RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Still working away, but very frustrated. I have fairly thin fingers and thought I was reasonably dexterous, but I am trying to assemble some ABER clamps and fittings. All my attempts to line up four 0.3mm holes and thread a 0.3mm brass rod through them have ended in total abject failure. I have had to walk away for a while before I lose my cool with them. If there is an easy(er) way to do this I would be pleased to learn it.

In the meantime, I have tackled the tank commander. My efforts are not a patch on the figure painting I have seen on here, but here are a couple of not very good photos for your perusal.

Looking good - I need to do the commander for my tiger but I'm not that talented lol

A couple of photos of the state of my Tiger.

If you have a set of "Helping Hands" now is the time to use them, and if you don't you are now saying What is he talking about?
It is a frame with a main arm with a centrally mounted magnifier and at each end of the arm is a pair of crocodile clips on articulated fittings, every part is adjustable and in this case you can have the main part of the "ABER" clasp held by a clip and using the magnifier fit the anciillery's.
"EAGLE Helping Hands Part Number -YO57AA" are not expensive and my last set came as part of an offer on another product.
This is not going to help you but "VOYAGER" clasps as with almost all "VOYAGER" PE products are easier to work with BUT "ABER" have the edge on detail,
Both "ABER" and "VOYAGER" products are obtainable from Dave at "FORGEBEAR".
shaun.

I know what you mean - in fact I think I have some tucked away somewhere. I had completely forgotten about them but will hunt them out.

Being totally new to this tank modelling lark, I have only recently (and sadly too late) discovered the existence of Voyager PE parts. Searches that I made only revealed ABER PE bits. If the worst comes to the worst, I may cut my losses, so to speak, and invest in someVoyager. Easier assembly will take priority over detail with my current skill levels. IF I decide to build another tank (pause while everyone falls about laughing, by then, perhaps, I will have improved in what I do.

Thanks for your help.

Richard

the braid on his cap would be silver and if it's an ss tank, they won't have these colours of the tank regiment.

Not an SS tank, but I will change the cap braid colour. Thanks for the info. Shame though - I thought it rather fetching - possibly a sign of his feminine side

Thanks for all the information Paul (and the kind words). I only had limited details so am grateful and did not view it as criticism. I would like to get the commander as good as I can, within my limited abilities.

I have since fitted the eagle on the right breast and have the officer's emblem and other parts still to fit. Regarding the emblem, I am unsure as to its colour. Is it silver? I know it has a tricolour roundel in the centre.

More photos will appear in due course.

Richard

My commander, with his new hat. Despite what the photos look like, the hat band IS dark green. I think my phone camera does not like the fluorescent tube in my modelling light. Just his collar and shoulder tabs to do, plus a little retouching here and there. The final steps will be his head and throat sets. I'm using the Aber etchings, and have already lost the microphone switch part. I dropped it and it has vanished into a black hole

Good morning,
I really like the cut of that fellow's jib. He has a roguish sort of twinkle in his eye. ;o) He should get together with the somewhat dour fellow in command of the 'Palace' and show him how to put the joy back in commanding 52 tons of armor on tracks. ( Great work with the stock figure! The mold is getting a little old and sometimes they are quite rubbery feeling but can still be turned into cracking Commanders )
regards,
Painless