73north Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 do you think the Amusing Hobby 1/35 Conqueror will be more accurate ?? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 1 hour ago, Valenstitch said: why oh why did I decide to build the inside? That's easy....... To exercise your considerable skills and entertain us Kev 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carius Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted February 8, 2017 Author Share Posted February 8, 2017 22 hours ago, 73north said: do you think the Amusing Hobby 1/35 Conqueror will be more accurate ?? I think accuracy is a relative term! Firstly the Amusing Hobby kit is a MK1, there were only 20 of them built, so there is going to be less variation in your source material, and therefore less chance of going awry! I have seen a couple of reviews online, all the sprues visible and so forth, and I foresee issues, these were in box reviews not build reviews! There are differences between the kits, but the DML version is a MK2, so it`s going to differ anyway! There are a lot of "Dragon bashers" out there, and despite all my gnashing of teeth and rending of garments I don't think this is a bad kit. We've all read the whining reviews complaining that for this money people expect 100% accuracy, get a life! If all kits were perfect there would be no aftermarket or upgrade suppliers! I`m sure the AH kit will build into a nice model, just as the DML one will, it just takes a bit of work! But that`s the difference between modeling and assembling! Granto 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted February 8, 2017 Author Share Posted February 8, 2017 Ooh getting colder! You know what that means..........Yeah! Shed! Here is where we are today! I have fixed the commanders seat and rails in place now. there will be two screen guards each side of the commanders seat reaching around to his ten and two positions, these were there to prevent him being "scoffed by the traverse monster" in moments of extreme excitement or carelessness! The frames for the screens are being a bit of a pain, the real ones are but jointed steel strip, with the mesh welded to the outside of the lower third, this makes them a little fragile in 1:35 scale! they also have to conform to the curve of the FCT floor and slant outwards at the top in a steep cone, it`s not a massive job but it`s fiddly! The other slight issue is that the FCT top/exterior casting has a smaller internal turret ring than the one on the kit, it`s not a huge difference but I don't know weather or not to replicate it, after all I only decided to put interior detail inside the beast so I could leave the hatches open, and this detail will not really add to it only complicate things! Decisions decisions! Oh, I took the cable off for the commanders control box because I need to fit the frames! It didn't fall off! Captive handles down! Captive handles up! Snigger! There are a couple that need straightening! Right, lunch then off to work! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 More and more stunning engineering Looking forward to more of the same! Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted February 9, 2017 Author Share Posted February 9, 2017 (edited) Well chilly! Shed! A bit more progress this morning, Not a lot I grant you, but a bit! First up I put four bolt heads on the outer top corners of the four outer engine/gearbox deck leaves, examination of my photos showed they were there, so that went in the win column! Swiftly followed by the thin plasticard strips that will once they have dried, become "weld beads"! And here they are on the other side! These will get a good dose of extra thin and then a texturing with a carving tool! The hull top is almost at the point where it can be fitted, although that will only come once the drivers compartment is painted and buttoned up. The one remaining job are the fuel fillers. I have these in the stash! The filler caps go in the centre of the outer two engine deck leaves opening fore and aft. These are the correct size although I cant find any images of the correct locking mechanism, I don't think they had the Cent type long handle. So that`s on the back burner for the moment! But on the upside the drivers seat is almost done! The suspension arms are fitted! The block is there to maintain the separation of the arms while they go off, once they are solid I will fit small pins at the end of each arm that should locate with the mountings on the drivers bulkhead seat mount.................. Here! (Transverse bar going across the opening on the left) So now I am pondering weather to splash my cash on a punch and die set from RP Toolz.................I've got a lot of detailing to do on the "Scaley kit" and the controls in the gunners position, the mollins gear and the FCT, and if that`s not enough I might yet have to scratch the back end of the main armament since it is in close proximity to both the gunners and operators hatches. My rationale is that the detail close to the open hatch will draw the eye if the rest of the interior is dark. Only time will tell! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto Edited May 7, 2017 by Valenstitch Missing fots! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Every time that I look at this build, I'm amazed at the amount of detail. With regards to the punch and die set; get one. I bought the Waldron P&D a few years ago and then bought the Historex hexagonal set and have never regretted it. They are both invaluable. John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted February 10, 2017 Author Share Posted February 10, 2017 (edited) It`s a wee bit fresh outside! But that didnt stop me running to the shed for five minutes! Here is a previous shot of the turret, My plan was to have all the lids open, I like open lids, Tanks, Aeroplanes, Helicopters, open everything up, show us yer guts! Well this morning in sub zero temperatures I did some very technical groundwork! I should have done some very technical groundwork at the start but that's a horse of a different colour, Anyhow, the vast holes are self evident FCT goes in the big one at the back, not a problem, Gunner lives in the lower one, Operator in the upper one as you look at it in the image. The lower half of the FCT is visible through both hatch openings as in the real vehicle, the "Scaley kit" or radios to the lay person, lives under the top left corner of the Operators hole, kind of in the wedge between the FCT hole and the operators hatch pivot and is as the youth of today might say "Totes visible"! In the opposing wedge, behind the gunner goes the mollins gear, intended to "Hoof" spent cases out through this opening................ Again "like, totes visible", These truths are self evident! And as such have been vaguely considered in previous pondering sessions whilst taking the odd strictly medicinal alcoholic aperitif! What was not necessarily so evident to me at the time was the view forward............................Bugger! The turret ring is too small, but I was hoping to loose that with some creative paint work, what I cant hide is the ballroom sized void in the middle of the turret! Having now had a good gander at the drawings I have come to the conclusion I`m going to have to scratch the breech of the main armament! My initial measurements indicate that it will intrude 60mm into the turret! The rear face of the breech ring will be under the edge of the roof plate here! So this morning I cemented the two halves of the kit gun barrel together to provide a suitable donor "tube" and tomorrow I`ll laminate up some thick blocks to make the breech! With this kind of forethought and planning I`d be a "shoe in" for a top job at the MOD! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto Edited May 7, 2017 by Valenstitch Missing fots! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted February 12, 2017 Author Share Posted February 12, 2017 Right, a quick update before I spend piles of cash on some new tools and modeling supplies! The "Leg Iron" is in her shed,( yeah, we have one each!) so I have a window of opportunity where I can be in the vicinity of the PC with my credit card out without facing the spanish inquisition! I`ve been looking at various images and drawings of the 120mm gun of the Conky, it`s actually 4.7inch, with a horizontally sliding breech which explains why the poor old gunner is wedged into a ridiculously small gap between a perspex guard and the turret ring! Every time the gun fires he gets a punch in the left kidney as the breech flies open! I laminated the beginnings of the breech ring......... The larger two are about 2 x 1.5 cm, the smaller one will sit between these two at one end, then the shaping will begin! I plan to build a solid block with a slot in it that extends almost 60% of the way across and 70% of the depth, sand it to shape externally and then on the 60% side drill the bore out. I was going to use the kit gun barrel as a donor part for the internals but having had a good look at it the taper on it makes it too much work, so I`m hunting now for a suitable length of tube to make the cradle, I am not going to worry too much about anything forward of the breech ring and its guard rails since this is intended to draw the eye away from the lack of anything below the turret ring, much as in the image above! You can see the Cutty Sark box but little else under the bench! That`s my excuse and I`m sticking to it! Now to spend some money and plan how to get the resulting packages into the shed without being seen! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripaman Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 That is some brilliant scratch building Granto Regards Richard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 Nice and warm today! So I undertook a long needed degunge of the shed! Look, there`s Zero Echo in the corner! I popped into the Range and picked up a divided box to keep the sub assemblies in! Talk about organised! Oh and some photo etch mesh from Hannants turned up in the post! (you`ll see where it goes this week folks!) Look! There`s wood under all the crap! Bugger..................I was feeling good until I saw this! So, No building but the decks are cleared now for the sprint finish! And if you believe that you`ll believe anything! My Name`s Elvis and I ain't dead! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Nice place of work..., cheers mate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonofjim Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 You're doing an awesome Job Elvis I could tell you weren't dead, because dead blokes cant wield modelling tools quite so well ,something to do with stiff fingers and stuff . Your scratch interior work and corrections are top notch Sir . Jim. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted February 21, 2017 Author Share Posted February 21, 2017 (edited) Just a quick update today, since I have to keep an eye on the cat! I have no idea who is going to keep an eye on him when I go to work! The frames for the FCT screens are coming on, this is a long winded way of going about this but I need the strength of the sheet to back the strip up, once its all gone off the voids will be opened up and some mesh added once the screens are rolled to the curve of the turret floor. I also had a fiddle with a new toy! A punch and die set from RP Toolz! It was expensive, but I guess if you are into scratch building it`s worth it in the long run (at least that's what I`m trying to tall myself!) It`s a quality bit of kit I must say, very well made, quite weighty, I was a little skeptical about the mini hammer that comes with it, but it does the job. Now I can crack on with the "Scaley kit"! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto Edited May 7, 2017 by Valenstitch Missing fots! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 27 minutes ago, Valenstitch said: since I have to keep an eye on the cat! and who pray tell is keeping an eye on you ?? Ok you've tidied the workshop, got your new toy (You wont regret it) time to crack to..... Kev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonofjim Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 (edited) 11 hours ago, Valenstitch said: I also had a fiddle with a new toy! A punch and die set from RP Toolz! It was expensive, but I guess if you are into scratch building it`s worth it in the long run (at least that's what I`m trying to tall myself!) It`s a quality bit of kit I must say, very well made, quite weighty, I was a little skeptical about the mini hammer that comes with it, but it does the job. Now I can crack on with the "Scaley kit"! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto One of the best purchases I ever made V . I wouldn't be without mine now ,and much nicer than the ones you used to get from Historex . They are not cheap ,but as longshanks said you wont regret it mate . I highly recommend the Hexagonal one too even more not cheaper-er IIRC but totally worth it . Jim. Edited February 21, 2017 by sonofjim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 I echo what Jim said. I have the Waldron P&D set and wouldn't be without it. I also have Historex's hexagonal set. Not as good quality, but it does the job. John. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted February 23, 2017 Author Share Posted February 23, 2017 A bit windy this morning, but enough about my digestion, on with the update! I finished the guard screen frames yesterday and left them to go off, then after another trip to the vet first thing today (not for me before you put two and two together! The cat is being expensive!) I cut out the innards of the frames and then rolled them on a foam mat to give them a curve approximating the shape and size of the FCT base, So, here are the four screens and a roughed out collar, the screen on the left goes to the left of the commander and has cutouts for the hatch lifting gear And this is what it will look like in place! The other pair of screens go on the right of the commander, I think I said previously that the screens come around his right and left and end at his ten and two positions roughly. I still have to clean the frames up with a skinny stick and then cut some etch mesh to back the lower void on each frame, but this is going in the win column! The collar will go here. The FCT casting had a smaller turret ring than the DML kit, when you look into the FCT hatch you can see the "lip" behind the commanders seat rails, and it is to this smaller diameter ring that the guard screens attach at the top, so after weeks of prevarication and dicking around I have finally sorted this issue. So if I get any time tomorrow I have to do the following: 1. Complete the screens 2. Fit the seat back to the commanders seat (I have to remake it first) 3. Fettle the FCT collar ring 4. Wire up the FCT interior 5. Fit the forward braces for the screens, these are structural and also support the commanders control panel (which still needs completing) 6. Construct and fit the stowage brackets for the inside of the FCT And after that there's only the rest of the kit to do...................................... Ta for kookin` no "G" Granto 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Those frames are impressive or should I just say your maintaining your standard Kev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Very impressive attention to detail as always! Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted February 26, 2017 Author Share Posted February 26, 2017 Shed time! Just a quick update during a lunch break! I`ve been punching! And chopping and gluing and allsorts! Top left is a strip with Gunners power traverse, manual traverse and power elevation boxes roughed out with various discs and rod bits attached! Below that is one of the FCT guard frames, two parts of the Mollins gear and the commanders FCT control box, the triangular bits will be much reduced during the fettling process and there are a few more switches to go on there as well. Hopefully more later today! Granto 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted February 26, 2017 Author Share Posted February 26, 2017 Ok, almost time to crack on with dinner, so here is what I got done in the last two hours! This is the frame of the Mollins gear, this goes behind the gunner and is a mounting for two stowage brackets on his side and on the other side is the framework for the heath Robinson device that was intended to eject spent 120mm cases from the vehicle. This frame will mount directly on to the wall of the turret. It`s difficult to see here but there is a tube with the top surface cut back that has a split rail inside it on the reverse of the frame, just above that is the isolation switch, you can see it a bit more clearly in the previous shot. These rails reach down to the turret turntable where the base plate and activation switch of the gear was situated. This is the gunners sight, this is made up of 11 pieces. Again, it`s difficult to see because of the lighting and it all being white, but I got most of the details on it, the little block on the rear of the sight will have some wiring going into it, that's the plug! you can just see the line of the window on the face of the sight next to the eyepiece. Once all this gets a shot of primer the details will be visible. I also fixed some small sections of channel onto the inside of the turret next to the gunners seat, this will become a very visible cable run. The white block top left will be part of the gunners collection of control boxes and instruments! Nine items so far for him! All in all a very pleasant day! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 Neat job! Kev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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