German Pontoon Bridge in 1:35 (Scratchbuild)

Started by Michel Verschuere · 60 · 1 week ago · 1/35, Bridge, Pontoon, Wehrmacht, WWII
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    Michel Verschuere said 3 weeks, 3 days ago:

    Hi all, been a while since my last post. Reason is twofold:

    1. This year little bench time for me, too much going on in scale 1-1 and younno, kids asking for attention
    2. I had this bottleneck on my bench, in that I started the pontoon project very ambitiously, moved forward on the bridge and pontoon itself but the real challenge was Bronco's #CB35182 radio car...

    The model is just 12 cm in length but counts almost 800 pieces, including PE parts you can hardly see with the naked eye...


    It is not my first Bronco model and - if given the love it deserves - it will build into a great model. But you better know what you are doing with this guy...

    In fact, over 2024 I only had the T-64 with mine roller advancing as well as the Kfz. 15 radio cat (the Bronco kit). There have been better years for my modeling projects, 2024 was the one with the lowest output in about 9 years...

    I maintain the principle of NOT keeping a shelf-of-doom. That is: I debate strongly what kit or project to start and then stick with it until it is finished. With difficult models like this, combined with little bench time, you can easily add a year of not much progress... Anyhow, the good news is I am building and still enjoying it!


    I hope you are all going to have a fabulous 2025. Will try and post soon about progress.

    Here is some progress, I am slowly converging to the paint stage, I think I am just 5 hours away from primer coating...

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 3 weeks, 3 days ago:

    Excellent progress on the radio car, my friend @michel-verschuere!
    Wishing you a happy, prosperous 2025!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 3 weeks, 3 days ago:

    Progessing very nicely, Michel @michel-verschuere
    Happy New Year

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    Michel Verschuere said 3 weeks, 2 days ago:

    Update today, finalized most sub assemblies. Because of the diversity of materials in the kit (plastic, PE, wire, etc.) I am applying a primer first. The first layer of primer is now setting...


    This kit just has soo much detail... Best 1/35 model of the Kfz.15. DYN this type was also Rommels' staff car, without the radio set?

    Happy modeling!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 3 weeks, 2 days ago:

    Lots of details indeed, Michel @michel-verschuere
    Looks really nice.

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    George R Blair Jr said 3 weeks, 2 days ago:

    I am just catching up on this great scratchbuild project, Michel @michel-verschuere. This is a perfect example that shows how very complex and detailed models start with just basic shapes glued together. Well done.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 3 weeks, 2 days ago:

    Looks excellent, my friend @michel-verschuere!

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    Michel Verschuere said 3 weeks, 1 day ago:

    @gblair @fiveten @johnb thanks for your support.

    @gblair yes, you can do a lot in scratch but the first step is always a dimensional plan and there, sometimes the project meets its first hurdle. In this case, I had rough dimensions of the Brückengerät B and inferred the rest from pictures. I also could get my hands on a "Waffen Arsenal" issue especially dealing with this pontoon bridge system, which helped. However, I am not done with the pontoons from a technical perspective: I built most from 0.5mm polysterene sheet but this is rather thin and hence the end result warps. I plan to strengthen things with the wooden top covers but it will take much extra time to do that. Right now I focus on the Kfz. 15.

    When that is done, I still need to think of a way to model water, will likely be the first time I will use 2-component resin for that, wish me luck!

    BTW I asked the German model kit maker "Das Werk" and they confirm that an injection molded Brückengerät B set is in their planning, without disclosing the timing on it. I assume it can still take a while so will finish this one first.

    Happy modeling!

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    Carl Smoot said 3 weeks, 1 day ago:

    Depending upon your water needs Michel (@michel-verschuere), I had good luck with the toilet paper and PVA glue approach to making water a few years ago. I cannot remember the YouTube channel, but the fellow was Swedish or Norwegian if I recall. A quick search on YouTube should bring it up.

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    Michel Verschuere said 3 weeks ago:

    Thanks @clipper, will check it out!

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    Michel Verschuere said 2 weeks, 2 days ago:

    Here is the current status, after applying black primer from the rattle-can, I pre- shadowed white with my airbrush. Then applied Revell (enamel) MATT 57, which is about the accurate color for this early-WWII soft skin vehicle.




    This must really be the most fiddly kit I ever built... It is a true test for every armor/vehicle lover. I have not yet found a built version on the web. The kit is hard to get by now. Seems to me like many modellers bought it but few built it. The Kfz. 15 also exist in Italeri and Tamiya but these are simplified somewhat.

    Happy New Year, my modeling friends!
    Michel.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 2 weeks, 2 days ago:

    Beautiful paintwork, Michel @michel-verschuere
    Would be great to see your fantastic build being the first one displayed on the web.

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    Michel Verschuere said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    Finishing paintwork, soon this guy will get into the final assembly stage!




    Most paint is Revell enamel right now and with the brush! Getting there, Happy modeling, Michel.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    Looks fantastic, my friend @michel-verschuere! Amazing hand painting skills!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    Paint work is very nice, Michel @michel-verschuere