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Converting the AFV Club M-40 to a M-43

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  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Saturday, December 7, 2013 10:47 AM

You mean there's a simple SPG out there to build Mike?????Indifferent

It's been a pleasure JT

Thanks Guys

Tony leeSmile

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Gothenburg
Posted by JohanT on Saturday, December 7, 2013 6:56 AM

Great looking build - and a very nice blog to take us along on the ride.

Thank you for sharing this Tony!

Very Best Regards

Johan

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Saturday, December 7, 2013 6:46 AM

Tony - Very nice work...the T-80 track is a massive PITA. Now you need to take a deep breath, and work on a simple build!!

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Thursday, December 5, 2013 6:53 PM

Won't be much longer Brian and Thanks

Tony lee

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Thursday, December 5, 2013 5:54 PM

She looks about ready for a fire mission Tony!  Rounds inbound!

Brian

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Thursday, December 5, 2013 5:06 PM

Thanks Karl and yes they were worth the trouble but not the painWink I sure hope to never need T-80s again.Tongue Tied

Thanks again buddy

Tony lee

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Thursday, December 5, 2013 4:04 PM

What a COOL beast, Tony---you've really done a heck of a job on this.

Those tracks look like they were worth the battle--they look great on her. Smile

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Thursday, December 5, 2013 3:05 PM

Base paint is on and the tracks adjusted ready to be weathered.

We've got snow falling big time here in the OzarksIndifferent

Tony lee

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 9:52 AM

The kit has those adjustable idler axles you know Gino and I left the slack in them to  make it easier to get them on and off for painting. I'll tighten them up after the last installation.

You guys don't know how many times I almost gave up on them for something easier. The problem lies with how small the parts are and how hard it was to hold on to them so as not to feed the carpet monster not the quality of the tracks.

Thanks for the comments but the next T-80s I build will be another brand.Wink

Tony lee

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 5:02 AM

Looking good.  The tracks look nice, good job on plowing through them.  Can you tighten them a little though?  They should have no sag as they were live track and pretty tight.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 3:03 AM

Hello Tony!

Well the machine is looking sharp already! Congratulations on your willpower and completing the tracks! Good luck with your project and have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 6:23 PM

Howdy

You just don't know how happy I am to get these built, man what a job it's been.

Paint tomorrow

Tony lee

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 8:05 PM

If the beer didn't kill me my doctor would otherwise I would take you up on that buddy.Yes

Thanks a bunch

Tony lee

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: California
Posted by SprueOne on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 7:09 PM

If you were here right now, i'd buy you a beer … per side

Anyone with a good car don't need to be justified - Hazel Motes

 

Iron Rails 2015 by Wayne Cassell Weekend Madness sprueone

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 6:03 PM

Tony - Happy Bird to you and your lovely bride.

Yes the tracks for the M40/43 are a royal PITA. Hang in there...you are in the home stretch.

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 5:48 PM

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Monday, November 25, 2013 8:40 PM

That's alright Garz I understand fully Buddy, make the big bucks while you can.Wink

How do you figure that Subman? Maybe I just love pain and suffering.Big Smile

Thanks fellows

Tony lee

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Monday, November 25, 2013 7:36 PM

Tony, you are a better man than me.

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
    March 2013
  • From: Puebla, Mexico
Posted by garzonh on Monday, November 25, 2013 6:58 PM

Looking grrrreatttt!.

Im not being that active in the forum...not to mention working on something....just dont have any time.

Currently undergoing a major IT softtware implementation, end year meetings, family events...

But I just like seeing whats going on...see ya!

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Monday, November 25, 2013 3:10 PM

Four and a half hours is about all my finger tips and back can take putting these tracks together but two or three more days should do it for this side.Yeah

Get-R-Done

Tony leeBig Smile

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Monday, November 25, 2013 7:45 AM

With the interest rate at zero don't bet too much Karl but it's a sure bet they will be built sooner or later.Big Smile

Buff I was forewarned by the friend that GAVE them to me. He put together about four links and said no way and bought a set of Friuls.

2014? I hope so

Tony leeSmile

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: San Francisco Bay Area
Posted by bufflehead on Monday, November 25, 2013 12:42 AM

I nearly fainted when I read how much time you're putting into those tracks Tony!  I think I'd rather watch my grass grow....and I don't have a lawn!! Propeller

Well let us know the total amount of time it takes to assemble the entire set....we'll check back with you in 2014!! Stick out tongue

Ernest

Last Armor Build - 1/35 Dragon M-26A1, 1/35 Emhar Mk.IV Female

     

Last Aircraft Builds - Hobby Boss 1/72 F4F Wildcat & FW-190A8

     

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Sunday, November 24, 2013 9:03 PM

Pvt Mutt

Starting to build them you've got 14 parts to glue or pin together just in the first two links. The pads are two parts each and the guide horns are two parts each. None of the parts are large enough to get a good hold on especially the end caps.Dead

That's utterly outrageous and ridiculous. I would have sent them back and asked for a refund. I remember when Dragon pulled something like that with one of their old, old Sherman kits--the tracks had separate guide horns and end connector links for each link. I opened the kit, looked at it, and buried it in the stash,. When I got an eBay account, it was the first kit to be listed. Modeling should be enjoyable, not a tedious, frustrating process!

But if anyone can make them look good and endure the task at hand, I"d put my money on you, Tony!

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Sunday, November 24, 2013 12:58 PM

IB these are the most labor intensive set of tracks i've ever attempted and not much fun.

Hangin in

Tony lee

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: El Dorado Hills, CA
Posted by IBuild148 on Sunday, November 24, 2013 12:03 PM

Looking good Tony.

Tracks are the most tetiuos for me but if I take my time the end result is satifaction. MY MK Nashorn tracks when I recieve them will take me a few weeks to assemble.

IBuildOne48

Teach modeling to youth!

Scalefinishes.com

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww122/randysmodels/NMF%20Group%20build%20II/Group%20Badge/NMFIIGBbadgesmall.jpg

 

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: California
Posted by SprueOne on Saturday, November 23, 2013 7:50 PM

wow, that is dedicated progress.

Anyone with a good car don't need to be justified - Hazel Motes

 

Iron Rails 2015 by Wayne Cassell Weekend Madness sprueone

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Saturday, November 23, 2013 4:45 PM

I use the tweezers very little Sprue,don't trust them.Wink

I was on a roll today. In four and half hours with two bathroom breaks I completed 18 links.

That's a two day total of 4 3/4 inches of tracks.

Cheers

Tony lee

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: California
Posted by SprueOne on Saturday, November 23, 2013 10:19 AM

Pvt Mutt

I would have use a set of DS T80s if I could have found some Gino.

Starting to build them you've got 14 parts to glue or pin together just in the first two links. The pads are two parts each and the guide horns are two parts each. None of the parts are large enough to get a good hold on especially the end caps.Dead

It's going to take some time to assemble them so be patient with me.

Thanks guys

Tony lee

You may need to assemble these in something like this to contain any tiny tini bits that fly off the end of your tweezer 

Anyone with a good car don't need to be justified - Hazel Motes

 

Iron Rails 2015 by Wayne Cassell Weekend Madness sprueone

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Saturday, November 23, 2013 3:17 AM

Pvt Mutt
Starting to build them you've got 14 parts to glue or pin together just in the first two links. The pads are two parts each and the guide horns are two parts each. None of the parts are large enough to get a good hold on especially the end caps.Dead

Ouch!! They sound even worse than the AFV Club set.  AFVs only has 4  pieces per link.  AFVs are just very fragile and always ended up breaking into multiple pices before I could get them built.

 Go luck with this set.  They do look good.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

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