Brews Posted May 9, 2014 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Looking again at that photo, it seems that there are two distinct variations on the green. Maybe it's just weathering ... maybe not. The lighter one appears to be similar to Hu:86, and the darker one similar to Hu:164, both with a liberal filter of dust and mud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozzy19 Posted May 9, 2014 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Nice work, that 3rd picture looks a bit dodgy though! Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted May 9, 2014 Author Share Posted May 9, 2014 (edited) Nice work, that 3rd picture looks a bit dodgy though! Sean Oh, that's my pet slug Nigel, he got out of his box. All the stowage is painted now so I'll see how it looks later on. Edited May 9, 2014 by Shermaniac 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted May 10, 2014 Author Share Posted May 10, 2014 (edited) Well? how does it look so far..... M26A1 current status I know, there's a fingerprint on the left kitbag of the first picture but at least it's not clean & shiny like some of the AM stuff. It should be noted that none of the stowage is 'fixed' to the kit as yet! The 'K' Ration crates (sprayed with Vallejo, Panzer Aces 'New Wood') are stock Tamiya from their Pershing kits, as are the .30cal ammo boxes. The .30cal ammo boxes are sprayed in Vallejo Model Color US Dark Green for a different hue. No weathering has as yet been done to this project. Anyway! I gotta get ready for tonight's Club meeting (so, it's a general tidy up - although some would argue that point ) Also, still to do: continuing on, on Sunday Road wheels & Return Rollers to be finished off - tyres to be painted Track links and tensioners are still to be fixed to the turret .50cal to be updated with RB upgrade and installed to turret Track to be prepared with black & steel - should be interesting as HB track doesn't glue very well. Final stowage pieces to be gathered - Jerry Can (never can find a decent one when you need it!), incidentals etc Driver/co-Driver periscopes & brush guards to be installed And all of this before the final varnish and weathering M45 current status Pretty much as it was before although I have started to assemble and apply some of the markings I am planning to use, more on that shortly. Summary for Saturday 10th May Whilst the M45 seems to be moving more slowly, there is actually a lot less to do with this build now the conversion is completed. The M26A1 is by far the more complex project and although not necessarily 'more difficult' there are many more elements to consider with all those 'little extras' Edited May 24, 2014 by Shermaniac 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted May 10, 2014 Author Share Posted May 10, 2014 Looking again at that photo, it seems that there are two distinct variations on the green. Maybe it's just weathering ... maybe not. The lighter one appears to be similar to Hu:86, and the darker one similar to Hu:164, both with a liberal filter of dust and mud There is a distinct possibility that the vehicle could be: from a different unit within the same command - note the lack of turret ID's a newer arrival/build - note, less wear & tear of track, seemingly fresher, less faded paint a lot less 'weathered' effect ergo, less active mission/use Very importantly, don't let the picture 'freak you out' remember, you had to be there!!!! The model(s) you/I/we all do are 'representative' of a time and place and not necessarily a genetic duplicate of the original Nevertheless, It does present you with that 'Olive Drab' issue over which there is much debate. The best option is to pick the colour which 'you feel' best suits the situation in which you are posing your vehicle and to just, 'run with it!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted May 24, 2014 Author Share Posted May 24, 2014 (edited) It has now been 14 days since my last confession M26A1 current status: Stowage has been PVA'd to the vehicle, Wheels are on, Track is on but, there's a problem! The track is too short and needs to be extended by one-link either side. Now this track doesn't glue (at all!) so I have a dilemma........ There are no track guards on this build so the obvious error will likely be seen. As can be seen in the picture below, the track join is between 2 half-pads. SO, I've decided that the 'join' will be on the on the ground, the ground-work will disguise this part - I hope - but I'll need to build a couple of new track-pads to fill in the gap. Arranging the modified track-pad was a simple process: Part C3/19 slice off the end connectors remove the centre track tooth clean up the pad and check the spacing - does it fit? mark the portion to be cut back with the original track and sand down to fit when ready, re-attach the end connectors centrally on the outside of each track-pad As you can see here, the track-pad is in place (not glued) and even though it isn't painted, it does look the part and will not be noticed once weathered M45 current status: All running gear and track is installed and there is a problem! Yep, it's the track again....... This time, the upper run is hidden due to the track guards so a different approach is called for Old school solution - I used staples! They'll be hidden anyway so I don't need to go all hi-tech with this. The ride height is good, the torsion bar suspension is doing it's job - glad I didn't slap a load of glue over everything. You'll see lots of fuzzy bits on each model in the pictures, this is the inevitable dust and shavings found during the build process and to be honest, I couldn't be bothered to clean everything up for each picture - this is grass-roots modelling. Summary for 24th May: Both vehicles are coming along really well but are taking a bit longer than I thought - doing an aircraft build as well has slowed me down a bit too (build here). I feel that these are some of my best work of late and still have a fair bit to do yet. Those .50cal machine guns periscopes & guards on M26A1 fixing the upper & lower hull and final decal arrangement on M45 final varnish of both vehicles painting of the tracks, metal finish, general weathering etc mounting the M26A1 to it's base and blending in the groundwork Edited May 24, 2014 by Shermaniac 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 What is it with the tracks in this GB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted May 24, 2014 Author Share Posted May 24, 2014 What is it with the tracks in this GB? It's usually the 'banded track' that's the issue as the Link & Length or Indy track usually have a few extra links to play with. Banded Link&Length Indy Link Trumpeter: good good Pretty good HobbyBoss: too short None Pretty good Tamiya: usually ok Varies Good when used Italeri: too stiff not seen unknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted May 25, 2014 Author Share Posted May 25, 2014 (edited) Oh Yes, I forgot to mention When you try to fit the road wheels they're a bit wobbly, Well actually, they're whole lot wobbly!At least the hole is too big rather than the opposite. To rectify this is simple, I used 2.5mm/1.5mm plastic tubing. Cut to lengths of 3mm (you'll need 14 of these). Each one is then split on one side and is then slid over the wheel arm (see picture above). When you are ready, the wheel should be glued in place on the wheel arm - do not glue the wheel arm to the vehicle as this WILL affect the suspension. Sunday 25th May UPDATE! Yo! Bin playin wiv ma Guns Bruv Yeah! Top part is the Kit .50cal, ammo box, mount & RB Model Upgrade set (RB35B13) Bottom part is the result of the merging of the 2 elements - and what a difference it makes! The cocking handle on the bottom MG is set too low and has subsequently been relocated correctly. Edited May 28, 2014 by Shermaniac 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share Posted May 28, 2014 Update Wednesday 28th May 2014: The .50cal MG ammo box for this gun are marked in Step 13 as using (Sprue C3), parts C20, C25 & C26 which is fine except - this is a .30cal ammo box The correct parts for the .50cal ammo box are using (Sprue C1), parts C6, C7 & C8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 What a great weapon, huh! 95 years old and going strong! One of the most evocative images I have of the Vietnam War is a Marine on a Pibber snarling and firing a Ma Deuce. I should dig it up sometime. Booyah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 Take a breath - Time for a perspective on both builds - 6 weeks to go........ Status check: Upper & Lower Hulls joined Tracks painted Decals applied Varnish applied Stowage applied (in part) Builder psychology profile :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Build program schedule :thumbsup: Extra parts assembled :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Weathering planned out :thumbsup: Mounting Base ready 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozzy19 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 6 weeks to go........6 weeks until what?Great work by the way! Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 79 days left of GB. Lots more than I thought.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 6 weeks until what? Great work by the way! Sean 79 days left of GB. Lots more than I thought.... Ooops! I forgot about July!!!! YEH! 10 and a bit weeks to go to the end of this GB, better than I though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozzy19 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Ooops! I forgot about July!!!! Those must be strong paint thinners in the workshop... You scared me there, with my stop start building on the Sabre I thought I was running out of time! Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 Those must be strong paint thinners in the workshop... You scared me there, with my stop start building on the Sabre I thought I was running out of time! Sean Courtesy of your fiendly interwebby thing 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I see you've got screens over your grilles on the engine deck. Do I need them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted May 31, 2014 Author Share Posted May 31, 2014 I see you've got screens over your grilles on the engine deck. Do I need them? No screens anywhere. Light refraction in photos. All engine deck screens as kit in both 1/35 & 1/48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 Update 7th June 2014: Stowage is attached but not too much visible changes to the Pershings as yet. The strapping to the stowage is still to be applied - good old Tamiya Tape I think. Weathering has begun but needs more finesse Remember this? How does it compare? Still a way to go I think..... Only a few weeks left now 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 It looks like some fluids have washed some of the dust on the 1:1 example. Water, probably. Good stuff so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share Posted July 20, 2014 Just like with my Shermie build over on the D-Day GB well, lets move along Stowage tie-downs from Tamiya Tape (yes, it's a finger print!) The general arrangement is now complete just a couple of periscopes and brush guards and we're about done for the M26A1 Here's the M45 - same condition Both vehicles sport new carbon fibre aerials from Accurate Armour NEARLY THERE! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatfingers Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Brilliant work! Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 BOTH FINISHED! and uploaded to the Gallery tonight M26A1 M45 Howitzer Tank 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widow 65 Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Excellent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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