1/16 PzKpfw III Ausf M - Trumpeter/Heller kit with Taigen hull integration - Build

[lmcq11]

Wow! The mechanicals and electronics look like a Japanese streetcar at rush hour or '50s college undergraduates in a phone booth. How did you fit that all in!?

Yeah, inner beauty is not the highlight of this build.

[Rob59]

What a great thread!
I just bought the same Heller kit, and I also do have a Taigen metal lower hull, gearboxes and everything which is needed to make it RC.
But I am in doubt whether I have the guts to rebuild it like you did Louis......
I think I just built it as a static Panzer III, because I do have more than 20 RC tanks already at the moment.
But again...waht a great thread, what a great job you did!
Hats off to you sir!
Regards,
Rob.

[lmcq11]

What a great thread!
I just bought the same Heller kit, and I also do have a Taigen metal lower hull, gearboxes and everything which is needed to make it RC.
But I am in doubt whether I have the guts to rebuild it like you did Louis......
I think I just built it as a static Panzer III, because I do have more than 20 RC tanks already at the moment.
But again...waht a great thread, what a great job you did!
Hats off to you sir!
Regards,
Rob.

Thank you Rob,
A lot of the hard work was related to the Taigen chassis, very difficult to configure the suspension correctly and at the proper height. If I was to do an integration again, I would use a Heng Long plastic chassis but with metal upgrades. The Heller kit builds well and is extremely well detailed. However, the fenders and schurzens are fragile, represent weak points and create complexity when doing maintenance, just like they were in real life. It’s one of those build that you are glad when it’s over and never again.

[Rob59]

Usually I make the Schurzen myself, out of 0,8mm Aluminum, and the brackets out of brass.
In this way I added some extra armor onto 3 of my StuG's, 2 Panthers, 2 Jagdpanthers and 2 Panzer IV.
On the 3rd Panzer IV I did myself a favor and bought a complete set (turret and upper hull schurzen) in China.
Saved me a hell of a lot measuring, measuring and measuring....
So, this Heller kit will stay static anyway, so the fragility of the Schurzen will not be such an issue as the tank will just be used as decoration in photoshoots alongside my other RC Panzers.