RIGHT NOW...

...I'm trying to build the A7V variant "Hedi", which was no Battle Tank proper, but a vehicle built just after the war, using old chassis, equipped only with MG:s, and used for what is now called "Urban Pacification". (See this article.) As a base for the conversion, I am using the MGM A7V resin kit, quite frankly not a very good one, but quite OK in outline. Beside that: as it is not a top notch kit, I've had no qualms about cutting it to pieces. The conversion has just started, and with this hatchet job, using a Dremel mini-drill. The following alterations has to be done:

• 1. Most of the old surface detail has to be sanded off, including the top grilles, exhaust pipes, front gun mounting and side doors.
• 2. The tracks can be used as is.
• 3. The old square drivers/commanders cupola has to be replaced with a small superstructure with two small domes.
• 4. New engine grilles has to be added to the top, back and front.
• 5. Four small MG turrets added to the four corners. This is the trickiest bit, as they were a bit complex in structure, but still I don't think it's too difficult. As in all conversion work, patience is the most important thing.
• 6. New doors and viewing ports added to the sides.
• 7. Getting rid of the extra exit hatchets on the lower bow and stern plates. They seem to be missing on all the photos I've seen, which is logical really, as the "Hedi" had four exit doors - two extra on each side.
• 8. The colour scheme could be tricky, but shouldn't be to difficult. The tricky bit is that in the earliest photos of "Hedi" she seems to be painted in a darker colour - notice the small photo above, where the white lettering stands out very starkly. This could make you guess that she was painted in a dark colour also used by the German Army at this time, like Dark Green. This could also be a trick played upon us by the film, light etc. The photo also appears to be retouched. Any way: later photos of "Heidi", clearly shows that she was - at least then - painted in the standard Feldgrau.
  
  Well, here below you see my "Hedi" underway. The hatchet ... oops, sorry... Dremel job quite obvious due to the patching of putty. (By the way: I use mainly Tamiya Putty, which I think is best.)
  
  

  

  
  
  And here is the bext stage underway. The MG turrets are slowly taking shape.
  
  

  

  
  
  Here the MG turrets are more or less completed, the chassis awaits the track assembly. (I will use the track from the Milicast kit, insteda the original MGM track, which is pretty bad, really: you can see for yourselves.) The outline of the new ventilation grille can also be see: that is going to be tedious. The amount of puttying and sanding is quite obvious in this picture.
  
  

  

  
  
  Here the new surface details are starting to come in place, as well as the two cupolas for the driver and commander. The building of the ventilation grille is in progress.
  
  

  

  
  
  
  After a long period of inaction, I'm back at it again. The top engine grilles are completed, the cupolas have received their special hinges, and the sides have been detailed with different hatches, steps, grips etc. And a really important step is just around the corner: the rivets... oooh.
  
  

  

  
  
  And here the rivets are in place. I opted for the easy way out: making rivets by placing smalls blobs of white glue with a sharpened pin. Not the best method, for sure, but once you get some practice, you can get quite good results.
  
  

  

  
  
  And here the painting is finally under way. The scheme is Feldgrau overall. I am doing the "Hedi" as she looked during the street fighting in January 1919. The crudity of the hand-painted markings are to be found on the original as well... (See the small photo on the top of this page.)
  
  

  

  
  
  

  ---

  Gallery | Reviews | Disclaimer |Articles | Kitlist
  Guest Book | Vote! | Links | Back to Index | Contact