Feeling Löwe (Panzerkampfwagen VII)

Gondor · April 19, 2016, 03:52:46 PM

Since I had a bit of a mad rush to finish a few kits inside the finish time for the Cold War Group Build I have felt at a bit of a loose end with no drive to do any serious work on the multitude of kits I have available to me.
So after thinking about this for a bit I decided to build something a little different from my normal builds on here. So out with my armour modelling hat for a change but what to model?
A mental sift through available kits in my stash of models that would be easy to build, fictional and somewhat out of the ordinary. So that ruled out doing any conversion work (not quick or easy), German late WWII paper or development tanks fit the criteria but everyone builds the E series so having the Amusing Hobby Löwe Panzerkampfwagen VII in the stash the decision was taken to build this kit.

Being armour and one of the more advanced German designs the actual build is quite simple and straight forward although the instructions could well be up for being some of the worst.

Out of the 14 build steps, not one mentions adding the engine deck to the rear of the hull

and the difficulty I am having in putting the upper hull together makes me wish that I had added the engine deck prior to cementing the rest of the upper hull to the lower hull

Saying that, so far so good as the parts fit reasonably well.

I am thinking that I should change the opening for the hull machine gun from the letter box type to the ball type which I think would have happened if the tank not been dropped in favour of the Maus in 1942. It would not be much of a conversion to do, simply enlarge the hole for a replacement part to fit, if I find that I have one to fit of course, its been a while since I looked at my WWII spares box so I may or may not have the parts required.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer_VII_L%C3%B6we

Gondor

kerick · April 19, 2016, 06:54:16 PM

Look up Australian Sentinel tank.

Gondor · April 20, 2016, 01:58:02 AM

Quote from: kerick on April 19, 2016, 06:54:16 PM
Look up Australian Sentinel tank.

For what purpose?

Gondor

Gondor · April 20, 2016, 06:41:35 AM

Found a ball mounting for the hull machine gun among my Tamiya Panther G kits and bits so that's what will go onto the forward glacis, starting to think that closing up the drivers vision block might be a good idea as well, cutting a notch at the top of the glacis plate for an extra vision block. Of course I could decide to do away with both the drivers and hull machine gun completely as their openings would have weakened the total strength of the glacis plate.

Gondor

Captain Canada · May 22, 2016, 06:37:43 AM

Those instructions are rather scant ! The changes you're making sound good. I love watching armour builds

Old Wombat · May 22, 2016, 07:52:50 AM

Sorry, just noticed this build. So far, so good!

Quote from: Gondor on April 20, 2016, 01:58:02 AM
Quote from: kerick on April 19, 2016, 06:54:16 PM
Look up Australian Sentinel tank.

For what purpose?

Gondor

I think kerick was referring to the rather distinctive hull mounting for the water-cooled Vickers machinegun as fitted to the AC1 to Sentinel tank.

Silly, silly boy!

DogfighterZen · May 22, 2016, 08:04:19 AM

Looks like a beast in the making!

Quote from: Old Wombat on May 22, 2016, 07:52:50 AM

Now, sorry but i have to say this, that really doesn't look like a machine gun... looks more like my weiner when the ocean's water is too cold...

Old Wombat · May 22, 2016, 08:09:56 AM

My personal theory as to why it never made it into major production had nothing to do with the increasing availability of American tanks, it was because the Australian Armoured Corps blokes were too embarrassed to be seen with it in public.

rickshaw · May 23, 2016, 07:49:47 PM

Quote from: Old Wombat on May 22, 2016, 08:09:56 AM
My personal theory as to why it never made it into major production had nothing to do with the increasing availability of American tanks, it was because the Australian Armoured Corps blokes were too embarrassed to be seen with it in public.

There may be some truth to that theory, Guy. I'd be worried about the clouds of steam which would have issued from around the mounting once they started firing from it. Talk about a vision from hell!

DogfighterZen · May 24, 2016, 12:38:04 AM

Quote from: rickshaw on May 23, 2016, 07:49:47 PM
Quote from: Old Wombat on May 22, 2016, 08:09:56 AM
My personal theory as to why it never made it into major production had nothing to do with the increasing availability of American tanks, it was because the Australian Armoured Corps blokes were too embarrassed to be seen with it in public.

There may be some truth to that theory, Guy. I'd be worried about the clouds of steam which would have issued from around the mounting once they started firing from it. Talk about a vision from hell!

The killer wiener from hell!!