Kaczor wrote: ↑Thu Nov 09, 2023 5:52 am
Well done. Only a few bits will remain from the original model
Thanks Kaczor, true, other than the top of the fender bins and the side skirts, there is nothing on the original model that i did not change or altered significantly. As this is a late model Sho't Meteor, there was also a lot more modifications required than an early Sho't.
The construction phase is completed, i just need to do one correction.
Early in the build, i used the 1/35 DefModel Sho't mantlet canvas cover as a reference. It showed the cover version with the cutout for the coax machine gun mount. However, i determined soon afterwards that this was a mistake. As i was studying more and more pictures of the Sho't Meteor, i realized that none of them had the cutout.
- 1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 2a.png (649.68 KiB) Viewed 994 times
It seems that DefModel fell into the trap of using the Meteor powered Centurions that the IDF uses in memorials and museums. As explained on my first post, these Centurion tanks were purchased from the Netherlands for display purposes and never served in the IDF. These are not Sho't tanks. These are Dutch Centurions masquerading as Sho't tanks. The hush puppy tracks are an easy giveaway. I fell in the trap myself for not realizing it before creating the canvas.
- 1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 2b.png (415.75 KiB) Viewed 994 times
IDF Sho't Meteor (early or late) have the complete canvas on every pictures i have seen.
Notice the downward folds on top of the coax machine gun mount that need replication, and it is quite difficult to achieve. However, there is no standard pattern for every fold, leaving room for the builder to try his best shot. The idea is to achieve something that looks good, realistic or at least not too ugly…
- 1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 2c.PNG (1.78 MiB) Viewed 994 times
- 1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 2d.PNG (1.59 MiB) Viewed 994 times
Got to undo the cutout. In any cases, the cover cannot be done in one piece. Covering the machine gun mount would always have required a separate piece of canvas so this is not a major mistake requiring a redo of the whole canvas.
- 1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 3.png (710.76 KiB) Viewed 994 times
Going back to how i should have left it in September by removing the canvas retaining strips around the cutout.
- 1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 4.JPG (2.05 MiB) Viewed 994 times
A canvas section is made from the original latex glove material.
- 1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 5.JPG (2.63 MiB) Viewed 994 times
There will be a joint. But since the joint is located in a static area of the mantlet, glue and putty can be used to fix the new section in place without impacting gun elevation. The different textures could give me some issues, I’ll have to go through the phases to see and mitigate.
- 1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 6.JPG (1.22 MiB) Viewed 994 times
Here is the updated mantlet canvas cover. I managed to create some downward folds, not as good as i wanted but close enough. Once painted with a first coat of acrylics, it will be easier to see imperfections and perform additional corrections that will hide the joints. For now, this is the best i can do.
- 1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 8.JPG (1.51 MiB) Viewed 994 times
- 1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 9.JPG (1.88 MiB) Viewed 994 times
continuing on following post
