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Post by Dukemaddog on Oct 5, 2020 15:07:22 GMT -6
Looking great Robert! I'm gonna be doing a bit of wheelism myself with my M-1000 trailer with it's half-million wheels underneath. Nice progress so far.
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Post by JED on Oct 6, 2020 13:19:36 GMT -6
Looking good Robert
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Post by RLFoster on Oct 7, 2020 12:52:44 GMT -6
Thanks for the kind words, guys. The past two days brought me to the task that brings fear into many an armor builder -- individual track links. Personally, I think the tedious and time-consuming work is more than offset by the superior appearance on the finished model. However, having a nagging backache certainly did not improve the situation at all. Yesterday, I spent almost two hours straight using a straight razor blade to go from this: To this: At that point my hand was sore and my back told me I was done for the day. Today, I started fairly early assembling the links and after another two hours, I had the first side assembled and installed: The second side ended up taking only 90 minutes as I got into a grove. However, as often happens, this run has slightly less sag than the first side. Probably due to the links varying slightly in how tightly they are assembled: Anyway, that essentially ends the construction on the build until final assembly begins. That means I need to refocus on painting and start with the base coating and details of the interior components. Until next time...
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Oct 7, 2020 13:33:06 GMT -6
Who knew?? Wheeley doin the Trakagess.
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Post by JED on Oct 8, 2020 10:13:54 GMT -6
Rather you than me Rob,great job though
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Post by RLFoster on Oct 8, 2020 11:57:01 GMT -6
Thanks for looking in, Bruce.
Thanks, Jed. Like I said...I think it's worth the effort.
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Post by Dukemaddog on Oct 8, 2020 15:36:09 GMT -6
Looks excellent Robert, but seeing all those links always makes me thrilled that I stick with strictly 1/72 scale models! LOL! Indies do look great when done and painted though; I'll agree with you there!
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Post by RLFoster on Oct 8, 2020 16:03:27 GMT -6
LOL, Mark! 1/72 individual links (which I HAVE built) will drive you nuts!
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Post by JCON on Oct 8, 2020 20:12:03 GMT -6
Very nice job!!!
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Post by Dukemaddog on Oct 9, 2020 12:55:34 GMT -6
LOL, Mark! 1/72 individual links (which I HAVE built) will drive you nuts!
LOL! I've done link and length track runs, but never had I ever had to do indie links en toto. I commend you and bow in your presence for having done a full set of individual 1/72 scale track links!
What kit was it that you did them on?
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Post by RLFoster on Oct 9, 2020 13:23:17 GMT -6
What kit was it that you did them on?
IIRC (it was a LONG time ago...mid 2000's I think) the kit was a Pz IV being build by a friend and it came with a rather bad set of vinyl tracks. Somewhere, he had gotten hold of a resin aftermarket set of Pz III or IV individual links (I can't recall the company), but he didn't want to attempt them himself. Since we were all building kits for the local club's IPMS group entry, and I had already nearly finished my build, I offered to put the tracks together for him.
All I can say is, "Never again!"
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Post by Dukemaddog on Oct 11, 2020 9:07:12 GMT -6
Wow, and resin links too! I commend you sir!
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Post by JCON on Oct 11, 2020 9:10:02 GMT -6
Sounds brutal!!!
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Post by RLFoster on Oct 12, 2020 9:10:54 GMT -6
I took a couple days off due to a pretty good back strain, but healed now and I've managed to get the three main lower interior sections painted, minimally weathered, and installed. The vast majority of these parts will be completely hidden once the build is done, but they're finished nonetheless: Next, I'll be finishing up the other interior components like the MG's, the main turret basket, and the main gun. Once that's done, I can start final assembly and then start the painting and weathering of the exterior. Until next time...
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Oct 12, 2020 9:30:18 GMT -6
Well done, Robert! Looks like you could eat off the floor, it's that clean.
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Post by JCON on Oct 12, 2020 9:45:21 GMT -6
Looks good Robert, glad you got the back to calm down... back pain sucks!
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Post by rustybaer on Oct 12, 2020 11:35:10 GMT -6
I may have had a back injury looking at all those individual track links...... Well done sir!
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Post by Dukemaddog on Oct 12, 2020 13:33:50 GMT -6
Glad to see you've recovered and are doing more outstanding work. Keep it coming Robert!
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Post by RLFoster on Oct 14, 2020 9:07:19 GMT -6
A little less than 48 hours and the first half of the build is now complete. The last part I needed to paint before assembly was the main turret and basket: Once this was done, I added a few simply painted shells to an under-seat storage rack viewable through the open commander's hatch: Once the turret was done, I attached the upper hull to the lower, positioned the two MG turrets the way I want them, inserted the main turret and positioned it, and finally sealed the engine hatch with a piece of plastic and the driver's/commander's hatch openings with sponge. I placed the various hatches on some tape (and a post) and with that, everything was ready for priming: This morning, as I was doing my typical exercise routine, I would pause and apply primer to the model and hatches in four applications - allowing each to dry before the next. After everything was dry, I checked it out and can now say we're ready to start painting and weathering: This afternoon, I'm heading over to my Mom's house for a day of chit-chat and dinner. It's one last get-together before she heads out of town with some friends for two weeks. I also have a new board game coming tomorrow and will probably spend 24 to 48 hours learning the rules and then playing through the game a few times. Basically I'm saying it might be 4 or 5 days before there's even the possibility of another update. Until next time...
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Post by JCON on Oct 14, 2020 9:45:22 GMT -6
Wow you have been busy! Looking mighty good!!!
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