(SELF PROPELLED ARTILLERY) FERDINAND 722, Kursk, Sch.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Oberfeldwebel Klarmeyer

[HERMAN BIX]

Still to add weld beads around the hinge straps, but you get the idea.
The mounts which attach these to the roof are next.

[HERMAN BIX]

And the last fixtures to set the hatches in place.
Small wedges of styrene to reinforce the pivots.
Weld beads all round& that will be near enough for this kid.
I also removed the later(Elefant) rain channels on the front casemate armour.
More sanding & then to the proper fun bits.

[HERMAN BIX]

While I wait for the excitement fairy to sprinkle some sanding motivation dust on me, on with the gun assembly.
This bit is going together well.
Still need to set up servos but at least space won’t be an issue.
The mantlet plate so recognisable on an Elefant has to be mounted backwards on a Ferdinand which is actually the correct way out of the factory.
The mounting bolts outward from the Casemate is a field mod that was adopted officially to make removing it easier.

[Kaczor]

I'm following with interest because I'll also be converting my Hooben into the earlier version of the Elefant.