Re: 1/16 Elefant Ludwig/Asiatam
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:22 pm
More work:
There have been some scale issues with the kit, but nothing major. It really helps to have a small table saw for cutting plastic parts.
For example, there is a slight error with front angles bulkhead position. I correct it somewhat, but you would be hard pressed to fing the fault. Also, I had to lower the height of the citadel by 3mm all around (after shortening it by about 10mm~or so). When you chage the height of the angled structure, it also chages the width, so two pieces of thick palstic are added to the sides so the overhang remaisn the same.
trimming off the 3mm in overall height brings the bottom of the front main gun mount closer to the hull and the hinges for the rear vents will be in a more scale location.
The citadel/side panel ratio is about .36 or so (vertical dimension..not overall width of piece..it's on an angle). this works out to about where I have it and when viewed from the side, looks identical to photo of real tank(you have to allow for real distance changes and my poor photo comparison)
Other issue is the rear lower angel plate. Once you set the rear angled bulkhead to correct thickness and placement, the 'cut out' over the fender needs to be lengthened, but then a gap develops and this is filled by thick horizontal piece. The 'cut out' height is actually a little too low, but it is based on the underlying aluminum hull side plate which is precut.
Fenders are 2mm plastice glued to hull so the whole unit lifts off as one. On top of the plastic white fender, HO scale diamond plate (plastruc..clearly not accurate HO scale, but nearly PERFECT scale for 1/16!!) I was able to copy the fender with the plastruct to nearly EACH diamond grip using Aberdeen tank pics (of course, this tank is no longer at 'aberdeeen'). Bending the diamond plate is somewhat frustrating, and don't use a flame (Shrinks it really easily). just crimping in a vise and with some flat faed pliers and then glueing wiht combo of CA and Testors liquid works out OK.
some notes about the fenders: They are actually made in 5-6 pieces per side so when I place the fender, I follow the pattern seen in the book photos and on damaged tanks (like the one in Italian piazza). some tanks have a slightly different rear fender appearance where fender remains horizontal beyond the beginning of the angle plate. I chose this look as it worked better for my tank)
There have been some scale issues with the kit, but nothing major. It really helps to have a small table saw for cutting plastic parts.
For example, there is a slight error with front angles bulkhead position. I correct it somewhat, but you would be hard pressed to fing the fault. Also, I had to lower the height of the citadel by 3mm all around (after shortening it by about 10mm~or so). When you chage the height of the angled structure, it also chages the width, so two pieces of thick palstic are added to the sides so the overhang remaisn the same.
trimming off the 3mm in overall height brings the bottom of the front main gun mount closer to the hull and the hinges for the rear vents will be in a more scale location.
The citadel/side panel ratio is about .36 or so (vertical dimension..not overall width of piece..it's on an angle). this works out to about where I have it and when viewed from the side, looks identical to photo of real tank(you have to allow for real distance changes and my poor photo comparison)
Other issue is the rear lower angel plate. Once you set the rear angled bulkhead to correct thickness and placement, the 'cut out' over the fender needs to be lengthened, but then a gap develops and this is filled by thick horizontal piece. The 'cut out' height is actually a little too low, but it is based on the underlying aluminum hull side plate which is precut.
Fenders are 2mm plastice glued to hull so the whole unit lifts off as one. On top of the plastic white fender, HO scale diamond plate (plastruc..clearly not accurate HO scale, but nearly PERFECT scale for 1/16!!) I was able to copy the fender with the plastruct to nearly EACH diamond grip using Aberdeen tank pics (of course, this tank is no longer at 'aberdeeen'). Bending the diamond plate is somewhat frustrating, and don't use a flame (Shrinks it really easily). just crimping in a vise and with some flat faed pliers and then glueing wiht combo of CA and Testors liquid works out OK.
some notes about the fenders: They are actually made in 5-6 pieces per side so when I place the fender, I follow the pattern seen in the book photos and on damaged tanks (like the one in Italian piazza). some tanks have a slightly different rear fender appearance where fender remains horizontal beyond the beginning of the angle plate. I chose this look as it worked better for my tank)
