belugawhaleman

Well done Rob!

Nice! Are those Friulmodel tracks?

More on the Tamiya Mk. IV........ Assembly is mostly done. Assembled the tracks today in no time ! Probably the easiest to assemble tracks out there; just "click" together and I think they look good...needing no cleanup at all. 87 links per side, but I may add another link to ease assembly. We'll see. Not sure how to paint these tracks yet. The instructions call out XF-84, Tamiya's "Dark Iron". I think I'll use Tamiya's lacquer for this.....I think it's more durable. Also on the ditching beam I used a razor saw to add some wood grain effect. We'll see how convincing that looks after painting.

Nice work Hubert !. Very nice workplace as well!

Similar to the AMX 50b wheel set up...

Might as well run it as the engineering is pretty good. The motor is tiny yet it produces a surprising amount of torque through gearing. It's also not very intrusive only a small switch on the bottom giving it away. Some parts that the instructions say to glue with rubber cement to facilitate easy removal for maintenance I will glue permanently. I will leave one of the sponsons removable for battery change and the track tensioner covers removable. I see myself running it probably for a bit and then no more after I get bored with it! Everything runs so smoothly that it would be a shame not to run it least once. Anyway, here's where I am today; finished Wheels ..54 of them. One wheel type required 30 each had 2 parts. The other wheel type required 24 each with 4 parts each, but everything Worked out well. Here's what it looks like now.

Yup, Cadex 980C. I also added a Kestrel carbon fork as the aluminum one it came with was a bit flexible! I also have a Trek 1420 from 1993.....Still use that one

Years ago I bought the first carbon frame bicycle by Giant. I think it was around '89 or 1990 or thereabouts. Still have it in the attic. I did some tours with it. Afterwards (late '90s) I did some upgrades. New Shimano 105sc group with STI shifters, and ceramic rims with titanium spokes. After these upgrades I kind of lost interest in cycling. It now sits , a museum piece, in Mom's attic, still in superb condition.

In this case I bought the masks for two kits that are still on the way from Japan ! Upon ordering these kits I immediately ordered the sets from the Brothers Sprue fearing they might not be available when the kits arrived.

Yes. The resin cures with the application of ultraviolet light...quickly. I've been playing around with it lately. I have used it to make lenses for model headlights that are not molded in clear and I'm going to see if I could use it as an adhesive for aircraft canopies. I use a small UV flashlight by Dspiae to rapidly cure the resin.

Have you tried UV light curing resin?

Looking great! I was wondering what you were going to do about the fountain water.

Today some items.... First, from Friulmodel; a set of tracks. Their ATL-151 Type 95 "HA-GO". These track links are tiny! For the equally tiny Finemolds type 95 Japanese tank to replace the vinyl kit tracks. Second; two masking sets from Eduard for the Tamiya Seiran (EDUEX 168) and The Tamiya Fi 156 Storch kit (EDUEX240). Third; from Italeri, their Autoblinda AB 41 (No. 6591). in 1/35. I also got some 12" x 12" self-adhesive vinyl sheets in matte black by ORACAL (XOO3CP9G7T). I use these along with my circle cutter to make masks when it's wheel painting time.

Despite the motor, it's a pretty nice kit. Tamiya also makes a motorized version of the Char B1 bis. I think this is a home market thing for Tamiya. I also saw a motorized version of a Sherman. These are relatively new models, not 1970's re-releases.

Yes, it's motorized. An odd choice for Tamiya. They even made it with a twin motor for a radio control version.

Now on my bench....... Tamiya's British WW I Mk. IV tank. So far a fun build, and going together quickly. Great fit, and well-engineered.

Thanks, they are much better than the supplied tracks.

T55a update....Got the Friulmodel tracks finished and on the tank.

Have the happiest of birthdays, Martin!

It looks Ok. A pretty straight forward kit. It has sprues in metallic blue, black, chrome, clear and gray metallic. Also rubber tires, metal springs, and vinyl tubing. There is also a screwdriver with tiny screws. There are two marking options for a Standard edition and the limited edition. I noticed that a helmet is included. I think this will be a quick, easy build.

Today's Items....... From Plaza Japan three items. First from Tamiya their M26 Armored Tank Recovery Vehicle (35244) in 1/35 scale. I've never seen this version. That is, without the trailer. It includes metal parts, metal chain, and rubber tires (10). Looks like an interesting kit. From Hasegawa one of their " 12 Egg Girls Collection". This one; "Sara Mayuki" ( bikini) in 1/12 scale. Probably the last of these things I'll purchase. This one striking an odd pose. Last, also from Tamiya is their Honda DAX125 Limited Edition (14142) in 1/12 scale. I remember riding the original DAX as a kid in the 1970's. I also built Tamiya's 1/6 of the original Honda DAX kit around 1981.

Was in a minor fender bender...well, really more of bumper scratch, While driving my '15 Jeep Cherokee on Thursday. Another car tried to get into my lane. Damage not bad, but will get it fixed anyway because the rest of the car is pristine. My beloved '97 Nissan 240sx will get donated this month as soon as I find what I did with the title. Bought new in November of 1997, this car has been a reliable, fun, and great car for all those years. Will be missed.

Well, got the tracks (friuls) on my JSU-152. Painted in Tamiya gunmetal for now...I'll later give a light dust or dirt wash using AK weathering pencils.....but I just wanted to see them on the tank. Also, will start the Friulmodel tracks for my T 55a. I did this one as a Polish tank.. Painted the headlights silver with a clear UV resin overcoat. The tow cables were replaced by Eureka copper cables.

I do, but I usually buy it anyway!😀 Seriously, I want to try something a little more challenging.

Looking great Rob! Hope you get the parts replaced. Twice in the last few months I was able to get replacement parts from Tamiya USA......Free of charge! Including "polycaps" and a set of decals.