Tamiya Chieftain converted into a MK11

[Dads203]

The next project.

Tamiya old but good Chieftain, not the most accurate kit on the market but with the help of a few companies

I should be able to pull off a good replica of a MK11 Stillbrew.

Onto the build pictures, early stages, loads of cleaning up on the parts, filling the motorisation slots. I've also

damaged the rubber road wheels with a blade and Dremel.

Next up is to finish the return rollers and fill the gaps on the underside of the sponson's with Milliput and plastic card.

Regards

Dan

[longshanks]

:popcorn:

Kev

[magman2]

Hi Dan, I am glad you started the Chieftain as you know, when you Finish it Meng will bring one out.

Nice to see a Chieftain tank, The Best Tank in the World at one time. Am sure it will be up to your usual High Standard

[snapper_city]

Looking good so far.

[Hamden]

This is a really interesting project I will follow this with interest

Roger

[Dads203]

Thanks for the comments chaps, I've been busy still on the running gear.

The Tamiya kit has poly cap type hubs, these are not good at all in a number of ways,

Firstly some people have had issues with them splitting, not sure if this an age issue or some solvent

or mineral spirit has caused it, secondly they really don't like paint at all so they had to go......

New ones cast in nice resin will do the job just right.

Cheers

Dan

[Troffa]

More Chieftain action! Fantastique!

[Dads203]

More work on the running gear, track guard hangers are fitted, these come with the AA kit and they supply the

missing front hangers which Tamiya missed, they are the correct profile and shape as well.

I've not fitted them yet but I've fitted the resin hubs to all the road wheels now.

Enjoy

Dan

[Shar2]

Nice one Dan, another brilliant conversion on its way.

[Dads203]

Thank you Dave,

A small update, I've been playing around with the commanders GPMG, not really satisfied with the AA kit past or the Tamiya kit part I thought It's best to have a crack myself.

So Parts used are :- Live Resin GPMG, Eduard PE set for the Chieftain for the ammo box mount, Kit base bracket, AA base bracket, Aber PE chains and a small selection of plastic strip and rod.

Hope you like it.

Enjoy

Dan

[Dads203]

So here is the basic tank, this is where I'm going to finish for the night.

Till tomorrow

Dan

[Hamden]

This is really coming together now, it is looking like a Chieftain.

Love your attention to detail

Roger

[longshanks]

Hi Dan

GPMG looking cracking well worth the extra effort!

Ilove the shape of the Chieftain

Cheers Kev

[Dads203]

Thanks Chaps, great to receive positive comments from the masses.

I've made a start tonight putting together the fruil tracks, not much to report so far but I'll post some pictures tomorrow once ive done a bit more.

Regards

Dan

[Dads203]

Some progress on the tracks, not much though

And a couple of the GPMG again, took these with better light.

I'll probably be on track bash for the next few days so i'll not be build much on the main tank.

Dan

[C&WR]

Really nice to see a comparison with mine. As you know I was a bit idle to fill in the gaps in the hull and also stuck with the kit hubs for the wheels, but they seem to have held with superglue.

You've reminded me I need to scratch a carrying handle for the Gimpy!

[Dads203]

Thanks Matthew,

Update time, Gimpy ammo box soldered up and added, more general fittings added to the turret like stowage bins,

cupola loaders scope and the all important winky pot flashing light.

Cheers

Dan

[C&WR]

I'm trying to search my reference pics for a good shot of the placement of the winky pot. Obviously it was something that was fairly easily removed IIRC.

After your kind offer I think I'm going to have to add various bits. As this photo taken on the way back from a practice range day shows, flashing lights would also mean the black-and-yellow tac markings and removable wasp stripe panels over the rear of the trackguards:

These stayed on sometimes for tactical training - you can just make out the wasp-stripe panels under the filth here:

Better view of the (obscured) panels here:

Until I remembered what they were and clocked the colour under the mud I thought there were no reinforcement indentations in the bins!

[Dads203]

Great pictures Matthew, please feel free to post up more. :-)

I've finished both sides of the fruil tracks last night so it will beck onto the build later today, more pictures to follow.

Regards

Dan

[Dads203]

New tracks fitted now, they really make a difference to the kit. It's now starting to get rather heavy!

Cheers

Dan

[Dads203]

So update time, yesterday I spent a bit of time on the build adding a few PE bits and filling in the underside

of the mud guards with plastic card. Still needs more work doing to it and it's still a bit rough.

so here is what I'm talking about.

The front mud guards needed a bit of Dremel action to allow the tracks to fit.

Some plastic strip added to the lower hull, this allows for a better fit with my plastic inserts.

Callsign plates added to the rear of the turret basket.

Engine grills added

Cheers

Dan

[Kallisti]

Looks lovely, love Fruilmodel tracks, built several sets now for my CRV(T)s

[Dads203]

Looks lovely, love Fruilmodel tracks, built several sets now for my CRV(T)s

Cheers Kallisti, they really do make a difference to a build fella.

last update, turret baskets have new tarps made from greenstuff epoxy putty.

Stillbrew Armour added to drivers hatch flanks and drivers hatch added.

Please enjoy

Dan

[C&WR]

Those upgrade sets look really good. Hope it's also enjoyable!

You're right to make the covers on the baskets. It may look more interesting to have the contents on display, but with the exception of oil cans and the odd jerrycan we normally covered them up IIRC.

[Hamden]

Very very nice this is turning into a real show stopper!

Roger