by Tamás Seres
What's new?
These are the latest projects I am currently (was most recently) working on. More details will soon be available in the relevant section of this site. However, a little teaser cannot cause any harm, can it?
T-90
As a part of an ebay package deal I bought two Zvezda kit last year. I had built the T-72B with the ERA blocks, but the T-90 was sitting patiently waiting for its time. As a last project of 2023 it seemed to be a good fun.
I have mixed experiences with Zvezda kits and I knew from a quick observation, that this one is requesting time. This kit has one of the most complex turrets out there in the market. In addition to that I knew that I haven't stored it appropriately which had its tool:the lower hull was bended beyond the level that glue could fix this. Was I up for this challenge? I think it came along very nice at the end. A few photos are availabe in the Gallery.
M1A1 Abrams with mine ploughs
I have to admit, that I have never been blown away by the design of the Abrams. However, getting more and more into the various conflicts in the Middle-East it is impossible to avoid this outstanding vehicle.
Adding the mine-plough is a nice touch from Tamiya. This is not the most contemporary kit for sure, but with this brand you can't go sour, I thought. But did I?
Well, it is exactly what it says on the tin. I think, I could have built a more dirty and beaten up vehicle, but I was rather careful: it is much more dificult to fix something that you have overdone than adding extra weathering at a later stage. Who nows, I might pick this project up again in 2024. However, for the time being I consider this as complete. Photos, as usually in the Gallery.
Merkava II. D.
From the Merkava family I had mk.I., mk.III and mk.IV. However, mk.II. has been missing for a long time. After the joy of the previous build it was time to buy the kit I desired for a long time: Takom's Merkava mk.2D.
Certain parts were the same as the mk.I. Hybrid's , but not as many as I would have expected. The quality of the kit is very similar: high level of details, many tiny parts, but all fitting very well. Still no anti-slip is provided, but I had plenty left from the previous build,
I have made a mistake on these IDF beasts: I painted the fire exhausts with red as I saw that on some photos, which turned out to be musem-modifications. Actual fighting vehicles have these painted to grey to match the main colour of the vehicle. Well, that's something to fix later. Check out the Gallery, should you want to see some photos.
Merkava I. Hybrid
The most impressive modern MBT is undoubtedly the Merkava, in my opinion. I am facinated by all of them. Working on the Chally reminded me all this. So, when I found out that I can get my hands on a Takom Merkava mk I. hybrid kit for a rather low price, I did not hesitate.
It looks like the year of panther has not only been temporarily suspended, but seriously re-considered and re-positioned to be the 'Half-year of the Panther', ha-ha-ha.
I can tell you now, I enjoyed every step of this build including adding the anti-slip surface from VMS Modeling Solutions. You can check out the final results here.
Challenger II.
I was committed to my initiative of the 'Year of the Panther' for 6 months. Then, this model came in to my possession. And, as you can guess, I couldn't resist...
The war in Iraq, the world of the modern MBT's has just diverted me. It was the combination of a couple of factors: I started to watch a couple of videos on youtube, I had the 'Owner's manual' book of this tank and step by step it caught me.
I also wanted to build something less complicated, yet decently detailed model. Tamiya is offering all this for a reasonable price..
How did I find this kit? Hopefully, I will catch up with the build reviews soon and you can find it out. However, until then I guess the gallery will give (at east a bit of it) away.
Panther II.
Panther II. was another exciting experiment by the German military in the second world war. it kicked off in 1943 as a part of an initiatve to bring all of the similar size German tanks to the same platform. This would have made all production much easier as many of the parts would have been compatible across different type of vehicles.
Panther II has never made it to production, but a few were probably produced as one has survived the war and is displayed a museum in the US. It did not have a turret, so an ausf G turret was added by the Americans later on. However, model companies usually provide this kit with the 'Schmalturm' which turret was indeed designed to improve the Panther, but at a much later stage and as a part of a different development workstream. Although such vehicle has not existed in real life, it caught my imagination.
If you'd like to know how it came along please check it out for yourself in the Gallery.
Panther D
The surviving ones of the initial versions of a vehicle were often used in the end of the war. Panther D's were produced in 1943-44 and some of them were used for training purposes from the very beginning of therir production. Once the allied forces and the Russian troops entered Germany these tanks were re-deployed to fighting formations. This one is supposed to be an example for such a tank.
A commander version with two colour camo with field-applied anti-aircraft armour on the engine deck and one of the stowage boxes just replaced.
Here is the Gallery for a couple of photos.
Flakpanther
It was a hasty decision - one could say. I saw a photo of a model of this unique vehicle and I knew I want to build one. But the truth is that I have already seen that photo once several years ago and it got stuck in the back of my mind. Now, the idea of the 'Year of the Panther' just brought this desire to daylight.
There is only one photo that proves the existence of such a hybrid vehicle from the late era of the war taken in Czechoslovakia. What is it exactly? A turretless Panther ausf D chassis used originally as a recovery vehicle re-purposed in the field by appying a flak anti-aircraft cannon onto it.
For more photis click the Gallery.
Bergepanther
I have to admit I have a few full-interior kits in my stash. Why haven't I built any of them yet? Well, there are two good reasons:
1.) I don't know how to display it in a way that all the details are visible
2.) I don't know if I could even complete one
However, after having seen a beautifiul diorama with a Bergepanther in its center the ice has broken and I decided to take a deep breath and give it a go. I have bought a Takom kit and spent 100+ hours on it. Did it worth it? You can decide it for yourselves.
Click here for the Gallery.
Here you can read about the build and see a lot of wip photos.
Steel wheel Panther
I was keen to build a proper steel wheel Panther. There were 24 of them produced by MAN in September 1944. There is no clear evidence why only 24 were produced and it is not fully clear why they stopped producng them. This concept was working on the Tiger I.'s and the Tiger II.'s and I couldn't find any convincing evidence why it was not fit for the Panther.
However, a few of them certainly went to the Ardennes and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. I was keen to build one of these. The biggest challenge I had foreseen was to apply the appropriate camouflage pattern
By the way: I have decided that 2023 would be the 'Year of the Panther' . I will arrange my modelling activity mainly around this vehicle in this calendar year.
The 'Famo' project
These halftracks have always inspired me and i knew once their time will come. I took a deep breath and invested in this massive kit. I have loved every moment of the build as Tamiya made it a joy to build.
These monsters were the primary recovery vehicles in the German army throughout the war. Although, three of them was required to tow a Tiger tank. But that's due to the sheer size of the Tiger. These vehicles were versatile and widely used. This project inspired me to finish off my Stug III. as it goes really nicely with the concept.
For mpre photos please visit the Gallery.
Tor-M2
- Anti-aircraft missile system
Back in February I decided to do something different. I wasn't quite sure, but when I saw this Zvezda kit, I knew what I wanted. Then, on the day of the delivery of the kit Russia attacked Ukraine and I lost my will to build this kit for a while. Then, some with more time and luck have built the scene when the Ukrainian tractor was towing one of these beasts and although I didn't want to copy others my appetite for this unique model kit came back and started working on it.
Have a look at the completed kit in the Gallery.
T-72B
The more I saw these really-really beaten-up Russiean tanks in the news of the curent Ukrainan war the more I wanted to build one again. I found a well-priced bundle deal on ebay (T90 and T72B, both Zvezda for £45) and went for it. The T72B was one of the infamously crued old kit from Zvezda, but I wanted to add some twists to it anyway.
I have to admit, that I love how it turned out finally.
If you are interested please visit the Gallery and see the final photos of it.
BMP-1
This little versatile vehicles played an important role in the armies of the Eastern block from the '70-ies. As a kid I saw them in Hungary much more often than any 'real tanks' (MTB's such as T55's or T72's).
No wonder I wanted to build one. When I found Trumpeter is offering a kit for this iconic vehicle of my childhood I decided to build one. As I could get my hands on Friul tracks for a reasonably good price, I couldn't wait to start.
You can have a walk-around of the final build in the Gallery here.
Panther ausf A early version
- Daimler-Benz production
I have never built a model for someone else before. However, earlier this year a really nice guy messaged me asking if I'd build a Panther for him. He said, he would send the kit, the friul tracks, decals, Atak zimmerit...everything. I couldn't resist and said yes.
The model is now complete, the photos are available in the Gallery.
How did the build go? You can find out about it here.
Jagdpanzer IV - a quick build
It was a moment of enlightment: I want to build a Jagdpanzer IV/L70!
These tank destroyers were particulaly successful in the last year of the war. They were deployed both on the Eastern and Western front.
Tamiya has one to offer: not an old design and is available for a reasonable price. This probably means a quick and smooth build, But is it quick and smooth indeed? We'll know it soon...
In the meantime feel free to check the Gallery for the final photos.
Build after an archive photo
I have known this photo for quite a few years now.
This shows an abandoned King Tiger left behind by the crew in Szentgál, Hungary in March 1945. They have probably ran out of fuel and decided to leave the tank behind. All useful equipment was removed (e.g. MG's, radios) and the main gun was also disabled. The 331A was painted on the tank later by the Red Army.
I thought this would be great if I could build this ecact tank. The end result looks good, although the turret numbers are not the right font type. But that might change...
For more details please see the build review on the 'Workbench'
MNH Panther ausf G
Panthers produced by MNH had a very distingushing camo pattern applied in the factory after mid-'44. It was a sudden decision that I want to build one of my favorite tanks with a camo pattern from March 1945.
Job is done, photos are now available in the Gallery.
The Build Review is just finished. Check it out!
Jagdpanther G1 early version
This kit was a Christmas present: an early version of the tank destroyer on a railway wagon prodeced by Takom. The Jagdpanther is finished, the flat car is still one to complete.
I have created my first scratch-made skirt armour and Ithink I have found the right foliage finally for these model kits.
Fpr more pics click here.