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Dragon M4A1(76)W VVSS 1/72


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Hello tank fans, here is my part of the Achtung Panzer Group build. It will be Dragons M4A1 tank in 1/72 scale. Its one of the best AFV kit in my stash. The amount of delicate parts is really amazing, its also a very nice touch, that a lot of the pe parts, are supplied in plastic as well. Maybe this helps to defeat the carpet monster on this tiny Sherman :-)

At first a view on the sprue parts/details (worth a look) and the instructions

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Hi Bernd. Great to see you here!

Now that looks like a really good kit. I saw this kit a few weeks ago in a model shop in Birmingham on sale for just £7.50! But I didn't buy it because I knew nothing about it! Having seen yours I wish I'd bought it!! Next time I'm over in Brum I shall see if it's still there. I shall watch your build with great interest and hope I can still get it!

Hope you have a good evening.

Kind regards,

Stix

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Hi Bernd. Great to see you here!

Now that looks like a really good kit. I saw this kit a few weeks ago in a model shop in Birmingham on sale for just £7.50! But I didn't buy it because I knew nothing about it! Having seen yours I wish I'd bought it!! Next time I'm over in Brum I shall see if it's still there. I shall watch your build with great interest and hope I can still get it!

Hope you have a good evening.

Kind regards,

Stix

Good morning, Stix. If you can get a 1/72 Dragon Sherman, go for it, these are little gems. Actually, i have two Dragon M4s, got a Sherman Mk.III as well.

Both were cheap fishings on E***. Maybe i build this one too, but first the 76 M4A1.

The sprue pix were made some weeks ago, but i hadn t the time to proceed on this one

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I shall be following this one Bernd, after seeing your other builds it will be nice to see how you build.

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

Simo.

Hopefully i will not disappoint you. Made yesterday some progress, will post as soon as possible ( i should get more familar with Flickr for this :blink: )

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Started yesterday with the first assembling. The dry fit test with the hull parts revealed a problematic fit between the upper hull and the transmission cover.

To solve this i decided to glue the hull together, this can cause a problematic assembly of the tracks/suspension but this should be not a real problem,

the idler wheel was glued on, the drive sprocket will be installed with the tracks, after this the roadwheels will follow.

The details are really nice, despite the small size the details are amazing.

There will be three sub assemblies, the hull,the suspension and the turret.While the basic hull and the wheels were put aside for drying, i started with the turret. Again great details but while sanding the seams i managed to break on of the "sponsons" at the rear of the turret. The part was lost :-(

A replacement was needed, i experimented with decal paper ! It was successful, the paper was, after all, drenched with super glue and i was possible to cut and sand it to fit. Pix from the initial replacing can be seen, today with better light conditions i will made some better shots of the parts.

Best

Bernd

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Hi Bernd. Good to see this one underway. If I manage to get hold of one I will definitely watch for that breakable part. Good save by the way and clever idea - I will try and remember that. Detail does look good.

Kind regards,

Stix

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Thank you very much, made some more detail work this morning. Working with small PE stuff is always a challenge for me but it looks quite good.

My method of applying glue with a needle, has reached at some points its end.

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I think PE is pretty much a challenge to everyone but it does add another dimension to models. Like you, I either use a needle or cocktail stick to apply the glue for it.

I'm looking forward to seeing more photos of your progress later.

Kind regards,

Stix

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72nd armour is not really my thing but between this and Plastix German stuff i could be very tempted! Will watch with interest.

Regards,

Steve

Hi Steve, thanks for the feedback. Small scale AFVs are fun, these little kits are well detailed and go mostly well together. Some of my builds can be found here too. If you like have a look:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234970615-revell-tiger-ii-172/

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234969662-challenger-i-172-from-revell/

Or in /48

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234977514-tamiya-t-34-148-all-new-camoflickr-test-shot/

Cheers

Bernd

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Today, i have used the free morning to make more progress on this build. Fiddly ! but everything has worked, so far.The guards of the headlights are provided in PE or plastic, i have used all the pe parts but Dragon has one part only in plastic, looks a bit odd, compared with the other guards but after the paint job it won t be too visible.(hope so)

Some pe didn t fit the pre drilled holes, i closed this with Mr. Surfacer. Some details on the engine dack are still not installed but, i am quite satisfied for today.

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I think PE is pretty much a challenge to everyone but it does add another dimension to models. Like you, I either use a needle or cocktail stick to apply the glue for it.

I'm looking forward to seeing more photos of your progress later.

Kind regards,

Stix

Posted some more pix, working with this small pe stuff is a good exercise for more complex builds in the future with more fiddly pe s included.

So far the Dragon kit is very nice

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Good progress Bernd. It does look like it's fiddly to do but it looks good in place. It is odd that Dragon have left one in plastic but, like you say, it will be less noticeable once the paint is on. And yes the kit does look very good.

Kind regards,

Stix

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Thank you very much, the details on the rear part of the hull will be part of the next M4 session, some parts are on but the most is still missing.

The tracks will be connected too.

Enjoy your day my friend

Best

Bernd

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Good morning mates, the small parts went on quite well, to my own surprise. Today is some more detail work on the back of the hull and the closing of the tracks on schedule.

The Dragon kit is worth every cent i have spend for it, so far. Fiddly but fun :-)

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Good morning Bernd. It's good to hear that you are enjoying the build. Looking forward to seeing some photos of your progress. Onto the tracks eh? I'll be interested to see what they're like. The ones for the kits I've built have all been pretty nicely detailed.

Kind regards,

Stix

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Hi Stix, the build is fun and the tracks are the DS style, you found in your Dragon kits as well. Glued them with plastic glue and and fixed them with used Tamiya tape on the bench to dry.

They are the often used rubber chevron style tracks.

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More progress on my M4, i have did the hatches and the last missing details. Again great details, the hand grips/guards on the hull hatches are little pieces of art in plastic moulding. One of them tried to escape me but i was able to recover it :-)

The hatches on the turret will be in the open position, the hatches on the hull are closed.

Now its time for some painting

Cheers

Bernd

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Wow, thats a really nice looking Sherman coming along there Bernd. The PE details are amazing. Good luck with this one mate. Its gonna be great :thumbsup2::thumbsup2::thumbsup2: :thumbsup2:

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