Sd.Kfz.234/4

Bronze medal

Awarded: Bronze

By: Jason Boulter

Manufacturer(s): UM

Modifications: Exhaust outlet pipes were replaced with scratch built items (styrene rod) and the openings were drilled out. The barrel of the MG42 and Pak40 were also drilled out and the antenna was replaced with a hair from a 100mm acrylic house painting brush. The figure was heavily modified with the torso coming from a figure in the "AB figures" winter tank crew for hatches set, the head from a Preiser set and the legs and feet made from wire and epoxy putty.

After-market parts: Stowage from Goffy, Preiser and Attack resin.

Description: This vehicle is from an unknown unit during the final stages of the "Battle for Berlin" late April early May 1945. It was masked with "silly putty" and airbrushed with Gunze Mr Hobby Color, Lifecolor and Vallejo acrylics then weathered with MIG filters, artists oils, artists pencils, graphite, Vallejo acrylics, Tamiya acrylics, Lifecolor Tensocrom acrylics and MIG pigments.

Judge 1
Nicely weathered in respect of chipping and mud splatters up the back. I felt the bottom might be a tad overdone with the mud, considering the setting (i.e. street fighting in Berlin). I very much like the rain-stained weathering effect. A slight overall misting of the tan colour might be helpful in merging the colours a bit and make some areas of the washes look a little less stark. There appears to be a little bit of misalignment in the back wheels (i.e. they appear slightly canted in the pics). Nicely photographed. Good composition, angles, and depth of field. Overall a good effort. Wayne
Judge 2
A good build and an attractive late war scheme. The paint chips and scratches are very nicely done, and I like the dust in the tyre treads and upper surfaces (especially appropriate considering the amount of street rubble in the particular setting). Some tonal variation in the panels would further add the already excellent paint finish.
Judge 3
A neatly built model, with the possible exception of slightly misaligned roadwheels. The lack of a more informative in progess picture makes judging the build difficult. The camo scheme while simple is both striking and appropriate and appears well executed. The gunshield does appear to be slightly 'flat' compared to the hull, lacking some of the subtle shading and streaking. The weathering is generally good and despite the contrast with the upper hull, the build up of muck under the vehicle seems reasonable to me. The paint chipping looks to be excellent, with small random chips in appropriate locations, although again the gunshield seems to have missed out somewhat. The areas of wear around the slightly battered looking right side fender lockers are a nice detail, but the lockers on the left look a little plain in comparison. The figure appears to be very well painted indeed and is a nice finishing touch that adds character to the model.