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1/35 Hobby Boss M4 18 Ton HST, WIP, 9/26/12, Complete

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  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Monday, May 21, 2012 10:24 AM

Always nice to see the more obscure subjects being built up. This should be fun.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Monday, May 21, 2012 10:19 AM

Roy

Hummm....I know it is confusing here...it's Mike

As for the reel. I am contemplating having the cable somewhat run out connected to the M115 M2 Transport dolly. I can add more cable if needed but remember, this is inside the M4 under the ammo box and only visable through the cable slot hole.

I would fully agree with you on front bumper winches where the cable is rolled up.

I like your concept of using the silver cable but it looks a bit clean and shiny to me. Most winch cables I have seen over the years are a dull steel color and usaully have a coating of grease on the cable to protect it from corrision and allow it to release when needed.

Thanks for the peek and the thoughts. If I decide to go with the cable rolled up I will add more to the spool.

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by T26E4 on Monday, May 21, 2012 6:47 AM

Bill: Did you see my remark about your winch cable?

/forums/p/147372/1570580.aspx#1570580

Tell me what you think

 

Roy Chow 

Join AMPS!

http://www.amps-armor.org

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Monday, May 21, 2012 5:30 AM

Cliff - welcome and thanks for the peek. As I said to Carl, hopefully this helps when you are ready for yours.

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Right Side of a Left State
Posted by Shellback on Monday, May 21, 2012 12:13 AM

Mike , about the reviews , thats true Yes

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Sunday, May 20, 2012 10:09 PM

Mike: Thanks for the WIP! I've got one in my stash too so I'll be eagerly following your work Yes

Cliff

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Sunday, May 20, 2012 9:11 PM

Bill - Thanks for the peek...off on another adventure.

Gino - Thanks for stopping by the firing point. Still figuring out the final layout

Carl - The kit has nice details on one end but is a PIG on the other. It will build into a nice kit but.....the work will continue. Glad to have you peek in and hope my WIP helps when it is your turn. As for reviews.....when was the last review you saw where the reviewer called the kit bad!!

As I said it is a good kit but has a bunch of problems....modelers need to adapt and overcome!

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Right Side of a Left State
Posted by Shellback on Sunday, May 20, 2012 8:33 PM

Mike , now this is going to a wip for me to follow . I have been looking at reviews of this kit for a while . Nothing i read mentioned the pin marks in the roof . Like you i would want to correct that problem also . Thanks for this wip .Yes

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, May 20, 2012 6:55 PM

Looking great Mike.  It will look good pulling your M115.  Keep up the good work.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Sunday, May 20, 2012 6:45 PM

Off to a great start with this one Mike! looking forward to seeing this mission deliver on target! Beer

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
1/35 Hobby Boss M4 18 Ton HST, WIP, 9/26/12, Complete
Posted by redleg12 on Sunday, May 20, 2012 6:22 PM

M4 18 ton High Speed Tractor

FIRE MISSION!!

Introduction

The M4 was based on the chassis and drive train of the obsolescent M2 Light Tank. This common practice of re-using old vehicles simplified design, allowed for easy production, and made maintenance in the field easier.

One variant was designed to tow anti-aircraft guns and another for howitzers. The rear compartment carried the gun crew and other equipment. The howitzer variants included a crane to assist with heavier projectiles

The M4 was manufactured by Allis-Chalmers of Milwaukee, starting in 1942 and was in U.S. military service until approximately 1960.
The M4 version I will be building will be the howitzer version with the ammunition box designed to carry 8 inch howitzer ammunition.
My building reference is the book High Speed Tractors by David Doyle
The Kit
The kit I wil be using is the Hobby Boss M4 Tractor 155mm/240mm (which is incorrect as the 8 inch projectile is 203mm), kit #82408
I will also be adding the Eduard PE sets 36072 which is the outside details and 36073 which is the cab doors. I will also replace the M2 MG with a Tasca MG.  
By the start of building this kit I quickly realized it will also require, liquid putty, Mr. Surfacer, .010, .020 & .040 styrene sheet and lots of sandpaper as you will see below.
The Build
Because of the nature of this kit and how it is assembled, the instructions are for guidance but it has to be assembled and painted in small sub assemblies otherwise it will be almost impossible to paint all the details.
First I began with lower hull assembly. This included the hull front plate, rear plate and interior floor plate. The side panels which cover the tracks were completely covered with large deep pin marks, about 6 on each side. After trying to fill and sand, I went the route of using .010 styrene sheet and just covering the marks.
I then primed the top half with Vallejo OD primer and painted with Poly Scale Olive Drab 505 370. The engine compartment was weathered to prepare for the engine and winch installation with AK track wash.

The same problem exists with the inside of the engine roof, covered with part position holes and big pin marks. I covered it again with .010 styrene sheet. Here it is with a roof part added.
While I have the styrene out, the inside roof of the cab is a mess of pin marks and part holes. It is a bit more complicated and requires panels. Here is the roof in process.
 
As a break from the styrene sheet puzzle, I assembled the engine. The engine on the M4 was painted OD with black hoses and steel hose clamps. After assembly and priming the main engine was painted with Poly Scale OD. The hoses and belts are painted with a rubber mix of Flat & NATO Black. The clamps and belt pulleys are painted with Alclad Steel. The engine was then weathered with AK Track wash.
Also in the engine compartment is the winch assembly. Again after assembly and priming I painted with Poly Scale OD. I then wound some wax coated ship builders string onto the winch spool to create the winch cable. Then I painted the cable with Alclad Steel. Also the PTO connection on the winch was also painted with Alclad Steel.
That’s it for now. Working in 9 different directions at one time on this model. See what I get done for the next update.
As always all comments are welcome.
Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

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