reserve
GAINING SPEED
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Post by reserve on Jan 18, 2018 20:56:09 GMT -6
Never done anything connected with the PTO; probably overdue so here it goes. The raw materials
 007 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr
 008 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr
The type 97 went together in about 4 hours today with primer. Note the approximate scale 75mm holes, it will be modeled in a debilitated condition. Dedicated PTO tank crew figures are not easy to come by so I'll have to butch some together. I know Verlinden makes some resin Marine tanker figures but their poses leave a lot to be desired. I made the mistake of reading some reviews on the Dragon composite Sherman and they were exhausting. Got a feeling this'll be OOB somehow...
Regards, Mark |
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Post by dauntless on Jan 18, 2018 21:20:52 GMT -6
Have you looked into the Master Box figures? They have a whole mess of Pacific themed figure sets you may be able to alter and use?
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PTO time
Jan 18, 2018 23:05:53 GMT -6
via mobile
BUCKY likes this
Post by JCON on Jan 18, 2018 23:05:53 GMT -6
Nice start!!!
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Jan 19, 2018 6:18:16 GMT -6
Cool Beans! I'm in!
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Post by BUCKY on Jan 19, 2018 8:43:31 GMT -6
Good looking four hour session!
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Post by Beekster on Jan 19, 2018 8:45:14 GMT -6
Good luck with this one. Dragon Shermans are a major pain to do, with detail inaccuracies and cryptic instructions piled on top of major fit issues, particularly with the diff cover and final drives. I built my last one long ago, save for a pair of Sextons and a Priest in the stash...and I'm not in a hurry to start on those. With respect to the M4 Composite, check the instructions carefully to see if Dragon calls for you to install the towing pintle bracket on the lower rear hull. It wasn't there. For whatever reason, CDA didn't fit the brackets on any of the Composites.
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Post by dauntless on Jan 19, 2018 11:01:26 GMT -6
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Post by ARMORGUY on Jan 19, 2018 13:52:31 GMT -6
Four hours for the build AND the primer  Man you're fast ! |
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reserve
GAINING SPEED
Posts: 683
Likes: 1,758
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Post by reserve on Jan 19, 2018 16:22:06 GMT -6
Welcome gents
The Chi-Ha is a very simple kit. I may have primed it before the glue was completely dry in spots
Beekster I've heard of others having problems with Dragon Shermans. As for fit issues coupled with blurred and ambiguous directions, that kind of defines Dragon.
Possessing foreknowledge of the evils of this kit I got out the files, sandpaper, and clamps. Got me a nice flat and square surface on the hull front and the transmission cover/final drive assembly, splashed the glue and presto
 001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr
came out OK. The biggest problem I had was the lack of locating surfaces, you've gotta kinda eyeball things into place. The turret ring was way too small and sloshed around in the hull rather badly but a .020 strip on the turret ring cured that
 002 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr
What else I've noticed:
The HVSS suspension needs a disturbing amount of force to assemble; you are better off assembling the roadwheels and the lower arms first, allowing them to dry overnight before finishing them.
The idler wheel axle mount part numbers are transposed in the instructions
I think there are parts trees from ever Sherman Dragon's ever released in this box it's rather ridiculous
They want you to put all the delicate little breakable parts on the upper hull and then mate it to the lower. No, sez I, I do the major part sticking first as long as it will not interfere with tracks, etc so I'm not wiping said small parts off as I desperately squeeze things together in the attempt to make them fit right
Perhaps it has something to do with Chinese to English translation
Regards, Mark |
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Jan 19, 2018 16:39:16 GMT -6
Some nice progress Mark.
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PTO time
Jan 19, 2018 17:35:21 GMT -6
via mobile
BUCKY likes this
Post by JCON on Jan 19, 2018 17:35:21 GMT -6
Coming together well!!!
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Post by BUCKY on Jan 19, 2018 21:53:41 GMT -6
I agree with those two guys!!!!
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Post by JEFF on Jan 20, 2018 2:33:37 GMT -6
And I will too.  |
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doogie
SETTLING IN
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Post by doogie on Jan 20, 2018 8:47:00 GMT -6
Looking great so far.
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reserve
GAINING SPEED
Posts: 683
Likes: 1,758
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Post by reserve on Jan 20, 2018 13:12:25 GMT -6
Thanks gents
I had my suspicions, and the Beek is right the Dragon Shermans are painful and not much fun. It's no one big thing rather it's the death of a thousand cuts. Here are the driver's and bow gunner's hatches with one separate hinge
 001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr
Why
The part the mantlet attaches to that's not even mentioned in the instructions that would have been easier to install before the turret halves were joined
 002 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr
%@#^%@#
The internal pivot/mount for the main and co-ax barrels that you have to drill your own locating hole in for the co-ax
 003 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr
I'll finish this one but I'll never do another Sherman by Dragon; too much glue and wait to dry coupled with WTF engineering make them more of a chore than an enjoyable build. OK I've whined enough now
Regards, Mark
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Jan 20, 2018 13:35:17 GMT -6
Wow. Don't know if I'll ever build mine ( 13 kits) now 
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Post by BUCKY on Jan 20, 2018 14:20:39 GMT -6
C'mon, Bruce! Mark can't have all the fun!!!  |
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Post by ogrejohn on Jan 20, 2018 17:18:15 GMT -6
Looks like you're getting it whipped into shape Mark! I've only got one Shermie in the stash and it's a Dragon, maybe I'll trade it off.
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doogie
SETTLING IN
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Post by doogie on Jan 21, 2018 8:54:02 GMT -6
You are still doing a great job so far.
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reserve
GAINING SPEED
Posts: 683
Likes: 1,758
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Post by reserve on Jan 22, 2018 16:12:55 GMT -6
Thanks gents
Primer on the Chi-Ha finally dried enough to do this
 005 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr
Sherman in primer
 006 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr
This'll be as fun as watching paint dry for the next day or so
Regards, Mark |
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Man you're fast !
