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Post by RLFoster on Sept 19, 2019 9:13:11 GMT -6
While continuing to decide exactly how to attack my Hetzer project, I'm going to squeeze in what should be about a 2 to 4 week project (at most) -- Techmod's T-70M Light Tank.
This is the only model from Techmod that I own as they are a Polish company with a very limited catalog of kits and decals. I don't have any aftermarket parts for this kit, so it will be straight out of the box. Given what's in the box, it should be a very, VERY quick build.
The box contains just three plastic bags of sprues. The largest has the major hull components and superstructure parts. The medium bag has two identical sprues for the left and right side running gear as well as the "length" sections for the "link and length" tracks. The smallest bag in just all the single track links for going around the drive and idler sprockets. The molding on the sprues appears to be quite nice with no outward evidence of excess flash, bad ejector pin marks, or badly formed parts. Of course I cannot comment on part fit until I actually get into the build.
The only other component in the box is a very sparse, single sheet (8.5" x 13") of instructions that's folded in half. The front is nothing more than a kit description while the back is just one painting and marking option and the sprue layouts. All of the construction steps -- 9 of them -- are on the two halves of the opened inner sheet. If you do not include the track pieces, it appears there are just 40 or so actual components to the tank...very nice.
Anyway, tomorrow is my AMPS modeling club's build and business meeting, so I'm hoping to get in a good couple hours of work then. Today, I'm going to do a little research. However, unlike my other project, this one will likely be a "generic" vehicle and the research shouldn't impede the build in any way. If I get through it quickly enough, I might even do a little building today.
Until next time...
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Ernie
SETTLING IN
Just goin' where the plastic takes me.....
Posts: 358 
Likes: 853
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Post by Ernie on Sept 19, 2019 9:53:41 GMT -6
Nice choice, I have several unbuilt Techmod kits, so I am interested to see how this goes together.
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Post by BUCKY on Sept 19, 2019 12:30:01 GMT -6
I'm in....here's my chair:
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Post by RLFoster on Sept 19, 2019 13:29:57 GMT -6
Darn, Bucky!! Looks like you're down here on the beach.  The problem here at the moment is we've now gone 3 weeks and 3 days without a drop of rain and there's none in the forecast for the next 10 days!!! |
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Sept 19, 2019 14:42:20 GMT -6
You are on a roll! 
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Post by BUCKY on Sept 19, 2019 21:15:47 GMT -6
Darn, Bucky!! Looks like you're down here on the beach. The problem here at the moment is we've now gone 3 weeks and 3 days without a drop of rain and there's none in the forecast for the next 10 days!!! I wish!! We haven't been back to the beach since you and I did the hobby run last year.  |
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MARCO
ROLLING ON
BRAZILIANAIRE
The man from the south
Posts: 782
Likes: 1,911
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Post by MARCO on Sept 20, 2019 4:37:06 GMT -6
I'll follow. I never see this tank. Nice!
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Post by JCON on Sept 21, 2019 9:54:55 GMT -6
That looks like a nice kit!!! I'll pull up me chair!!!  |
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Post by RLFoster on Sept 23, 2019 13:09:14 GMT -6
While I didn't get quite as much accomplished during our monthly AMPS meeting on Saturday -- we were mostly "shooting the bull" -- I did manage to get the turret started and then nearly completed in one session at home yesterday. All that remains are five lifting rings and the barrels (main gun and MG):   This basically completes Steps I and II out of nine. However, since today was my normal weekly trip to the local brewery to get the growlers filled and enjoy a couple pints, I'll be staying away from the x-acto knives for the rest of today. Hopefully tomorrow I can finish this assembly and start in on the lower hull. Until next time... |
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Post by JCON on Sept 23, 2019 21:47:05 GMT -6
Good plan!!!
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Post by RLFoster on Sept 25, 2019 11:39:32 GMT -6
Over the course of yesterday and today I managed to get all the hull components cleaned up, puttied, and assembled. The entirety of the hull is comprised of just 6 parts plus the front drivers hatch -- not exactly a complicated assembly. The two side panels, which include all the running gear attachment points, fenders, and upper hull sides, did have just a few very minor sinkholes that needed to be filled with just a dot of putty each. Beyond this, all of the parts cleaned up very easily and the parts fit together very well:  The kit is actually of a sufficiently good quality that I almost wish it had a good couple of figures as well as a rudimentary interior. The open louvers on the engine deck are begging for an engine to view and the driver's hatch would actually look better opened up, but alas, I have neither the figures or interior parts. However, even without these details, with the now completed turret in place, the little tank is starting to look very nice indeed:  Progress should continue easily over the next week or two. Until next time... |
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Post by Robbo on Sept 25, 2019 13:24:14 GMT -6
Blimey is this a what if Tank
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Post by JCON on Sept 25, 2019 15:00:29 GMT -6
Very cool looking tank!!!
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Post by RLFoster on Sept 25, 2019 15:15:53 GMT -6
Blimey is this a what if Tank Actually, Robbo, there were something like 8200 of these manufactured from 1942 to 43. The T-70 was a direct answer to the limitations and issues with the T-60 and it's actually credited with some amazing feats such as the destruction of several Panthers. |
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Post by JED on Sept 26, 2019 17:43:13 GMT -6
Looks a nice little kit to be honest
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Post by RLFoster on Oct 2, 2019 14:12:30 GMT -6
Well, it's been a slow week, but I'm still chugging along with this simple build. I spent a couple days blacking out the openings and then installing the screens over the engine openings. The kit parts were very crude, so I felt it necessary to scratch some framing and support parts for these structures. Minor stuff, but time-consuming:  I then spent today in a couple sessions and have completed all the upper hull construction - simple as it is. Today's work included the exhaust pipes and mufflers, which I needed to open the ends on, and also the storage boxes, tools, and light:   Now it's time to shift gears and start working on all the running gear and the tracks. Until next time... |
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Post by JED on Oct 2, 2019 14:17:46 GMT -6
Looking better Robert
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Post by JCON on Oct 2, 2019 16:30:54 GMT -6
Nice work sir!!! Has it cooled down any there??? |
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Post by Dukemaddog on Oct 2, 2019 17:15:20 GMT -6
Exceptional work Robert! It's great to see another of your projects in progress.
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Post by RLFoster on Oct 16, 2019 12:08:06 GMT -6
Two weeks since the last update, but I'm now back at it! Over the course of yesterday and today, I've managed to get all the running gear cleaned up and installed on the tank:  Everything in the photo is glued in place except the drive sprockets. I'll leave those loose to help with the track installation. Oh, speaking of the tracks. I discovered something today that I have not seen with any other kit. This kit has a full set of link and length tracks - including 15 individual links - for the tank (these I am using). However, it also has a complete SECOND set of purely individual track links for those modelers who want to go that one step further. While I've seen individual links included to replace vinyl tracks, I've never seen two different plastic options before in kit...interesting. Additionally, considering how spartan the details are, I wouldn't have expected a complete set of individual links at all. That being said, I'm planning to save the individual links and use them in some other way on another build. Anyway, I'm done for today so all the wheels can completely dry before I start messing with the track. Until next time... |
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