#5 Italeri M24 Chaffee- COMPLETED!

Ibuild148- LOL No kidding! I haven't done that much during my first four builds.  I normally replace with better barrels and tracks if necessary.  It is a good thing I don't have many old kits.  This Italeri kit was one of 18-20 kits package I bought via eBay for only $130.  I had to find out why and learned that the daughter of deceased father was selling his stash.  Here's what I have spent so far for this...

Italeri M24-                                 $7

Verlinden Detail set-               $18

Verlinden Stowage set-          $10

RB Model 75mm barrel-           $4

RB Model .50 Cal-                      $6

RB Model .30 Browning (2)-     $8

Resin tracks & metal wheels-  $10

Total:                                              $63

Not too bad?  A new released model kits loaded with PE stuff can cost that much.   I have been waiting for new release M24 kit but it looks like it is not happening soon.

Doog, thanks again!  Have fun in Sweden and Portugal.  Trust me you don't want to eat those 'Swedish' meatballs.  It was horrible in Sweden... it was served with either grape jam or relish.  No kidding!  I took my family there for few days during our trip to Denmark last summer.  Coopenhagen is probably my favorite city in Europe so far...

Later

Andy, glad you found something helpful in it. Always my intention!

I always put tracks on separately, the better to more properly and fully finish them. You can't really paint guide horns too well when there's wheels in the way.

I think that I put that gunk all over them to hide the inevitable joints though--unfortunately, you won't be able to effect a seamless joint like you get by melting them together with styrene glue. Maybe some judicious work with superglue could hide it,. but you'll have to decide what would satisfy you.

I'll try to catch it when you update, but I'm not going to guarantee that the internet is going to let me in Sweden or Portugal!?

Disastermaster- I recall Sprue Brothers is selling just the white metal sprockets for $12.  It is a Friulmodel even tho but it looks just like mine.  Thanks for the nice note!  Looking forward to your next update on M4.  I it... great WIP!

Marc- Thanks buddy!  3 hours on just the Ma Deuce... crazy but loving it.

Greg-  Sounds like I need to send you one of American armor I have... LOL 

Ron-  Thanks for looking.  Am afraid I scared Roy, did I?

Rick-  Sounds like a good plan only if you can enter your builds too. My wife is still talking about taking that knitting lessons from your wife.  You may be hearing from us about this.  She really NEEDS a hobby!

Hey Andy,

You have more in AM add-ons than the cost of the kit. I'll have to watch how this turns out. Its going to be a butte!

Holy cow!  Outstanding work on your Chaffee, Doog.  Thank you for the toot on how to assemble the resin tracks.  It doesn't sound that hard.  When should I add the tracks... before or after the painting stage?  Right now I am thinking it would to paint the wheels first then add the tracks to be painted separately?

Doog, thank you for posting the picture!  Why? You just showed me a better way to hang the bags on the turret.  It didn't feel right to glue bags and stuff right on the turret per instructions or shown on the pictures.  I have brass sticks that I can run it from the loop to the other. 

deafpanzer,

Looking good!---I did the same tank years and years ago, basically, with those tracks. You can see them in the pic here...

Here's what to do--do you have a microwave? Put some water in a deep coffee cup, heat it up for a minute, and use a tweezer to dip the track in the water for like, 5-8 seconds. Take out the track and test its pliability, and then slowly form it around the wheels. You may need to either dip it a second time or even heat the water up more. Be careful!!--the water dripping off the track will burn you if it's really hot! When you have the track bent as you wish it to be, blow lightly for five seconds or so on the track to cool and "set" it.

You should also try immersing the track in the water for slightly longer if it proves resistant to bending. All in all, it doesn't take a lot of work to form these around the wheels. Just make sure that the ends mate up.

Good luck! This is a great little kit, and an attractive tank. The way you're dressing it up, it should kick some butt!

Now you're talking, Andy.  One of those US armored you've been threatening!  I see a Roscoe Turner trophy in your future.  Rick.

                         Great work on the Chaffee Andy.The extra detail will go a long way. I suppose there will be a Chaffee at the next model show Looking forward to seeing the end results. The last piece of american armor I built was a Grant or Lee I don't recall which.Anyway you keep the pics updated my friend ,and often as you know how much we love them.

                                                                    Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

very nice love the pics.nice to know that roy makes house calls.

Ron

  Any idea where to find a new set of those white metal sprockets by theirselves?

Some really good information here and some really serious progress too.

Good work.

Verty cool and nice work.  The 50 cal looks kick a$$

Roy, I agree with you.  It is funny I see rubber chevron tracks on all M4s & M26s in Korea War according to my reference books and websites while Chaffees were still using steel tracks despite the fact they made late appearance in WWII.  Wish me luck to get those resin tracks together.  If it doesn't work out, I will just give you a call for help... you are only three hours drive way if I am correct.  Chicago? 

I am not ready to cough up $40 for Friulmodel tracks yet...

The rubber chevron tracks were in common use by Korea.  You see them on M24s and M19 40mm GMCs in wartime photos. What you don't see are them in use during WW2...

Guys, Thanks for comments! 

Steve, it looks like I have to try this track.  If it doesn't work out., I will have to order tracks from Friulmodel (ATL-39)  I did some digging this morning to confirm that Chaffee used metal tracks in Korea.  Look at this great picture... all steel tracks.

So it means I can not order  those MK tracks because they have rubbers which widely used after WWII and Korea War. 

Looks great.  I continue to be gobsmacked by the super-detailing accomplished with PE material.  Lookimg forward to seeing the finished product.

Looks really great. I've got a similar set of track for kit, but I haven't used them yet. Just a little intimidated by them. I'll be waiting to see how yours turn out.

Yes, I peeked in on this kit in the GB. By the time your finished, it will be less Testors then a whole new kit via kitbash.