rustybaer
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Post by rustybaer on Jun 14, 2019 19:43:32 GMT -6
I started this kit 15 years ago. There, it's out in the open. I built the running gear, assembled some Friuls, and did some test fitting, upper hull to lower, and got a little discouraged. Then I started seeing comparisons vs. the AFV Club kit, and back in the box it went, moving further and further down the stack. Well, after my therapy build, I pulled it out again, thinking "how bad can it really be?". Answer: pretty bad. I had gotten the running gear built up, and adjusted the ride height to fix one big visual error of the kit, a too-deep tub and too-high ride height, and gotten a start on cleaning all the tool locating outlines molded onto the hull, but the fit of the upper hull to the lower just took the wind right out of my sails, and back in the box it went. But, this sis a model my wife bought for me, out of the blue a long time ago, and I'm on a mission, a sacred missoin even, to build everything she's even given me, regardless of what I think about the particular kit.
So I started by sticking the basic hull interior in and mating up the hull halves. After a bunch of Squadron green stuff and a bunch more MrSurfacer and a pile of worn out sanding sticks (womens' nail sanding sticks actually, under a dollar for a dozen or so) I had the hulls mated. Then it was time to replace lost details, mainly on the front, and try and at least make the outer rear hull look like the real thing. Academy dropped it straight down, like a Panther, when the rear plate is curved on the bottom outboard edge. More sanding and putty, but at least the plastic Academy used on the hulls is THICK. Anyway, enough moaning, pics of where I am so far:
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Post by JCON on Jun 14, 2019 19:51:49 GMT -6
Glad to see this back on the bench!!!
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rustybaer
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Post by rustybaer on Jun 14, 2019 20:04:21 GMT -6
Thanks Joe. It's gonna be a tough build, I can tell: I'm already looking for my extra MrSurfacer and Squadron green stuff.
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Post by JCON on Jun 14, 2019 20:19:29 GMT -6
I have faith in you!!!
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Post by BUCKY on Jun 14, 2019 20:46:13 GMT -6
Some true modeling going on with this one! Hang in there, Russ!
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Post by ogrejohn on Jun 15, 2019 8:26:27 GMT -6
Looking good Russ!
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Post by BUCKY on Jun 15, 2019 8:46:55 GMT -6
Bottom of the stash pile, eh?
Sorta like buried treasure?
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rustybaer
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Post by rustybaer on Jun 15, 2019 9:00:10 GMT -6
Bottom of the stash pile, eh? Sorta like buried treasure? I don't know if I'd called it treasure, but a project for sure. |
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Post by BUCKY on Jun 15, 2019 9:07:38 GMT -6
HAHA! I've had a few like that in the shiny car department!
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MARCO
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BRAZILIANAIRE
The man from the south
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Post by MARCO on Jun 17, 2019 4:52:02 GMT -6
Wow, lots of work to do, but looks very very good!
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Jun 20, 2019 8:55:48 GMT -6
Work your magic Russ.
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rustybaer
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Post by rustybaer on Jun 21, 2019 14:52:22 GMT -6
So the hull is done, just a matter of adding the rest of the tools, then I got into the turret. Eek. The kit barrel was huge, way too thick, so I dug out a Sherman barrel, same gun, and used it. Lots of fit issues here, using the canvas mantlet cover: the gun tube was about 1/8" doff to one side, didn't line up with the breech at all, so I had to do some hacking, move the breech over. Fortunately it's all hidden by the mantlet cover. I'm going straight OOB on the turret interior, no desire whatsoever to go down that hole.... Next will be turret exterior details.  IMG_2372 by Russel Baer, on Flickr  IMG_2371 by Russel Baer, on Flickr I also got to looking at pics, and noticed the radio access cover on the left front of the hull was shaped differently than the kit part, so I made one from the white stuff. |
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Post by BUCKY on Jun 21, 2019 16:38:12 GMT -6
That's looking good, Russ!!
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Post by JCON on Jun 21, 2019 18:24:28 GMT -6
Looks amazing fella!!!  |
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Jun 22, 2019 13:28:49 GMT -6
Great attention to details Russ.
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rustybaer
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Post by rustybaer on Jun 23, 2019 14:21:25 GMT -6
Thanks guys. Turret is mostly finished, still thinking about the spare track rack on the back: sse the kit part or scratch up one from scrap etch and some leftover Friuls. One thing for sure, I'll be covering all those molded-on hooks with stowage, no way I'm re-doing all those things. Life's too short.  IMG_2373 by Russel Baer, on Flickr  IMG_2374 by Russel Baer, on Flickr |
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Post by BUCKY on Jun 23, 2019 15:27:52 GMT -6
Improvise is the name of the game, sometimes! I think it's a good idea!
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Post by JCON on Jun 23, 2019 17:09:33 GMT -6
Sounds good to me!!! |
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Jun 24, 2019 8:17:33 GMT -6
Looks like a lot of wire work coming up.
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rustybaer
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Post by rustybaer on Jun 24, 2019 19:40:53 GMT -6
No wire! Noooo!!!!! Stowage, yes!
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