SdKfz 164 Nashorn by Alwyn Turner

[silversurfer1947]

Yesterday I attempted to put some weathering streaks on the panels and have to report abject failure. I am using AK Interactive enamels. Whether I did not let the basic stripes dry for long enough, used too much white spirit when I tried to brush them out, or a combination of both, I don't now. What I do know is that there is nothing to see today in the cold light of day. I shall have another go today, hopefully with a little more success.

[silversurfer1947]

I had hoped to be able to show you a fully weathered and streaked body, which at least in some way resembled the excellent work that is frequently posted on the forum. Things did not quite work out as planned. However, I have called a halt on my efforts, on the basis that I could well make things a lot worse, the more I fiddle. My intention all along was to have a vehicle which looked as though it had seen some serious service in the field. In some small way, I think I have achieved this, though, as I say, the externals are nowhere how I would have liked. Here are a few photos of what I have now got, together with one or two more internal photos.

In places, you could say I have made a bit of a mess of it, in every sense of the word!

[AlwynTurner]

Richard I think it looks great! Frankly I think the current effect is brilliant and vastly better than anything I could hope to achieve. Personally I wouldn't change a thing, but some of the other forum members may have better advice than me being vastly more experienced in the mystic art of weathering.

Alwyn

[tomhugill]

Richard, you've made something truly stunning. All the little touches and bits of stowage in the fighting compartment are fantastic. Fabulous!!

[c.rainford73]

Richard you have done very well with your efforts. It looks real and worn and war weary. If that's the effect you wished to achieve I say you nailed it.

The more you do it, the better it will get. I appreciate the fact that so many have different ways of doing it. It can be at times as Alwyn noted shrouded in magic and mystery , kind of like the builders signature.

I am very impressed with your results

[silversurfer1947]

Gentlemen, I can't begin to thank you enough for your kind words, particularly coming as they do from modellers whose work has given me targets to aim for. I still have a few more details to add, though looking at the photos in my book, a lot of the Nashorn are buried under a mountain of foliage which I shall not be doing.
I was aiming for a war weary vehicle, so, Carl, whether by luck or judgement it would appear I have succeeded.
I still have the crew to finish, so please keep watching - there will be more photos.
And of course, I also need to get the lower hull up to scratch

[silversurfer1947]

Started on the lower hull and have immediately hit a problem. The hull is Heng Long and came with plastic idler wheels secured with a self tappers. I purchased Taigen Panzer III metal sockets and idlers. How do I fit the Taigen idlers? The wheels came with 2 different bolts, the thinner of which fits the gearbox. The thicker bolt does not seem to be right for anything. There were also 2 brass bushes, which appear to fit the idlers, but with the bushes in place then the bolts are too fat and there is not a corresponding thread to bolt into. Any positive suggestions gratefully received.

[c.rainford73]

Started on the lower hull and have immediately hit a problem. The hull is Heng Long and came with plastic idler wheels secured with a self tappers. I purchased Taigen Panzer III metal sockets and idlers. How do I fit the Taigen idlers? The wheels came with 2 different bolts, the thinner of which fits the gearbox. The thicker bolt does not seem to be right for anything. There were also 2 brass bushes, which appear to fit the idlers, but with the bushes in place then the bolts are too fat and there is not a corresponding thread to bolt into. Any positive suggestions gratefully received.

Richard I just recently installed proper Panzer iv idlers on my Nashorn from Taigen (yes I've been running Taigen Panzer III idlers for some time now) and they used the original plastic idler tapping screws system. Nothing special was needed in my case. Both styles of Taigen idler wheels fit the same way.

Should be a simple installation.

The front Metal Taigen sprockets fit the upgraded Taigen metal gearboxes without a problem. I know the Taigen use different screws that were provided with the gearboxes.

Please let me know if I can help in any way. Maybe post up some pictures of the parts.

[Raminator]

I had hoped to be able to show you a fully weathered and streaked body, which at least in some way resembled the excellent work that is frequently posted on the forum. Things did not quite work out as planned. However, I have called a halt on my efforts, on the basis that I could well make things a lot worse, the more I fiddle.

We are all our own worst critics. For what it's worth Richard, I think you've done an enviable job; the combination of a great starter kit, fine details in the crew compartment's fixings and subtle weathering create a damned fine model. Is there anything in particular that you are unhappy with?

[silversurfer1947]

I had hoped to be able to show you a fully weathered and streaked body, which at least in some way resembled the excellent work that is frequently posted on the forum. Things did not quite work out as planned. However, I have called a halt on my efforts, on the basis that I could well make things a lot worse, the more I fiddle.

We are all our own worst critics. For what it's worth Richard, I think you've done an enviable job; the combination of a great starter kit, fine details in the crew compartment's fixings and subtle weathering create a damned fine model. Is there anything in particular that you are unhappy with?

In particular, what has not turned out as I hoped is the streaking grime - it has finished up as what I think are too heavy lines, rather than the broken effect, if you understand my explanation. The interior detailing I am quite happy with, probably as it is more like the modelling I have done over many years. The weathering side of thing is totally new to me and I tend to be impatient to grasp the techniques immediately, and hyper-critical of the results.