The Modelling News: Picture n' Video Build: Takom's Hanomag SS100 w/Meillerwagen & V-2 Rocket by David Damek

Today we have our first video build from David Damek - you may know him by his PLASMO - plastic models YouTube channel. David has taken on Takom's first in the new line of 1/72nd scale kits in the 5000 series, the Hanomag SS 100 with Meillerwagen & V-2 Rocket. His build shows the kit as a long forgotten secret weapon of war. See what's in the kit & how it builds up in text, photos & video in today's story.

Video Build: Hanomag SS 100 w/Meillerwagen & V-2 Rocket
From Takom
1/72nd Scale
Kit No #5001

Takom's Facebook Page

If you are modeller and fan of 1/72 scale, you probably do not know much about relatively new Chinese model company called Takom. Their plastic kits are mostly in 1/35th scale, and these are some of the best or the best on the market. Their kits are often full of parts with excellent details. Naturally, I was quite curious when I heard that they are going to start a new series of kits in 1/72nd scale. Hopefully, the quality they have shown in larger scale kits would translate across to their first kit in this smaller scale. The kit I have for you today is the German V2 rocket with Hanomag SS100 and Meillerwagen in 1/72 scale.

It seems to be fashionable to make easy kits with a lower parts count with simplified details, therefore, I was surprised when I opened the box.

Lots of parts in there for such a small kit!

You will find inside the box four large plastic sprues with photo-etch parts and rubber wheels. It looks like fun for a few hours. Some pieces are smaller than one millimetre, and with a clear conscience, I can say that this kit is not for beginners. You will need sharp tweezers and a lot of patience.

So let's start with model assembles. I cut out plastic parts from the sprue. I highly recommend using some good quality and sharp side cutters for plastic. In my case I used Tamiya. In any case, you must be careful not to loose small plastic parts. I know what I am talking about 😆.

I removed pin holes and the kit's moulded serial number with a Proxxon Micromot 50e rotary tool with a rounded head on the tip.

Lucky for us these imperfections of the kit making process are in hard to see places, so even if you do not remove them, they are hardly visible after assembly.

I glued plastic with Mr cements SP. It is almost the same as Mr Cemnent S or Tamiya cement.

I like these types of fast-drying glues because they evaporate very quickly so you do not need to wary about details being lost under melting plastic glue for more than a few seconds.

The parts of the trailer assembly are cleaned up and nicely detailed, especially for this scale.

An easy to follow and simple assembly process sees this kit come together pretty fast. There are still some pretty small photo etch parts and details like the gas cylinder bottles that are numerous and somewhat time-consuming but the detail is really worth the result.

The main parts of the kit ready for painting.

The model after assembly looks lovely. It is a shame to paint it. You can choose from a static position or ready to fly.

I cleaned all the imperfections and joints with putty for plastic and then clean access putty with sandpaper.

I used 500 grit to get the flush finish and 1000 for the final polish.

I had destroyed or filed panel lines with putty in the process, so I rescribed them with razor saw.

In 1/35 scale V2 rocket I saw a lot of rivets. Therefore, I made them also on the kit. I use the SBS Model Dousek rivet tool.

Often you cannot see all of the kits imperfections on the bare light grey plastic, so I used a slightly unifying layer of matt grey primer which reveals to me a lot of them.

I used Black Mr colour surfacer for rubber wheels it adheres to surface better than other acrylic colour makes.

For me, the most fun part of the whole model is painting. I use Tamiya acrylic colour diluted with lacquer thinner. Tamiya acrylic paints are more like lacquer then acrylic, therefore, lacquer thinner is more suitable for them. I like colour modulation and heights on my models, also sometimes heavy weathering. I chose the typical German grey marking, so it is not difficult to follow this technique in these steps...

First I painted the model with NATO Black colour. It is the right base colour for the drakes artificial shades. Then I used only lighter shades. So I mixed German grey with Royal Light grey and painted with this colour raised areas and details.

I made the same procedure again with even more lighter shade. Like German grey colour more blue than grey, so I put a few drops of blue IJN grey colour.

I fixed the result with clear lacquer varnish and then played black enamel wash. The base is acrylic covered with lacquer vanish, so you do not need to wary about previous work if you will use enamel products.

I wanted to dirty this truck up a little, so a little dirt in amongst the tire pattern more pronounced. I used AK Interactive's dust effects for gears.

The Tamiya Panel liner is a simple tool that quickly gives definition in this smaller scale.

I wrote that I "sometimes" like weathering 😆, that might be an understatement, and in this is the case I used Abteilung oils for this, the Burnt Umber shade is just right in this case.

Now I apply more shading layers, leaks, splashes, and stains with dark brown oil paint. More about the technique in the video below. I add wear and interest with scratches which I painted them with acrylic colours.

In the end, I achieved more much colour contrast with Abteilung's light grey oil paint.

Here is the completed truck - P.S. my hand is 1/1 scale (just so you know) - it shows the small size of the vehicle compared to the detail on show...

I used all the same techniques for Meillerwagen trailer, adding detail with acrylics.

So this is the result, a beaten up, stained and used trailer, that looks like it is ready for more work.

It only remains to paint V-2 rocket. I chose camouflage marking from the box art. I painted colours form the lights one and cover them afterwards with Revell masking tape.

Sometimes is necessary to paint colour modulation with an airbrush and dark brown and green shades.

I tried to mix different colour wash for each colour, but in the end, I used regular dark brown liquid.

The rocket looked dull and clean instead of a weathered truck. Therefore I painted leaks and stains at rocket surface also with oil paint.

After the oils, I used the dark brown Tamiya Panel Liner to highlight the rivet detail that was carefully added.

So that is it. The model is now finished with all of the necessary elements added. The kit is an impressive model and in this scale the detail is excellent. A simple build that leaves a lot of room to the imagination with painting and weathering. I liked it a lot