Mike: 

redleg12

I still have to get my #2 pencil into the cabin before I button it up. Still have the seat belts fire extinguishers and dash to go inside. As for the engine....too oily says there is a problem..also afraid of going tooooo dark.

Mike:  Sounds like you got it covered...just being your second set of eyes!  You plan to have this beast ready for AMPS East!?...you going this year?

OH yea.....I will be there. Hopefully the M4 is finished in time.

Rounds Complete!!

Haven't commented in awhile but silently following along- great job on the seats and the engine. Keep the photos coming!

September is right around the corner Mike.

.....I know.....all I can do is stroking!!

Rounds Complete!!

Here is my latest update, as usual summer is taking a big bite out of the bench time.

I worked on the dashboard using the Eduard PE dash as a substitute for the kit dash. This requires mounting some of the kit parts on the dash. The instrument cluster is from the kit. The instruments are from the Archer Transfers set for the M4 tractor. After the gauges were set in place, I filled the instrument bezel with Future and let it dry and then repeated it to create the illusion of glass on the bezel. Also the Archer sheet comes with some data plates, which also go on the dashboard. The fire extinguisher is done with Tamiya Flat Red, NATO Black and Alclad Steel. Again the markings on the fire extinguisher are included in the Archer set. Overall the dash is painted with Poly Scale OD after priming with Vallejo OD primer.

The seat cushions all had seat belts as seen in High Speed Tractors by Doyle. The Eduard set has the seat belts, which I painted with Vallejo OD primer and Vallejo Uniform Green. The metal clasps were painted with Alclad Steel. Putting them in and trying to bend each set into a different position was a time consuming and laborious task. The floor and other high spots were also given edge wear with a 2H pencil. This fire extinguisher was painted and finished same as the one above. Here is the view of the back set of crew seats.

Here is the view of front seats. Also note the additional data plates also from the Archer Transfer set.

That pretty much gets the interior done. I will be doing some shading on the front cab and stenciling on the white star. At that point I can assemble the cab and the engine compartment roof on the hull.

As always all comments are welcome.

Rounds Complete!!

Making good progress Mike! Nice work on those seat belts and buckles, looks like they were worth the trouble!

Mike , i got one of those links to pull , it looks really nice .

Thanks for peeking at the links.....the new and improved web site has its own little kinks.

Bill - Thanks for stopping in

Shell - Thanks for the link comment......fixed now....thanks for the peek.

Rounds Complete!!

Ok , now i can see the data placks and the dash instruments ............superb Mike .

Great....i am not sure what caused the problem but will have to keep my eye open in the future!!

Thanks

Rounds Complete!!

Hi Mike ; )

the seat belts and small details look great ,man. Dashboard and all those Manufac. placs look really good .

It's really coming out a beauty !

tread

Fine looking interior all around but those seats and data plates really bring things up a noch!  Will remember your seat cushion technique the next time I work on a cushion.  More please.

Mike,

The link vs. pic show issues depends on whether you use the Rich Formatting reply option or the quick reply box option. The quick option just activates the html as links while the Rich Formatting will go ahead and read the img tags and display the photos. HTH...I learned that one through trial and error myself last week.

Thanks Bill . I also was wondering why that would happen .

Tread - Thanks old buddy, as you know it's the little things. My wife came in while I was putting some of the small gauges on the dash. She insisted I must be out of my mind. Then when she saw the finished dashboard there was the well....it was worth it.   Those little guys are a PITA....but worth it

Panzer - The cushions at least have dimension as opposed to the kit supplied flat plastic.  Besides these seats are more accurate than the kit seats. They are easy to make and worth the time. Thanks again

Bill - Learning all the little details of the new and improved site......at least it is not the typical new and improved which is less content for more money!! Hopefully I am good now until the next change!!

Rounds Complete!!

Fantastic work Mike!  The latest round of details really make this thing look real!  The belts were DEFINATELY worth the effort.  In fact, the cushions are so realistic they make the backrest cushions look a little flat/ plain...I'm not quite sure how to explain it.  Is it just me?

Are all those black & white data plates Archer transfers? 

BTW:  I need to make sure I talk with you at AMPS East so I can be on the lookout for the AM goodies and Archer transfers for my M4. 

Looking really good Mike...nice work with the #2 pencil on those floorboards. 

WOW!  Loving the interior!!!!  Two thumbs up.  I read and read... sorry if I missed it... did those seat cushions come with the kit or you made those?  

Looking forward to your next update!

great work Mike. now that you have the gauges connected are you going to use a dino to check the enigne or just start it up :) going to look awesome in the Memorial and independence day parade. hey can i ride SHOTGUN???  :)

Clay

Steve - Thanks, actually if you go into Doyle, High Speed Tractors, the back cushions are somewhat like that. The seats are more...pillow like. As for the Archer Transfer, set # AR35274 for M4 HST

Here is a review with a photo of the set

http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/decals/aft/decal_ar35274.shtml

Yes...the placards come with the set

Andy - Nice of you to drop in. Yes....the seat cushions are from scratch. The kit comes with flat styrene...not even close. I explain making the cushions about two pages back.

Always a pleasure to have you stop by.

Rounds Complete!!

Clay - LMAO.....you can ride in the .50 mount!! Thanks for the peek and the great comments

Rounds Complete!!

You guys aint going anywhere till you fuel up ...........the gauge says empty ...........

redleg12

...if you go into Doyle, High Speed Tractors, the back cushions are somewhat like that. The seats are more...pillow like.

...will do!  I bought the book, per your recommendation, way-back-when...I'll go educate myself!

redleg12

Andy - Nice of you to drop in. Yes....the seat cushions are from scratch. The kit comes with flat styrene...not even close. I explain making the cushions about two pages back.

Thanks Mike!  I have been on road for more than two weeks so I need to read your whole thread again.  Keep it coming buddy! 

Shell - I'm back from Service Battery...all fueled up!!

Andy - I know how the traveling thing goes, it has been killing me this year too

Rounds Complete!!

Mike

Very short update this week. Working with tiny PE is a PITA and time consuming. Well, I cut off the 16 tie down blobs on the ammo box and used the PE tie downs. As usual about 15% went into the “outer limits” before I was able to complete the set. The painted green is the headlight inserts. The seams on this were also a PITA as the overall shell did not fit well.

Off to the paint box for prime and finish coat. Also getting all the tools primed and beginning to work on PE tool boxes.

As always all comments are welcome.

Rounds Complete!!

Well worth the effort Mike, putty work on the seams looks good as well, looking forward to seeing paint start to fly!

Bill - Thanks, like you sooooo many models, sooooo little time. It is frustrating for a new kit, how much work is required for seams and pin marks.

Rounds Complete!!

awesome work Mike as always. i do like PE work always brings out the build.

Clay