Pz. Kpfw II Ausf L Luchs mit Zusatzpanzerung by king derelict - Flyhawk - 1/72 - PLASTIC

[king derelict]

While I was stalled on the Iron Duke build I opened this box to keep me out of trouble.

It’s a tiny 1/72 model of a tiny tank but with all the details that Flyhawk do so well. As I understand it the Zusatzpanzerung refers to the additional amor added to the tank. 

For such a small tank the box is well stuffed with parts 

There is a small PE fret of delicate parts. Some look impossibly small. The finished model is going to be small even with all the extra parts added.

Assembly has started with the lower hull adding some PE to the engine vents and armor.

There is quite a lot of suspension parts to add to the hull 

. So far it’s all fitting very nicely although it takes several reads of the instructions to work out what is intended. And the instructions are printed very small.

One side done and one ready to start 

Thanks for looking in

 

Alan

 

 

 

[Old Collingwood]

Another  fine build  to follow  mate,  I did not know  Flyhawk  did vehicles.

 

OC.

[king derelict]

53 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

Another  fine build  to follow  mate,  I did not know  Flyhawk  did vehicles.

 

OC.

Thank you OC. It’s an amazing kit with so many parts for such a small vehicle, although I have a feeling I’ll be cursing it later.

Flyhawk make a small number of AFVs. This one and the regular Kpfw I and II, the Renault tank and the King Tiger which has a nice brass barrel. They make super little models and are very satisfying to build.

Alan

[Canute]

Interesting little kit, Alan. Like OC said, the Flyhawk is chock a block with parts in such a wee scale.

[king derelict]

Hi Ken, 

As far as I can tell very few are alternative options for a different version so it’s all going into that tiny hull.

 tracks are link and length which I like better than the elastic band style but the links are tiny and it’s all going to be on show.

Alan

 

[Landlubber Mike]

Looking forward to following this one.  I didn't realize Flyhawk did vehicles either.  

[king derelict]

19 hours ago, Landlubber Mike said:

Looking forward to following this one.  I didn't realize Flyhawk did vehicles either.  

Thanks Mike. As with their ship models the AFVs have some daunting small parts.

Alan

[king derelict]

I’ve been a bit dilatory with the updates and actually the build has been pretty slow thanks to intrusions by real life. After finishing the undercarriage everything got a coat of MiG One Shot iron oxide (brown) primer.

The color schemes show what I assume is a winter scheme in white with some brown creeping through in places. I rather like it and thought I would give it a try. I added several misted coats of Tamiya Flat White and was fairly happy with the results.

it’s a bit paler in real life but I’m starting to think another coat might be a good idea. I’m scared of getting a dead white result though.

Next up was the tyres on the road wheels. I had great hopes of the Dspiae circle cutter but I abandoned it in favor of the old circle template to make the masks for the wheels 

The Dspiae cutter worked flawlessly on a piece of copier paper but tore up about 75% of my attempts with masking tape. I think it’s my fault for not getting the right tension on the cutting blade, it’s probably fiddle with thin material like masking tape. I should have tried painters tape- next time.

 

The tyres were sprayed with Mig Rubber black which is a grey in reality but I think it works and then the running gear was assembled.

And that brings us to the next significant challenge, the tracks! The sprue has all the parts needed for one side. I’m not sure whether to try to build the tracks off the model or assemble them in place. 
Thanks for looking in and the likes and comments.

Alan

 

 

[Baker]

On 3/25/2025 at 9:05 PM, king derelict said:

I’m not sure whether to try to build the tracks off the model or assemble them in place

I always gave them a metallic color first.

Then glued them to the model.

And then painted them further

[DocRob]

Nice progress on that tiny bugger, Alan. I hear you on the difficulties with the DSPIAE circle cutter. Mine works with different materials, masking sheet, 0,5 mm styrene, ..., but it always needs a lot of trying to get the results right. The downforce of the cutting needle is the decisive matter and not so easy to adjust right. It also helps, to have the cutting needle aligned correctly, if it has to turn, before cutting, it easily tears masking sheet.
Maybe a bit late, but the white winter camo was applied on the field, often not perfectly and irregular. The hairspray method would have been another approach. Base color first, then two thin layers of hairspray, on with the white after drying and then dampening the surface and use different tools for abrasion. The result looks less regular, like with the real thing.

Cheers Rob

[king derelict]

14 hours ago, DocRob said:

Nice progress on that tiny bugger, Alan. I hear you on the difficulties with the DSPIAE circle cutter. Mine works with different materials, masking sheet, 0,5 mm styrene, ..., but it always needs a lot of trying to get the results right. The downforce of the cutting needle is the decisive matter and not so easy to adjust right. It also helps, to have the cutting needle aligned correctly, if it has to turn, before cutting, it easily tears masking sheet.
Maybe a bit late, but the white winter camo was applied on the field, often not perfectly and irregular. The hairspray method would have been another approach. Base color first, then two thin layers of hairspray, on with the white after drying and then dampening the surface and use different tools for abrasion. The result looks less regular, like with the real thing.

Cheers Rob

Thank you very much Rob. It’s a lot of kit in a tiny space. DSPIAE stuff generally seems to be nicely made with good materials but sometimes the execution is not so good. I probably need to be more patient with the circle cutter. I suspect that not orientating the blade was a part of my problem.

i had thought about the chipping option for the winter camouflage but thought it might be a bit harsh. I thought the misted diluted white coats might do but I pit it on too evenly and just got a largely white surface. I’m trying to bring the brown back up by gentle sanding and a scrub with a fiberglass brush. I may try a burnt sienna oil was as the build progresses.

Alan

[king derelict]

17 hours ago, Baker said:

I always gave them a metallic color first.

Then glued them to the model.

And then painted them further

Thank you very much Patrick. This time Ive gone with an initial brown oxide base and then dry brushed some dark steel over it followed by a black oil wash. Dirt to follow at some point.

alan

[king derelict]

The building of the tracks was as frustrating as I expected and the build very nearly came to an as a result. I spent every day of the last week trying to get the individual links assembled.

The links are small and don’t have any features that align the subsequent link and the width of the drive wheels and sprockets are almost too wide so setting the links on the rims is a challenge. Oh, and the teeth in the sprockets are too fine for the part of the track that engages. 

I tried making up sections of three or four pieces glued onto a small piece of tape and them forming them around the wheels. I think the concept might have been good but the links came off the tape at the slightest provocation so I went back to adding each link individually. Then I found that adjusting the next link invariably disturbed the previous link and it all had to be done over again. Eventually I resigned myself to adding two at each end and then going off for a cup of tea, a fig roll and a chapter of the current Bernie Gunther novel.

The results could be better in places but I think this is a reasonable compromise with my sanity.

The tracks have been dry brushed with dark steel and a black oil wash has been applied to the tracks and the lower hull.

And suddenly thinks could leap forward. I added the upper hull and then the turret. The turret is a very stiff fit and I don’t want to try to add it once all the fiddle PE is on.

 additional frontal armor is added and several of the lockers.

ive tried to bring out some of the brown oxide primer by lightly sanding wear spots and I also used a fiberglass pen / eraser. So far I think it works but I may need to work on it further.

Well, it’s great to be away from those track pieces, suddenly the kit is fun again.

 Thanks for looking in, for the likes and theencouraging comments 

Alan

 

 

 

[Baker]

Too late for this info.
On this small scale it is usually impossible to get the holes in the tracks to fit the teeth of the sprocket.
That is why I always removed the teeth that touch the tracks.
Works much easier.

[DocRob]

Looking very good, Alan. I can only raise my hat to your patience with the track assembly. These links must be ultra tiny, but they look very realistic now. The abrasion on the hull and turret helped a lot, to improve. You could add a brown wash for more contrast. 
BTW, there is no actual Bernie Gunther novel, unfortunately. Kerr died some years ago and I read them all. After reading your post, I searched big A for a long lost novel, but found the complete series of 14 books for 3,99€ for Kindle. I read the first books in German and I want to read them again in English sometime later and bit.

Cheers Rob

[king derelict]

4 hours ago, DocRob said:

BTW, there is no actual Bernie Gunther novel, unfortunately.

Yes, sorry Rob, that was my poor phrasing. I meant it’s the book I’m currently reading. I started rereading the series last month and I’m now on If The Dead Rise Not (set around Cuba). I enjoyed them first time round and find them better now, probably because I read slower and absorb the details 

[king derelict]

On 4/2/2025 at 1:23 AM, Baker said:

Too late for this info.
On this small scale it is usually impossible to get the holes in the tracks to fit the teeth of the sprocket.
That is why I always removed the teeth that touch the tracks.
Works much easier.

Thank you very much Patrick

That is a great suggestion and I will use it when I build the King Tiger which has the same tracks although the links are wider and better defined.

Alan

[king derelict]

With the problems with the tracks behind me progress has been steady. The last serious photo etch was the baskets for the jerrycans. They were actually fairly easy to make using a folder and the cans fitted without causing any distortion.

The tool kit was painted and added. The saw didn’t actually seem to be needed.

I wanted to show the tank as the winter warms up, the white camouflage is deteriorating and the tank is plowing through mud. 
I used powdered ceramic bricks from my Aedes Ares Loarre Castle model, mixed with some white glue, water and brown acrylic paint. This was then applied with a stiff brush and cleaned up with cotton buds where I had got too enthusiastic. I may have been too liberal with the effect but I think it works and it does cover some of the issues with the track assembly.

I think this is finished and it’s time to go back to HMS Iron Duke and some serious PE.

Thanks for looking in, the likes and comments.

alan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Old Collingwood]

Excellent work Alan,  one needs to  remember the  small size of this  - making it  even the more great.

 

OC.

[Baker]

Nice model 👍

[Canute]

Nicely done, Alan.

[king derelict]

19 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Excellent work Alan,  one needs to  remember the  small size of this  - making it  even the more great.

 

OC.

Many thanks OC. I’m not happy with the tracks but the hull turned out the way I was hoping for. Flyhawk do include some crazy small parts for an already small model.

alan

[king derelict]

16 hours ago, Baker said:

Nice model 👍

Thank you Patrick. I’ll remember your tips for the King Tiger.

alan

[king derelict]

11 hours ago, Canute said:

Nicely done, Alan.

Thanks Ken. A bit more of a learning experience than I expected.

alan

[mtaylor]

Beautiful work, Alan.   

[DocRob]

The tiny tank came out great, Alan, lots of detail to catch the eye.

Cheers Rob