RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Some extra pictures.

I admit it takes some courage to put your work next to a picture of the real thing. I would have to work using measures in tenths of mm in order to be exactly similar to the real thing. I also realized that using 1/35 measurements has its limits with small parts and these can be wrong.
Next step is to work on the fender's storage bins.

Regards, Louis

Exceptional!!

Most impressed by the build mission details, Louis, and the listing of materials and parts to be used. These are invaluable to future have-a-go scratch-builders. Love the improvised clapboard grills too.
Sheer genius

Hi Louis,

The Filter Boxes and Fender Supports look great!

I encounter the same issues trying to replicate using photos without measurements backed up with 1/35 kit parts. I have found though that simply relying on the old "Calibrated Mk 1 Eyeball" for material thicknesses and small parts usually serves me well. I go with .060" = 1", then just divide down through .015"= 1/4". Using .060", .030" and .015" thicknesses I can create just about any scale thickness needed. If the piece is less than a 1/4" then I us a thickness that will make the part appear scale but yet manageable from a handling perspective, but sometimes it is not easy! The good news for me is that unlike aircraft, tanks usually use pretty big hardware and fairly thick materials!

Barry

Hi, thank you Tom, RecceReg and Barry.

BarryC wrote:relying on the old "Calibrated Mk 1 Eyeball"

Good one Barry. And visually comparing yesterday's work against pictures the following day with a cool head also makes me want to redo stuff. Taking close up pictures of eyeballed scratchbuilding is unforgiving. I can see for example that some of my Meng nuts size decisions were wrong, either too small or too big, or a corner here is too sharp or a strip is missing 0.5mm. I have to see the work on pictures to realize it. Yeah, armor plates are rough and can be corrected with a knife and a good sanding. But it is fascinating when you embrace the concept instead of feeling sorry when reworking areas.

Overall, I am satisfied with the result so far. Whatever happens, there will never be another one exactly like it.

Regards, Louis

lmcq11 wrote:
Overall, I am satisfied with the result so far. Whatever happens, there will never be another one exactly like it.

Regards, Louis

As well you should be and I'm quite certain you are correct about no duplicate.

Barry

Hi, here are the fender's stowage bins.

The Sho't fender bins are complicated with moving parts, many angles, hinges, embossed stiffeners on top, light posts at the front, etc. Spent 14 hours on these and I have left some of the small detailing for the end, such as the clamps, light and cables.
The 1/35 kit is essential as models for the 3 bins that need to be crafted. Then it is just a question of slowly making the same thing in 1/16, using reference pictures to complement.
Hinges are non working. A 0.5mm brass rod, plasticard and 0.8mm Meng 007 bolts are used.
The light posts at the front of the 2 large bins are made in brass with simple tools (pliers, metal saw, a file), that's it.
The small rectangular flat tip for the post is glued with superglue, then filed and polished. I have found that superglue is as strong as any soldering result I could manage in keeping brass construction together, and it is much faster.
Continuing on following post

Here are the bins installed on the Centurion chassis
The embossed stiffeners on top are made with Plastruct 1.5mm half rods
The 3D printed clamps will be installed on the bins only at the last minute before painting. These fragile items would otherwise certainly be destroyed by myself manipulating the hull during the build. I am showing them on the following post.
The lights will be installed before painting.
At one point, it is interesting to see how the large turret fits on the hull.
You can see where this build is going.
All clear.
Continuing on following post

Here are Shapeways items that will help me with the build

These are the "German U-Clamps" that i am planning to use as a base for the clamps for the fender's bins. They are pretty small but very detailed. I think i can modify them to remove the single strip that closes the latch and replace by a loop in brass rod, i'll see. In any cases, i think there will look good on fenders and turret bins.
Some more Shapeways items: M2 60mm mortar tube for the turret (yes, the Shot has a 60mm turret mounted mortar next to the commander's cupola), British fire extinguishers, M41 tail lights, some Sherman head lights, and more German clamps for the tools.
I am a bit tired of scratch building stuff. It is time to do something different and finally use some kit parts. My attention is therefore moving to the suspension and road wheels.

Regards, Louis

BRAVO Louis!!!! The Stowage Bins look great.

Keep up the Great work!
Barry