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Post by WardWorks on Aug 24, 2023 22:38:36 GMT -6
Hi Ducky, cheers for the comments 👍
Let's just say the Meng Panther is a bit of a "Curate's Egg" - Parts of it are excellent, I replaced its tracks with Bronco indy link, because I didn't like Meng's idea (also done by Takom and other Panther kit manufacturers), of having you glue two little hollow guide teeth onto each link 96 links (thus 192 guide teeth !), per side is quite the vile oath inducement ! 🤬) and then join the lot into workable tracks. The Bronco links are one piece mouldings, complete with hollow guide teeth. If Bronco can mould them in one piece, why can't Meng (or Takom, Rye Field or Hobby Boss ?) Meng's kit also has lots of extras that others don't include in their kits (like the turret side wheel hangers and the hull rear brackets for the Timber unditching beam, plus the beam itself) Its not a bad kit overall though, I didn't mind building it, but I won't be getting another one of their Panthers. I do have their BergPanther, its a simpler kit than Takom's and my existing Italeri Berg will be replaced by the Meng, which will cop the Italeri spade to replace the Meng item (various Panther Experts have said that the Italeri example still has the best spade in the business and its worth replacing the spade on any current kit with the spade from tha ancient (20 plus years old) italeri one.
I still have plenty of Dragon A's about the place, the spares from this Meng kit will allow me to add variations to them to get Panther A's Dragon didn't think of !
Thr King Tiger will cop camo as soon as I work out which camo I feel like putting on it. At present, I'm thinking in terms of a simple 3 colour job, although a KT in Ambush always looks the goods if you get the dots right (and I still haven't got around to doing an Ambush KT !
Best
Gomez 😉🙃
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Post by JCON on Aug 25, 2023 11:25:01 GMT -6
Welcome back!!! Tanks are looking fine!!!
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DuckyShot
GETTING STARTED
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Likes: 278
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Post by DuckyShot on Aug 25, 2023 11:47:55 GMT -6
Hi Ducky, cheers for the comments 👍
Let's just say the Meng Panther is a bit of a "Curate's Egg" - Parts of it are excellent, I replaced its tracks with Bronco indy link, because I didn't like Meng's idea (also done by Takom and other Panther kit manufacturers), of having you glue two little holloe guide teeth onto each link 96 links (thus 192 guide teeth !), per side is quite thvile oath inducement ! 🤬) and then join the lot into workable tracks. The Bronco links are one piece mouldings, complete with hollow guide teeth. If Bronco can mould them in one piece, why can't Meng (or Takom, Rye Field or Hobby Boss ?) Meng's kit also has lots of extras that others don't include in their kits (like the turret side wheel hangers and the hull rear brackets for the Timber unditching beam, plus the beam itself) Its not a bad kit overall though, I didn't mind building it, but I won't be getting another one of their Panthers. I do have their BergPanther, its a simpler kit than Takom's and my existing Italeri Berg will be replaced by the Meng, which will cop the Italeri spade to replace the Meng item (various Panther Experts have said that the Italeri example still has the best spade in the business and its worth replacing the spade on any current kit with the spade from tha ancient (20 plus years old) italeri one.
I still have plenty of Dragon A's about the place, the spares from this Meng kit will allow me to add variations to them to get Panther A's Dragon didn't think of !
Thr King Tiger will cop camo as soon as I work out which camo I feel like putting on it. At present, I'm thinking in terms of a simple 3 colour job, although a KT in Ambush always looks the goods if you get the dots right (and I still haven't got around to doing an Ambush KT !
Best
Gomez 😉🙃 Yeah, I hear you on single link tracks. I built RFM's Firefly last fall and that had the links and guide teeth AND that track needed duckbills as well. My hands were sore for a while. My latest build I used a friulmodel track, so 1 guide tooth per track link, it was much nicer to deal with. The Dragon kit pieces were one piece per link (with duckbills added after) but they needed a lot of cleanup. |
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Post by WardWorks on Aug 25, 2023 17:11:43 GMT -6
Cheers Joe
Ducky, I did a Dragon Firefly V (Think it was a V), ages back, as the well known German one, plastered with narrow crosses. That kit had indy links the rectangular central part of the track had 4 pins each end, which the builder joined together with little figure 8 shaped end connectors, which had the guide teeth moulded onto them (non workable track). THAT track was a RIGHT PAIN to assemble, luckily there were no duckbills to further complicate matters (whew !). Tracks came up fine in the end (which is more than could be said for my sanity at the end of the process !)... That episode was the start of my known allergy to multi part track links and workable track that isn't. I've been allergic to metal track links and pins for ages - the first Frui sets were pretty rough and ready to assemble, you needed to clear most of the link pin holes with a small drill before assembly (great way to break small and expensive drill bits !) and the pins were too soft wire and best replaced with dressmakers pins as most experts pointed out. I never saw the need to waste my hard earned on such things, I'd rather be buying kits.
I'll have a look around and see if I can't find some photos of that Firefly, its long gone now, and I doubt I'll replace it... Here ya go !
Best
Gomez aus die PanzerWaffe 😉🙃
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Post by Dukemaddog on Aug 25, 2023 18:41:04 GMT -6
Magnificent work on those tanks Gomez! Way to go and welcome back!
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Post by WardWorks on Aug 27, 2023 15:03:40 GMT -6
Cheers Duke 👍
Hoping to get the Panther weathered today and the KT camouflaged whilst the airbrush is in use
I'll then start thinking about what's next
Best
Gomez aus die Panzerwaffe 😉🙃
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Post by WardWorks on Aug 28, 2023 20:46:14 GMT -6
Ho Hum... 🥱
Panther's dun
KT camo next... whenever 🥱
Best
Gomez aus die Panzerwaffe 😉🙃
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DuckyShot
GETTING STARTED
Posts: 163
Likes: 278
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Post by DuckyShot on Aug 30, 2023 8:46:02 GMT -6
Nice looking Firefly target!  I really like your camo on that one, nice subdued look to it. |
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Post by JCON on Aug 30, 2023 11:06:57 GMT -6
I agree, super job on the Camo my friend!!!
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Post by Robbo on Aug 31, 2023 5:16:23 GMT -6
Nice Panther
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Post by JED on Sept 11, 2023 7:11:46 GMT -6
Great job on the Panther
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Post by WardWorks on Sept 25, 2023 22:27:14 GMT -6
Cheers Folks 😉👍
Sorry re the radio silence, life got in the way again... 🤬
New desk has been assembled, 5x2ft, plus the old workmate with a paint tray on top...
Next two projects on the desk, couple of fun things to play with....
As are the last two completed (almost !), projects, the ICM King Tiger (still awaiting Camo and engine deck grilles) and a Tamiya Sherman Jumbo, awaiting its OD paint and markings...
Also newly built is my stash shelves, (that's my complete unbuilt stash there)...
That concludes the news from hereabouts, 'scuse moi, I've got some muddlin' to do, I've had a bad case of glue fumes withdrawel lately.. 😆
Best
Gomez aus die PanzerWaffe 😉🙃
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Post by JCON on Sept 26, 2023 10:14:10 GMT -6
Welcome back buddy!!! Let the work commense!!!
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Post by WardWorks on Sept 26, 2023 19:06:02 GMT -6
?.. and away we goes 🙄
38(T)'s hull is dun, next stop suspension, wheels and tracks, no dramas to report thus far...
Slight switch on the other one in the queue, the PzIIIN is back burnered for the nonce, last Takom Item I built was their original Pz IIIN, so swapped it for this lil item
No pesky side skirts oe skirt hanging rails to worry about with the wide winter tracks (winterketten)
Best
Gomez aus die PanzerWaffe 😉🙃
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Post by JCON on Sept 27, 2023 10:05:02 GMT -6
We like a good StuG build!!!
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Post by WardWorks on Sept 27, 2023 18:14:27 GMT -6
Dunno about a good build, but I do hope to get a good Stug at the end of it....
Anyhoo, the evening shift last night got the 38(t) to the ready for track fitting stage and the Morning shift this morning got the Stug to the chassis assembled and ready for wheels stage so far this morning.
More later - after a coffee break.
Best
Gomez aus die PanzerWaffe 😉🙃
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Post by JCON on Sept 27, 2023 22:47:20 GMT -6
Looks wheelie good to me!
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Post by WardWorks on Sept 28, 2023 23:19:03 GMT -6
Moving on in stits and f...😳 Err.. I'm sorry, I'll try that again..🤔
Moving on, A bit more fettling has seen the StuG equipped with a full set of wheels on both sides 😵💫
More later (after Joe's dropped his usual "punny" reply on it)
Best
Gomez aus die Panzerwaffe 😉🙃
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Post by WardWorks on Sept 29, 2023 0:58:32 GMT -6
38(t) is now fully tracked, with Tamiya's version of link and length, no dramas encountered or expected (Its Tamiya after all) 🥱
There's a few more bits to go under the StuG's rear before it gets tracked.. hopefully those and that'll happen tonight..
Meanwhile I'm off for me dinner, a coffee and a burp (in that and no other order !) 🤫😆
Regards
Gomez aus die PanzerWaffe 😉🙃
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Post by JCON on Sept 29, 2023 14:12:19 GMT -6
These are coming along very quickly!!! Nice work sir!!! Hope the dinner was good!!!
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