Well we set the clock back….cleaned up some leaves and here is my latest progress on the T19!
I now went back to step 8 to build the last major assembly, the cab. This step installs most of the interior driving items. I also started to use the griffon PE set. I used the PE set drivers floor and pedals as the kit just has some bumps on the floor. I also used the fire extinguisher bracket and a few other cab items. I left the seats out to allow ease of painting.
The Griffon set has a nice “few” items but is mostly floor panels to replace the kit diamond plate which IMO looks just fine. Also the set has PE hinges to replace the molded door hinges, again which I thought were just fine. With that in mind most of the Griffon set will go into the spares box and IMO is not worth the money for use on the Dragon halftracks.
Here I have mounted the body side panels from step 9 but give you a look into the cab. The dashboard and seats are left out for ease of painting.
Continuing to step 9, I assembled the body panels and front end of the cab section. The kit PE though small is nice. You can see the grilles for the headlights and the shields for the viewing porthole in the armored windshield. Fit was good but does require some rubber bands and clamps to keep it in place while gluing
The front grill is a choice of a completely closed and all styrene molded or open using kit supplied PE slats. It is a bit delicate but looks nice and will allow someone to look in and see the radiator
Now I moved back to the wheels and track section and it was time to charge up the air brush. All the wheels were first given a coat of 50/50 Tamiya Flat Black and NATO Black. Then the old circle template came out and the rims were painted with Poly Scale OD Green. The shot below shows the road wheels assembled in their dual assembly.
Next, I put the bogie assemblies together and the upper support roller assemblies. I used Alclad Burnt Metal to cover the support rollers and on the drive and idler rollers where they will contact the track. As you can see all the parts are pre painted. I am using this method to allow for better painting of the wheels and tracks as opposed to complete assembly then painting
Lastly was the assembly of the suspension assembly steps 2 and 3. Again using pre painted parts. I also added the Griffon PE kit for the halftrack suspension. This kit is small and most of the parts are for the “later” halftracks. Since the T19 was an early halftrack the main item used is the exhaust support bracket. I will get another halftrack out of the PE since I used so little here. You can see the assemblies with the few items of PE and some touch up required but essentially complete.
I also put a base coat on the frame assembly. First an undercoat of Tamiya Flat Black then Poly Scale OD Green. The radiator fins were painted with Alclad Burnt Metal. The brake pads were painted with Alclad Jet Exhaust. The boot on the steering shaft was painted with my 50/50 Black mix. The exhaust was painted with Poly Scale Rust and then spot sheeted using Winston Oils Burnt Sienna. Here is theframe at this point.
That’s it for now. Next will be the tracks and mounting the suspension and wheels to the frame
As always thanks for stopping by. Your comments good or bad are always appreciated.
Rounds Complete!!