BERLIN BUSTER T34/85 'BEDSPRING'

[HERMAN BIX]

HUH??????????? You getting a tat???????????

ALPHA

Noooo!!

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a 66 year old festival of Military skills in the marching, music, and various other disciplines, held every year in the front courtyard field of the Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Steeped in tradition, the show has evolved over the years Ive been following it, but the basic theme is consistent.
Military units doing what they do best outside of combat.
The show this time was only the 4th ever it had been outside of Scotland(I was also at the first one in Wellington, New Zealand) and was still as stirring.
The massed pipes & drums of course,with the lone piper to close an always emotional ceremony.
Loved it.

[HERMAN BIX]

Yep, the notorious weather was perfect.
Couldn't get a taxi after though, all the cabs were at the casino whole 40 thousand were at the stadium !
Had a 4 km hump back to the apartment, with mother in law in tow !

[HERMAN BIX]

Well, I had my last day home today, managed to get some tank time in.
Painted the track cleats and secured them in place, also coloured the smoke canister & mounted it.
Began the bedspring armour panels.
Used 2.5mm brass flat for the turret frames. Looking at the pictures the frames were very light, and did not seem to be angle iron.
I will need to get some mesh with slightly coarser weave, mine is ok for the hull panels, but its to closed for the turret.
Again, the solder paste is a wonder to work with, that is until I ran out of butane for my brulee burner
Oh well, My long suffering supply officer( Mrs B) will tour off to the camping shop in the morning for more.
Got some paint on the tracks while I was at it. Used a brew of dark brown, flat copper, and a dash of German grey.
Once the tread pattern is worn off and they are dusted the look should be right.

[HERMAN BIX]

Yeah, I know
The burner has not got a fill indicator on it, so it was bound to happen.
Neither does the refill can .............
How is your screen mounting on the JS going ?

[HERMAN BIX]

Cheers sunshine.............its really a case of getting the stuff done so I can fit the 'Faustnik' nets. Mine wont be removable.
Turns out my burner issues are not a simple lack of fuel, looks like the on/off valve has failed due to long high continuous heat and fused shut.
Oh well, off to get another one.

[HERMAN BIX]

Been a bit of a "slow-news" week.
Off out in the boonies for a while, now back.
Got a start proper on the screens, fiddly and kept springing apart as the progressive heat went in to secure the mesh with the solder paste.
I was twisting off a bit and almost reverted to super glue..............at least that stuff does not react adversely when another run of itself is applied !!
The turret screens are together, but still lack the hangers.
Next up will be the hull sections.

[HERMAN BIX]

Got the first screen dry-fitted to the turret. As I dont have any popular purple tape, good old Tamiya yellow tape will have to do !
These things are rough, as I expect they would have been, but to get them looking right is not as easy as it looks.
One down, 9 to go

I really have to stop doing tanks with extra armour

(I will get to the headlight Mr Painless-promise )

[PainlessWolf]

Herman,
Good morning! *chuckles* Following along!
regards,
Painless

[Ad Lav]

Taking shape nicely!

Been tempted to do a Syrian T34/85 after seeing this one.

[HERMAN BIX]

Cheers lads. Each screen wil have irregular finish, plus damage so should reflect how they might have looked in reality.