Mike Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 I've just played catch-up with this now, and there's some lovely tidy scratch-building on display Good to see you've not chucked out that bit of green P120 paper where they glue the roll together. ToolStation's finest! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted April 19, 2017 Author Share Posted April 19, 2017 20 hours ago, Mike said: I've just played catch-up with this now, and there's some lovely tidy scratch-building on display Good to see you've not chucked out that bit of green P120 paper where they glue the roll together. ToolStation's finest! Throw out perfectly usable Ally Ox 120 grit? I can sand around the gluey bit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted April 20, 2017 Author Share Posted April 20, 2017 Well yesterday's update didn't upload, so here is two at once! Things are a little slow due to this.................. This is my Son`s Indian pattern Enfield! It needs a bit of work!, the stock is getting a sanding followed by a good oiling, however the sanding is uncovering evidence of inexpert repairs by previous owners! So there is a few hours of graft here, plus it needs a new foresight block brazing on the end of the barrel! All before next bank holiday weekend! As for the Conky................... The breech of the main armament has had a coat of Mr Surfacer stippled on with an old hairy stick to give the appearance of the cast breech ring The recuperator has had some more holes drilled a filling plug and a plate added And to the rear this angled piece, This was part of yesterdays update, this is part of the valve/pipework that will fit on the angled piece, And here it is today on it`s mounting plate, there is a filling cap to go on the top and some pipes but it`s progress! Here is the evolution of the gunners seat mounting, Still some fettling to go but happy so far! And here is it`s destination, the gunners platform, looks like it`s going to be a busy weekend, the "Leg Iron" is off on Her Daughters "Hen do" so I`ve got two whole days of playing with real guns and plastic tanks! I cant wait! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted April 21, 2017 Author Share Posted April 21, 2017 And there`s more yet! Here`s the plumbing yesterday............. And here it is this morning................ And being gently held in place................... The curved bit of channel will be a bracket eventually, this is my method of fixing it to a tube or whatever, I "pull" it over an edge like you do with gift wrap to get a spiral spring finish, this imparts a gentle curve to it which can then be teased into place with extra thin and a clamp! I can do this in two maybe three hits. I use the same method for the turret turntable edges, curve the strip, start at one end and work your way around, I know there are genius engineers out there who will measure to within a "Bawhair" and get it right first time, but quite frankly I cant be ar*&d! I find I can get within .5 mm generally by eye and do it quickly, where as fannying around trying to measure in a confined space and then translate that to actual parts often isn't worth the trouble!But that's just me! Gunners platform taking shape...................... The seat base needs refining yet but you get a bit of perspective now, it`s an unusual shape because it has to fit on a small platform close to the edge, the platform itself is quite roomy if you place it in situ, the gun at full elevation does not foul it at all, however see the pencil line inboard of the angled edge? The one really inboard? That is where the gunners safety guard is! The big notch out of the curved edge is for this................ This is the start of the turret turntable driving bracket, this hefty thing makes the floor move along with the top of the turret! In effect this looks like a big hinge, the middle knuckle is bolted to the turret ring and the two outer knuckles are on the driver itself, this will need to be quite sturdy to take the weight of the platform and turntable, although I will put a rotary base junction under the turntable to assist in supporting it! If you've been following this you might remember this fella.......... The gunners hand and power traverse controls, I thought I was done with this, but not any more, now I have to build the gearbox end! Oh well! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 NIce scratching...cheers mate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cromwell Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Just caught up on this........wow👏 There's some rare ol' scratchin' going down here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widow 65 Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Excellent! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted April 23, 2017 Author Share Posted April 23, 2017 Sunday update! Well successful in a way, I got my boy`s musket sorted! So at least he`s happy now! Roll on next weekend! Here`s where I got with the Conky........................ Plumbing is now fixed to the breech, as is the first deflector plate. This plate is intended to deflect any cases that decide to come out squint to the left back over to the right! There are also two lengths of hex rod coming out of the recuperator, they will be cut back, drilled and plumbed in! Still to come on this side is the Operators guard, this will fix to the carriage near the collar, almost on the end of the angled side plate, the guard is a one piece bent tube affair, almost like a big "u" on it`s side, fixed to the carriage at the bottom of the "u" , allowing him to load the main armament but not get behind the recoiling breech. Haven't figured out how I`m going to do that yet, so back burner for that one! Here is the second plate held in place to show where it should eventually go. This part is fixed to the same bracket on the recuperator as the first deflector plate and this sits inside an open topped "box" in effect, on the turntable, which houses the lower end of the mollins gear and the all important microswitch intended to activate the whole show upon the arrival of a spent case. So, gun goes bang, recoils, breech opens during recoil, case is ejected, case hits deflector plate rattles down into the "box" , hits microswitch and is smoothly hoofed outside by the mollins gear! Well, that`s the theory! This deflector/guard plate is over size at the moment, it will be trimmed to length once I`ve got the box and turret floor in place. Of course the armament department is not yet complete...................As Tom Hardy might say to the disastrous .30 cal from the FCT "I have a use for you" Co-ax.......................? (Yeah, shocking fot!) And finally I've done the bottom end of the traverse gearbox, complete with filler plug and plate! So some progress is better than none. Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cromwell Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 I'll see this to the end. Some amazing work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cromwell Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 Where did you get all the info and scale drawings from to do the interior? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 20 hours ago, Cromwell said: Where did you get all the info and scale drawings from to do the interior? All over the place! Books, user manual, photos, videos, britmodeller members and the good old internet! Put all of that together and most of it makes sense. I didnt set out to do the interior, it just kind of happened, all I set out to do was some detail visible through the open hatches, kind of got some "Mission creep" goin` there. Most of the interior wont be visible, so in the big scheme of things most of this is pointless, but I cant stop now can I? Granto 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cromwell Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 (edited) Ah...... but you, I and the rest of the brit modellers know it's there Edited April 25, 2017 by Cromwell 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 4, 2017 Author Share Posted May 4, 2017 A slight break in proceedings due to a weekends re-enacting, however, back in the saddle now! OMG! Where`s all the crap gone?!!! So I had a wee tidy up, then I got cracking again making more mess! The hex rod that I inserted into angled holes in the recuperator were cut down, sanded flat and drilled out, then I CA`d some wire into the holes, these will be routed under the breech and are part of the plumbing belonging to the recuperator. The gunners seat got drilled and rodded! It was originally intended to fit the seat directly onto the turret ring, however, now it`s actually got its own base! And it free stands! I cut down the guard / deflector plates on the recuperator, this is the larger of the two, it now has a couple or four rivets and I've added the angled lip to the top edge. In the foreground is the gunners foot firing pedal under construction, it goes on the floor of the gunners platform in the top right corner, bottom left as you see it in this image. And finally for today, I am carrying out some essential adjustments to the drivers periscope! I used the kit part but it fouls the traverse so it`s going to be resized! I wasn't happy with it`s height to start with but went ahead anyway, you can see where it originally went! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 Lovely work as always Kev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 Bugger! I thought my turret turntable didnt look right, I made it to 80% of the turret ring where it should have been 69%! That has effectively put the kybosh on today's job, I had intended to fit the gunners platform to the turntable but that is now halfway through having it`s new rim attached having been cut down to the correct size! Oh well, I`ll just have to devote the weekend to the Conky! Blast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 6, 2017 Author Share Posted May 6, 2017 Update update! Ideal modeling weather today, so I got started at the crack of noon! First off I got cracking with the turret ring bolts, These are visible on the actual vehicle, so they are a must! Yet again I used the Meng accessory nut and bolt set, well worth the cash! So with the day off to a productive start I began this! This will be the cover plate for engine access from the fighting compartment, its a stamped sheet metal plate with strengthening ribs on it, After drying for a bit it got five minutes attention with a skinny stick, it`ll get some more tomorrow! Then I started to populate the gunners station with all the little goodies I've been making these previous months! The white item is the lever to open the gunners visor, just below are the controls to trim the gun kit and the vehicle motion warning light and gun ready light, the gunners comms box is to the right of them and directly below is the power traverse control. Gunners sight in, and the gunners control box below the hatch opening! The huge void in front of the gunner wont remain unoccupied, I spent an inordinate amount of time fettling the gunners traverse gearbox and stuff to fit, It wasn't unexpected, the way I build, in sub components, there is always a vast amount of dicking around to get everything to fit! But so far I`m happy with the result! I didnt get a photo yet but I have done a trial fit of the main armament with all this in place plus a couple more bits, and all that fits too! The temptation to jump in and start gunnery drills was tough to resist but the promise of a kebab reigned in my enthusiasm..........................for now! And the height adjuster for the gunners seat! The post will be trimmed to the right height once I start to assemble all the bits in situ! So that was a good day! The turntable rim is done so tomorrow I might get the RBJ in place which will set the base height for the turntable, that done I can fix the gunners platform in place and make a start on the base of the mollins gear. I had a go at bending up some plastic rod for the Operators guard, but it didnt go well, so that's still on the back burner, the scaley kit is waiting, but I need the big set of punches from RP Toolz to do that, so it`s at least three weeks away and a payday yet! I have to do some work on the base of the FCT, there`s the air cleaners to make, and a ton of ammunition stowage tubes and brackets, I want to remake the drivers instrument panel but I need the big punches so more waiting! All in all though, I can see light at the end of the tunnel, it`s barely visible, but there`s a definite glimmer! More tomorrow with a bit of luck! Ta for lookin` no"G" Granto 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted May 6, 2017 Share Posted May 6, 2017 Your engineering skills simply astound me, waiting for more of the same! Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cromwell Posted May 6, 2017 Share Posted May 6, 2017 The last pictures I can see are of the suspension units and hull. The later pictures just above I cannot see. Anyhoo the the stuff I can see brilliant!! Keep up the good work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share Posted May 7, 2017 Got a bit more done today, Here is the Gunners traverse gearbox fitted, I have run some dissolved sprue into the angles at the top to soften them, the turret was cast and some of the internal angles are a bit severe in my opinion, before I shoot some primer on this lot it the turret walls will also get a stippling of Mr Surfacer dissolved putty to give it that cast look. The oil filler plug is visible! But it wont be for long! This is the last bit of the Gunners instrumentation that needs to go in the turret, I've padded it out for a good fit, but I`m going to wait until I've done the gunners platform and all the other stuff, just incase it fouls anything! Staying with the turret, Here is the RBJ, or Rotary Base Junction, this sits under the turntable and is where all the necessary electronic gubbins connects the turret to the hull, as far as this build goes its a spacer! This will keep the turret turntable at the correct height. this is the drive bracket that connects the turntable to the rest of the turret, And this is the gunners platform which sits halfway up the drive bracket, top fot is the top with the gunners foot switch on and the lower one is the underside, two rods fit in the circular fittings and keep the platform at the right height and the reinforcing gussets fit onto the drive bracket, these will be chamfered to the correct angle once I figure out exactly what the correct angle is! Linkage is on, deflector plates are on, recuperator plumbing has been repositioned There is just the Operators guard to go on here now, I`m still debating weather or not to bother with the Co-ax. The majority of what you can see here up to the rear end of the recoil buffers will be visible through the open hatches, but the co-ax sits behind where my thumb is! And finally for today.................. I've done a little bit more to modify the FCT interior, basically I need to reduce the diameter of the base of the FCT, so I have cut the join between the side screens/guards and am going to tighten the curve at the bottom and then fettle the front to adopt the new curve. then it will receive a new edge/lip, but I need to build up some enthusiasm for that job! And here is a very blurred shot of the bulkhead access plate! So that was Sunday! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share Posted May 7, 2017 15 hours ago, Cromwell said: The last pictures I can see are of the suspension units and hull. The later pictures just above I cannot see. Anyhoo the the stuff I can see brilliant!! Keep up the good work I`ve been back through this WIP Cromwell and it would appear that a good number of the images are indeed adrift! Apparently the URL has expired whatever that means! I may have a go at reinserting them when I get time, I've been using Facebook albums as my source for the images due to continual issues with Photobucket, there`s a good chance the missing images are from there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share Posted May 7, 2017 I have restored some images to the WIP, back as far as page 6, I`ll go back further another time since I`m duty chef today and the "Leg Iron" is screaming for her scoff! Granto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share Posted May 7, 2017 So a final Sunday night update, Here is a shot of the breech and associated plumbing where it will eventually live through the hole for the FCT Now you know why I had to build it! Without it all you have is a big empty space! There`s a lot of kit in here! These shockingly blurred fots give an indication of the length of the L1 120mm gun, even in 1:35 scale its impressive! The gunners platform now has some reinforcing on the support gussets This is the idea.............. And this is the visible end................... Oh, and I got some Mr Surfacer in the turret! Win column! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etienne Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 You work is really impressive ... I could not possibly have imagined so much scratchbuild details !! E 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cromwell Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 Outstanding work. Just amazing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 15, 2017 Author Share Posted May 15, 2017 Here we go, welcome to another episode of " I live in me shed and don't get out much"! Another slow week because I was on earlies, however I got a bit done at the weekend, here it is................. I made and fitted the Loaders/Operators guard to the breech of the L1 120mm, so aside from the Co-Ax the armament is done............More or less! Here is the roughed out "Scaley kit" (Scaley`s are signals bods to the layperson!) This vehicle will be an early Mk II Conkey, so it will have the No.19 set and the No.31 set, these blocks are sitting in the configuration that they will eventually be fixed in, they have been roughed out and had feet affixed, there is a bit of adjustment required yet, while the 19 set is good for size the 31 and it`s tuner need some refinement! I also made a start on the Loader?Operators side of the turret interior, there is a comms box, spares box and the .30 cal ready box for the Co-Ax to go on the turret wall, along with wiring and internal lights, also the racks for the ready rounds. Just visible on the turret ring is the bracket for the Loaders step. I made a bracket to hold the charger set regulator, this will go on the fighting compartment bulkhead, roughly here! And I started to rough out the two air cleaner castings, here`s one of em! There's a lot to do here! And finally I fitted the drivers seat into its mountings, I still have the lifting mechanism to make and fit but again its close to being done now! So there we have it, definite progress! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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