SleeperService

Hi Peter Finally feeling nearly normal now. However that means I'm back at work on Friday but I'll be a brave little soldier I'm becoming quite fond of the KV series I can see more following.

In between fighting my ill-health and brace of su projects I've been chipping away at this project and have got here. Stretched hull complete, it was easier to transfer the details to new sides as I discovered after cutting up the kit hulls and finding the inner faces were tapered. Turret shell built and all square and the engine deck with attempt two at the curved inlets. The first was not good....and then warped....I muttered. All placed together. It's a big beast already and I've not got the running gear on yet! I've now sorted out enough road-wheels and the right drive sprocket cover just need to find the 85mm gun barrel now. As the afore mentioned Su guns now seem to be playing nice I hope to get a crack on with this now.

Looks like I'll fail but not by much I hope as I believe I've got the rest of the layout sussed, famous last words..... I've bitten off more than I can chew again but I've learnt my lesson this time. Been a great GB and even better if I hadn't been reduced to my phone for access.... Thanks Jockney I have several KUTA entries already!

Greetings Comrades. Have I been having SPG fun? No I hate these models Yes I enjoy a challenge because of the opportunity one affords to improve my ability in so many areas . It has been as case of two step forwards, two back, one forward, pause, one back and on and on. Anyway enough of my ineptitude what have I achieved? General overview of the current situation. In the pegs are the third attempt at the driver's cupola, the second version of the engine decks (with the scar of a previous cupola attempt), and the HB T-34 roadwheels because the Tamiya ones are the early type and I need the late ones. At least I noticed before attaching them Hull bottoms primed and fettled with trackguards from a coke can. One axle has broken off but I didn't notice before it had scuttled away to hide. Easier and quicker to make a new one methinks. Upper works. The rear needs the smoke dischargers which is today's task. I've finally got my head round the track tensioner covers and the details on the sides so they're next. The roof is straight-forward and I've got some Dust 1947 Russian weapons sets with DhsK machine guns which are styrene and should detail up OK. My good mate Jim Hill is machining my 35th 90mm Pershing and Su-85 for the 122 and 100mm guns. There's 7 feet of Salters 10thou rod as weld seams on those two I nearly lost the will to live and it took ages. However I'm quite happy with the effect so that's OK. I'm glad I opted for these but perhaps I have overreached as they're my first scratch-build in a very long time and I underestimated the time it took to get this far. I'll keep this thread going to completion and I hope it won't be long. I have rethought some other GB entries to avoid yet more 'failed-to-finish' reports

Would it be too much to ask for an opened drivers hatch? Nearly every picture has the driver's head out. I see I'll be getting more practice filling in ejector pin marks on the track runs. At least they're on the inside unlike the HB T-34

I seem to remember this being done in one of the Airfix Modelling Guides. The author used the Bedford tractor wheels from the Queen Mary suitably widened. EDIT: I seem to remember seeing one built like this with a modified Airfix Leopard road-wheel as the whee centre.

Further to the above. Track sag can be easily added using hot (but not boiling) water. Get the resin warm sag the track and then run under cold water. I must admit that I tend to join two lengths together flat on the bench. If a third section is needed one joint on the flat bottom joint and then the last on the drive sprocket which I glue after painting. They are a bit fiddly to start but well worth the hassle to learn the technique.

I've started but lost a period due to ill-health. Concentrating on the Prototype GB at the moment then this, then hopefully the MiB GB (which I'm still waiting for my order to arrive).

@cocky05d I've seen much worse, mainly on my built shelf I'd suggest thickening up the camouflage colours but no more. It looks like you have an issue with decal film on a couple. Either polish the paint or put gloss varnish on where the decals go, then matt overall when done. I find it easier to weather over a varnish coat as it's more consistent than several paint colours. Regarding German tools the wire cutters had dark red handles ALL tools were either Panzer grey or Dark Yellow. They may or may not have camouflage over them. At least that's what everybody has told me. Weather or not?...That's your preference I've just finished my first ever weathering which I'll post soon but found a lot of help here. Troy is a decent bloke but, like everybody, can be misunderstood on the Interweb. I think people think of it as talking whereas it's more like writing letters. He certainly wouldn't launch a deliberate attack IMHO.

OK I'm back Here is part of the correspondence I've had with the Tank Museum: The 12th Lancers vehicle we have a photo of is listed as a Mk IB Control. It also has an OP designation, but that’s been crossed out! The interesting thing about all the images I have seen of these vehicles is that the stowage bin on the turret is a slightly different shape at base of the gun tanks turret. The gun tanks all have a squared off base, the Control (or Command, depending on who filled in the Card!) have the slightly angled bottom corner. We hold a few very photocopied images of the interior of the turret of what is described by the Army as either a Rear Link or Control & O.P. tank. There doesn’t appear to be a gun in the turret, just lots of radios! We don’t appear to have any other documents that mention these vehicles, so how official the original modifications were I don’t know. So the turret boxes would have been needed as there were more radios inside compared to the Cromwell OP/Command. Hence the modification. Main gun and co-ax machine gun removed turret fixed facing forward. In another message: I don’t think the registration can be 33ZR70, according to our Key Cards that registration belonged to a Churchill Mark IV. It might be a T number without the T as Comet numbers ran from T334901 to T337900. I’m just not certain what the middle numbers are. So it looks like it is the 'T' number without the T after all. T335958 was certainly a 'radio' tank as there is a photo of it at the Tank Museum. It is captioned as 9th Lancers. So a partial answer but more to find.

FWIW I think Murdo's entry would be most appropriate. Not all casualties are caused by direct enemy action. Given my woeful record in GBs I think a year long one would be excellent perhaps ending on 11/11. Going with the lesser know campaigns I'm planning a Ford Model T patrol car converted from the 48th ambulance kit. If somebody does the obvious and releases a British rhomboid in 48th I'd be delighted (and broke).

An interesting idea. I'm in Nevil Shute 'piloted' the Great Panjandrum explosive carrier at Westward Ho! and, IIRC helped develop it. I found and copied the report at Kew so finally have the reference material I need.

If it sells I'm sure they will. Just talking on the phone with my mate about this. Can be backdated all the way to the early days in West Germany. Loads of potential.

Is this the new re-issue with the resin tail planes as well or the earlier offering? I hoped KP would improve the rest of the resin as well but maybe not? You've made a good start on a challenging kit. As noted the real thing is a bit crude in places which may help you.

Could you do me a huge favour. Pretty please. If you've small enough drill bits what is the diameter of the 'rivet' dimples on the kit please. I'm intending to use microspheres to make the dome rivets the beast actually had and want to make sure I have the right size.