Building my first model: TESB LR232 and 223 Despatch Pods

[almar bouwman]

After a long time I've finally decided to take the plunge and built a model. I think the LR 232 is a nice model to start my model building journey. I've read a lot of threads on several forums so I think I know what I'm getting into. The only thing I'm afraid of is getting addicted :lol.

First of all, I wanna thank all the guys that idenitified all the parts they used for the pod. They deserve all the credits, I'm just following in their footsteps.

I'm gonna document everything step by step so I hope this thread will be a great help to future (newbie) modelbuilders.

From what I've read I'm gonna need these kits:

1/72 Hasegawa Morser Karl
1/35 Tamiya Schwerer Panzerspahwagen Sdkfz 232 (8Rad)
1/35 Tamiya 20mm German Flakvierling 38 MIT Sd.Ah. 52
1/25 Tamiya Russian Medium Tank T-34 Type 85
1/12 Tamiya Lotus JPS MK III
Plastruct LF-416
Plastruct VHE-40


Right now the only kit I've got is the Tamiya Flak 38. Several more are on the way though. If you wanna use all original parts you'll need 5 kits. I've studied pics of the model and the kit itself and I think these parts are the ones I need:
A3, A5, A9, A10, A13,
E10, E11
F17
To make it a little easier, here are some pics.

A3

A5

A9, A10, A13

The other side

F17

E10, E11. #11 is broken though, but we can fix that. No problemo

If I missed some pieces please let me know and I'll modify this post.

That's all I've got for now.
When I get some more stuff I'll show you.

 

[ralphee]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Great to hear Almar you'll have some fun with this one for sure. Yes it is five kits on the Flak, its that pesky part A5 that spoils the party :lol.

TBH, the money in either of these pods, if your using original parts, is quite frightening....but so worth it IMHO.

Good luck bud, eager to see your progress, and you should consider the Leichter variant too, they look great together.

lee

 

[el loco]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Hey Almar,
welcome to the world of studio scale modeling :thumbsup
Sadly it is an expensive world :thumbsdown

I'm also building the 232 Pod at the moment.
I think i could help you with the Tamiya Lotus rim-parts you need :love
pm send !

Andre

 

[almar bouwman]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Thanks guys,
I've already noticed this is an expensive hobby and I don't have a lot left at the end of each month. So I'm gonna take this slowly, but I have all the time in the world.

@ Andre, PM'd ya back

 

[moffeaton]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

I just built another one of those for a friend - I had ALL of the parts for two of them, it turns out!! THAT is embarrassing. It is a GREAT model to start with!

ESB Probe Droid Pod | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Dunno if that helps ya.

And yeah, build the other one too - it's a DOOZY!

 

[ralphee]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Thanks guys,
I've already noticed this is an expensive hobby and I don't have a lot left at the end of each month. So I'm gonna take this slowly, but I have all the time in the world.

@ Andre, PM'd ya back

Thats no big deal Almar, not everybody can afford pile upon pile of donor kits, so you'll really appreciate this little gem all the more, was great fun to ID her too.

lee

 

[moffeaton]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Lee really made the Pod(s) his baby, and man did he pioneer/nail them!

 

[ralphee]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Lee really made the Pod(s) his baby, and man did he pioneer/nail them!

Not without the help of "good people" Jason...the back of the 8rad would never have got done without them

lee

 

[almar bouwman]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

I've noticed that a lot of modelbuilders use some sort of adjustable device to attach to their model.
What is it? Where can I get it?

 

[Guy Cowen]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Panavise mounts, all over ebay. There pretty hard to come by in the UK, but some USA Ebay sellers will ship to Europe if you ask nicely

 

[ralphee]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Yeah i need some more, there a pain to get now, been looking for a Tele one for a while now, i need to dig deeper, as true Guy, many of those Ebay sellers, wont ship to the UK.

lee

 

[almar bouwman]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Just a question about the Hasegawa Morser Karl.

Is this one....

the same as this one?

The picture on the box is the same yet the first one is called 'THOR' Morser Karl.

 

[ralphee]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Sure is Almar, im sure at some point, i heard Hasegawa, molded this kit in a white styrene :confused, im yet to see one, but even so, its the same tooling.

lee

 

[MonsieurTox]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

I've heard the first issue was dark green ?
That makes dark green, dark gray, white and light gray !

 

[ralphee]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Its a Rainbow :lol Ive not seen a first issue Julien, in fact, EVERY Karl ive bought has been grey, no matter what the packaging, guess im just unlucky

lee

 

[MonsieurTox]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

I've read it was dark green for a very short time, the very very first release. Never seen it though !

Ive had both the light and dark gray plastic (like your Leo), I tend to prefer the darker styrene as it's stronger and it easier to sand, but the bad side is as you mentioned, it's hard to keep the true shape when it's warped...

 

[moffeaton]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

I have a dark green one (it's a green grey - very subtle green) - VERY BRITTLE!! Avoid! Most of mine are dark grey or light grey. The light grey is kind of buttery... but they ALL have those darn sinkholes.

 

[almar bouwman]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Okay, next up is the Tamiya 1/12 Lotus JPS MK3.

You'll be looking for these parts: sprue L, # 6,7,9

This is the way to stack 'em

A special thanks goes out to Andre (el loco) for helping me out with these parts :thumbsup.

 

[CutThumb]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Good luck with your build, it looks like you are off to a good start with all the pieces that you have . If you or anybody else is looking for an alternative to panavice in the UK (I've found it just about impossible to get hold of any) I've just had these delivered as an alternative . Its a CCTV camera mount/ bracket accessories from e bay from Eazy Security , £17 for 4 of them. They are about 23 cm high,and the bases will detatch if you want to drop the tube straight into a wooden block base .

They should do the job whilst you are building and they are hollow so you can get a cable up it easily if you want to light a kit. They would look better for display if sprayed black of course. As yet I've to find an attatchment into which the thread will screw to put inside the kit, other than to make one with expoxy sculpt and an aluminium tube if I cannot buy one, but the thread seems pretty standard for a nut . When the snow goes I'll get down to a DIY centre.

 

[MonsieurTox]

Re: Building my first model: TESB LR232 Despatch Pod

Very cool ! Is that imperial or metric thread ?