DML Sd. kfz. 10/4 FlaK 30 WIP

Almost done with assembly and base painting.  Pays to go slow and dry/test fit everything as sequence of assembly can make the difference between some or a lot of grief later because lots of details within tight spaces.

Incremental progress with mock up of driver:

A little bit of FlaK

Picture of WIP Dragon Sd.Kfz. 10/4 (1940) with ammo trailer, and WIP Hobby Boss GAZ-AA with Tristar 20mm Flak 38 late, as well as a comparison picture of the Dragon 20mm Flak 30 with the Tristar.

The driver for the Sd.Kfz. 10/4 is a converted Luftwaffe passenger from the Tamiya Sd.Kfz.7.  Basically the legs were modified to fit in the driver's seat.  Not shown in the picture is the hood of a BA-20 from Ark Models.  This is the BA-20 kit with the incorrectly shaped rear panel.  The intent is to build a beute GAZ-AA converted to a Flak truck.  The picture shows the hood of what appears to be a BA-20 hanging in front of the engine grill as a ersatz armour plate.  The roof of the truck has been removed, leaving only the windshield (presumably to allow the Flak gun to have sufficient depression when facing forward).  The Flak gun appears to be a 20mm Flak 38, but with a modified shield - no shield for gun sight and modified gunner-side shield, without inner ribbing.  The sight appears to be the flakvisier 40, so the Tristar 20mm is in situ just for planning purposes - it will have to be replaced.

A bit more progress on the Sd.Kfz.10/4 - next to the Sd.Kfz. 253 which is being refurbished:

Lots of work, but getting closer to completing the sd kfz 10.4.  Instructions are a bit of a mess, however.  For example, the show the front tow hooks being added, but this will prevent the loading ramp assembly from being added later (the hooks are omitted from the later drawings).  Similarly, there are no instructions for assembling the screens in travel position - had to look at the DML Sd. Kfz. 10/5 instructions for the general idea of the same.  Also, MA1 is included in the PE fret, but not shown in the instructions - these pieces support the 20mm ammo crates on the sides of the screens - without which the crates are floating.  The driver's set storage bin is too high and prevents the gun platform from sitting flush on the fender, so that to be adjusted -with the surgery in the middle to maintain the general shape.  Fender placement of tools, rifle rack, etc., is quite imprecise, so reference to reference pix is important.   Decided to replace the kit windshield with an ersatz cover - which shouldn't be totally flat because of the windshield wiper mechanisms.  Also, if you are going to insert a driver, test fit before gluing seat, etc.  In this case, the legs have to go in with the seat as there isn't enough clearance otherwise.