Cromwell Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 This build just keeps blowing me away with the amount of detail your cramming in there 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 16, 2017 Author Share Posted May 16, 2017 So this morning I briefly knocked up these.................... They are part of the drivers seat, it`s going to get tight in there! The Co-Ax mounting is underway, More kit on the Loaders side of the turret, Roughed out a bunch of these, they will be the turret lights, Mounted the tuner unit on the 19 set, I told My Son I`d have a look at his Star Wars figures, He`s done an ok job with the primer, why do I get the feeling I`m going to end up getting roped into painting them? And that was that, Boom, morning gone, work beckons, Bugger! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cromwell Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 If only we could get paid to do this....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 15 hours ago, Cromwell said: If only we could get paid to do this....... Hmmmmmm, I`m sure there would be some jobsworth that came along and said " You call that a mornings work?", "where is your PPE?", "Risk assessment?", "No food or drink at work stations!", "Research? Have you signed the internet user document? Given your search history it would appear doubtful!", "British armour again? I think it`s time you attended the diversity training we are rolling out!", " Good morning Sir, I`m with Hampshire police, I`m investigating a possible "Hate crime" regarding some comments you made about WWII German tanks!" My mind works like Arnold Rimmer's in the episode of Red Dwarf "Better than life", it cant accept nice things happening to me! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Good job with the scratch, a lot of extra work with figures..., cheers mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 Wednesday update prior to a thorough soaking despite the roof on the FLT! Co-Ax mounting is done, and it lines up with the hole in the mantlet! Bonus! Just a quick trial fit, the breech isn't level in these fots, it`s slightly on the piddle to the right, but it`s only in there for the fots! These shots give you a good impression of how little room there is in the turret of a tank! Being an Ex tank man myself I am constantly amazed by peoples reactions to the reality! The guts are mostly an afterthought, kit is crammed into every conceivable gap, there is wiring everywhere, the crew are in most cases an afterthought! Oh and they are expected to live in the same clothes for weeks and not bring anything with them either! I started on the turret turntable, this is the top of the RBJ The air cleaner units are progressing, these were castings on the actual vehicle. And I wasn't happy with the turret turntable driver bracket, so I chopped the middle out! Ta for lookin` no"G" Granto 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris B Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Great work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cromwell Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Your gonna run outta room in that turret soon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 18, 2017 Author Share Posted May 18, 2017 And another! The cocking handle on the Co-Ax is on the right hand side, this would mean that the loader would have to reach over the gun to cock it, even the Army thought that was a little risky! So I have fitted an extension to the cocking handle, Cent had the same arrangement, certainly on .50 ranging gun version where the .30 was inboard of the .50. A chain in a tube with a "T" handle on the end cocked the .30. I also fitted a firing solenoid and wiring to the Co-Ax. And just visible on the top of the breech ring are the clinometer stops! I have to stop this now! Any more I`ll have to get it proofed before I fit it! I started work on the turret turntable RBJ, this is where all the essential wiring links the turret to the hull, the wiring goes up the turntable driver bracket which is at the 3 O`clock position, so the wiring is just before that at about 2:45! I put a strip across the tuner unit on the 19 set too, there`s a lot of detail to go on this, but it`ll have to wait until after pay day! Last job of the morning, wired up one of the interior lights and fitted it into the loaders side, Loaders comms box is done too, I`ll wire that up and fit it tomorrow. It`s been a good week for the Conky so far! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 More and more detail more and more stunning work. Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cromwell Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Your bonkers. You've even got the serrations on the brass quadrants Amazing work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Your usual crisp work Kev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 19, 2017 Author Share Posted May 19, 2017 14 hours ago, Cromwell said: Your bonkers. You've even got the serrations on the brass quadrants Amazing work The "Leg Iron" makes Steam Punk jewellery, I mounted a raid on her spares box and liberated some brass watch cogs! Yes I`m mad, but not that mad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 19, 2017 Author Share Posted May 19, 2017 Just a swift one for a Friday morning, work is rapidly approaching! A few more bits done in the loaders side this morning, lights and comms box, there`s the Co-Ax feed to do yet and the ready round rack which wraps around the wall of the turret. the wire for the comms box isn't glued in place yet, I`ll wrap it around the bolt and run it along the top of the turret along with the lighting cable. I have also started on the gunners hand elevation linkage which has to fit inbetween the gun and the gunner! It`s well tight! Plus I need to fill the ejector pin marks! I`ts going to be a fun weekend! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cromwell Posted May 21, 2017 Share Posted May 21, 2017 (edited) Carry on sir! With your Amazing work Edited May 21, 2017 by Cromwell 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 21, 2017 Author Share Posted May 21, 2017 Well, I got some shed time this weekend, The Breech of the 120mm got a shot of primer after I`d fabricated the final pieces of the Co-Ax feed tray. On the whole, considering the only "off the shelf" parts are some meng nuts and bolts and the .30 cal from the FCT I think this sub assembly has turned out ok! I restarted work on the FCT, I have tightened the "cone" shape slightly, and fitted the firing handle for the Commanders .30 cal, I have used the one that came with the kit as the Co-Ax, however I have another superior example to use on the roof! Firing handle on the left! And a quick "taster of the FCT in situ! Now that the FCT is the desired shape I started remaking the turntable base, this should be a conical shape as well, so I cut some thin plasticard and secured it in place with a rubber band, then went to work with some extra thin around the opposite end to the join! When this has gone off I can trim the cone to the base, tidy up the join at the back, complete the seam 100% of the way round and then carefully trim it to the correct height with a scribing tool! Here is the cone trimmed before it is finished off on the sanding flat With the scribing blade fixed at 6mm all I have to do is rotate the FCT until the excess material is cut away, "Simples" as the eponymous talking CGI meerkat might say! the Turret Turntable Driving Bracket is complete, just filler to sand off, the hinge at the top works as you can see from the Fots, I decided to do it this way because I am still not 100% sure of the final angle of the bracket to the turntable or the attachment point angle on the turret ring. And here is a quick shot of the intended target! The 3 O`Clock point on the turntable. The Turntable is quite small in relation to the turret ring, however there is also a lot of kit to fit in here, there are ready rounds all the way around the sides and engine bulkhead end, front right is the battery box, front centre is a locker, the air cleaners go in the rear corners left and right on the engine bulkhead, on the turntable are the beginnings of the bottom end of the Mollins gear, this is where the spent case should be deflected to prior to its cigarette vending machine derived extraction journey outside! On the turntable forward of the Mollins gear there is more of the recuperation system, plus ready rounds and cases! Beats me where the crew were supposed to fit in! Plodding on with the drivers compartment, here is where the height adjustment ratchet quadrants will go! this is the second spare, the carpet monster has munched the others! Air cleaner bodies are coming on nicely! And finally for today, I had to disassemble the top end to the Mollins gear! It`s original angle was too shallow, but in my defence I had not intended to build beyond this point, once I built the turret turntable it became clear that the angle would need to be steepened to reach the centre of the rear of the turret turntable. I have also plated over the interior for the case ejection hatch, this is so that the top end of the mollins gear has a firm attachment point. So there we have it, a fruitful weekends work! Ta for lookin` no "G" Granto 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Pure Magic! Kev 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Wow ! what a great build ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris B Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 I am impressed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cromwell Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 To tell the truth I didn't realise that was just the turret basket for the commanders cupola......WOW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 31, 2017 Author Share Posted May 31, 2017 Reference my last FCT post, here she is today.................. The turntable base now has a more conical appearance and is higher at the rear than the front, just some wiring and final stowage for .30 cal boxes and this baby can go in the paint booth! Granto 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 Run out of suitable words so I'll repeat myself ABSOLUTELY STUNNING MICRO ENGINEERING! Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilHendry Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 Amazing modelling! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris B Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 Are you planning to expose this stunning interior? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valenstitch Posted May 31, 2017 Author Share Posted May 31, 2017 1 hour ago, Kris B said: Are you planning to expose this stunning interior? Only through the open hatches! I`ll be able to take the turret off, but that's about all, I might not secure the FCT, but it`s become more about the detail you can only just see rather than the full guts, I`ll take lots of fots before I button it up though! Granto 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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