Bish

 

 

MailDude

 

I figured wear would remove the moulding seam. I didn't notice the tracks, but they do resemble the illustration on the Tamiya box art, and the rubber track supplied with the kit. I wonder if that track was common for these vehicles?

 

 

 

 

 

I can't say i have noticed but then i don't pay much attention to US vehicles. they remind me of the track on the BV 206. I just did a quick search and could not find any info, but the pics all seem to have the same track. It will make painting a bit easier.

 

Hey, anything to make things easier. At least untill I get my skill set up to speed. I must say I have found this armor build a little more enjoyable than the aircraft. I'm having a blast with it so far. 

I like flitting between the two. With aircraft i can get more variety in schemes but armour gives me more variety in the dio. And with armour i don't worry as much about thing being all neat and tidy.

Doind those wheel seams can be a chore though. I am getting a head start on my other build for the 1946 GB while i have nothing to do on the hellcat tonight. Its an armour build with steel wheels and a nice seam on them. All 32 of em.

I know theres a reason i like doing German armour, but what ever it is, it ain't the damn road wheels.

Bish

I like flitting between the two. With aircraft i can get more variety in schemes but armour gives me more variety in the dio. And with armour i don't worry as much about thing being all neat and tidy.

Doind those wheel seams can be a chore though. I am getting a head start on my other build for the 1946 GB while i have nothing to do on the hellcat tonight. Its an armour build with steel wheels and a nice seam on them. All 32 of em.

I know theres a reason i like doing German armour, but what ever it is, it ain't the damn road wheels.

 

Bish, Have fun with those wheels.

This evening I got the suspension bogies assembled. I can take the halves apart to remove the wheels, as I plan on painting them separately.

MD: Again looks good! You're right on sanding the seams off there, I think all US rubber wheels had them, I've seen a few photos of Shermans with them. But the seams seemed to quickly get ground down and vanish by friction with the tracks. Don't think I'd leave 'em unless you're doing a vehicle fresh from the factory.

Funny about those tracks, I hadn't noticed how they seem a solid belt until you pointed it out. Anyway I did find a few good photos on Toadman's site.

Here

and Here.

Plus an earlier M2 here.

And good luck with those road wheels Bish. Personnally I just turn on the television or a movie on YouTube and try to 'get in the zone' of just sanding one and then move onto the next one automatically.

Interesting comment of the wheels G. I am now woundering if the same applied to other nations. I know the new wheels we got for our Warriors didn't have it so could be a differance in how they are made now compared to back in the 40's. It would not surprise me if the seam was common at the time. Will look into that.

Tep, thats what i did, got them all done last night.

Gamera- Thanks for the links. Those are some great reference photos, hadn't seen them yet. 

MailDude

 

I figured wear would remove the moulding seam. I didn't notice the tracks, but they do resemble the illustration on the Tamiya box art, and the rubber track supplied with the kit. I wonder if that track was common for these vehicles?

 

 

MailDude

 

I figured wear would remove the moulding seam. I didn't notice the tracks, but they do resemble the illustration on the Tamiya box art, and the rubber track supplied with the kit. I wonder if that track was common for these vehicles?

 

 

When I was in Germany, we had a couple of M2/M3s set up in front of our battalion headquarters.  Both had the solid rubber type rear track.  If I remember correctly, the roadwheels were a mixed bag.  Some had big chunks of rubber missing, others had a ridge of rubber running around it, much like in your picture.  

I guess field maintenance in WWII was conducted much like it is today.  Road wheels are replaced when they need to be when you have the replacement wheels available.  If you are short repair parts, you have to prioritize what gets replace immediately, and what can wait until you have another supply of repair parts.  It is not uncommon to see a mix of worn and battered road wheels on the same vehicle with brand new ones.

Hope that's helpful.  I'll be watching your build and may get mine started soon.....

TAD

Even if the intention is to display new rubber road wheels, it would be better to sand the seams off.  That detail is a product of the kit molding, and isn't to scale. You could replicate it by masking and spraying an extremely thin line of grey.

regards,

Jack

TAD- Thanks for the info. There's nothing better than info that comes from someone who has had "eyes on target". I appreciate it.

Jack- Thanks for the tip.

Slowly progressing. Have gotten some of the cab put together. Not totally happy with the front grill fit, but it's on there now. Maybe it will look better to me once some paint gets on it. The rest of the panels and windscreen frame fit fantastically. First Tamiya kit for me, I'm impressed so far. I've started on the rear, and am about ready to bring thos parts together. 

That looks really good! The old Tamiya kits weren't always that accurate but they generally fit pretty well. I'd have to ask the experts but since there wasn't a motorized version of this kit it's probably one of the more accurate ones. 

MD,

Very nice progress, you'll be shooting the paint soon!

Gamera-The kit goes together really well, the grill however is narrower than the engine panels. Now this morning at work since I'm alone and and have time to think, it dawned on me " Why didn I cement some thin styrene on each side and file out holes for the light mounts?" Answer: I've never encountered that before, such a simple remedy! I'll be prepared next time, it is what it is.

Hog-Thanks.

Nice work MD. And these lessons are there to be learnt. I have lost count of the number of times i missed the damn obvious.

Bish

Nice work MD. And these lessons are there to be learnt. I have lost count of the number of times i missed the damn obvious.

 

Gotta learn somehow. Books, mags, and from the folks on here are my preferred way, but I definitely remember my mistakes.

Anyway, here is just a quick update on where I'm at so far. Some more bits and pieces glued up/on, and a mock-up to see how everything is going to look/fit together. One thing I had fits with is the sprue stub on the seat backs is where the seat cushion and seat frame meet. Difficult to remove and maintain that demarcation detail. Tedious,tedious.......

Looks like she's coming right along Maildude, nice work. 

Looking good MD.

The stuff i was waiting for from the States arrived during the week, so i've been able to finish this build off. I alreadt had the figures done. After seeing this pic on the comp, i realised the eyes needs a bit of touch up.

I had also addd some more soot to the rocket launcher and everything was brought together. Afraid i forgot to take pics while i was doing the base, but it was just so manic trying to get it all done. So, excuses ashide, here are the final pics.

And there you have it. After 20 years, its about time i got this built. I am really pleased with the finish, and i do like the pine branches which is one of the items i was waiting for.

The more observant will have noticed the lack of my normal nameplate. Unfortunatly my printer has gone belly up and i won't be getting a new one until next month, so i will add that then.

All comments welcome as always.

Bish- Wow! That's awesome. The scene looks realistic to me, I imagine it played out quite often in WWII. I like it.

Cheers MD.

Hi Bish, great looking scene you have there.

Really like how you have the rocket tubes portrayed.  Colourwise that fern does stick out in a couple of the photos, but it's not a dealer breaker for me.

regards,

Jack

Thanks jack. For me, its not so much that the fern sticks out, nature does that, but that the colour just seems off. I have some ferns in the garden and they are not like this. It almost seems like a neon green.

Congrads Bish, really nice work there on the halftrack and the base. And love the figures, depicting the vehicle 'in action' as it were rather than just standing around makes them even better! 

Thanks G. I find the hardest part of dio's is trying to come up with decent scenes. The standing around chatting and looking at a map is all to easy.

Bish,

I really like this diorama. Great job!

Thanks Bruce.

Bish

Thanks G. I find the hardest part of dio's is trying to come up with decent scenes. The standing around chatting and looking at a map is all to easy.

 

LOL, I'm currently working on some figures of a tank crew standing around while one asks a local for directions... 

That looks great Bish . The weathering looks fantastic and the guys look great in action! 

OK, now I'm ready to start this GB. Here is my first entry

Revell’s 1/72 Flak 36. No wait, I must have the wrong GB!

Seriously though, this will be part of a diorama so I’m starting on the 88 first.

I will be building the Africa 41 version. That’s right no water! I think I can pull it off.

That's cool Steve, lots of parts there, looks really detailed for 1/72nd (not that I'm dissing 1/72nd or anything!)

BTW: You could always have them guarding the only oasis full of water in that part of the desert..... 

Gamera

That's cool Steve, lots of parts there, looks really detailed for 1/72nd (not that I'm dissing 1/72nd or anything!)

BTW: You could always have them guarding the only oasis full of water in that part of the desert..... 

 

Yeah, it really is. You know I didn't think about an oasis . I'll probably just have a few canteens.