Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Land => Topic started by: Mig Eater on April 07, 2026, 08:19:05 AM
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I took part in a 24 hour Blitz group build over the weekend on a different forum, I thought I'd share the results here too.
I decided to go with Das Werk's Kugelpanzer
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_01.jpg)
This lttle ball tank is quite the mystery, a single copy is currently in the Kubinka Tank Museum but how it got there or even it's purpose is unknown. The current belief is that It was made by Krupp in the 1930's as a scout vehicle, depending on who you ask it was then either left in the German factory until 1945 were it was captured by the Soviets, or it was sold to the Japanese and used in Manchuria were is as captured by the Soviets at the end of the war.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Kugelpanzer_2025.jpg/1280px-Kugelpanzer_2025.jpg)
The entire model is only on one small sprue but you get two in the box and decals for four different versions.
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_02.jpg)
After a few hours of clean up all the parts were ready
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_04.jpg)
I applied some Mr. Surfacer to the wheels to add some texture to the smooth plastic and to also try and fill a large seam running down the middle of the wheels.
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_05.jpg)
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_06.jpg)
I then covered the balls in some black primer.
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_08.jpg)
History can't decide if this hamster wheel was used by the Germans or Japanese, as there are two kits in the box tho I can do both!
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_10.jpg)
I added chips and scratches to the paint with a sponge and then highlighted the larger chips on the German grey with a rusty brown. The Japanese tank is painted brown already tho so rusty paint chips obviously wont work, so I used dark metallic paint over the chips instead.
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_12.jpg)
I dirtied them up a bit with a light dust effect on the German tank and a dark mud on the Japanese version, its not as noticeable tho as its brown mud on a brown tank ;D
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_13.jpg)
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_14.jpg)
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_15.jpg)
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_16.jpg)
(http://migeater.net/models/photos/kugel_17.jpg)
It took me roughly 18 hours in total over 3 days (6 hours a day) to finish the build, it was a fun little kit that was perfect for a quick build.
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They came out great!
It would have been so easy for them to mold the tracks as one unit or completely on the outer section.
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Looks fun!
Unfortunate choice of location by the manufacturer for that mold seam.
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I think the seam is there because the wheels are fitted together with a poly cap in the middle so they can rotate. I just glued them in place tho as it would have been a pain to paint with the wheels spinning around.
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Technically, it's more like a Tonnenpanzer (barrel tank) rather than a true Kugelpanzer...
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As tiny as that thing is it would really benefit from the application of scale-0-rama to something that could be a bit more plausible. Maybe 1/72nd scale?
Overall, excellent effort and both "Rollers" look good.
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As tiny as that thing is it would really benefit from the application of scale-0-rama to something that could be a bit more plausible. Maybe 1/72nd scale?
Overall, excellent effort and both "Rollers" look good.
scale-0-rama would be a good fit. Since they come two to a box, two kits would be a nice start on an...interesting four wheel armored car. Come to that, one kit would suffice for an armored motorcycle...
Very nice work on the models. Thanks for the inspiration!
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I like the idea changing the scale and joining them together to make something new, a 1/24 dieselpunk motor/quadbike could be cool.
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:smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
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There is certainly various articles from the 1930’s describing ball tanks with multi man crews up to four or five. They would be much bigger so 1:72nd scale would be very plausible. They also describe a ridiculous number of guns so personally I would tone that down.
I’ve thought about making one from one of those empty plastic Christmas ornament balls from the craft store and some left over M41 track.
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The "Tumbleweed" tank from the July 1936 issue of Popular Science magazine. I made a 3D model of this spiky ball awhile ago with the intention of 3D printing it at 1/35 scale but never got around to it.
(https://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/14/cabinet_014_maliszewski_paul_001.jpg)