Tamiya Chieftain converted into a MK11

[Mike]

Looks great Dan - what's the plan for the base on this one, or do I need to review the thread more thoroughly before jumping in?

[Dads203]

Some progress, not much but a bit, life just gets in the way too much

Anyway bipod added to the GPMG and fitted to the turret, just needs the lead adding which i'll do later.

Gun travel lock added to the rear of the hull, some bolt heads added as the cast resin ones were not the best.

As for the base, I've not gone firm yet on what to do, but I'm sure I;ll get something done that will suit the tank.

I'm not sure when I'll be able to get the next update done due to a change in job that will involve working away

from home.

Regards

Dan

[simmerit]

That gun and ammo box look bloody good - I'm massively impressed. slap a bit of link in, cock it and you are away. Excellent mate.

[Dads203]

Only a small update, life once more has gotten n the way and I started a new Job last Monday week ago

which involved a 200 mile round trip commute so not a lot of time for much else. Today I started in another office a bit closer to home

which should mean a bit of modelling time and few more updates :-)

GPMG has had the wiring added, and the loaders and commanders hatch

have been added.

Loaders hatch handles, I used the Eduard PE as I felt they were better than the AA items.

Cheers

Dan

[longshanks]

Looking tasty mate

No more excusses now . . . . crack on

Cheers Kev

[C&WR]

Top stuff, Dan. Glad the commute more manageable!

[Dads203]

Thanks Chaps, managed a bit more this afternoon, searchlight now fitted

a few more small PE parts fitted and I've started on the last set of side skirts.

Enjoy

Cheers

Dan

[C&WR]

Looking good - glad you've managed to get back to the bench!

[Dads203]

Looking good - glad you've managed to get back to the bench!

Thanks Matthew,

Should have more time towards the end of the week to get more work done :-)

Any updates of your build yet?

Dan

[C&WR]

A bit stalled at the moment, Dan. I've had a lot of evening commitments with work, and the weekend just gone was packed with activities arranged by Sunray!

[HOUSTON]

Dan

IMPRESSIVE stuff ,.,awesome build so far.

Edited July 24, 2014 by HOUSTON

[Dads203]

Finally a quick update for you all.

Headlights and the dozer blade attachment plate added

to the front hull.

More to follow

Dan

[DAG058]

Very interesting so far. I've just started one of these. I'm just going for a horribly inaccurate OOB build. I don't have the skills or knowledge to do a decent conversion. Hopefully I can learn a trick or two from you though for the future.

[Dads203]

Thanks Dag,

Hot end of the wagon now, exhausts are now done, and front recovery

hooks, I've got quite a bit of PE work to finish off them it's primer time.

Cheers

Dan

[Widow 65]

Hi mate,

Great build so far......I started my Armoured Corps career being taught Gunnery on a Mk11. Have noticed though that the tracks are on the wrong way round!!

Cheers

[Widow 65]

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!

Hopefully I can add a bit more "meat to the bone" about the flashing light etc. I was a Cavalryman for 23 years but never had much to do with Chieftain apart from my Basic Gunnery Course, however, regardless of what vehicle it was the `skills and Procedures" remained the same. The Flashing light was easily removed and whilst on exercise any road movement or crossing main roads required the "winky wonky" and all lights to be on. Callsign boards were call sign boards and remained on all the time in fact most of them were painted directly onto the vehicle. Different units though, had different ways of applying them and as the years went by the colours mostly changed to Black and Green colouring instead of yellow. As the crazy world of Health & Safety eventually made to the Army, the army reacted and employed the Yellow/orange reflective boards on the back of the vehicle, these were always fitted but as you remarked, were very quickly covered with mud etc after a couple of hours cross country! As with the lights it was necessary before crossing a road, to get out and clean off the lights and the reflective boards every time!!!!

I hope that I have given you more info on these Items.

Cheers

Nick

[Dads203]

Thanks Nick,

Ref the tracks, they are just test fitted to get the tension right, next up for them is a dip in some blackener.

I served on armour for 6 years of my 12 year career on 43's and the winky pots were a right pain, they were as you would say

not very squaddie proof and were always getting broken, amazing how branches would just jump out and smash the things :-)

Probably the most demanded item that the poor Troop storeman would have to order after ever exercise.. I know as I was also the Troop storeman

in my part time.

I see you were a JTAC? Do you know Nanoo, Ex RAF Regt JTAC Supervisor?

Regards

Dan

[Hamden]

Nice progress - so looking forward to seeing some paint on this

Roger

[Dads203]

Time for some photo's again.

Spare track hangers are now on , these have been taken from the Eduard PE set.

BCF fire extinguisher's added to the turret TUAAM box and one of the front stowage boxes, one more to fit yet.

Cheers

Dan

[longshanks]

Some great progress there mate

Looking good

Cheers Kev

[Dads203]

Thanks Kev,

Pre-weathering time, taking a break from the building side for a mo and I've applied some Tamiya soil effect texture

paint as base for pigment work later on. This will get primed at the same time as the rest of the build and will get painted

the base green, only when the pigments get broken out will you see the effect properly.

Pictures:-

Same effect I did on my Skif 2S1 build.

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234934134-skif-2s1/page-5

Enjoy

Dan

[Widow 65]

Thanks Nick,

Ref the tracks, they are just test fitted to get the tension right, next up for them is a dip in some blackener.

I served on armour for 6 years of my 12 year career on 43's and the winky pots were a right pain, they were as you would say

not very squaddie proof and were always getting broken, amazing how branches would just jump out and smash the things :-)

Probably the most demanded item that the poor Troop storeman would have to order after ever exercise.. I know as I was also the Troop storeman

in my part time.

I see you were a JTAC? Do you know Nanoo, Ex RAF Regt JTAC Supervisor?

Regards

Dan

Hi Dan,

Absolutely right about the Winky Wonky, a "starred item" as i recall!!!!!

What a small world! I did know Nanoo, he was in another TACP at the same place as mine, i also worked with Bidders and Terry Waite, ring any bells?

Excellent model too!!

Cheers

Nick

[Dads203]

Hi Nick,

Nanoo is really good friend of mine, we grew up together, I was best man at his wedding,

Nanoo got out after 26 years and is now a civi back down in Cornwall. I say in touch so if

you want contact details I have them.

Cheers for the comments on the build.

Regards

Dan

[Dads203]

These were a right royal pain to get right,

Headlight guards !!

They are on now and will require a bit of work with Mr Surfacer to blend it all in.

Cheers

Dan

[OzH]

Hi Dan

Awesome piece of work matey, looks fantastic..