[NATO/Cold War] Portugal M5A1 "Gina"

[Stormbringer]

Cool job on the fenders they look really good

[Meter rat]

Mike. This is coming along a treat. Certainly an interesting, and unique variation. Your metal work shows the same skill and care, as you fine detail work with plastic.

[HERMAN BIX]

Going to start calling you "MAGIC-MIKE" soon !!
Those copper guards are superb.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

In one of my favorite movies, "Charade," James Coburn scolds Cary Grant, "You Greenhorn!" That's what I hear when I see this kind of remarkable work here and so often elsewhere on RCTW. ColemanCollector, you are so skilled!

Sigh...

[ColemanCollector]

Thank you Stormbringer, Tankme, Mr. Bix, and the HDP!
I'm still a bit shocked that things went to plan on these. The normal process in my shop is botch attempt 1, attempt 2 is better but rough but the technique has been learned, attempt 3 is worse than attempt 1, and finally attempt 4 is good. Then time to make the second one. Rinse and repeat the normal process.

"Magic Mike" is something I have most definitely never been called...

Mike (not magic)

[ColemanCollector]

Inching onwards with the front and rear fenders fitted up and driver's windshield rails installed;

20260201_172629.jpg (322.64 KiB) Viewed 193 times

20260201_172609.jpg (363.6 KiB) Viewed 193 times

pintle and exhaust baffles installed;

20260201_172422.jpg (319.91 KiB) Viewed 193 times

engine bay screens, new guards/grab handles by fuel caps, engine hatch hinges, and fuel/oil reservoir cap locking bars and chains installed.

20260201_172414.jpg (281.24 KiB) Viewed 193 times

20260201_172701.jpg (360.35 KiB) Viewed 193 times

20260201_172830.jpg (336.07 KiB) Viewed 191 times

That's most of the major surgery taken care of on the hull. Time for welds and some lowkey steel texturing.

Mike.

[ColemanCollector]

A bit more puttering around adding--and subtracting--stuff.

The rear deck gets the needed horizontal rail.

20260204_132747.jpg (207.96 KiB) Viewed 65 times

Some love for the glacis. Light pocking of the rolled steel in a few spots. Nothing extreme, just roughed up a bit with acetone. Stuarts had great quality rolled steel.

20260204_132758.jpg (269.08 KiB) Viewed 65 times

Texturing of the mg mantlet and mounting plate. Note to self--mg mount needs some smoothing, a bit too rough.

20260204_134555.jpg (258.42 KiB) Viewed 65 times

And the lightguards. Coolbank's are pretty good, just too thick, especially at the front edge. They build 'em thick as kids' toys I guess, but kids only want a Tiger 1, not some pipsqueak pantywaist Stuart! Give us the good stuff! But I digress. 20 minutes with some files and sandpiper thinned them out enough for my tastes. And added the missing brace from the driver's side guard back to the glacis.

20260204_135148.jpg (160.95 KiB) Viewed 65 times

20260204_132834.jpg (225.54 KiB) Viewed 62 times

And now to gird our loins--and eyes--for welds.

Thanks for lookin',

Mike.

[tankme]

It's really coming along.