videos of Kubinka's restored Panzer 38 (t)
http://www.kubinka.ru/newindex.php?id=149&lang=2

3) I note in some pics the crew hang helmets and canteens from the turret, but I'm not sure where this elements was hanging on


Looking carefully the pics, I found the turret has small ring welded to the roof; perhaps the crew use some wire or thread to tie the helmets



4) I note the presence of a sort of handle for engine cover



5) And I note too the engine covers could be set in open position by the use of this pins



6) A rare secuence of pics: in the first one you can see tank 211 parked in front of a bookstore



And in the next picture, in the same place, the LHS drive wheel...is gone (and the track, obviusly is loose)
Perhaps the crew took the drive wheel to repair another vehicle?



Darío

[Tim Coulson]

Looking good Darío. Nice work on the interior.

Tim

[Dario Risso]

Thanks Tim!
I've almost finished the interior; it needs justs details like a headset and a magazine or newspaper or perhaps some 37 mm shells on the floor.







As you can see, I choose to paint the fire extinguisher red (maybe it was green?) and the cushions in light brown, not the usual black or dark brown









Comments are wellcomed
Darío

[Jamie Tainton]

You improve with each model, well done!

[Roy Schlicht]

Good job, I'm kind of curious about the ammo feed for the Hull MG. Looks odd coming in from the right side with just a loose hanging belt.

Roy

[Dario Risso]

Thanks guys!
Roy, yup, is strange the ammo feeding, perhaps I shoul add an ammo box on the floor?

Anyway, it seems the MG can fire with the ammo belt and the help of an assistent:


http://forum.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/t/17115

Darío