1st anual Armor Secret Santa Build Form

Heh, maybe I will...

As for the build going fast, it is, once the tracks got done.. That was the slow part... Lotta clean-up and they still didn't fit well..

That is quite the cool kit, a really freaky design, I havent seen much like that before, and you built the thing quickly, heh.  Cant wait to see it painted.

For a dio, you could do alittle comic thing (based on that sherman idea) of the crew loading it in a motor pool next to a King Tiger or Elephant, some large piece of armor to parody it's little size

I wana work on figure modding first, for something specific I want to do with it. (Pm inbound for you hans, your the master at that)

Dunno about a Master, but I like to do it, lol...

Now I've added the suspension, tracks (ARRRGGG!!!), hatches and covers, front slip and various fiddly bits.. The tracks were a PITA, as I already mentioned, and did NOT want to line up at all.. The instructions were fairly good in this step, but the tracks themselves were quite thick and difficult to handle... Using Testor's Model Master Liquid Cement for it's slower drying time, I was able to get them on in SOME semblance of order and tweek 'em into position... This's one model that rubberband tracks would go a LONG way in making a better model, IMHO... They don't have any sag accorsing to the photos I looked at so the L7L tracks were overkill as  see it... Even though I prefer RB tracks for ALL my AFVs, I REALLY wished this kit had them, lol..  At any rate, the build's progressing fairly rapidly now.. I should be ready to squirt it tonight, a couple, maybe 3 hours from now as all I have left is the rockets and the launch-racks..

Here's a size comparison between some other vehicles... This track is really in the same scale as these others!

With the track fit such as it is, I'll be muddying this one up rather well, although I don't have a diorama idea for it yet, not a solid one anyway.. I've toyed with the crew getting it into launch position (and that means opening the hatches which will show my scratch-work) and also it being looked over by a Sherman crew who's amusement is obvious.. I knda like the last one, since it'll point out the size difference in the two vehicles...

Anyway, Thanks for lookin'...

Heck, sounds like your actuially going to have trouble with that kit's tracks   If anyone can do it, you can.  From what you say, it sounds like its just going to take a bit of extra time, as opposed to any sort of challange.

I dont wana start my kit untill I get my AB fixed, plus I wana work on figure modding first, for something specific I want to do with it. (Pm inbound for you hans, your the master at that)

Finally started mine.. A Renault UE (f) 28CM sWUR rocket launcher.. Mixed media, styrene, PE Brass and resin.. I tiny little thing too, even in 1/35th..

I started with the upper hull and removed the hatches for the installation of the PE hatches and muffler guard.

Then I added some interior scratchbuilt stuff.. I planned on leaving the left hatch open, so I built a driver seat from Plastruct rod and epoxy seat cushions.. I also cast a transmisson from a Marder and scratched a gear shift from brass wire and some melted sprue for the shift knob.

I scratched a steering similar to the Tiger's from rod and strapping.. Trimmed the strap after I the glue dried, then set it on a piece of rod for a steering coloumn.. I had no interior refs so I used some logic along with Creative Gizmology and Imagineering, my two favorite modeling techniques..

This track is turning out to be one tough build.. It's link & length tracks are a bear, being so small and there's a lot of flash and thick sprue gates to deal with.. Also, being multi-media, different glues are needed.. But so far, It's coming along and is certainly at the top of the list for oddball AFVs I've done, and a total departure for me in armor building, being a French kit with really tough instructions..

Stay tuned, Kiddies...

i cracked the box on mine, im really excited about starting, i never buy the open fighting compartment armor, usually just your basic tigers, panthers etc.. its going to be a real challange to do something different like this, cant wait to get it started.

once we locate our camera ill have a pic, we think its at the in-laws in another province so it might be a while yet

smeagol the vile wrote:

If you wana know the truth, this was less about the building, and more about the event itself, so theres no end date or pressure to rush it.

ditto man!  I did not even start my aviation secret santa gift.. a nice multimedia kit, wanted to get some experience before tackling it. Same with my armor gift... gorgeous new dragon Sherman, want to do a few tamiyas and some PE  before tackling this one.

smeagol the vile wrote:

If you wana know the truth, this was less about the building, and more about the event itself, so theres no end date or pressure to rush it.

I was just joking around.....no pressure from me. Geez, I barely even opened the box, let alone started.

Just a goofy way to bump the thread, that's all.

I dug out some research books and AM stuff (indy link track)for my kit.

Now I just have to decide what version to make.

In the works now.

Pics will be soon.

Page 3 !?!?!?!? 

Say it ain't so!

Oh i wont start mine until summer, have a few GBs on the plate :)  Will practice some OD on an old tamiya walker bulldog first

cheers