Well, I’m glad I didn’t read all those nasty reviews from the hexperts, because I am pretty happy with how mine built up out of the box. 

Youre off to a great start RB.

Pics? Link? I'd be interested in seeing it. I'm actually jazzed about this one, enough that I'll probably pull the Academy M-10 off the shelf of shame and finish it too, then I can do the Tamiya M-10 I bought last year and get all depressed..... or not.

Oh I must have finished it 10 -12 years ago... I’ll see if I can dredge up the photos on Photobucket.... 

I did mine when it first came out, 22 some years ago. Wow, it came out in 1997.   I built it OTB, won a couple of awards, then several years ago it fell off a shelf, broke, set for years busted.  Last year I repaired it, also just finished building the AFV Club version of it.  I heard later on from the others on how bad all of them are.  I ignored them.  I liked them both.  They are both nice kits for me.  ( Not a rivet counter by any means.)  Have a fun time with yours.

RBaer

Pics? Link? I'd be interested in seeing it. I'm actually jazzed about this one, enough that I'll probably pull the Academy M-10 off the shelf of shame and finish it too, then I can do the Tamiya M-10 I bought last year and get all depressed..... or not.

 

Well, so far I can’t find it posted anywhere on here from when I finished it. But I did find this more recent photo from when I picked up some macro lens filters for my camera and was trying them out... the TC figure is Tamiya

Yes, I recognize the TC. He seems to get around! Must be his twin brother in the turret of my M5.

Great job on the mantle on the M18! The only reason I've never built one is because I can't recreate the mantle cover they all used. Without it, it just doesn't look right.

M1GarandFan

Yes, I recognize the TC. He seems to get around! Must be his twin brother in the turret of my M5.

Great job on the mantle on the M18! The only reason I've never built one is because I can't recreate the mantle cover they all used. Without it, it just doesn't look right.

 

LOL! Yeah, those Tamiya tankers... they are pretty versatile. The mantlet dust cover is a kit part. I think it would not be too much challenge to do one with tissue and white glue. Probably look far better with texture and more folds. And yes, a M18 does not look right without the canvas cover installed.

Here are my original photos of the build when completed... no Tamiya TC back then.

I didn't have too many issues with mine either, except for the decals silvering.

20150510_165411 by James Hicks, on Flickr

20150510_165423 by James Hicks, on Flickr

Looks good SB. And yes, the biggest weak point of Academy armor kits is the decals. I see that we both chose the same markings option... LOL!

I didn' t realize the Academy kit came with the dust cover. I guess it COULD be done better with the tissue paper/white glue route, but that's way beyond my skill level. If it isn't styrene or some PE, it won't get done on my kits. I'm  struggling with the tulle (sommerfield matting) for my Jumbo right now.

BTW, both kits that have pics posted right now look great to me.

M1GarandFan

I didn' t realize the Academy kit came with the dust cover. I guess it COULD be done better with the tissue paper/white glue route, but that's way beyond my skill level. If it isn't styrene or some PE, it won't get done on my kits. I'm  struggling with the tulle (sommerfield matting) for my Jumbo right now.

BTW, both kits that have pics posted right now look great to me.

 

If you can work with PE, you can work with tissue and white glue. It is easy enough to use. Probably one of the first things that I did to dress up a kit. If you don’t like how it turned out, it’s easily removed with water before painting. Tulle Sommerfield matting would be more of a challenge due to the  materials and glues needed. 

I’m not well versed on the M18, so I can’t speak to accuracy issues on the Academy kit. But I don’t remember any fit problems, and it looks like a M18 when compalerted. At least to my uneducated eye. The kit offers the option of main gun barrels with or without muzzle brake, mantlet with dust cover or bare, link and length or single piece vinyl tracks, and a decent interior for the driver’s and fighting compartments. All in all a decent kit in my experience. Certainly no dog.

stikpusher

Looks good SB. And yes, the biggest weak point of Academy armor kits is the decals. I see that we both chose the same markings option... LOL!

 

Well, you can't go wrong with a nice pin-up .  Plus I was able to find some pictures of that Hellcat fighting in Brest.  And thanks M1 

I also liked the kit, I thought the detailing was pretty good and I can't remember any major fit issues.  I'm an armor novice so I really, really can't speak to the accuracy of it, but as you said Stik, it looks like a Hellcat.  I'd build another given the chance.

Looks good! And nice work there SP and Bob. 

My kit is the AFV Club version. Which I've heard is slightly better than the Academy one. Both are said to have issues but they both look like Hellcats to me. 

I'd like a kit of the 'Super Hellcat' like mine in World of Tanks- aka with the turret of a M36 complete with 90mm gun plonked down on the turret ring of the M18 chassis. The US Army did try it. And it did work. Though the crew was told to put the TD in neutral and let the whole thing absorb the recoil of the 90mm gun. I've read that it rolled backward a yard/metre whenever it was fired. And the crew was told not to fire with the turret deflected too far to the left or right in fear it would flip the whole thing over. 

There is a kit of the 'Super Hellcat' but seems to be kinda rare and of course one could just use the hull from the M18 with the turret of the M36 if one wants to buy two kits. 

The "Super Hellcat" sounds fun.....

Thanks all for posting up pics, it's a motivator.

Hull is done, just a matter of getting the rest of the tools on and weathering the hull floor/fighting compartment. I did it dark, mostly since it's OOB and not well detailed. Then I tackled the turret. Some fit issues, mainly the breech not being in line with the gun tube if I used the mantlet cover, and I wanted to use the cover, so I did some slicing and mover the breech over. I also used a spare Sherman 76mm barrel, since the Academy part is larger in diameter the the 90mm gun tube on a Tamiya Pershing...   I'm going to use it on a what-if Sherman I'm thinking about instead.

So, pics so far:

IMG_2372 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_2371 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I also noticed the kit's radio access cover was different than the pics I ahve, so I sliced it off and did one from sheet stock.

I'm traveing for work most of the next week, so I'll have plenty of time to think about this one....

Basic turret is done, OOB and ready for stowage I'm debating what to do with the spare track rack on the back, use the kit part of scratch up something using leftover Friuls.

IMG_2374 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_2373 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I'll be covering all those molded-on hooks with stowage, no way I'm re-doing all of them with wire. Life's too short.

M18 is looking good. It's been one kit that been on my to buy list that I never seem to pick up. 

Looks good to me! Nice work! 

Thanks all.

I've always thought an M-18 would be a good addition to my collection, glad I'm finally going to finish this one.

Turret stowage is pretty much done, just need a couple of buckles and tidying up of a couple of straps. I used some Academy parts, some resin stuff I have no idea where it came from and some scratched stuff, using Aves putty. I did end up making two hooks from wire, where the water cans are hung.

IMG_2988 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_2989 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_2990 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_2991 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Once the putty sets up, it's time to prime.

Looks cool to me!!! 

Although I always put on the storage after painting the vehicle. Does that work better for you? 

T'anks.

I like to do anything "soft" before painting, since I use putty to make it conform to whatever surface it's on. Items lllike crates or jerry cans I'll sometimes add after painting, as long as there are no tarps involved. As a general rule, I like to stow it up before painting though, just seems to work better for me.

Maybe I'm not right in the head but I think sometimes I actually enjoy building fixer-upper kits more than perfect-fitting ones.
There's a real sense of satsifaction from converting trash to treasure.

puhfrugherterbrururbbpfthhft

Maybe I'm not right in the head but I think sometimes I actually enjoy building fixer-upper kits more than perfect-fitting ones.
There's a real sense of satsifaction from converting trash to treasure.

 

Puh (no way I'm copying the rest of that, LOL) I'm right there with you. Most of my favorite buildsstart with older kits. It's just more fun. I have an AFV Club M60 started, just can't seem to stay motivated.

So, it's green:

IMG_3270 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3269 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3268 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I have a couple of little things to fix, then detail painting and weathering can begin. I also need to look at the kit decals, see if they're usable after all these years.

Yah! Looks very American with the olive drab on!!! 

I'll have to look into attaching the storage before painting, anything that saves time. Or more importantly keeps me from losing stuff while painting... 

puhfrugherterbrururbbpfthhft

Maybe I'm not right in the head but I think sometimes I actually enjoy building fixer-upper kits more than perfect-fitting ones.
There's a real sense of satsifaction from converting trash to treasure.

 

I do t think that its so much the perfect fit, as it is the o we engineering of many new kits.

For myself, I lose steam during the complex subassemblies. 

RB, that is looking good with the OD on now. 

Thanks Stik.

First colors are on the stowage now, trying to maintain lots of contrast between highlights and shading, since weathering will blend a lot of that.

IMG_3364 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3363 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Man that stowage looks dead on! You nailed the gypsy wagon look of US armor in Europe. PTO US AFVs tend to be more stripped down of stowage in combat photos.