M2A1 Halftrack-The offical final pics to wrap the WIP

Hey I'm sure that if you go no sleep between now and the 29th that you will make it.. Maybe even cut out some unimportant stuff too like eating and showering then you will definitely have it done lol

I've been away from the forums for the last four months and have missed a lot, it seems. I'm glad to be back in time to see this one. Superb job!!

Hey subfixer.  I am happy that you stopped in on my thread now that you are back.  And welcome back too.

No sleep is a possibility.  If you've ever seen me you would know it's not likely I am gonna miss a meal.  I can stay clean too.  I can do the 3 S's, dress, grab a cup of Joe and out the door in 30 minutes so wown't save much time skipping the shower.

Marc , are those "t" shaped hood fasteners provided in the kit or in the p.e. ? Just wonder"n ........... ok , now that think'n gave me a headache !

Carl on the kits parts they are molded on the panel in relief.  The PE set has them and I think each is 4 parts.  4 parts? For something that small?  No wander I wake in the middle of the night screaming.

Marc , 4 parts per each latch ?????? Well , if you can get them to stay in your tweezers long enough to be glued on the model (that might be real accomplishment ) then they will look great . However , in the meantime ........

OMG... That's me last night and today.

Jerry cans had a lot of molded on detail to be removed before I could make/attached the holders.  Then I realized, the instructions show the addition of the mounting brackets on the side of the vehicle but then absolutely no mention of the holders at all.  In fact... the mounting brackets are not in any drawing after the one installation them.  Took a bit of searching o find the parts that looked like they were the right ones.

Scratched the small bracket that holds the end of the exhaust pipe.

Then I made the doors (see picture above)  If my count is correct, 38 parts for each door.

A few pics of right door installed and left door help in place to be installed later or it will break off a thousand times.

WOW!  You definitely have lost your mind.  But it is one of best builds I have seen this year... hang in there you will be happy when it is completed.  You still have plenty of time... 16 days... 384 hours... 23,040 minutes!  Still plenty of time...

Can't say it enough it looks amazing them doors look great do they move or they have to be glued in place?

almost a shame to paint all that lovely brass!

Excellent work.

Hiya Marc

Looking sweet man !  .... only 38 parts per door ? You are lucky they are armored or you would have to install the working window guts and hand crank .. ! LOL  

The gas cans and mounts look great . I am sure you are glad the cans are in plastic. It would have been nice if they gave you resin ones with the details already removed, but looks nice !

I know in the scope of your build it is a small almost insignificant piece, but I really like the exhaust hanger clamp...it just looks so real and I could imagine how poor it would look in plastic.

the C.A. work looks nice and neat... I cant imagine trying to solder any of it it even with resistance soldering or other high tech method.

enjoying the ride, 

tread

now have to go back and catch up on the reading on this sweet looking build!

Thanks to all for the comments and encouragement.

Andy, I stated working on the back section and it was so nice to get some HUGE pieces to work wth and in about 30 minutes have a nice big chunk to show for it. But 16 days still may not be enough.

Shawn, I agree.  That's why it not going to be painted at all.

Tread, there are a few places I wish I had soldered.  One of the things that's so time consuming is having to "rebuild" components that came apart.  Sometimes CA just sucks.

38 parts per door! That's some craziness right there :o

Marc-this is one truly amazing build that you have going.....I don't even dream of doing half that much PE.  You're my hero! 

Truly amazing that you've accomplished all this with just CA! Keep at it Marc, we're counting on you!

OMG....it is not a model...it is a metal works.

Once you complete this build, plan on visiting the eye doctor!!

Rounds Complete!!

Thank you all fr the comments.  I don't need and eye doctor... I need a shrink.  It's my brain that's squinting.  Is there an Optivisor for the brain?

Marc, the best thing you can do right now is to completely wrap your head in duck tape. If there is a cranial explosion the mess will be easier to clean.  That's how I do it...worked for years  

just a little pro bono advice !

tread

treadwell

Marc, the best thing you can do right now is to completely wrap your head in duck tape. If there is a cranial explosion the mess will be easier to clean.  That's how I do it...worked for years  

just a little pro bono advice !

tread

I use  another "special" method.

I hang upside down over my bench,  so as the PE parts try to "Ping" off into oblivian,

They are very easy to find,  just floating there in the air.

 I bet this will help, finish your project faster.  

                                          

Yaaa so glad you're gonna leave it naked.

DUCK TAPE! OF COURSE!    Is there no end to the uses for that stuff.

Oh what a joy to handle parts that can you feel them in your hand... you can see them too.

Fighting compartment floor all done. 

wow that really ties the rear end together.. You got to be getting close now?

Yup... very close... to page 7

BTW forgot to respond to your question about the hinges.  They can be made fully operable.  But that take some steady hands and more nerve than I have at the moment.  So all the hinges on this guy will be glued.

Hey Marc , nice floor job man This model must be getting heavy by now , what with all of the brass . Are you going to leave the plastic unpainted also ? Just thinking about the sprue connection points that you sanded off , for me they always stand out even when sanded smooth .

Looking really "brassy" ....................

Just great!!!  Now you have me thinking about doing a naked build one day... have a M16 multi gun with Voyager PE set.  Something I'd like to do one day... can't wait to see more of this.

Carl, it’s no secret that this is being built for a show with the theme “Naked Models”.  I have always thought the box to pics on these sets look cool and had thought of doing one had crossed my mind.  The show gave the idea that last push.  I am guessing the theme means all nekkid.  What’s the point in keeping your shoes on (nudge, nudge, wink, wink… know what I mean) so everything will have to be unpainted.

I have no idea how these are going to be judge.  To be honest, I wonder if they, those running the show, do too.  The sprue nubs are tough.  I’ve tried snipping with different clippers, chopped parts off the tree with a hobby knife and sawing them off with a JLC saw.  Sometimes they turn whites and sometimes they don’t.  Never had to give it a 2nd thought since all these little “things” that appear as you build would normally be covered with paint.  There are some fingerprints on a few of the brass. Mine wipe off with some alcohol or acetone no problem.  Some don’t and I think they are from the handlers or packagers and from the length of time they have been they have become permanent.  So that’s why I wonder what the judges are going to look at and take points off for.  

There are enough little imperfection of my own doing that I really don’t have high hopes.  But it show is an interesting project.  Really makes you think about getting things right.  Hopefully lessons learned will carry over to when I go back to painting (oh please… let that be soon)

Sorry for the long winded post but I am feely feisty this fine morning.

Andy... I say go for it.

One of the things that helps all these glue joints is roughing up the mating surfaces.  Normally I would sand the back of entire PE fret.  Since some of the "backs" are exposed this is not an option so I tape off the areas that need protection and sand the exposed areas.  For tiny parts in he middle of a larger area sometimes its just a few scratches with a hobby knife.

The frame glued to the inside of the side wall has the flanges that will attach the to the floor and back so it needs to be lined up just right and the square takes care of that.

Making good progress Marc! I'm sure it's a great feeling to have "large" pieces to work with for a change. Nice idea on the sanding/roughing to make gluing easier. Never thought about that but makes perfect sense!

That wasnt long winded Marc . Its good to share some hobby talk with a fellow builder .

Only idea i come up with about getting the finger prints off is Lacquer thinner ..................maybe ? I'd diffinetly try it out only on a piece where the risk of ruinning something obviouse is low . There must be something less potent that will work i would think though .

Sounds like you must of had good cup of coffee this a.m .

I'm not taking sides ..they look good