International Scale Modeller

This is a Trumpeter kit and I neglected to do a step by step build post.
The kit just went together so quick and I only started it because I was waiting for other things to progress, but I did take some pic's as I went along. Sorry it's a big lump of a what's been going on.




The supplied tracks didn't go together that well and I got frustrated with them. Bad enough having to put those pins in which didn't seem to line up well with the holes. I suspect where the links flex the little recess wasn't deep enough and it threw the alignment out quite often.



After a few broken pins and breaking out the side of the pivot holes in the links a few times I got jack of that and went searching for a bargain as you do and bought these


They went together well as well as can be expected I guess. I had fewer alignment issues, but found some of the holes were a micron too tight and as a result I broke the the pin heads off a few sometimes like four in a row and they were all on the outside viewable surface. Fortunately it's not really immediately noticeable. Not sure if I would buy this brand again or was it just a one off. Kind of expect better from 3d printing.

I'm missing a pic here to show you....sorry guys.

There's quite a nice engine too, but it's not going to be seen with all the covers on.

There is a supplied radiator assembly too and it all fits rather nicely. Not too much trimming needed at all.


That engine has now almost disappeared.


I had a bit of a play around here trying a couple of different products on the exhaust.



I chucked a fair bit of pigment wash on here for a heavy dust look.
Just thinking about it now I should have added some human scuff marks where it would have been wiped sort of clean,




I added the figure, but since this was the only figure I had to fit here it now looks odd unless I add another which he is interacting with.
However that leads me to think he has to stand on something....I need a base




OK, so I went searching through the stash and I settled on this.


After getting out the sprues and cutting them all loose a whole bunch of confusion arose. How the heck does it go together.
Vacuum kits are different for sure.
Mostly figured it out after checking utube. I still have some concerns where the roof edge meets the corner of the 2 walls, but pushing on.
Then realised what the heck does it stand on....it doesn't come with a base...DAMN, back to where I was WITH NO BASE. OK now I have to create a base, pavement, storm drain ( maybe ) and cobblestones. This was supposed to be a quick easy build.

The next up date maybe sometime away.

THat's a really great job ! nice paint job, and love the big exhaust !

Another great build Digger you’re becoming a dab hand at these German tds!
I think when I did one of these mini art vac houses there were some really good YouTube videos but the best tip I can give is use lots of plastic card locating tabs which makes it easier

Looking forward to seeing how this goes

Paul

Garion77 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 12, 2025 11:11 am THat's a really great job ! nice paint job, and love the big exhaust !

Quax wrote: ↑Thu Jun 12, 2025 1:14 pm Another great build Digger you’re becoming a dab hand at these German tds!
I think when I did one of these mini art vac houses there were some really good YouTube videos but the best tip I can give is use lots of plastic card locating tabs which makes it easier
Looking forward to seeing how this goes
Paul

Thanks guys

The kit looks great, really nice work on the weathering. A 1/35 Hetzer is on my list of wants so its great to see one on the forum.

Then you went down the rabbit hole with the diorama!

You've initiated the modelling equivalent of a nuclear reaction, the first energy is released when you decide to add a standing figure, then the chain reaction begins as a building is added then a base is required as the building does not come with one. At this point the control rods are fully out of the core and the reactor is running at 110% as it starts to meltdown into the stash.

The only way to prevent another 3 Mile Island is to push the rods back into the core. Enact protocol "Purchase base with credit" and pray it arrives in time.

You can tell from the above that I'm drinking too much coffee

Stokesy44 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 13, 2025 7:30 am The kit looks great, really nice work on the weathering. A 1/35 Hetzer is on my list of wants so its great to see one on the forum.

Then you went down the rabbit hole with the diorama!

You've initiated the modelling equivalent of a nuclear reaction, the first energy is released when you decide to add a standing figure, then the chain reaction begins as a building is added then a base is required as the building does not come with one. At this point the control rods are fully out of the core and the reactor is running at 110% as it starts to meltdown into the stash.

The only way to prevent another 3 Mile Island is to push the rods back into the core. Enact protocol "Purchase base with credit" and pray it arrives in time.

You can tell from the above that I'm drinking too much coffee

Man your out of control
BUT on the money

That Hetzer is a lovely build mate - were all the tracks indy-links? In which case it's even more impressive.

I've tackled a couple of those MiniArt vac-form dio bases and they take some work but generally produce a good result. Paul's spot on about adding extra plastic to work as locating tabs though - that's definitely a must. I did end up filling one of mine to reinforce it - it worked but made it really heavy - I think I saw someone use expanding foam which might have been a better option.

Anyways

Quax wrote: ↑Thu Jun 12, 2025 1:14 pm Another great build Digger you’re becoming a dab hand at these German tds!
I think when I did one of these mini art vac houses there were some really good YouTube videos but the best tip I can give is use lots of plastic card locating tabs which makes it easier

Looking forward to seeing how this goes

Paul

I thought of that then I sort of put that idea aside then after reading this I got right into it and put little tab guides in every where.....so thank you it was well worth it.

Tomcat64 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 13, 2025 3:31 pm That Hetzer is a lovely build mate - were all the tracks indy-links? In which case it's even more impressive.

I've tackled a couple of those MiniArt vac-form dio bases and they take some work but generally produce a good result. Paul's spot on about adding extra plastic to work as locating tabs though - that's definitely a must. I did end up filling one of mine to reinforce it - it worked but made it really heavy - I think I saw someone use expanding foam which might have been a better option.

Anyways

Thanks
Yep I used individual links, but not the ones shown here. I goofed and forgot I threw the kit tracks away.
These are what I used. They weren't without their problems either.
https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/10050070 ... pt=glo2vnm

I'll go back and correct the post tonight.



Ps...EDIT.......I've added the missing track info to the update

After cutting the surplus plastic away as carefully as I can and straightening any rough bits it still requires a fair bit of persuasion.


Then still leaves a rough seam.


The end edge needed to be cut away unfortunately vacuum kits when going over the mold in areas that have lots of protrusions tend to thin the plastic a lot so I found out. The end edge was paper thin and it broke and tore requiring a patch up in the outside corner.


Now onto the other edge tonight and then seam filling....oh joy be still my beating heart the anticipation of it near over whelms me.....

cheers guys, I'd say Gals too but I don't think we have any.

I love the Miniart diorama sets, they look very good when done and keep the weight down. They can feel like you are assembling some random vacuform parts you found at the side of the road though.

SteelScooter wrote: ↑Sun Jun 15, 2025 8:13 pm I love the Miniart diorama sets, they look very good when done and keep the weight down. They can feel like you are assembling some random vacuform parts you found at the side of the road though.

That is so true, it is exactly the way I experienced this trying to figure out how this went together.
Glad to see your still looking in on us too.

Blimey, you've got your work cut out there. Miniart should be ashamed at the quality of their product but hey, the challenge is part of the hobby!

I went the sprue goo route and clean up isn't that easy. Not sure I could have gone with another product without it just collapsing in through the gaps.



Cheers

Progress has been slow, with some personal issues and the nature of this kit.

A smear of sprue glue up the inside corner spread with more tet. Doesn't look too bad.


Windows done, but the gutter the drain pipe is still in progress. I had to bend the top angle from a straight 90 degree to a compound bend other wise it just doesn't look right or fit properly. I took a risk and used a match to soften it noit the smartest thing to do as you can see by the patch up
The shutter is removable atm as I plan to do some weathering to it.

I had to change gears and get onto the base ,using xps foam insulation I cut out a square 200x 230mm and the pavement. Not having much luck with the glues on hand I got lazy and stuck on some very thin double sided tape. It wasn't holding that well either at first until I rolled it vigorously and is now twice as good, but I am thinking I might run a semi cooled iron over it just to be sure.


I've had this cardboard product from Tamiya in the stash for a while I thought I might as well use it although I am having doubts as to the amount of realism it will impart.


Obviously to the astute I'm stating the bleeding obvious but this is what I'm aiming for with a couple more figures to come.

One quick additional pic just before I head for bed.



Side walk has been coated with foam armour and still wet atm, but tomorrow it will be dry and indestructible.
Bit of a issue trying to get the cobblestones to line up where I joined 2 pieces to go around the corner.

You're sure putting lots of work in that project and it's coming along nicely. Hope everything is getting better

Base looks good to me. You should be able to disappear the join line with dirt and dust. No such thing as clean road surface in wartime

Good job with the filling of the mini art kit, it’s a real pain and it’s not until you start painting bricks and weathering that you feel it was worth the effort!
The Tamiya board looks interesting, is it 3 dimensional and weatherable or flat?


Paul

That's going to look very authentic when it's done. Keep up the good work!

Garion77 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 1:47 am You're sure putting lots of work in that project and it's coming along nicely. Hope everything is getting better

Thanks mate and yes things are looking up.

Steve64 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 5:09 pm That's going to look very authentic when it's done. Keep up the good work!

I hope so , but as this is a first Miniart building for me ...fingers crossed.

Quax wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 9:13 am Good job with the filling of the mini art kit, it’s a real pain and it’s not until you start painting bricks and weathering that you feel it was worth the effort!
The Tamiya board looks interesting, is it 3 dimensional and weatherable or flat?

Paul

Thanks it was a pain and I'm still not happy with some of the joins, but were do you draw the line.
The board is actually paper or very thin cardboard and yes the cobblestones are slightly raised and yes I think it's weatherable.

Stokesy44 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 7:22 am Base looks good to me. You should be able to disappear the join line with dirt and dust. No such thing as clean road surface in wartime

Good idea, I'll do what I can. Just have to fix that damn down pipe join, it's starring me down.

All primed and as is obvious I ran a bit of dark gray around where shadows might develop.




I might have over done it and the next step will be the tell all.
Not sure where I will go next with the pavement, maybe a wash.

Starting to look good

Very cool!! Look forward to seeing the house done - looks to be a challenge.

Stokesy44 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:39 pm Starting to look good

barryf1fan wrote: ↑Thu Jul 17, 2025 7:39 pm Very cool!! Look forward to seeing the house done - looks to be a challenge.

Thanks guys.
The challenge was 2 fold, figuring out how the parts went together and getting the halves of each part to meet in a close enough, was as good as it got

Painting so far hasn't been differcult, Red Earth and a touch of red for the bricks then apply not worring to much about the edges . Just getting as close as I can without going over the edges too much


White and a couple of drops of Tan and then do the same to all the plaster areas. Red brown for the roof shingles.


I painted the insides too plus added a bit of flooring. I plan to add a small pile of bricks and debris too.


Cheers

Lifted the masking tape and got this little surprise.



So to make it uniform I did the lot and filled some gaps with PVA for want of something better.



Guttering painted and varied the roof shingles just to brighten it all up. The foot path is 2 shades of gray , but you wouldn't know it. A bit of a mossy edge around the building and under the down pipe. Tried to colour the PVA the same shade as the cobblestones. ....failed
Still to run a gloss varnish over some parts in order to flash a darkish wash over the foot path joints, the roof timbers and cobblestones hopefully tying it together.



A rather horrible Chinese figure which is way too colourful ( what was I thinking), way out of era.

Looking good and yeah, I'd deep six that figure at the end mate

Stokesy44 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 30, 2025 5:47 pm Looking good and yeah, I'd deep six that figure at the end mate

Sort a looks ok if I don't have my glasses on and stay 2 feet away

Enjoyed reading through your build so far mate

I've built a couple of those Miniart dios, I enjoyed them, and seeing yours progressing through the photos, it brought back some fond memories, you're doing a top job

I'd build another if I had more time, space, less kits already in the stash, patience, skill etc etc

Miniart dios do reward patience! its all coming together nicely

Paul

Quax wrote: ↑Thu Jul 31, 2025 9:27 am Miniart dios do reward patience! its all coming together nicely

Paul

Is that code for 'turning a sow's ear into a silk purse?'

Looking excellent Digger!! Just a thought - could you disguise the joins in the Tamiya boards with some scattered rubble/dirt???

RangerNeil wrote: ↑Thu Jul 31, 2025 7:50 pm Looking excellent Digger!! Just a thought - could you disguise the joins in the Tamiya boards with some scattered rubble/dirt???

Do you mean the roofing boards ?

digger303 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 01, 2025 1:51 am

RangerNeil wrote: ↑Thu Jul 31, 2025 7:50 pm Looking excellent Digger!! Just a thought - could you disguise the joins in the Tamiya boards with some scattered rubble/dirt???

Do you mean the roofing boards ?

Yes, they'd do it - and perhaps some fragments of bricks/brickwork and related dust??

Another recent build I've managed to miss somehow

Cracking work there Digger

Late update
This is where I stopped a couple of months ago I think. It's not finished yet there are a couple of things I want to add to or change.

RangerNeil wrote: ↑Sat Aug 02, 2025 1:13 am

digger303 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 01, 2025 1:51 am

RangerNeil wrote: ↑Thu Jul 31, 2025 7:50 pm Looking excellent Digger!! Just a thought - could you disguise the joins in the Tamiya boards with some scattered rubble/dirt???

Do you mean the roofing boards ?

Yes, they'd do it - and perhaps some fragments of bricks/brickwork and related dust??

Thanks, yeah maybe some dust cause the building damage here is old and the locals mostly cleaned up. The hetzer is redeploying.

Kevthemodeller wrote: ↑Sat Aug 16, 2025 5:10 pm Another recent build I've managed to miss somehow

Cracking work there Digger

Thank you.