Blown Away! Dragon's 1/35 Flagship Marder III H

Welcome to my detailed 1/35th scale build of the WW2 German Marder III H by Dragon! In this video, I showcase the extra details and custom add-ons I've incorporated to enhance the standard kit. From intricate scratch-built parts to aftermarket accessories, watch as I transform this iconic WWII tank destroyer into a masterpiece. Join me for tips, techniques, and inspiration for your own model armour building projects!
What's Inside:
Comprehensive overview of the Dragon Marder III H kit
Step-by-step enhancements and custom detailing
Use of aftermarket parts and scratch-built components
Final model reveal with close-up views
Materials and Tools:
Dragon Marder III H kit
Custom scratch-built parts
Aftermarket detail accessories
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Free Patreon Page: patreon.com/AF...
Hashtags:
#ModelArmorBuilding #MarderIIIH #DragonModels #WW2ModelKits #ScaleModeling
Credit goes out to @LocktOnArt who's series of videos influenced the way I went about creating my version 🙏
Thanks for tuning in! Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below!

[@davidpowell6098]

Fantastic and entertaining, you are a master of your craft and make everything look so easy. Thank you for posting.

[@afv-studio]

Thanks David I am glad you enjoyed the video.

[@gregorysuddeth581]

You have the hands of a surgeon. Amazing work.

[@afv-studio]

Thanks Greg...Tweezers and scalpel the 2 most versatile tools for model making

[@ArmorModelsbyGlennBartolotti]

I do the tracks the same way except I join them on the sprocket. nice build 👍

[@afv-studio]

Thanks Glenn. Come to think of it I usually do it your way as well. Maybe this time as it all went on so easy I just thought I would grab both ends with the tweezers and clamp it together. I like your work BTW, I'll probably be over more to get some diorama tips in the future.

[@ArmorModelsbyGlennBartolotti]

@@afv-studio thanks man and yeah you did it just fine. It just always seemed that when it grabbed on the drive sprockets I didn’t have to fool with it as much but I felt like I was doing it myself lol👍. He definitely have better building skills than me!

[@afv-studio]

@@ArmorModelsbyGlennBartolotti Thanks, I need to work on my painting skill a bit more to get to your level. Getting better every build 😉and I will mention that @LocktOnArt had a big influence on how I went about doing this kit.

[@daniellejones5981]

Beautiful Work! One of my Favorite Kits!!! I've built two of them! The only thing I didn't like was Ejector Pin Marks on the inside of the Fighting Compartment... 5 whole minutes to fix, poor me 🤣😂🤣 My other was the Dragon Marder II, it's just as good!!!

[@afv-studio]

Thanks Danielle. It's aways the way when there is some interior to work on. I'll bank your Marder II tip and keep an eye out for it, when I'm trawling through Cyberhobby. Hopefully it will get a rerelease some time, and I can bag it then.

[@ВикторЗ-г6ф]

Отличная работа! Смотреть приятно и поучительно-позновательно!

[@afv-studio]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@algizWl]

Шикарно! Если сам буду строить, ничего не буду выдумывать - просто попытаюсь повторить вашу работу👏👏

[@afv-studio]

Your welcome. Thanks

[@scaleffect]

Outstanding work, looking forward to seeing this painted up

[@afv-studio]

Thank you sir 🫡 I am looking forward to painting this one as much as I enjoyed building it.

[@paulus1412]

Looking good! And no the pics didn't spoil the video ;)

[@afv-studio]

Thanks Paul 🤣. Yes I'm here thinking all the guys over on patreon will be disappointed because the suspense of ''where is he going this this build'', wont be there, as they have been following along every step of the way. Glad you still found it entertaining to watch 👍

[@ho-2036]

Beautiful work! Those working hinges are great.

[@afv-studio]

Thanks, they were bit tricky and I lost the bond a few times due to mishandling but they are holding now and I know now to handle with extra care now.

[@LZScaleModeling]

A beautiful kit in itself transfomed in a jem by your wonderful detailing work. Bravo!!!!!

[@afv-studio]

Much appreciated LZ. @LocktOnArt had a big influence on how I went about it. 🫡

[@HagenChristoph]

Well done - an expert

[@afv-studio]

Your too kind, But... Thank you 👍

[@KGmodels]

Great work! As you can see from my vids, I will never have the nerves to do all this PE ;) Anyways, I always love these Panzer 38 based vehicles, especially that they are so tiny! Can’t wait to see what scheme you do on this :)

[@afv-studio]

Thanks mate. Its surprising how quickly you can develop your PE skills and that leads you on to scratch building your own parts. When I got back into model making less than 2 years ago, I had no experience of proper PE. 25 years ago when I last did some modelling they where only starting to introduce PE engine deck grills into kits so you can see that this last 2 years has really been my sole experience of it. My advice is... Dont be put off, and have a go. The 1st real PE i did was a Voyager set for my Hetzer... 2 full sheets of it and it was a complete failure.... But I learnt a lot failing and wasnt put off, just tried to be less ambitious. Tools you need are: Plenty of various tweezers and clean scalpel blades... A Tamiya Diamond file to make cleanup easy, One of those cheap maginfying headsets and as long as you have a metal ruler you can leave getting the bending tool till later. That panther with the air defence armour is a perfect one to get started with a little more than engine grills.

[@KGmodels]

Thanks for the info! Although I’ve never had any experience with those huge voyager upgrade kits, I do find that I improve with the PE given. I am still yet to start that Panther, and it definitely will be a great test bed for my skills.

[@afv-studio]

@@KGmodels Its not actually too bad, just one bend on each of the fenders(the metal rule is needed there), and a few other fairly easy bits to make up. it would be a good start for you and a confidence builder. You do want that diamond file though so you can clean those little nubby bits that get left behind from cutting.

[@afv-studio]

@@KGmodels You know you are welcome to join the Patreon I have set up. It is free.. as I'm sure I've made clear every post here. Its starting to gather pace, and there is small but growing community over there. Also the shorter videos I am making about techniques are over there now and youtube is just going to be my longform showcase so-to-speak. I post Updates at last every week you are able to comment and talk about anything modelling related. Take a look and try it out. It would be nice to see some more of my long time supporters over there. 🫡

[@joelthorne2304]

​@afv-studio I can agree, photo etched details seem like a lot at first, but so far on the academy Panzer 35(t) on my bench the def models detail set has been very fun to add. It's good to know that debonder won't make little bits fall off, I'll give it a go when I'm cleaning it up.

[@gruppenfuhrer45]

Wow awesome job and love the details. Cheers

[@afv-studio]

Your welcome commander 🫡

[@SergeyAverin-kb7gw]

. it's great! Thank you!

[@afv-studio]

Thank you Sergey 👍

[@AlexG-ex4sg]

nice job!

[@afv-studio]

Thanks Alex.

[@Richman0815]

I hate the little PE parts. Making functioning joints out of them is insane.🤯 Very, very good work. I'm really impressed. 😲 What is that thin tape you used to make the ammo straps? The cables on the motor and radio look really great, but unfortunately even they are completely oversized for this scale. @27:00 This is the holder for snow grippers that can be mounted on the tracks to provide better grip on snow and ice. Unfortunately, these are not included in the kit. Fantastic video, thanks for showing it and I even learned a little about gluing these tiny PE parts. Thank you very much.

[@afv-studio]

Thanks Richman, This was a little project to test myself really. The tiny PE tool clamps are a nightmare to build, the hinges less so. I recently bought some 3D printed clamps so hopefully I can use these instead of etch when I need to. The tape was Tamiya masking tape. I agree, I should have used a little thinner wire for the radio. Thanks, I did find out in the end what the perforated box was all about 🤣 Glad you enjoyed the video and found some of it useful 🫡

[@lesthiele4921]

That is a totally excellent build, as for the PE, I would give it a go if and when I have a kit that has it included, best regards from Australia, Les

[@afv-studio]

Thanks Les. I realised I would have to do something good with this kit as soon as I looked in the box. If you haven't done much PE before I would hold off on this kit. There are better options for for trying out your PE assembly skills. The Miniart T34/85 D-5T Plant112. Spring 1944 (35293) is a great looking model and has better selection of PE if you need to try your skills. Its a really nice finished model too.

[@lesthiele4921]

@@afv-studio greetings my friend, thanks for the advice, I do have Miniarts full interior T-55 to start ONE DAY, I would like to do another T-34 as I have just about finished the old but great Tamiya T-34, very best regards from Australia, Les

[@upperwarlord7744]

I just got the Marder II from dragon I'm definitely looking forward to making it

[@afv-studio]

Nice, These little SPG's are usually great kits from Dragon. Even though the instruction are bad and hard to follow, the mouldings are really good and the fit is usually perfect baring the odd thing like the viewport on this kit 🫣

[@upperwarlord7744]

@@afv-studio honestly dragon is really good for having confusing instructions with a lot of their stuff, I was looking at the way the lit is and it's definitely interesting I might get aftermarket PE and stuff for it

[@afv-studio]

@@upperwarlord7744 Yeah so there must be a reason we are willing build them rather than a kit with a glossy manual. Its because they make great little kits like this one, and any modeller worth his salt will plan his build and test fit everything along the way so no issue. Good luck with that Marder II. 🫡

[@upperwarlord7744]

@@afv-studio I'm definitely looking forward to the build I just finished a full interior RFM Panzer iv ausf J so it's definitely going to be a easier build

[@afv-studio]

@upperwarlord7744 I have the Panzer IV J late production (no interior) waiting for me to get around to building. Everybody says its a really nice PZ IV. I must get it off the shelf sometime and find out.

[@Mauscmkwk]

7:28 I would have replaced those tracks with workable ones

[@afv-studio]

I dont mind either single link or link and length track as long as I can get a natural look from them. Besides that's £30 saved for a new kit

[@johntvrdy6465]

Great vid and skill !! I like your photo etch tools what brand is it ?

[@afv-studio]

Thanks John. I use a lot of tools made by Dspiae... I would recommend as good quality. They also make a really nice pin vice set (not the 1 seen in this video) and 'Godhand' like side cutters. There are lots of reviews of their tools on youtube do a quick search, they are really nice to use, and best pricing is on Aliexpress.

[@tonymorgan9533]

Amazing work... are you a professional....?

[@afv-studio]

Thanks Tony. No I couldnt really make a living from doing this. This is just my hobby and AFV Studio is where I show my work. But thanks for thinking I might be 🫡

[@tonymorgan9533]

@@afv-studio No problem.... keep up the good work...

[@rrl4245]

Looks great! But what is that loader looking at? The gun breach? The gunner? The commander? or nothing????

[@afv-studio]

Yeah the expressions are not great but I will look at the head position when I come to paint them and hopefully I can sort this out. There was mention of the Hobbyboss figures which I'll check out. Thanks for your comment 🫡

[@afv-studio]

Actually another thank you is due. After your comment I remembered that the driver had an optional head the was looking to the right. The expression was far more determined as well. So was an easy swap and now he's looking at the breach. thank you for pointing that out. 👍

[@rrl4245]

@@afv-studio I'm pleased that you accepted my 'constructive criticism' and that your diorama will be better for it.

[@willthorson4543]

Love it not the biggest fan of the 2crew on the gun. Too stiff. Thereare some really nice resin figures for this kit. Hobbyboss does a crew for a self propelled guns that has a commander leaning and looking thru his binoculars and a guy loading the pak. His face is even stressed. Pretty cheap too.

[@afv-studio]

Thanks Will, I'll look into those Hobbyboss crew and maybe use for another SPG project in the near future. Thanks for the tip 🫡

[@willthorson4543]

@@afv-studio they are old Trisstar plastic figures.

[@Backoffridge]

Coolio

[@afv-studio]

Thanks

[@markcharles2853]

Hi great work I was wondering what is the name of company that you are using the bolt head from please and Thankyou

[@afv-studio]

Thanks.... The 'nuts and bolts' card is from Meng. the code is SPS-005 set A (small).They make a few size ranges. you want to get the card that has the 0.8 1.0 and 1.4 on it for this scale

[@markcharles2853]

@@afv-studio ok Thankyou very much.

[@FilipeLemos1964]

👋👋👋👍👍👍💪💪💪🥰

[@afv-studio]

🫡

[@shannonmonroe5873]

And for once, I enjoyed your music. Most modelers pick some annoying stuff….😂🫤

[@afv-studio]

🤣Guilty as charged 🫣 Well Im glad you stuck around despite the annoying soundtracks. I think I have decided that the soundtrack on this video is what most would prefer to listen too

[@shannonmonroe5873]

@@afv-studio I liked your format bro, it was fast and detailed at the same time. Refreshing

[@afv-studio]

@@shannonmonroe5873 Thats good to know. I wondered whether than fast pace would give some a headache when watching. I'm in the same camp as you, I don't want to sit for an hour only to find out I'll have to sit for another next month to find out how it turned out. This 1 was actually a long 1 for me but I couldn't fit it all into 20mins this time. Just to give you an idea, I had over 20 hours of video for this build, so It is possible cut away at it and still show everything you did.

[@shannonmonroe5873]

@@afv-studio I don’t think people appreciate all the hard work that goes into these and again, well done.