BT-7 mod 1937

TRM, Andy, and WBill, thanks for stopping in.  Thought would try to get a little work done on this build tonight.  Went to work on the rear engine deck.  Cut out top section with drimel and #11 blade and added to louvers cut from .020 styrene sheet. Filled the mounting holes for the exhaust pipes with putty and moved the pipes further back so that they would actually be comeing from under the screen as should be.  Also put the pipe elbow backwards of what the directions had said to do.  By doing this it lowered the height of the pipes and the pipes where easier to mount to the elbow because of the monting pins that were suppose to go into the hull, they were insead used to go into the pipe.  Finally thinned out the pipes with a drill bit.

next put the screening on the frame.  This is dry fitted on the hull for now.

Went onto put the fenders and the tanks on the fenders.  Found some better looking tail lights from the spare parts box to replace the kit ones.

Front fenders were also added.

Here is an over all view.  Problem I'm seeing is somehow the last road wheel shaft is glued/ stuck in to high of a postion.  Not sure what happened here?  Will have to get it broken free somehow.

Paint should be coming very soon.Thanks for taking a look.

Have noit checked in here for a while ROb.  That looks real nice.  Those are wild looking fenders... like a Duesenberg.

I received my AMPS Boresight copy yesterday.  Tamiya BT-7 kit made a special appearance and now I WANT IT!  It will be probably my first Russkie tank in my stash... maybe not just one I always to get one of those T-29 or T-35 (I forgot the exact number) kits... one with many turrets! 

Agree with Marc... it has been fun following this WIP.

Looking great!  The reason the last roadwheel is glued high is that it is supposed to swing freely to attach the tracks-looks like you glued it in place.  Worst case, you could place it on a base with some rough terrain with individual tracks.

The Tamiya kit is VERY nice, but I like the EE kits too-they're a lot of fun, even with the minor fit issues.  Opening up that engine compartment and adding the louvres makes a HUGE difference.

Those PE grills make all the difference.

Rob,

Good to see you went the extra step(s) and put in the PE grills.  It looks quite nice.  I've just gotten caught up on this build. This tank has got a lot of character.  Keep up the solid work.  I hope your mom is feeling better.

Cheers

Dave

Looking at the rear engine deck now is like comparing night and day...definitely worth the extra effort and attention.

Marc - Dont let the "Reds" hear you call ther tank a Duesenberg   The fenders really are a prominent feature on this tank.

Andy - Would like to see you build the Tamiya BT-7!  The other two vehicles you talk of are the: T-28 (medium) had a 76.2mm main gun turret and two auxiliary MG turrets on the front hull: T-35 (heavy) had a 76.2mm gun main turret a 45mm gun turret and MG turret on the the front hull and a 45mm gun turret and MG turret on the rear hull.  Total of 5 turrets.  Have both of these kits by ICM in stash.

F. Matthews - Glad you like it.  Was able to free the last road wheel shafts and it now swings free again.  Believe some glue had got in there when tackeling the difficulties of gluing the rear hull togther.  All is right now.  The louvers did make the difference thanks for the advice with them.

Tigerman - Thanks for taking a look.  Your right about the grills.

Dave - Thanks for the words and happy you stopped in.

WBill - Thanks!  I agree with you and I am pleased with the results.  As always thanks for stopping in.

Now here is a quick update.

Everything received a primer coat.

Then received first coat of paint, flat white.

Will be receiving Schokoladenbraun 1943 for its camo scheme.  Hope to wrap most of this project up this weekend.  Thanks for looking

Oh boy howdy!  It's got color on it.  

Cheers

Dave

Looks fantastic!  I just dug into the Tamiya BT-7 last night.  Great kit, but then I loved the EE kit too.

Nifty! I too decided to give the EE kit a look instead of shelling out for the new Tamiya - with an AM barrel, a set of Eduard etch, and some Ebay Fruils it was still cheaper!

Can't wait for paint.

The Eduard set is really nice.  The Fruils too!  I picked up my Tamiya kit for well under $40 on eBay, so that turned out to be less than my EE kits with all of the other goodies that they need.  All of them are good, but the Zvezda one doesn't look as accurate.

Dave - OH BOY HOWDY is right !!  This one has been sitting for a while and it was begging for some paint.

Dupes - Nice to have you stop in.  Would love to see your BT can you give us a look at it?  Sounds like it will be very nice with all of the extras.

F.Matthews - That was a great find/price for the Tamiya.  Will have to keep my eye out for a deal like that would really like to try the Tamiya kit.  Still no complaints with this EE kit, believe I paid $10 for it.  Already planning on getting a BT-5 maybe two so that I can convert one into a BT-2.  Are you going to put on a WIP with your BT-7?  Would like to see that one build up.

Painting up date.

This has been one of the most time consuming and difficult to get right camo jobs I have done.  Originally did not forsee it taking so long.  Have been working on this all day straight.

Road wheels always take some time, always paint all of my road wheels by hand. 

Wheels are just dry fit for the time.  One more picture.

As you can see much work left to do.  Apply remaining camo to the rear of the hull, turrret, and right side road wheels.  Put on last of the pieces: horn, fender tanks and couple other small things.  Then paint small details: exhaust, shovels, etc.

Trying to make up my mind on weathering.  Was originally going to go with a heavy weather but now think maybe a light weather.  Any opinions?

Thanks, and any comments are welcome.

All the hard work is really paying off Rob. The camo looks fantastic! How did you do it? Lay some kind of netting down on the tank and spray green through it? Looking REALLY good.

Nate

I can see why the camo would be time-consuming, holy cow! Going to look absolutely stunning when you get it done and weathered.

Nate - Thanks.  Went to the fabric store with my wife and found some bridel netting, bought a yard of that for almost nothing.  Found a lot of good things at that store such as styrofoam boards, silly putty, Dried floral, big cutting matts and the list goes on.  The prices are cheaper than any place I've seen before.  Did not think the fabric store was going to become one of my most common stops from now on.

Anyway, cut the netting into stripes, place where desired then use the silly putty to push in and hold the net down.  The silly putty worked great, you can move and shape it by just pushing it were ever you want with a toothpick.  It's easy to get back off also.  Just take another piece in your hand, touch it to the putty on the model and it pulls right back off.

Here a picture explains it a lot easier.

WBill - Thanks for the great words.  Time-consuming, yes, can only get one side done at a time or found trying to use to much net the whole thing would just start turning into a mess.  Took about 30 min per stripe per side to prep before painting, only about 5 min of painting.  Then of course there was airbrush clean up after finishing the one set of stripes and then prep and do the next set.  Have two more stipes to finish at the rear and then will be done with this part of it.  So there is a light at the end of the tunnel

whoa, that totally worked! 

Excellent work Rob!  Nice find as well!  Pays to shopping with them from time to time!

One of techniques I learned during my airbrushing class at Hobby Lobby for 16 weeks but never thought it can be done on models.  How clever!  Love those silly putty... it made the job alot easier. 

Can't wait to see next update but I promise the anxiety will not kill me...

out of curiosity, how were the 1/1 tanks painted like this? 

Thanks for the explanation Rob. Who knew the fabric store had such goodies????

Really, really nice work.

Nate

Most creative camo pattern around here in a while.I was gonna do something like this with a kit,but wasn't sure if it would work.It does!

I now pronounce you husband and tank.  you may kiss the armor.

Lovin' it!

TRM - Thanks T for the nice comments.  Sometimes the other half is not too bad at all

Andy - The silly putty does make it easy as long as I quit sticking it to the instruction sheet and stretching the pictures, it also helps with the anxiety.

SprueOne - Little embarassed to say do not know much about this paint scheme on the real ones.  Have only seen this scheme three times, one black and white photo and one color drawing in two different books, last place was on a documentry.I know not to completly trust documentries but it was an older one and in black and white, the pattern could definatly be seen.  After seeing three different sources thought would give it a try.  Would like to know more about it if any one knows.  Used the same colors that was in the book with the color drawing.

Nate - Thank you much for the words.  One other thing did not mention in the explanation of how:  The color used to spray threw the netting was thick.  Normally thin my paint to milk consistencybut found this not to work.  It would just go under the net.  So the paint was almost straight from the bottle, did put a little thinner in but not much.  When painting would often have to turn the pressure up and blow some paint threw then turn it back down and go back to painting.  Thought you or someone might want to know in case you ever try it out.

TD4438 - Thanks for those great comments.  Been wanting to try this for about a year or so but I too wasn't sure if it would work.  Finally decided would try it and find out.

Marc - Thats just what I needed, should be a great relationship....at least until the next piece of armor comes along

The update - Finished painting the stripes.  The rear stripe had messed up, paint to thin and it turned into a big brown blob.  Repainted in white and had to paint it again, did not come out perfect but it will do.

Stayed up late making the correction last night and was at work late today so no work on the BT today.  Should be on the downhill side of things now.

More to come soon, thanks to all for looking.

That just looks SO cool!

Nate

Hey Nate, Thanks and happy you like.

No work done on this one for two days now, maybe a problem.  Filled the headlights with clear window maker that was two days ago.  Not sure if it is going to dry properly   Never had proplems doing this in the past so it will continue to sit standing straight up for a few more days and hope for the best.

Did get all wheels and misc parts done.  It also received first light wash of raw umber.  Will up date again when lighs are dry

Time too resurrect this thing.  Fixed the lights, wheels and tracks are on and the weathering has begun.

More too come.

                              A very unique scheme there Rob. I have seen fishnet stockings used to create this effect on motorcycle parts. Very cool!

                                                   Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Always looking great!  Are those resin tracks? I am about to assemble my first resin tracks for Chaffee over the weekend. 

Well, that is indeed unique. Nice to Russian armor dressed in something besides green. I still need to get me one of these.