Model Military International – September 2019

FEATURE ARTICLE Tamiya 1:48 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. L • Kit No. 32524

42 Model Military International - September 2019

The tiny hooks that

hold the armour plates

were soldered before

their removal from the

sheet. Even though

the joints produced by

soldering are stronger

than by gluing, this

still didn’t prevent me

from damaging some

of the details during

the later stages.

I then added the

subsequent photo-

etched parts.

However, sometimes

it was better to

modify the plastic

details instead, as

was the case with the

frontal armour plate

supports. The Hauler set also included some fine tool fittings. To install these, I had to fill the original mounting holes. The easiest

way to use some plastic discs that had been punched using the RP Toolz ‘Punch and Die Tool Set’.

The antenna trough

didn’t have a photo-

etched counterpart,

so I had to deepen it

with a flat file.

I then made the

antenna itself

from a stretched

length of sprue, as

the kit contained

only the base.

With numerous other parts, the addition of Hauler’s photo-etched details seriously improved their appearance.

Upgrading the tow cables located on the engine plate, was time-

consuming. Since I was afraid that laying out a metal cable in such

a way may turn out to be troublesome (plus I didn’t have a properly

sized cable at hand), I decided to refine the plastic part. I started

by removing the fittings and enhancing the recessed detail, using a

similar method as with the case of tools that had been moulded onto

the fenders.

I now marked the required position of the cable and all its fittings onto

the engine plate.

The photo-etched fittings were added one after another. After each

step, I ensured that the cable arrangement remained correct.