Hamden Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 Great photo etch work Simon, don't worry if the part is not 100% as it should be shape wise as there was often minor damage to bins, catches, brackets etc: Stay safe Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerberus Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 On 10/07/2022 at 09:04, SimonL said: Tried to recreate the casting line across the front as suggested by Matt @Cerberus but it ended up looking rather messy. I cleaned it off with some nail polish remover, perhaps may have another go later. That's the best plan yes if it starts to get too messy, the casting seam line is not that important to be honest (It's not a deal breaker) It's best to just keep the bogies looking clean and well put together, rather than have a mess on the front where the bogie ribs are. Matt 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 12, 2022 Author Share Posted July 12, 2022 (edited) Thanks Roger @Hamden and Matt @Cerberus for the encouragement. Today I focussed on the turret and painting the bogies. I’ve settled on Vallejo Model Air 71.017 for the SCC15. Thought I had made a mistake as it it is very thin, but after three brushed on coats looks pretty good. Looks pretty close to my eye to the paint chip in my copy of Mike Starmer’s book on British camouflage colours. I used Vallejo Dark Rubber for the tires. The turret was pretty complex, still only partly done but managed not to screw up the gun so it is able to be raised and lowered. Did manage to put the machine gun in upside down (not that you can notice 🤣), drilled out the barrel as well. Now need to consider the options for the commander’s hatch. It will be closed - that much I know! Edited July 12, 2022 by SimonL 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 13, 2022 Author Share Posted July 13, 2022 Finished the turret construction today with some more little bits of brass. A little bit of cleaning up, and if will be time for paint. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 14, 2022 Author Share Posted July 14, 2022 Couldn’t put it off any longer - time to do the tracks. I decided to do a trial run of 6 links. I pre painted them with Tamiya Dark Iron, and once that was dry I was ready to start. The next few steps required the use of the neat jig that RFM provide. First the “inside” parts of the tracks are placed in the jig. Then the end pieces, held in place by another part of the jig. Small dab of CA glue on the little “peg” and added the outer parts of the track links. Left it a bit to be sure it was all dry, then carefully removed the jig. And finally a little length of working track! Not difficult per se, just a bit time consuming. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 Nice work with the tracks Simon. I'm like you when it comes to tracks. My next build will be using Bronco tracks, and they're not known for being easy to assemble. John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 15, 2022 Author Share Posted July 15, 2022 Thanks John. Yes, I’ve had experience of Bronco tracks. I even found their link and length tracks tricky. That being said, these RFM tracks while a bit of a chore do appear to be pretty “workable”. I’ll reserve judgment until I have them fitted… 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 15, 2022 Author Share Posted July 15, 2022 Managed to get one run of tracks completed (they are in blocks of 20 at the moment). In between working on the tracks I have been making other progress. Bogies are on. Here is where I am at this evening. Started detail painting of the tools, few touch ups needed but pretty happy with how they appear. They are a bit stark at the moment, but will be toned down by the weathering. In other news, while fossicking around in a charity shop (an op shop in Australia parlance), came across this neat wooden box which is exactly the right size for my increasing collection of Vallejo paints. Winner! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelholic Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 Your going to need a bigger box! I adapted an old plastic tool box to hold about 35 Vallejo paint bottles. I now have three such boxes! Tom 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 16, 2022 Author Share Posted July 16, 2022 That’s a worry Tom @Modelholic! Got another 40 track links done, and some touch up painting on the bogies and turret. Just placed the upper hull on top of the lower hull with the turret in place - pretty happy with how it’s going. I hope to complete construction before I go back to work on Monday, leaving decals and weathering to be done in easy stages over the week. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoxx77 Posted July 16, 2022 Share Posted July 16, 2022 This is turning out great! Your attention to detail is an inspiration. Tracks are not difficult indeed. It's just time consuming and you have to keep your focus hat on at all times. It took me quite some time to put the tracks for the RFM StuG together. But i have to say, once finished they really look the part. Keep it up! Love the progress! Grtz. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted July 16, 2022 Share Posted July 16, 2022 That has really come together Simon very nice workmanship Stay safe Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted July 17, 2022 Share Posted July 17, 2022 It's looking very good Simon, the whole model looks great, so do the tracks Ed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted July 17, 2022 Share Posted July 17, 2022 Perseverance has paid off with the tracks Simon. They look the business. John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 17, 2022 Author Share Posted July 17, 2022 Thanks @Bullbasket @Hamden @edjbartos @Maddoxx77. More track-bashing today. At the end of the day I had two lengths of 83 links. I was a bit anxious about the final connection, but ultimately that was actually pretty easy. Quick test fit, they slipped on easily and it was easy to adjust the tension by turning the idler wheel. By far the best workable tracks I’ve come across. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 20, 2022 Author Share Posted July 20, 2022 RFM provide a rather weedy bit of thread for the tow rope, so I’ve been playing with some fine copper wire scavenged from an old power lead. Just twisted some strands together. What do folk think? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echen Posted July 20, 2022 Share Posted July 20, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, SimonL said: What do folk think? @SimonL Looks good on screen - and the camera is very unforgiving if something is even a little bit not right. Edited July 20, 2022 by echen 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerberus Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 On 20/07/2022 at 14:16, SimonL said: What do folk think? Picture hanging wire is a good cheap easy to get solution to 35th scale tow cables, in my humble opinion 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 21, 2022 Author Share Posted July 21, 2022 Thanks @echen, but @Cerberus what a great idea! So obvious really. Much easier on the fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 24, 2022 Author Share Posted July 24, 2022 Final bits of construction done. Before I added the top of the hull, I added some fishing weights to provide a bit of “heft”. And here we are, construction complete. I used picture hanging wire for the tow rope as suggested above - it was a bit tricky to stick in place, but the glue stains are covered by the paint. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 That's a very nice Firefly Simon. For future reference, if you use picture hanging wire again, before you fix it in place, anneal it first. That will make it soft and pliable, and allow you to bend it to the shape that you require. John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 25, 2022 Author Share Posted July 25, 2022 Thanks John - useful advice 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 27, 2022 Author Share Posted July 27, 2022 I’ve used Tamiya XF84 Dark Iron for the tracks, which in the pot has a brownish-grey look, but looks a bit too grey on the model. I thought I would see if a coat of Vallejo Dark Brown Wash would make a difference. I’ve tried it out on the spare track links attached to the front of the tank. What do folk think? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echen Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 (edited) I find washes cause me grief. First they don't seem to show up. I add to them. Then its swamped.😭 Trying to resist the temptation to add another to my T-80 BV because I know I'll probably over-do it. It's just that it looks like it needs something more...... Yours is progressing well IMO; looking good. Edited July 27, 2022 by echen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 27, 2022 Author Share Posted July 27, 2022 Oh I know, what you mean @echen, trying for the subtle look here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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