Scratch Build: TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod (Leichter LR223)

[MonsieurTox]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Dont know either for the engine bell area, like Lee said, there is no good pic of the bottom. On mine I used a part from the Chieftain or Centurion, cant remember, because I thought it looked cool and because I had to hide this molding line !! (I used the rotocasted hull from REL). That's just artistic license and I think that every pod built is different here but that give them their own personnality and I like the way the other built them ! That's just up to you to dress this with what you think to be good to the eye !

Haha thanks Lee, I was not able to remember what part I used for the engine bell lol I built so many from, I think, every 1/12 kit I had... I havent tried the Ford 003 rims, I should give it a try even if I'm not planning to replace mine !

Here's again everything looks good but to date, none of us has the correct parts for the engine bell I think... But yeah, gonna try the Ford 003, really... found so many parts on several TESB models from this model that I thought coming from other 1/12 F1... I'm probably wrong though

 

[marvin]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

OK, so no definite consensus on the origin of the engine bell rims. I'll see what I can use. If I get the Lotus III parts for my 8Rad pod I'll probably use those. Unless someone is able to hook me up with some Brabham rims off course. I'd also be interested in castings of the Brabham and Lotus rims if anybody has them...

I've edited the first post to keep all information provided by you guys in one place.

Marvin

 

[ralphee]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Julien, yes the 003 has a more stout rim, could be close.
Ive not found much in that kit since i bought it, but ive delved that much into it either, i know its a good BSG donor is all.

Lee

 

[MonsieurTox]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Julien, yes the 003 has a more stout rim, could be close.
Ive not found much in that kit since i bought it, but ive delved that much into it either, i know its a good BSG donor is all.

Lee

That's a great donor for the 32" MF and all the 1/12 F1 parts of the AT-AT are from this kit (including the rim wheel of the front Saturn V assembly and the brake calipers of the back !). Some parts as well used on the 8 footer !

I didnt know it was a BSG donor ! Anyway that's a must have !

 

[marvin]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Guys, I've been looking at our favorite auction sites, but how do I tell if the Jagdpanther 1/35 is the original issue and not the reissue?

Marvin

 

[ralphee]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

If i recall right, itll have the tank depicted in a desert tan, not a camo, also, im pretty sure the box art will point the tank facing to the right, not left, not the best expanation, and Julien may know better than me buddy but thats how id read a vintage.

lee

 

[marvin]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Thanks Lee.... and so the search continues.....

 

[MonsieurTox]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Lee's right, tan camo facing right. There's also another boxart, for the very first issue (with motor), tan with brown strips, facing left.

Anyway the new kit is the Late version of the Jagdpanther it has the regular 44/45 three tons camo (sand, red brown, green) and it's facing to the left. You dont want this one !

 

[marvin]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

So, the first set of greeblies or on. I love the way it starts to look less like Leichter hulls with 8Rad parts stuck on after you spray on some primer. I switched back to Tamiya primer at this point (was using industrial strength sprayable filler as a primer)..... don't know why I ever stopped using this stuff.... it goes on super smooth....

Still to do:

• Tubing, 8rad and flak parts along the seams (got all parts)
• Panzer part, 8rad and flak parts and the plastruct "maneuvering thrusters" (got all parts coming in the mail)
• Jagdpanther tank tread (can't seem to find an original tooling)
• JBT44b or Ford 003 rims engine bell (looks like I'm going to have to fork out some serious cash for one of these)
• Ferrari nose (a helpful member is hooking me up with a resin copy yay!)
• and perhaps some detaling around the engine bell to suit my own taste

Marvin

 

[marvin]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Got my vintage Panzer M/N today. Wasn't sure it was vintage when I bought it, but I'm pretty sure now! Box beat up, paper inserts yellowed to hell...... and the parts I need are the correct ones! Just have the vintage Jagdpanther (treads) and the engine bell (Ford 003/Brabham) left to find.

 

[marvin]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Got the whole front maneuvering thruster assembly on. I can't seem to find a vintage Jagdpanther (treads) so I have decided to go for the new Panther and swap the part out if I ever find the vintage tooling. The engine bell (Ford 003 Tyrrell) is in the mail and should arrive soon. The Ferrari nosecone is ready for molding so I can cast my five copies.

Sorry for the washed out pic.

 

[marvin]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

And there we are... finished! Well all that is left is painting the sucker, but I'll wait for that until I have both pods finished. Thanks a lot to all you guys who built one before me and especially Julien and Alan for info and most off all Lee for info and parts!

I ended up going with the 003 rims for the engine bell and I couldn't find a vintage Jagdpanther so I used the Panzer threads. I greebled up the engine area (no ref) to my own taste. Anyway, on with the show:

 

[almar bouwman]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Looks great Marvin. This one is still on my list. Hope to make one someday. Speaking of which, could you cast me some Ferrari nosecones :love? Yours look great.

 

[ralphee]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Marvin, a job very well done, very clean work, knocks mine out the park, but then, EVERYBODY'S knocks mine out the park :lol.

lee

 

[Scott Graham]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Older kits are the tank painted just yellow. Newer kits have camo scheme. I mean the box artwork.

 

[MonsieurTox]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Very clean work and crisp details ! I like it Marvin !

Lee, the other are not better than yours, they're all different while so similar ! None of them is 100% perfect but they all look great ! And yours was the first one, you can be proud of that

 

[moffeaton]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Looks awesome! I love the variants, too... and yeah, Lee - you were the pioneer!

 

[marvin]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Thanks guys! I spend quite some time sanding kit parts before putting them on. Just to get rid of seam lines and get things squared etc. My problem is stopping in time before overworking the parts..... :$ But this is why it takes me so long. Can't believe the progress Lee makes every weekend on those probe droid legs.... :eek

I also like the fact that all of these pods are slightly different, if only for the engine detail. Although, it doesn't really go with the Imperial mass produced war machine train of thought.

Thanks again for all input!

Marvin

 

[KrokoHunter]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Looks awesome Marvin

I've been pondering about building the LR232 for a while, since I have 4 232 sitting on the shelve (and the last one en route to me) ... and now I see this ..

Damn you Marvin .. Now I have to build this one too

There goes my "Only BSG Studio Scale Dogma" dammit

 

[marvin]

Re: Another Leichter TESB Probe Droid Despatch Pod

Hi Niels,

Yes this little model really grows on you the longer you see it . Very rewarding build and a good one to start your scratchbuilding hobby with, although I saw you already started on the TIE-Bomber as well (I also just started on mine as a side project).

Let me know if you have need any help!

Marvin