New model under construction!

So after finishing the impact video I felt the strongest urge to just BUILD and so I started working on the Rutscher.

Turns out tonight was a pretty productive night shift as I managed to clean up and prepare the entire running gear, which takes up most of the sprues, but the most time consuming part was (and will be) the main hull. Needless to say I'm not impressed with this kit. The fit of the main hull parts was meh in most places, they glue together in a way that requires filling and rescribing if you want the individual panels to make any sense (this is painfully obvious on the rear engine wall), plates that are meant to be bolted (and have bolt holes, but no bolts) are actually WELDED because the panel lines around them have weld detail, the hull side extensions have correct thickness at the back, but are almost paper thin at the front, so they have to be built up with styrene... my feelings are mixed. 

If you look at the roof plate, you'll see some epoxy putty in the seams. I'm trying a new method here to eliminate the incorrect weld detail and overly large panel lines, so I filled them all with epoxy and while it was still soft I pressed in a new thin panel line. I'll have to leave it dry overnight before I sand and polish it, but the result should be better than before.

Now it seems like the worst is behind me and the next step should be adding armor texture and weld beads. I need to go study some Hetzer photos to get some inspiration for the weld bead placement, especially on the front armor. 

MSRP for this kit is 20€, although I got it for free. I also bought a set of Friulmodel tracks, because the kit provided parts are useless imo. That's extra 30€. And I also have a set of Voyager photoetch, which cost just 9€ on ebay. Still... paying 60 freaking Euros for this model might be the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. 

Also, the gun barrels, although just straight tubes, are molded pretty bad. I'd happily give another 10€ for metal replacements because cleaning them was quite hard. I managed to slightly distort their circular shape but managed to conceal it so nobody will notice, but yeah... tough night. Pain and pleasure. 

But the last thing... although this is a kit sold under Das Werk brand, the molds themselves are from Amusing Hobby (they released it as a limited offer with their E-100 kits and DW bought the molds). This will make me think twice before buying another AH kit in the future.