Agreed!
Once grinding cleaning up track links wrapped, the campaign and build have been a ton of fun!
Hats off to @RonW for coming up with the idea and a great set of rules to inspire!
All Hail! Wink 
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Thanks Peter! Yes, I prefer Nigel I grew up with far too many people named James, so I prefer that
Excellent kitbash work mate! You really are giving new life to the old kit.
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Hey folks! Another quick update on mine. I think she’s near the finish line. I was advised to re-do the panel lining because the dust hid em, and I’m considering painting the wooden block at the rear engine deck to give a bit of variation
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Well done Nigel, looks really good. I think you’re right about the wooden block, it does sort of disappear when looking from above… Maybe just a gentle couple of brush strokes to give it a darker tone do you know it’s a chunk of wood under the dust ?
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Just scar the block up from some use and a little paint chipped off.
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The jack block was usually painted the same colour as the vehicle. Some modellers (me included) paint it a wood colour to add some variation - artistic license. Another option is chip the corners and edge in a couple of places to show wear when it has been used or add a little stowage to add an alternate source colour. E.g. a rolled up ground sheet or air recognition flag tucked in where the fender meets the hull, a gray with white cross Jerry can laying down on the engine deck to the left the jack block - say the crew welded a flat strip of metal vertical to the engine deck that goes up between the handle and the can to keep it in place, etc. A couple of pics, one showing the ground sheet and jerry cans, the other the flag. Rolled up, you can get away with just the one contrasting colour.
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So, I am calling the venerable Tamiya 88mm from 1972 done.
I enjoyed the build from start to finish. No real issues with any of it. Everything went together as it should, and I am already thinking of getting another one.
All paints were Tamiya, and I used some MIG pigments for the final finish.
I haven’t applied any decals to it, as not all of them were marked, and I’m thinking of doing a little Dio for this in the future.
I didn’t end up doing the remains of a whitewash, I don’t think it needs it.
Also happy with just one salvaged cammed bogie from another gun to give it a bit of contrast.
Thanks to @RonW for setting this build up. There are great old kits being built and can’t wait to see some more over the finish line…
This was my 8th campaign/build completed this year, and 10th kit…
And now a semi clean bench 
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Nicely done. Really like the things you did to make make it more interesting like the wheel and the camo.
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run away run away.
Great looking build, congratulations.
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Cheers @Armorsmith & @Tank_1812. It’s a decent little kit in all fairness.
I just saw one on eBay for £17… But the majority are all under 20… It is great value for money in my opinion…
Hi all,
@Konjuro As I said before, the little Pz. II bring me fond memories. This was my first armor kit. I build it in my parent’s house in the early 80’s. Love it!
@Johnnych01 Great 88, now do a Sd.Kfz. 7 to tow it. You can do a Tamiya or a Dragon one for a more detailed option, don’t get the Trumpeter as it has wrong profile mudguards.
What I do is what follows.
I give a nice coat of Vallejo German Dark Yellow to everything. Spot some mistakes, correct them and repaint. Here´s the result.
I did the rest of the kit but no photos of that.
Cheers!
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Been doing some work on the SDKFZ over the past week. Not quite OOB, i’ve removed the water container (ambulance only) and added the armour plating and stowage racks inside
I’ve added an ID flag to the front end, though i’m planning to set this in the Western Desert, did they have ID flags on these then?
and finally the wheels and a couple of other bits. Replaced the MG shield with Brass plate
Enjoying this build
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Wow a lot of new posts.
The 88 is fantastic John. Looks like it really has been used.
Loving the Mobelwagen Raul.
Yes Colin, they used air recognition flags in Africa. More prominent in photos of captured vehicles, but of course they had to have them in the first place…
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Very, very fine results John. A beautiful model. It’s fun to do an OOB build every so often, just to cleanse the palette. I like your light weathering and the odd trailing wheels adds a lot of character to it. Just an excellent build.
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Love what you are doing to this old baby!
Thank you guys, @petbat, @SSGToms & @Raulito. I tried to make it a bit more worn and used as I figured these 88’s would take a pretty decent hammering even when not in use. Hooking the bogie’s up, lots of metal on metal contact, the arms always on the ground, in the mud, freezing, thawing etc etc…
Have to say it again, it is a great build even OOB… And I don’t get why they are so cheap ? … Good news for me though as I intend to get 1 or 2 more in the new year
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@Johnnych01 are you going for an entire battery?
Here’s what little progress I have made. The wheels all required sanding to remove the seam running along the surface.
@kunjuro My PzKpfw II compared to the IV
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Damn… I just realised I didn’t paint the white on the dials… Will remedy that tomorrow if I get the chance… If not boxing day