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

Thanks

Rounds Complete!!

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

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!!

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

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

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!!

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

Rounds Complete!!

September is right around the corner Mike.

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

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

Rounds Complete!!

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?

Bufflehead - Thanks for the look. The kit is detailed, and in general assembles well. So from that aspect it is like a Tamiya kit with Dragon details. Where it totally falls on its face and in my opinion totally inhales is the molding. For a new kit it is molded like an early Italeri kit. Flash on almost all parts....huge ejector pin marks in areas which will show....for me it was a big downer on Hobby Boss. If they are the only game in town, well you have to deal with it. If someone else has the same kit, stay away from Hobby Boss......IMO

Shell - More butter please!!

Rounds Complete!!

Hey Mike you earned it !

Steve - Thanks for the peek. 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.

Bill - Yep finally was able to take a seat to make my seats!! Thanks

Rounds Complete!!

Looking good Mike! I think it's fitting that you spent your bench time working on benches...seats look the part as does the engine.

Mike: Looking real good, helpful descriptions too!   You might want to dry-brush some worn metal on the floor boards and that metal cover near the track levers and pedals, the engine feels a bit clean too.  You're making me want to build this one!

Tread - Always a pleasure to have you stop by. Glad you like the cushions.....at our age it is always good to be comfy!!

Clay - Thanks for stopping by.

Shell - Just trying to earn my popcorn!!

Thanks guys

Rounds Complete!!

I'm liking the engine details Mike

as always Mike outstanding build.

Clay

Hiya Mike :  )  cushions look dam good buddy and the AK engine grime pops out the detail while adding ..er..grime ! LOL

You have a nice 4th of July, too

looking good man

tread

This summer has been busy and it has been hard to get bench time. I have some progress to report from our last update.

The benches were scratched from two sheets of .040 styrene, laminated together. After cutting and sanding the benches were primed and painted with Poly Scale OD. While working on the benches I weathered the floor of the cabin with AK Mud Effects. While I was in the weathering mode, all of the cushions were weathered with MIG Ochre Wash, then a pin wash using MIG dark wash for deep spots on the cushions. After installing the benches, I installed the back cushions on the divider panel and installed the divider panel.  Then I installed the rear cushions.

In the front section I used the PE set for the pedals, and installed the driving arms and clutch. The handles were painted black while the frames were Poly scale OD and some Alclad Steel dry brushed for wear on the track levers and pedals. Here is the view with the front seats installed.

With all the weathering products open, the engine was coated and pin washed with AK Engine Grime

That’s it for now. Need to work on the fire extingushers and the dash board to finish up the cabin interior.

Hope everyone has a great July 4, stay cool and enjoy some tube steaks.

As always, all comments are welcome.

Rounds Complete!!

Carl - Thanks for the peek.

Rounds Complete!!

Mike the ammo box really is a piece of pristine work .

Bill - thanks....as you get older you appreciate the little things....including progress, no matter how small!

Rounds Complete!!

Any progress is good progress Mike! The improvement to the seat cushions will show up better once painted and weathered I'm sure.

Mike:  Cool idea on those cushions, they look great!  Hey, thanks for the commentary and comparisons to the actual vehicle and the book.  It'll be very helpful when I build my M4 18 Ton HST...better you be the guinea pig than me!

Tread thanks for the peek. The coverings, which may be hard to see in the picture, was my try to give the cushions the cloth covered look. Once I covered the kit blobs, I covered the seats to keep a uniform look.

Thanks again

Rounds Complete!!

Hi Mike  :  )

The ammo box looks pristine  and I am sure with the brass tie downs it will look just fantastic !

The seat cushions look really nice, but I am kind of wondering why you covered them instead of just painting them ?    I am guessing you made folds to make them look  like they were stitched. I am sure they will look terrific.

Looking forward to your continuing progress !

tread

Well, the past couple of weeks have been a zoo at work and busy at home so progress slowed. Just a small update this time to keep your interest.

First I painted the interior components of the ammunition box section with Tamiya Flat White. After the paint dried I assembled the box. The fit of the side panel to the rear panel left a lot to be desired and all the seams needed a fair amount of putty and sanding.

Here is the current status of the ammunition box. I have removed the molded blobs for tie downs and I still have to replace them with PE tie downs.

The interior cushions looked like blobs of plastic. The seat cushions are totally wrong. So, to give the side and back cushions the look of cloth, I covered them in aircraft tissue. The seat cushions are long molded double seats with no character. The interior photos in High Speed Tractors by Doyle shows single seat cushions, which look like old used pillows.

To create these I used two-part epoxy putty rolled out to about the right thickness then cut to size. After they set up I also covered them with aircraft tissue. With all the cushions covered, the cushions were primed and then painted with Tamiya Drab Green.

I am in the process of scratching the benches that the seat cushions sit on. That’s it for now

As always all comments are welcome.

Rounds Complete!!