Phil Lewis Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 (edited) Been looking at this thing for a while and then a decision has been made. It was originally designed to be battery operated with a wired controller powering 2 electric motors driving each track separately (no longer required to work). The model itself was essentially complete except for most of the hull details and most of the parts had been given a nice coat of green paint (origin and type lost to the mists of time) Dust mostly cleaned off and box with sprues dug out of the stash. In between working on the Tamiya M3 Stuart I have been adding many of the small details that can remain on when paint applied. The plastic seems to have gained a hard surface coating (not the paint) which needs to be scraped with a scalpel before glue and detail is applied. Tamiya Extra Thin soon knocks some sense into it. Progress and current box shots... I'm thinking of going for the 3 colour NATO scheme The (now redundant) motors and gears. Turret stuff, had to disassemble (break apart) the turret to adjust the gun mount as it was sitting too far forward leaving a HUUUGE gap behind the mantlet. Grab handles aren't too bad for injection moulded although they did need some cleanup I'm guessing this is the IR lamp or is it the laser range finder? (my ignorance is shocking ) Nice weathering I hear you say? Naaah! that's shelf dust, many years of it, and a pathetic attempt to clean it off Close up of some details added. I'll leave the lights, mirrors, tools and cables off until the camo is painted Thanks for looking Cheers Phil Edited June 28, 2016 by Phil Lewis 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 Interesting Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
condorman Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 I've got a Academy 1/35 rc centurion in the same state one of these days I get round to it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 2, 2016 Author Share Posted July 2, 2016 (edited) Thought I'd try the same technique as used on the Tamiya M3 Stuart vinyl tracks, spraying Vallejo track primer followed by Vallejo steel and then Tamiya Rubber Black for the tread blocks. The Nichimo vinyl tracks are a bit rubbish but as it is a rescue I don't really want to spend on aftermarket unless absolutely necessary. Put the tracks back on the running gear temporarily just to display them painted. It's possible they are on the wrong way round but they will be removed again to paint up the road wheel tyres and apply weathering on the side wall behind them. Thanks for looking. Please comment on any glaring issues you may spot. Cheers Phil *edited for rubbish spelling caused by fat finger syndrome Edited July 2, 2016 by Phil Lewis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 Where did you get the engine and gears ?, I had several models "motorized" but never "engines" ... lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 3, 2016 Author Share Posted July 3, 2016 Where did you get the engine and gears ?, I had several models "motorized" but never "engines" ... lol They came with the kit along with a wired remote controller that was meant to look like a RC controller. Each motor was wired to run independently of each other to run each track forwards or backwards althought it was either on or off, no fancy variable speed here I'm guessing that if it was pristine and unbuilt it might be a bit of a collectors item but investment was not foremost in my mind when I started it in the 80's Oh yes, I've also noticed that the vinyl tracks have pretty much the same issue as the Tamiya M3 Stuart vinyl tracks. the track connectors do not cross the join between track sections so, if they were like that in reality, they would fall apart. I now need to decide if it's worth getting an after market set... really cheap. Thanks for the kind comments all Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 4, 2016 Author Share Posted July 4, 2016 Super fast second class delivery from Mr H provided me with this.. A full evenings work painting components on sprues with MIG Tracks Primer followed by a drybrushing of Vallejo Metal Color Steel and then a detail paint of Tamiya Rubber Black on the pads (sides too) resulted in this: A close up of the rubber track pads And the rest of them.. Now I really need to go to bed. Thanks for looking Phil 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 That lot of work, but it seems a very good stuff (no glue ...), Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 5, 2016 Author Share Posted July 5, 2016 Another evening in with the Meng track links, combined with a well developed pressure point sore at the base of my right thumb turned this: Into this... and this.. which may form the focus of a new avante garde art installation at the Tate Modern, or, alternatively, may be reduced to liquid filler (another new thing for me to try) Thanks for looking, hopefully they will be assembled tomorrow Night all Phil 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Save the planet, recycle ... lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 Correct shade of green applied as a base coat. This is Vallejo NATO Green surface primer You can also see, to the left the, progress made on track assembly as in not much Onwards with the assembly of the tracks Thanks for looking. Phil 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Nice progress sir. Those tracks look like hard work, what ever you do don't lose a bit. Keep it up. Johnny. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 (edited) Nice progress sir. Those tracks look like hard work, what ever you do don't lose a bit. Keep it up. Johnny. Kept it up mate they are indeed rather involved, so I look at them as a kit in it's own right. The carpet monster is also on a diet as I managed to rescue several pieces from its ever hungry mouth. One side is now done. and with the lid on just to see what it's like As there is an adjustment screw on the drive train I am able to complete the track and add and remove at will. After these pictures were taken I realised it was slightly too loose and removed a link. Looks a lot better now but don't really need to take another picture, well not tonight anyway Thanks for looking I think the kit is reasonably accurate but if anyone spots something that really needs correction please let me know until next time, Phil Edited July 7, 2016 by Phil Lewis 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 The tracks look awesome. It looks like thar hard work paid off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 10, 2016 Author Share Posted July 10, 2016 Thought I'd take a break from track assembly and start to assemble some of the external details to be added later. Started with the smoke dischargers. It is possible that the plastic has become brittle over time as the rails were broken and the flash was difficult to remove. Not sure if they're going to fit or if I've assembled them correctly as the instructions were somwhat vague. Thanks for looking Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 16, 2016 Author Share Posted July 16, 2016 Small update. Whilst working on the Tamiya PzKpfw II and painting up the road wheel tyres I did the same on the Leopard. Apologies for the poor picture quality but you get the gist of it Thanks for looking, All comments, suggestions, hints and tips always welcome Cheers Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 17, 2016 Author Share Posted July 17, 2016 A sudden burst of activity sees the NATO camo in place Looking a little better now I think Thanks for looking Phil 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Nice progress for now, cheers Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 You must have the patience of a saint with all those track linkages Phil! Is this one going to get hard hit with the weathering or be fresh out of the wash-down? Looking good, Toy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Looks rather nice. How do you manage to keep your mat so tidy? I wish mine were that clean. Ruddy glue everywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 18, 2016 Author Share Posted July 18, 2016 You must have the patience of a saint with all those track linkages Phil! Is this one going to get hard hit with the weathering or be fresh out of the wash-down? Looking good, Toy I've only done the one side so far so probably not too saintly I'm going to go for the well used but reasonably well kept look so moderate to light weathering with sunny intervals Looks rather nice. How do you manage to keep your mat so tidy? I wish mine were that clean. Ruddy glue everywhere. My mat doesn't dare get messy. I am a hard mat master 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 19, 2016 Author Share Posted July 19, 2016 (edited) Another evening's work and the remaining track run is done *equilibrium restored* and a gratuitous bottom view I know the tracks take a lot of time and effort to assemble but they really are worth it. A vast improvement over the awful vinyl bands. Thanks for looking Phil Edited July 19, 2016 by Phil Lewis 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Hope we're going to get an all-action-video of this baby in motion at the end Phil! Saw some of the guys from Amortek driving their model tanks back up the ramp into their van at the end of Yeovilton a few weeks back. An oddly entrancing sight, like puppies going back into the kennel for the night... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 They look ace. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 20, 2016 Author Share Posted July 20, 2016 Hope we're going to get an all-action-video of this baby in motion at the end Phil! Saw some of the guys from Amortek driving their model tanks back up the ramp into their van at the end of Yeovilton a few weeks back. An oddly entrancing sight, like puppies going back into the kennel for the night... I don't think the plastic workable track links are designed to be motorised. Not even sure if the old motors still work. You've got me wondering now 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now