Vandra working on a M7 Priest conversion kit

[lmcq11]

Noticed this update on their website.

http://vandramodel.hu/wp/in-progress/

[wibblywobbly]

They have some nice looking kits on there, especially the PAK 40 and crew. Will have to bookmark them.

[43rdRecceReg]

One of the (many) benefits of being on a forum such as this, is that members pool their knowledge, ideas and...as in this instance...interesting internet links. Clearly, 'Vandra' is no slouch when it comes to scratch adaptation of existing standard models into something more exotic.
Thanks for the link, Louis.

[Afrikakorps]

Having just about finished his M3 Lee, all but the turret rotation, and now currently working on his M10 (only just started last week), I ambling forward to seeing his progress on the M7. It looks like it will be quite an interesting kit for the collection.
Cheers
AK

[lmcq11]

I've built their M3, M10 and Firefly. All having flaws but they were fun to build and to improve. I can already see that the front hatch of the M-7 is a bit too wide and to the left. I hope they will take their time to do a good job, maybe ask for feedback before launching. And also provide ammo and some figures for the interior. I am not aware of a M-101 howitzer in 1/16 scale so this gun could easily turn into a T-19 motor carriage conversion using a Torro halftrack, or stand alone model with carriage on a WW2, Korea or Vietnam firebase.

[Afrikakorps]

Hi Imcq11,
I saw your M3 in the "show off" section of the forum, and was very impressed.
I havn't seen your M10 or Firefly. Any chance of showing your M10 ?
Cheers
AK

[AlwynTurner]

Hi, Warren Hudson (woz) did m7 parts and they are on Shape ways, if anyone is planning a scratch build.

viewtopic.php?f=145&t=20824&p=188265&hi ... m7#p188265

The parts are brilliant. I think the total cost for the upper hull and gun works out at about £280 and it is incredibly detailed and accurate. I scratchbuilt mine and it was a hell of a job
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=14394&hilit=priest

Alwyn

[lmcq11]

Hi Afrikakorps,

The M-10 was difficult to improve but it was an interesting kit. The angle of the rear hull is wrong and needs to be redone for accuracy and so that you can position the rear lamps properly too. Front angle is wrong too but left it like that. The turret is way too high but I managed to reduce it by 1/4 inch in height by trimming material at the top and bottom before gluing it to its rotation base. Also need to rework the turret rear weight for the right angles and fit. Even then, the turret is still to high and seems to be missing something in length. If I had to redo it, I think I would create a new turret and reuse some of the resin material. As the turret is very weak, the very thin resin panels are holding on with superglue, I only gave the turret a rotation and focussed instead on giving the interior some accuracy. A little hit on the turret by something hard and the whole turret will auto destroy, likely like the real tank... The gun breech and interior accessories have to be redone because they did not look like the references, I re-used many of the provided parts with alterations and plastic cards/tubes/metal. The model is just to drive around, carefully.

As for the Firefly, it's an easier conversion. I only extended the lower hull like many guys do, and corrected some basic stuff like the rear bin shape. The angle of the loaders hatch is wrong but I left it like that.

[Afrikakorps]

Very nice work Imcq11
Your finish and attention to detail is superb !
As with many of your tanks, these are too good to use as anything other than drive around tanks.
A job well done.

[lmcq11]

Hi,

Got an email from Attila that their M-7 is ready. See links below for new pics.

http://vandramodel.hu/wp/m7-priest/

At first sight, this is a basic kit with main components and gun. The interior, especially the driver's compartment, will require additional details. Not sure why they did not create ammo tubes to put in the bins instead of loose ammo, which look weird but I am no ammo expert. Hinges for the side armor panels are oversized but it should not be complicated to reduce or replace them by real ones in order to lower the panels. Shapeways has many parts that can be used on this kit, including gun sight, ammo, early suspension conversion and wheels. I wish I had seen these before building the M-3 Lee.

Interesting for sure.