It is a heavy metal Predator

[JurgenH]

Hello
As I already mentioned in my furniture van report, after the Tatra there is heavy metal again
I would like to introduce you to my next project. It is a Puma.



The Puma is also known as Sd Kfz 234/2, joined the troops in 1944 and is a heavy eight-wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicle of the ARK series. It can be described as the forefather of modern armored reconnaissance vehicles and many newer designs are based on the Puma.
The kit is from Magic Factory in China, approx. 18 € plus postage. It comes in a sturdy box that is well filled. There are 6 bags with spray wheels and 3 bags with vinyl tires with different profiles. Building instructions, in 10 steps on one page with 2 camouflages. A fine etched parts sheet and a sheet with fine decals.
















Greeting
Jürgen

[Ochoin]

I am interested in this project, Jurgen.

I am a fan of armoured cars for some reason - especially the early war British ones. However, the Puma is very close to the best of the breed IMO.

donald

[Peter]

Looks like a very nice project. Following!

[JurgenH]

It goes on


The kit is very variable. Here are pictures of the different mudguards from the inside and outside.








Among other things, it has 3 sets of tires, 3 different types of fenders, 2 different types of rims. And the option to display all hatches and openings open or closed. The radiator grille and the fan grille can also be built with etched parts in the open position. Or closed in plastic. The kit is very finely detailed. The casting quality itself is very good. I found one weak point, namely the handles on the Jerrycans are partially not cast. But I should be able to fix that.

As already noted /2 , there are more versions. Yes, there were 4 of the SdKfz 234 . The 234/1 is a vehicle with a 2cm KWK in a suspended mount and hexagonal turret. The /2 Puma, the /3 with 7.5cm L24 . So short gun . The /4 with the well-known 7.5 cm Pak 40. Unfortunately the kit is only marked as Puma and only this version can be built. Maybe the company will release the other versions as well.


If you want to buy the kit, you should consider a few points.

The mudguards do not all fit the Puma. Some are built for the other versions.
You can use the rim types as you like, as mixtures are also known.
The same goes for the tires.
I must point out that you have to work very cleanly here. There are no burrs so far
, but the sprues must be carefully removed otherwise the parts will not fit together. E.g. upper - lower hull, hatches etc. See photo with the dots.

[JurgenH]

Sorry a wrong click,




The building instructions must also be read carefully. I already had to remove the chassis because I overlooked to cut off the black marked part on the photo.







So that's it for now. There are more days to come.
Jürgen

[Santi Pérez]

Why do I suspect you won't just assemble the vehicle as it comes in the kit, Jürgen, but add a lot of modifications to improve it? Maybe because it's your unmistakable style?

Best wishes and let's get on with it!

Santi.

[JurgenH]

Let's see what comes next.
Of course I made another hole in the hull. I milled something away from the inside with the milling cutter according to the specifications and then cut out the door with a scalpel. The reason for this will be shown later on the dio.
The next step is to paint the interior, because it is no longer accessible when finished.




I will not glue the vinyl tires and only paint them with acrylic paint. Some types of vinyl tend to disintegrate after a long time.
So far it is a beautiful kit. You have to enjoy it. It will be interesting to see who wants to buy the kit.
I hope I haven't bored you with the details.







I have now applied the interior paint and aged it The door has been given a handle and a latch. You won't see much through the small door.

Here is an example of how clean you have to work.
In the 1st picture the fit at the back is cast on, fits perfectly.

1

On the 2nd picture in the front it is a fit of different components.
Not so great.

2


You can do it. But you need to revise it. In terms of attention to detail and accuracy of fit, there is no comparison with the poor fit of the wheel sets on the 232 and 261 Funk from Roden, which have a similar design.

Greetings Jürgen

[CliosPaintingBench]

Oh very cool, what a detailed model, so many bits

[MABO]

Another fiddly job, Jürgen, You will make it, I am sure.

[JurgenH]

Hello, there is some news about the Puma
Clio:
It is a really nice kit. I can highly recommend it.

It is just like they say about Tamiya kits:
Remove all parts from the sprue and clean them.
Put them in the box.
Add glue.
Shake.
Done.
About the model

Next up are the etched parts.
You can display the fan grilles open or closed.
The plastic parts are closed, the open ones are plastic with etched parts.
You should attach the etched parts to the plastic part with gel glue at the gluing points.
Unfortunately, I didn't do that with the first grille.
With the second one, I like the result much better after changing my method.


url=https://postimg.cc/wyJrsdMc][/url]



I attached the grill to the model from below using black electrical tape.





There are 5 small lifting eyes on each side that need to be bent.
A bit fiddly, but doable.
Then I glued in the viewing hatches, all of which can be displayed open or closed.
There are quite a few left over for the spare box. I glued some parts, such as tools and jacks, onto wooden blocks for painting.

[/


url=https://postimg.cc/wyJrsdMc]



I attached the grill to the model from below using black electrical tape.





There are 5 small lifting eyes on each side that need to be bent.
It's a bit fiddly, but doable.
Then I glued in the viewing hatches, all of which can be displayed open or closed.
There's quite a bit left over for the spare box. I glued some parts, such as tools and jacks, onto wooden blocks for painting.


Hello, there is some news about the Puma
Clio:
It is a really nice kit. I can highly recommend it.

It is just like they say about Tamiya kits:
Remove all parts from the sprue and clean them.
Put them in the box.
Add glue.
Shake.
Done.
About the model

Next up are the etched parts.
You can display the fan grilles open or closed.
The plastic parts are closed, the open ones are plastic with etched parts.
You should attach the etched parts to the plastic part with gel glue at the gluing points.
Unfortunately, I didn't do that with the first grille.
With the second one, I like the result much better after changing my method.


url=https://postimg.cc/wyJrsdMc][/url]



I attached the grill to the model from below using black electrical tape.





There are 5 small lifting eyes on each side that need to be bent.
A bit fiddly, but doable.
Then I glued in the viewing hatches, all of which can be displayed open or closed.
There are quite a few left over for the spare box. I glued some parts, such as tools and jacks, onto wooden blocks for painting.

[/


url=https://postimg.cc/wyJrsdMc]



I attached the grill to the model from below using black electrical tape.





There are 5 small lifting eyes on each side that need to be bent.
It's a bit fiddly, but doable.
Then I glued in the viewing hatches, all of which can be displayed open or closed.
There's quite a bit left over for the spare box. I glued some parts, such as tools and jacks, onto wooden blocks for painting.

[JurgenH]

Hello everyone,
My Puma is doing a little better. It has gained some colour. However, I was ill for quite a while.
I was only discharged from hospital this week. That is also the reason why I haven't posted anything.
After the dark yellow, I decided to just add green stripes with the airbrush.
I want to show a heavily battered model. To do this, I tore off an exhaust pipe and rebuilt the mudguard from foil from a delicious wine bottle. Over the course of the picture series, it has undergone several ageing processes.





















I only attached the wheels with the tyres provisionally. But first, the diorama base has to be finished. I used different tyre treads. That was quite common. You used whatever you could get. But I haven't got round to changing the flat tyres yet. I represented this by heating the tyres with a lighter and pressing them onto the craft mat. However, you have to ‘mount’ the tyres, which means I pushed them onto the handle of a larger cutter. I'm afraid that otherwise you'll end up with an oval rim hole.
So here are my latest pictures of the Puma. After that, I'll continue with the diorama base.















Jürgen

[Santi Pérez]

That Puma looks fantastic, Jürgen!

Santi.

[MABO]

Good weathering!

[JurgenH]

Hello again, Post images has changed something when uploading images. Here are the large images again with the correct link.

[MABO]

Wow, great changes in the meantime. It is desperate, that everything is in ruins but it looks quiet real.

[JurgenH]

url=https://postimg.cc/3W7Jcw3H][/url]





































.

The Puma and the car are just placeholders.
I took some debris from the old diorama. The Tatra 57 B is from Attack.
It also needs some color treatment.
When I build a kit without a diorama, I don't do any weathering. That only comes when the vehicle is put into use.
As always, I am available to answer any questions you may have.

Jürgen