M55 Quad 50 Vietnam - Diorama completed!!!

Hello everybody!

I still don't know what the batteries will look like. Anyhow, there's some progress I'd like to report. First thing, I installed the one and only kit-supplied PE part. Here's what it looks like:

It was by no means a drop-in - the part had to be narrowed almost 50% - talk about cutting off two strips about 0.5 mm wide - and then bent to shape and finally adjusted in length - some 0.5 mm. At least the detail is nice.

Then I went for first coat of Olive Drab. I airbrushed Humbrol 66 which was, after drying throughly, coated with a mixture of floor finish (read more here:http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html - nice job Swanny!) with slight addition of black acrylic paint. Here's what the parts look like:

In the drying time I started assemblying the gun elevation assemblies. I noticed that the mentioned assemblies fit extremely tight into the mount, so I scraped some plastic from the inside of the mount, so the assemblies can be rotated after installation. The result can be seen on the foto below:

I hope you all enjoyed, as always I look forward to your comments and wish you all a nice day

Pawel

Thanks for the comments!

mikeym: I didn't add the other hold down pins, because after the battery gets installed, they will be completely out of view. But thanks for watching the fotos so carefully!

redleg: Yeah, we all like to see that plastic-metal combination and why pay for expensive PE? . What color would you paint the batteries redleg? That question really bothers me. OD doesn't sound 100% right. The batteries shown in the TM even have manufacturers logo on them.

Thanks once again and have a nice day

Pawel

Nice use of the wire.....moving along nicely

Rounds Complete!!

Pawel wrote:

Thanks again redleg! Aren't that two of the top ten modelling problems - the carpet monster and the kit inaccuracies? Anyhow, goin' on with the build. Recently I finished the power charger. I added the carburetor, and also replaced the kit exhaust (partially) with copper wire. I also used the same wire for the ignition cable and the carrying handle. That's what it looks like: I also assembled the battery. I added the hold-down pin, also from the same copper wire. By the way, I pulled my wire from an auto battery cable, I recommend this source. The battery, yet unpainted looks like this: Just after pasting the picture I noticed I still have to scribe the joint where the batteries meet at the sides. Just another example how this forum helps make better models And the big question for all: What color would such battery be? Would it really be olive-drab? Could some more civilian color be realistically used for variation? Thanks a lot in advance, looking forward to Your comments, and have a nice day Pawel

I think you need to add 2 more hold down pins since it looks like it has 3 pins.

Thanks again redleg!

Aren't that two of the top ten modelling problems - the carpet monster and the kit inaccuracies?

Anyhow, goin' on with the build. Recently I finished the power charger. I added the carburetor, and also replaced the kit exhaust (partially) with copper wire. I also used the same wire for the ignition cable and the carrying handle. That's what it looks like:

I also assembled the battery. I added the hold-down pin, also from the same copper wire. By the way, I pulled my wire from an auto battery cable, I recommend this source. The battery, yet unpainted looks like this:

Just after pasting the picture I noticed I still have to scribe the joint where the batteries meet at the sides. Just another example how this forum helps make better models

And the big question for all: What color would such battery be? Would it really be olive-drab? Could some more civilian color be realistically used for variation? Thanks a lot in advance, looking forward to Your comments, and have a nice day

Pawel

Moving along. The carpet monster will get you every time!! Always good to look at the TM....the kits may be off many times!

Keep up the good work

Rounds Complete!!

Thanks for the comment, redleg! Yeah, the little parts - I really fought the carpet monster yesterday. Here are the fotos, first the trailer:

The trailer is a nice assembly. It will be shown in the emplaced mode, whichmeans wheels off and jacked down. I drilled out the handles perpendicular to the tow bar. I also had to cut off the locator pin of the taillight, or else it would have to be installed upside down. The underside needs filling and sanding if you are picky, you can see the mentioned area primed inblack on the foto. You can also see the olive-green replacement to the part lost to the carpet monster. Fit is good, there are only ejector pin marks on the wheel attachment points and detail is also good.

Next, the power charger:

That assembly has a minor problem, according to my TM fotos - the whole machine is a bit too far back on its sled. I tried to remedy this by instaling an additional part between the piston and the part with the fuel tank, and also by relocating the generator's attachment point. Still left to do are the carburetor, exhaust and the ignition line and carrying handle (last two missing in the kit).

As always looking forward to Your comments, have a nice day

Pawel

Off to a nice start. The little parts may make it rough but it will be interesting. Keep the faith, we are watching.

Rounds Complete!!