#5 Italeri M24 Chaffee- COMPLETED!

Yes, I peeked in on this kit in the GB. By the time your finished, it will be less Testors then a whole new kit via kitbash.

Looks really great. I've got a similar set of track for kit, but I haven't used them yet. Just a little intimidated by them. I'll be waiting to see how yours turn out.

Looks great.  I continue to be gobsmacked by the super-detailing accomplished with PE material.  Lookimg forward to seeing the finished product.

Guys, Thanks for comments! 

Steve, it looks like I have to try this track.  If it doesn't work out., I will have to order tracks from Friulmodel (ATL-39)  I did some digging this morning to confirm that Chaffee used metal tracks in Korea.  Look at this great picture... all steel tracks.

So it means I can not order  those MK tracks because they have rubbers which widely used after WWII and Korea War. 

The rubber chevron tracks were in common use by Korea.  You see them on M24s and M19 40mm GMCs in wartime photos. What you don't see are them in use during WW2...

Roy, I agree with you.  It is funny I see rubber chevron tracks on all M4s & M26s in Korea War according to my reference books and websites while Chaffees were still using steel tracks despite the fact they made late appearance in WWII.  Wish me luck to get those resin tracks together.  If it doesn't work out, I will just give you a call for help... you are only three hours drive way if I am correct.  Chicago? 

I am not ready to cough up $40 for Friulmodel tracks yet...

Verty cool and nice work.  The 50 cal looks kick a$$

  Any idea where to find a new set of those white metal sprockets by theirselves?

Some really good information here and some really serious progress too.

Good work.

very nice love the pics.nice to know that roy makes house calls.

Ron

                         Great work on the Chaffee Andy.The extra detail will go a long way. I suppose there will be a Chaffee at the next model show Looking forward to seeing the end results. The last piece of american armor I built was a Grant or Lee I don't recall which.Anyway you keep the pics updated my friend ,and often as you know how much we love them.

                                                                    Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Now you're talking, Andy.  One of those US armored you've been threatening!  I see a Roscoe Turner trophy in your future.  Rick.

deafpanzer,

Looking good!---I did the same tank years and years ago, basically, with those tracks. You can see them in the pic here...

Here's what to do--do you have a microwave? Put some water in a deep coffee cup, heat it up for a minute, and use a tweezer to dip the track in the water for like, 5-8 seconds. Take out the track and test its pliability, and then slowly form it around the wheels. You may need to either dip it a second time or even heat the water up more. Be careful!!--the water dripping off the track will burn you if it's really hot! When you have the track bent as you wish it to be, blow lightly for five seconds or so on the track to cool and "set" it.

You should also try immersing the track in the water for slightly longer if it proves resistant to bending. All in all, it doesn't take a lot of work to form these around the wheels. Just make sure that the ends mate up.

Good luck! This is a great little kit, and an attractive tank. The way you're dressing it up, it should kick some butt!

Holy cow!  Outstanding work on your Chaffee, Doog.  Thank you for the toot on how to assemble the resin tracks.  It doesn't sound that hard.  When should I add the tracks... before or after the painting stage?  Right now I am thinking it would to paint the wheels first then add the tracks to be painted separately?

Doog, thank you for posting the picture!  Why? You just showed me a better way to hang the bags on the turret.  It didn't feel right to glue bags and stuff right on the turret per instructions or shown on the pictures.  I have brass sticks that I can run it from the loop to the other. 

Hey Andy,

You have more in AM add-ons than the cost of the kit. I'll have to watch how this turns out. Its going to be a butte!

Disastermaster- I recall Sprue Brothers is selling just the white metal sprockets for $12.  It is a Friulmodel even tho but it looks just like mine.  Thanks for the nice note!  Looking forward to your next update on M4.  I it... great WIP!

Marc- Thanks buddy!  3 hours on just the Ma Deuce... crazy but loving it.

Greg-  Sounds like I need to send you one of American armor I have... LOL 

Ron-  Thanks for looking.  Am afraid I scared Roy, did I?

Rick-  Sounds like a good plan only if you can enter your builds too. My wife is still talking about taking that knitting lessons from your wife.  You may be hearing from us about this.  She really NEEDS a hobby!

Andy, glad you found something helpful in it. Always my intention!

I always put tracks on separately, the better to more properly and fully finish them. You can't really paint guide horns too well when there's wheels in the way.

I think that I put that gunk all over them to hide the inevitable joints though--unfortunately, you won't be able to effect a seamless joint like you get by melting them together with styrene glue. Maybe some judicious work with superglue could hide it,. but you'll have to decide what would satisfy you.

I'll try to catch it when you update, but I'm not going to guarantee that the internet is going to let me in Sweden or Portugal!?

Doog, thanks again!  Have fun in Sweden and Portugal.  Trust me you don't want to eat those 'Swedish' meatballs.  It was horrible in Sweden... it was served with either grape jam or relish.  No kidding!  I took my family there for few days during our trip to Denmark last summer.  Coopenhagen is probably my favorite city in Europe so far...

Later

Ibuild148- LOL No kidding! I haven't done that much during my first four builds.  I normally replace with better barrels and tracks if necessary.  It is a good thing I don't have many old kits.  This Italeri kit was one of 18-20 kits package I bought via eBay for only $130.  I had to find out why and learned that the daughter of deceased father was selling his stash.  Here's what I have spent so far for this...

Italeri M24-                                 $7

Verlinden Detail set-               $18

Verlinden Stowage set-          $10

RB Model 75mm barrel-           $4

RB Model .50 Cal-                      $6

RB Model .30 Browning (2)-     $8

Resin tracks & metal wheels-  $10

Total:                                              $63

Not too bad?  A new released model kits loaded with PE stuff can cost that much.   I have been waiting for new release M24 kit but it looks like it is not happening soon.

Some very nice work you've got going on with this one Andy. You've also discovered the "AM Curse" when it comes to dressing up an older kit but it's well worth it in the end! Looks like you've done a good job sourcing your stuff on a cost-effective basis though. Total cost of $63 for a build is definitely within reason when you compare to your cost-per-hour of enjoyment in the hobby.

deafpanzer

Disastermaster- I recall Sprue Brothers is selling just the white metal sprockets for $12.  It is a Friulmodel even tho but it looks just like mine.  Thanks for the nice note!  Looking forward to your next update on M4.  I it... great WIP!

Marc- Thanks buddy!  3 hours on just the Ma Deuce... crazy but loving it.

Greg-  Sounds like I need to send you one of American armor I have... LOL 

Ron-  Thanks for looking.  Am afraid I scared Roy, did I?

Rick-  Sounds like a good plan only if you can enter your builds too. My wife is still talking about taking that knitting lessons from your wife.  You may be hearing from us about this.  She really NEEDS a hobby!

 

                                    And I also have a Shermie that I need some idler wheel mounts for. Lets just say that a mis-reading in the instructions resulted in them being subsequentally pryed off,destroying the mount. Could have happened to anyone right! Well keep up the great work on the Chaffee and give us an update soon.

                                                                         Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Bill- Nice for dropping by.  Always a pleasure hearing from you friend. 

Greg-  Nice looking Stuart!  I have 'Honey' Stuart from Academy in stash and I think it will be my next 'Allied' build.

Little update... added stowage set to Chaffee... dry fitting only!  Stikpusher has been a big help with feedback such as not leaving a pistol on top of turret because it is a highly prized item among soldiers and some stuff that were not widely used for tanks, etc. 

Doog posted a great picture of his Chaffee and it gave me better idea how to hang the bags on the turret.  I added a brass wire on the left side.  Thank you Karl!

There will be no update for a while.  My boys spring break starts on Friday  taking my family to Florida  for a week.  I will try to take pictures of bikinis on the beach for you guys...

That's some mighty fine looking work Andy!

Hey Andy; that's looking fine. Glad to have given you some ideas!

And make sure you wear your sunscreen when you're out there wooing all the girls!

Hey Andy,

Great work!

I must say that your work has really taken off lately - the Marder II was a stunner and this looks set to be the same.

PE and resin stowage eh? I'm just getting to grips with the fine art of small scale PE at the minute and I've got a selection of resin stowage for my Dragon Sherman IC Hybrid Firefly which is in the stash and due for assembly later this year following completion of my Marder and StuG III B.

Keep us posted!

ATVB

Ben

John- Thanks for dropping by!  Sorry it took me long... needed a break from Indiana weather you know. 

Karl & Ben- Always good hearing from you guys. 

Update on my Chaffee... All stowage has been secured using PE straps.  I loved the PE set from "Alliance Model Works' I bought at recent show and I thought I'd share with you guys...

Then I added straps to all packs and canteens handing on the side of turret to make it look more realistic instead of being glued on. 

Chaffee has been primed with Mr. Surfacer 1200.  I DON'T MISS the ugly dark green anymore...

The figures have been primed too...

I hope to do pre-shading tonight if I am not too tired.  My beloved wife made me work outside all day but the yard is looking real good.  She should have wore red & yellow camo outfit...

Moving right along with this one Andy, can't wait to see it with the paint on, the primer is too much of a tease!

Nice stuff Andy: I'm building one for the 2012 AMPS in your neighborhood again.  Can I make a few suggestions?  1) I'm glad you omitted some of the stowage you had atop the turret.  When you were dry placing them, several items would have severely blocked the vision of the commander if he was buttoned up.  No one would knowingly place items that do that.  2) if you see in wartime pics, the fender area immediately outside the drivers' hatches have very low stowage or none at all.  Why?  Because when the hatches were swung out, the periscopes had to have room above the fender.  You have two rolled tarps or something.  As is, they would interfere with the opened hatches.  Look at period photos and you'll see what I mean.

Hope this helps.  (my version is going to be in Korean War markings)

Bill- Thank you always for dropping by.  Can't wait to do the next stage of painting.  I was too tired to do anything last night after all day of yard work...

Roy- Always good hearing from you... thank you for breaking the great news about AMPS coming back to Auburn.  You made my day and YES, I WILL BE THERE!!!  Looking forward to see your Chaffee... B-U-T how are you going to find Korea War markings?  I looked everywhere but no luck.  Wanted to add the name 'Eagle Claw' marking to my Chaffee turret as shown in my favorite picture if possible.

Thanks for the tip about the stowage.  I am glad I removed some because the picture on Verlinden box was pretty excessive especially in the front.  It is too late to remove that tarp placed in the front on the fender.  Your comment makes sense to me now that we don't want anything to block the driver's view or hatch.  I assumed it was low enough not to be blocked. Consider this as a learning experience for me so it will not happen again...

My plan... the tanker and couple of GIs stopped to discuss their next plan while taking a little break... the tanker took out his map bag and binocular since they are trying to figure out where they are going.  Hope this helps...

My scheme will be a yellow faced M24 used in Operation Ripper, the March 1951 push upwards that re-took Seoul from the Communist forces and re-established the 38th parallel.  Photos of these M24s can be seen in the Squadron Signal book, Zaloga's book on Korean War armor and a few other places.  It'll be pretty gaudy and you won't miss it.  I'm using the Formations upgrade, Fruilmodel tracks, and tons of scratchbuilding.  I hope your family will join you again at the show.