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Polish FIAT C4P half-track truck and an 1897 Schneider 75mm...1939


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Here's some more 1/72nd scale fun.  This is the first time I have built any kits from this company and a quick look says it might be a rewarding experience.  If the Mods allow, I'll be building one of the Schneiders that this halftrack dragged around Poland.  Here's a good wiki...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C4P

 

And here are some pictures...

 

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Sprue...

 

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The instructions are not for the uninitiated...

 

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And here's the Schneider...Hey!  I get two!

 

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Sprue...

 

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A bit of a close up.  Nice detail.  The same applies to the C4P.

 

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And instructions...

 

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So there you go.  Something a little off the radar.  

 

--John

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2 hours ago, PeterB said:

The famous French "75" was getting a bit long in the tooth by then but still a useful gun. This should be interesting.

 

If I was still drinking I would be well into my own series of 'French 75'...It's a relief I'm not, trust me. 😉

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_75_(cocktail)

 

Just to let you know, I did not expect this kit to be a Blitz Build, but it is.  And, to top it off, it is beautifully engineered.  Everything fits very nicely and the plastic is of a very high quality.  I recommend it.

 

I'm not forgetting the windshield this time.  Scrap plastic cut to fit and attached with Clear Fix.

 

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This is actually 4 pieces.  Perfect fit.

 

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From below...

 

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The rear box.  5 very nicely moulded pieces that dovetail like no one's business.  

Those two spaces are for the ammo bins, which I have assembled separately.  

 

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Ammo bins...

 

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And that's where I have stopped for the night. I have detached the unneeded bits of sprue and will prime all of this tomorrow morning.   Less that two hours of building.

If the moulded detail wasn't so fine I'd swear this was for wargaming.   So easy.  Not 'beginner' easy, but no sweat.

 

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--John

 

 

 

 

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Olive Green looks good here...

 

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I noticed that there will be a fair amount of open space in the rear of this vehicle for all kinds of stuff.  Bags of potatoes, cabbages...water...fuel...sausages.

 

--John

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When I was at Uni one of my friends was a medical student of Polish origins and he was living with a Polish family. I still remember him teaching me how to drink "Polish Pure Spirit" straight down without touching the sides of your throat and then eat a slice of sausage. The first couple of times I thought my throat was on fire - I don't remember just how high the rated strength was but around twice the proof rating of my strongest whisky I believe! Maybe you need a couple of bottles to go with the sausage in this build😆.

 

Pete

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17 hours ago, PeterB said:

Maybe you need a couple of bottles to go with the sausage in this build😆.

I think you're right.  I don't have any clear resin bottles, but I have bottles. They will have to be green I think.  Maybe silver will look alright to the eye.

 

So anyway...I painted the tracks and put them on.  I slipped the cab over the chassis (perfect fit, btw) and secured it with some extra thin cement.  The same goes for the ammo boxes and the benches in the rear.

 

Tires have also been painted and I gave the underside a bit of the same colour to start.  I'll dust it up a bit when it's dry.

 

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--John

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Here it is.  I haven't given the vehicle any dust, so it looks pretty fresh.  Not for long.  And the items that will be in back, courtesy of Blackdog...

 

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Just to clarify what's for dinner...Oh, yes...sorry, no 'Polish Pure Spirit' @PeterB.  Somehow they got hold of this other fine libation.  

 

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And the Schneider is now on the bench.  I think I might wait a bit before building it.  Not too long, mind you, but probably not tonight.

 

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“Oh don't give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit
No, don't you give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit
For my head will fly, my tongue will lie, my eyes will fry and I may die
Won't you pour me one more of that sinful Old Janx Spirit”

—An ancient Orion mining song

 

--John

 

 

 

 

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12 hours ago, Trevor L said:

Looks great. The bucket makes all the difference!

Thanks Trevor.  I agree.

I think it is interesting that no one has mentioned that Old Janx Spirit...😉  It's a cultural reference to British humour...

 

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So I started the Schneider.  It's every bit as detailed and well fitting as the FIAT but man, such teeny, tiny parts...I mean really.

 

That spindly bit is the axle and whatnot.  The tongue is two soearte long pieces and you have to glue the adjustment wheels and the two seats on the side.  The Carpet Monster was really growling but got nothing tonight!

 

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Two pieces--part of the suspension, I guess.

 

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These are the brake pads.  Teeny tiny.

 

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It's hard to tell, but there are 11 pieces in this assembly alone.

 

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From beneath...

 

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I'm leaving it for the night.  That all has to set up before I start thinking of the gun, or wheels...I might paint the wheels and gun before hand anyway.  Paint the carriage as well, then assemble those components.  Might be wise.

 

--John

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I have primed the four components (wheels, gun, carriage and armour) and you can really see the high level of fine detail that has gone onto the mouldings.

 

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Apparently some mould release oil was still present when I sprayed.  Oh well.  I think it will be ok.

 

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I'll have to see if I can find a colour picture of one of these so I know how to paint it.  Suggestions welcome.

 

--John

 

 

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Don't know about lorries and artillery, but according to Zaloga Polish tanks were in olive green up to about 1930, then until 1936 patches of dark chestnut brown and light ochre were added over the green , sometimes separated with a thin black line. From 1936 to the start of the war the scheme changed to very dark chestnut brown and light sand grey over the olive green. He also notes that tanks bought from France retained the French green finish.

 

Pete

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14 hours ago, PeterB said:

Don't know about lorries and artillery, but according to Zaloga Polish tanks were in olive green up to about 1930, then until 1936 patches of dark chestnut brown and light ochre were added over the green , sometimes separated with a thin black line. From 1936 to the start of the war the scheme changed to very dark chestnut brown and light sand grey over the olive green. He also notes that tanks bought from France retained the French green finish.

 

Thanks Pete.  That might be interesting to at least add a bit of camo to the armoured plate--brown and ochre.  Everything I have seen on line is all olive green.  Maybe I'l break up the scheme a bit.  

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The olive green went on this afternoon...

 

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I returned from our weekly Pub Quiz and it was quick work with the gun carriage.  A few choice swipes with some pin washing around the detailed bits on the carriage popped it out just fine.  I took a little more time with the armour, but not much.  I'll dry brush some dust on there too once it is dry.  I made an error and camouflage the wrong side first!  No matter...it was good practice.  I'll put the armour on tomorrow morning and get it in the gallery by the afternoon.

 

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--John

 

 

 

 

 

 

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That's the Schneider finished!  With the armour plate I noticed that it was too close to the ground to be towed by the FIAT so I carefully cut the plate along the line where the bottom third would have been hinged and folded it up.  I think that is probably what they did when moving it, then folded it back down for firing.

 

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And with the FIAT C4P...

 

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The rest are in the gallery.  Many thanks folks.  This was a fun build.

 

--John

 

 

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