Opinions on Ludwig's modell site and his products?

[Lert]

Hello everyone,

I have my eye on Ludwig's Panzer I. What is the prevailing opinion on his products?

How's the detail, the accuracy and how difficult is it to RC them? What glue do you use to build them and ensure sturdiness? Do you need additional items like axles / pipes, nuts, screws, etc? Do you need to add structural support to make his models sturdy enough to RC?

I realize that for a Pz I I would require mini motors / gearboxes, but that's of later concern, right now I'm curious to the quality of hits kits?

[BarryC]

Hi Lert,

I have two of his kits but have not built either yet. I am pleased with the quality of the parts supplied from plastic, cast and 3d printed parts to machined metal parts.

If you look at this page. http://www.ludwigs-hobby-seite.de/Panzer%201.html

On the right side of the first picture on the right there are two links both of which will take you to the copy of the build manuals for the two different versions. Both have pictures of the kit parts.

Hope this is helpful,
Barry

[c.rainford73]

I am the proud owner of his E-100 kit that Mr MichealC on the forum built and I have to say the kit and finish of the kit is robust and outstanding. Very nice quality IMHO. Strong and impressive kit.

[lmcq11]

Hi,

I have built 4 of his kits recently; two M-113, the Marder 1A1 and the V-150.

Usually, these are basic kits, providing a basic model shell to which you pretty need to add suspension and figure out all the missing detail parts, either by scratch building or by purchasing elsewhere, when available. Main parts use interlocking joints and unless the joints are square, there usually have small or large gaps to fill with either plasticard residue or putty, everything requiring sanding and polishing for a smooth finish.

The nice thing about plasticard sheet parts from Ludwigs is that they are usually accurate in size, strait and thick, perfect for flat armor models. But there parts need preparation and on occasions, model components were too simplistic and needed to be replaced or substantially refined. I did not need to add much structural support. I used superglue (fast and slow cure) but epoxy was used in some areas. You need to double or triple check everything before gluing because it is technically possible to glue parts wrongly, upside down or else.

The Panzer 1 kit seems more simple and complete than other kits with many 3D printed parts and strait armor plates with little to add or gaps. But you might need brass strips and bolts of various sizes, tools, commercial metal, 3D and photo-etched components to complete the model the way you want it.

The sprockets and suspension usually need a lot of sanding and adjustments to run smoothly because sharp metal sprockets cut into plastic tracks and suspension need alignment.

For me, the above is what makes these models very interesting and challenging to build. Once you built one, going back to regular plastic kits can be boring.

Louis

[tomhugill]

I am the proud owner of his E-100 kit that Mr MichealC on the forum built and I have to say the kit and finish of the kit is robust and outstanding. Very nice quality IMHO. Strong and impressive kit.

Going to need some pictures of that chief!!

[Lert]

*lots of great stuff*

Thank you so much for your long and elaborate post, answering basically everything I wanted to know. With the tools, skills and time I have this sounds like a large but doable project and I'm definitely looking forward to getting this kit and building it.