It’s been a week of slow but sure progress. A lot of this build has just been trial and error, building up things with plastic card, testing the fit and comparing it to the one single photo of the interior I have.
Through this process I think I’ve finally learned what the seat orientation was. Instead of metal trunk-like compartments with a bench cushion on top, I now think they were 4 legged table-like benches with a cushion on top.
I believe the object we see under the bench seat is actually 2 pak 40 ammo boxes on top of one another.
I think they were able to carry 4 boxes this way giving them an additional 12 rounds under the seats. This would make for 28 stowable rounds total, assuming they didn’t stuff additional rounds in the compartment.
All-in-all, a ton of work was put in this last week. I managed to completely gut the interior, build up and make adjustments to the ammunition box and shelf. I then was able to modify it too match the actual interior photo more closely.
I then went to work on the shield adding bolts and cutting in more defined panel lines.
I added textured metal floor plating to give it that shop-modified look.
The last few days have had me detailing the fighting compartment, adding features, adding putty and sanding non stop.
I purchased Border Model’s 1:35 Pak 40 which was an absolute joy to build. I supplemented in Panzer Art’s Pak 40 barrel, breach and muzzle brake.
I was able to build up an accurate gun mounting that very closely resembles the one in the photo.
It looks completely different from it’s original state but I am happy with it.
It will look much better when I’ve finished making final adjustments, glue everything down and can get a coat of MIG Ammo’s one-shot black primer on it.
