Maddoxx77 Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 (edited) New project. this will be a more complex build. It has a full interior, a descent amount of PE and very tiny tracks that will have to be fully assembled. the number of sprues and parts: Nothing too overwelming. This is my first kit from Gecko models so i'm very curious. I've read a lot of reviews on the brand saying it is very good and that the level of detail on the parts is great. We'll see. I want to do this vehicle in the Caunter scheme placing it in Libia in 1940 - 1941. The kit comes with a figure: Looks decent. Maybe i'll order some panzer art figures in a summer dessert uniform. Since i know next to nothing about these light tanks it is also a good chance to learn a bit more about these Brittish AFV's. All and all looks like a lot of fun. Always welcome to tag along. Beer and snacks ordered 🫡 Edited March 11 by Maddoxx77 Typed decent wrong..... again 🤣 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PF Naughton Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 Hi, I think that I hav this kit in my stash too. Can't wait to see how your build turns out. Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoxx77 Posted March 11 Author Share Posted March 11 43 minutes ago, PF Naughton said: Hi, I think that I hav this kit in my stash too. Can't wait to see how your build turns out. Pat Well.... let's say for now it's not a Tamiya like fit. A lot of small parts and soft plastic, wich makes cleanup a tricky buissiness. So far the driver/gunner compartement is done. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoxx77 Posted March 11 Author Share Posted March 11 This build proves to be a challenge. Absolutly no beginners kit. A lot of weird engineering descissions. Not unfixable but you have to check everything 3, 4 times to make shure the fit is correct. Bottom of the fighting compartement is done. Dryfitted in place it looks decent. Driver/machinegunner compartement is also done. And then i started on maybe the most complex running gear i have ever came across. Suspension is movable but in this case it's a disadvantage. The spring is of very thin plastic and will snap when you look at it wrong. Anyhow, one down 3 to go. Oh and the figure got assembled. Poor quality, lots of flash and seamlines and a poor fit so lots of filling is needed. Still enjoying this kit so far. Nice to have a bit of a challenge after some easy builds. And it's a great warmup for the future Stug builds. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeff Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 I can't believe how much progress you've made already Maddox .... you'll have this done by next weekend! Do I order more snacks I wonder? No doubt it will be another top build from you. Keith 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoxx77 Posted March 12 Author Share Posted March 12 1 hour ago, Keeff said: I can't believe how much progress you've made already Maddox .... you'll have this done by next weekend! Do I order more snacks I wonder? No doubt it will be another top build from you. Keith I made the most of the spare time i had. Altough it seems there is a lot of progress, there is so much more to be done. And this wiĺl be a build/paint/build kit so that will slow things down. Keep the snacks coming and don't forget the beer 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 A great start on this one, I have looked at this kit in the past but not yet succumbed to temptations! You are working your magic already here and will take a seat and watch quietly from the corner - beer ordered Stay safe Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 Hi Maddoxx, A very interesting subject, I really like these tanks, you can get a lot out of them with weathering. Very good progress so far, and that is a complicated kit. The figure you show strongly reminds me of the ones that ITALERI included in their Crusader kits, I don't even know what year, but most likely in the 70s or even before. I have a soldier like that, I think, in a (super-vintage) spare parts box, though it would be hard to find. It is a surprise that this brand includes something like that in its offer... Cheers and TC Francis. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoxx77 Posted March 12 Author Share Posted March 12 (edited) 2 hours ago, FrancisGL said: Hi Maddoxx, A very interesting subject, I really like these tanks, you can get a lot out of them with weathering. Very good progress so far, and that is a complicated kit. The figure you show strongly reminds me of the ones that ITALERI included in their Crusader kits, I don't even know what year, but most likely in the 70s or even before. I have a soldier like that, I think, in a (super-vintage) spare parts box, though it would be hard to find. It is a surprise that this brand includes something like that in its offer... Cheers and TC Francis. I'm guessing this is an old figure. These days resin figures are the benchmark. Brands like Alpine or Panzerart make great quality figures. The only brand i know that can compete with them quality wise is Tamiya with their new figure line. And that is quite the achievement considering they use slidemolding in stead of 3d resin printing. Edited March 12 by Maddoxx77 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 It's all looking very good, nice work on the running gear, good luck with the others... Ed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 On 11/03/2023 at 23:11, Maddoxx77 said: This build proves to be a challenge. Absolutly no beginners kit. A lot of weird engineering descissions. Not unfixable but you have to check everything 3, 4 times to make shure the fit is correct. Couldn't agree more. I've got this as one of my (many) shelf queens, so will watch how you tackle it. John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoxx77 Posted March 13 Author Share Posted March 13 2 hours ago, Bullbasket said: Couldn't agree more. I've got this as one of my (many) shelf queens, so will watch how you tackle it. John. I think most of the problems will be with the interior, altough i've read a buildlog were there were issues with the fit of the turret. I'll have to see how it goes. First i have to finish the running gear. Just taking it one step at the time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 I've got the German version of this in my stash. Every now and then I look at the instructions, and then put it away again. It does look like fun, but I know that I would struggle to finish it. Go Go Maddoxx! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaoinas Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 That's one of those bizarre british tanks - definitely an interesting one. Great job so far, can't wait for more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon J Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 On 3/12/2023 at 12:12 PM, Maddoxx77 said: I'm guessing this is an old figure. The figure in the kit is not old, it is from a set of British Tankers that was released by Gecko a few years ago. I have the same figure constructed and built ready for painting. https://www.scalemates.com/kits/gecko-models-35gm0022-tank-crew--1197788 It is just a typical injection moulded plastic figure but with some seam scraping and detail enhancement with a no.11 scalpel blade it can be made to look great. The figure should be the perfect accompaniment to your completed build Maddoxx which is coming along nicely if I may say. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f matthews Posted Tuesday at 06:59 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 06:59 PM (edited) I absolutely loved this kit (I built the “German” version with one of the British marking options. Everything was well done and in the end, it turned out well above average in my opinion. There are two inaccuracies with the interior. The first is that the bow MG gunner’s seat is wrong-it is not the same “chair” as the driver’s seat, but more of a flat folding seat with a back pad mounted on the bulkhead separating the driver’s section from the fighting compartment. The second issue is the turret basket floor, which should not be the as-represented wood planks-that was added to the floor during a much later restoration of the Bovington tank used to create the model(s). The actual floor had a rubber mat over a steel floor. Both are relatively easy fixes. Here are schematics for the gunner’s seat: Edited Wednesday at 01:58 PM by f matthews 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoxx77 Posted Wednesday at 12:32 PM Author Share Posted Wednesday at 12:32 PM 17 hours ago, f matthews said: I absolutely loved this kit (I built the “German” version with one of the British marking options. Everything was well done and in the end, it turned out well above average in my opinion. There are two inaccuracies with the interior. The first is that the bow MG gunner’s seat is wrong-it is not the same “chair” as the driver’s seat, but more of a flat folding seat with a back pad mounted on the bulkhead separating the driver’s section from the fighting compartment. The second issue is the turret basket floor, which should not be the as-represented wood planks-that was added to the floor during a much later restoration. The actual floor had a rubber mat over a steel floor. Both are relatively easy fixes. Here are schematics for the gunner’s seat: That's a really nice looking build! Thanks for the extra info. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoxx77 Posted Thursday at 10:53 PM Author Share Posted Thursday at 10:53 PM Little bit of progress... The assembly of the weel sections is done. The part count for these sections: A lot of small fiddly bits that needed a lot of cleanup. 3 of the 4 springs had to be repaired after cutting them ( oh so gently ) from the sprue. But... after some dutch cursewords they were done. I damaged all the rubber on purpose. I know from experience that rubber weels on tanks are easely damaged by driving on rocky roads ( like in Libia ) so this gives the tank a more used look. After a short break i assembled various parts on the hull. I'm constantly checking and dry fitting parts to make shure everything fits. Often the attach points are very small and shallow so there is much room for crooked assembly. So far everything fits and is alligned. Next stop will be more parts of the outside of the lower hull and assembly of the upper hull. I'll keep the parts seperate because i first have to paint and weather the interior. That's it for now. Cheers! 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH1969 Posted Friday at 12:36 AM Share Posted Friday at 12:36 AM 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted Friday at 06:37 AM Share Posted Friday at 06:37 AM Oh those wheels. A tad over engineered but look good when assembled. Good tip on the rubber too. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f matthews Posted Friday at 05:43 PM Share Posted Friday at 05:43 PM A tip I found useful for cleaning fragile springs like these- I cut a length of sprue and inserted it into the spring and it was much easier to cut the burrs off of the springs without breakage. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeff Posted Friday at 06:38 PM Share Posted Friday at 06:38 PM Nice to see you're making progress Maddox! I feel your frustration of tiny and fragile parts at the moment!! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoxx77 Posted Friday at 09:44 PM Author Share Posted Friday at 09:44 PM 3 hours ago, f matthews said: A tip I found useful for cleaning fragile springs like these- I cut a length of sprue and inserted it into the spring and it was much easier to cut the burrs off of the springs without breakage. With the 4th spring i had sort of the same solution with a wooden skewer. Something to remind for future builds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaoinas Posted yesterday at 02:15 AM Share Posted yesterday at 02:15 AM On 17/03/2023 at 19:43, f matthews said: A tip I found useful for cleaning fragile springs like these- I cut a length of sprue and inserted it into the spring and it was much easier to cut the burrs off of the springs without breakage. It would be great if model makers added a few of extras of those extra fragile parts for test and try. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted 22 hours ago Share Posted 22 hours ago You have done a great job on the assembly of those wheels, even though the parts are small. The assembly of the hull is nice and neat, good job... Ed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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