RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

A little more to report. It is very slow progress so far as photo etch is concerned. This is one tool assembly. How shall I describe the process of assembling the brackets and leather straps? Challenging, I think. It is not easy trying to thread brass straps through a minute buckle.
In my defence I would point out that what you see comprises 17 different pieces. I need to touch up and weather the "leather".

I have been doing other work, particularly on the smoke candle unit, but at present, it is very much work in progress. Photos will appear when it is in a more finished state.

Looking great, love the fine photo etch work you are doing, cannot wait to see the smoke candles all fully finished, your paint work displayed so far is incredible, then entire machine shall really look the part once done.

That hammer is really good , been watching this build.

SS1947,
Keep the course, Doc! The best is yet to come ( as far as PE advancement goes ) Your work ( fun ) show here is awesome!
regards,
Painless

Today, I have managed to get the jack strapped to the tool box after a fashion. The one problem I have found with the Voyager photo etch is that, so far, without exception, all the straps are far too long for the tools they are supposed to secure. I have done my best with them. If you don't get too close, I think they will pass muster. The flash has accentuated the mahogany brown I use to the weather the dark brown of the straps. It is not that bad in real life. I think (hope) I only have one more set of straps to do.

I still have another pair of tools with securing straps to do, but I fancied a change. Two of the tools, the bolt cutters and the axe, are held in place by clamps rather than straps. Quite fiddly, but so much easier than the Aber clamps. I know they are not as accurate, but having battled with Aber clamps when I did my Tamiya Tiger, I am prepared to make the sacrifice. They do actually work but I think I may glue them in place once I am finished. They would be fine on a static model but I fear they would fall apart. A shame but better safe than sorry.

It has been a while but I was away from my model for some time over Christmas. I have not been idle since my return, though I appear to have little to show for it. Amongst other things I have been working on the turret machine gun. The RC kit contains an led attached to a length of fibre optic cable. The instructions are very simple. Cut the gun into 2 halves. Drill 1mm hole from both ends in both parts. Combine the 2 halves. Simples.

Probably if you have adequate modelling skills. Sadly I do not. I do not have a pillar drill, so had to drill each half using a pin vice and try to line the drill up by eye. Not a great success. I managed to go through the side of the gun in both sections. Eventually, I did manage to get a hole roughly through the centre. I have done what I can to repair the damage.

Originally, I had visions of fitting the gun with a miniature servo so it could sweep from side to side. However, as you can see from the photos, the turret is rather crowded already. The gun is still able to move, but by hand only.

Your attention to detail on what looks to be an extraordinarily finiky model is something to marvel at,
I will continue to watch with great interest,
As to pillar drills,
Some years ago I bought a Dremel Pillar drill stand and it was money well spent, It comes with a backing plate that allows the drill to be firmly locked in the vertical and at almost every other angle.
My only regret is that the base plate is not wider.

That is looking great.

I remember this with my build. Such a cramped space but once it comes to life it is really quite impressive.