Mike Posted October 4, 2012 Author Share Posted October 4, 2012 Aha... now I see where it is. Shouldn't be too hard to replicate. Now to find the various diameters of the cupola & hatch? Could you take a micrometer to it and help a chap out please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitfire Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Pretty fascinating stuff, and as usual great modelling, you will have to take a photo of it next to a WW2 British tank (Cromwell or Crusader) so we can see how large it really. Cheers Den Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 S'abiggun innit? I reckon those British tank crew would look luvverley posed on a neatly stoved in Kingtiger. Just a thought, all the best Andy S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fog99uk Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Pretty fascinating stuff, and as usual great modelling, you will have to take a photo of it next to a WW2 British tank (Cromwell or Crusader) so we can see how large it really. Cheers Den How's this for a size comparison? Aha... now I see where it is. Shouldn't be too hard to replicate. Now to find the various diameters of the cupola & hatch? Could you take a micrometer to it and help a chap out please? If you don't mind waiting a couple of weeks I could cast one up for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 If you don't mind waiting a couple of weeks I could cast one up for you. Thanks Iain - that'd be really helpful of you. I got my RB Besa MGs from Poland today for the top turret, which was helpful. I can crack on a little bit with the work in hand now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxy Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 (edited) Is that the two piece Besa's Mike or the single one's,that is come in one piece. I am looking for some of the two piece one's. Nice going by the way. Edited October 9, 2012 by foxy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 Two piece - separate flash-hiders Linky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Vor!!! Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I put all the full details in this posting yesterday: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=234918886 Paul little-cars Meng are sponsoring one of the halls at Telford this year, so I'm hoping they'll be bringing lots of lovely stock to knock out at a discount You just shouldn't have said that Sean... why??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 Cos I love Meng models Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Vor!!! Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Cos I love Meng models i thought you knew something and were nt telling visions of piles upon piles of tortoises going cheap !!!!! i was going to get shar to get me a couple !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxy Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Thanks for that Mike, just orderd 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 Cool - they take a week or so to arrive, but they're well priced Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 The Besa barrels arrived, and have been languishing on my desk for about a week now I decided that I'd better do a little bit of modelling, so replaced the kit parts with them a few minutes ago in between reviews. The barrels have two supports welded to each side, so I cut some 0.28mm strip into lengths and cut/sanded an angle to the sides, and a rounded nose, which I then glued in the barrel recess, which is necessarily square. The barrels themselves were slipped in between them and glued to the body with CA, squeezing the fillets in to make contact with the sides of the barrel. Cent to the left for the colonial viewer, penny to the right for the home audience (if there is one?) Looking at the close-up pic, it looks like I still need to clear some of the debris from the area after fettling the barrel surrounds into the body of the turret. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxy Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) Looking good Mike. My MGs arrived to about four days ago. Like the small turret, did not know there were two mgs in it. Would never have noticed on the fettle if you had not told us Edited October 19, 2012 by foxy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mahross Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 The barrels are a nice touch. Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 Thanks They're a bit more detailed than the kit parts, and importantly have hollow flash-suppressors. The fact that they're buttons to pick up from eBay clinched it for me though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 23, 2012 Author Share Posted October 23, 2012 If only to shut Sean up, here's a comparo of the Tortoise with a modern M1 Abrams (left) and a WWII PzIV: The main thing that makes it look so big is the width and general scale of things. Front to back it's around the size of an Abrams, but it's quite a bit wider HTH Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 The build phase of this behemoth is complete now, just the tracks and side-skirts that need fitting permanently, which will happen during the painting phase. I replaced the kit wires for the running lights with some lead fly-tying wire, as they didn't seem to be long enough, although that could be down to my lack of understanding of the instructions, and I replaced the kit "string" with some RB Models 0.8mm braided wire, which gives a better impression of the towing cables than string ever can, and is also not fuzzy The tricky part is cutting it, which you'll need some wire cutters for. Dip the ends in CA before it has time to unravel, and bob's your aunty The ends of the shackles were drilled out per the instructions, and the paired cables were CAd in. Once complete, they were added to the block at the front, and then glued along the side of the hull to give a realistic tangle. I also replaced the kit's retaining bar at the rear with a length of brass rod to give it more strength, which I think was a good idea in hindsight, as the wire has a lot more independence than string. Once everything was glued in place, I cut the wingnut off the kit part and glued it to the top of the brass bar with CA. Job done. Priming and track painting is next up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul A H Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 That looks nice. I must squeeze an armour build in before the end of the year, after the new Meng F-102 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 It's a lovely kit, and I've really enjoyed building it. Fair play to Meng... they did a grand job. I just hope I can do it justice with the paintjob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 nice stuff MIke - may have to look at the lead wire (assume fishing shops sell that stuff) and braided wire (ebay i guess). would .8mm be suitable for ALL 1/35 tow cables? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 26, 2012 Author Share Posted October 26, 2012 Hi Rob and thanks The lead wire is branded Turrell, and can be found online or on eBay. The RB cable was from Models for Sally some years back I think. Their primary market is brass barrels (the Besa barrels are theirs), so just have a squint around. They do all sorts of widths, and the 0.8mm was the smallest I got. When I'll use the fatter ones though, I'm not sure I got a coat of primer on last night, using some wide tape to stop it from sullying the roadwheels. It's turned up a few issues, mostly the fact that I totally forgot to remove all the moulded in grab-handles and replace them with more realistic brass ones. I think I have 8 or 10 to do now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishbed Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Hi Rob and thanks The lead wire is branded Turrell, and can be found online or on eBay. The RB cable was from Models for Sally some years back I think. Their primary market is brass barrels (the Besa barrels are theirs), so just have a squint around. They do all sorts of widths, and the 0.8mm was the smallest I got. When I'll use the fatter ones though, I'm not sure I got a coat of primer on last night, using some wide tape to stop it from sullying the roadwheels. It's turned up a few issues, mostly the fact that I totally forgot to remove all the moulded in grab-handles and replace them with more realistic brass ones. I think I have 8 or 10 to do now... Looking better every installment (and yes there is a home audience) Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxy Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Another home audience Looking good mike. Is that from halfords plastic paint in the can for primeing. I use that method a lot as a basic cover for Plastic/resin and PE parts, seems to hold up well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 26, 2012 Author Share Posted October 26, 2012 Good to see I'm not talking to myself I'm an Alclad acolyte, so that's Alclad grey primer. I've used black on the tracks, which were then coated with some of the new Lifecolor Intermediate Wear (UA905) that I reviewed here. I need to mix a bit more to do the spare track-links on the sides, but it looks rather nice so far, with just a hint of the black primer showing through Olive Drab for the hull next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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