BlrwestSiR Posted September 14, 2018 Author Share Posted September 14, 2018 I've been plugging away at this over the last couple of nights. I started working on the bogies. First thing was to remove all the sprue attachment points and spray the wheels rubber black. Then I started on the bogies themselves. One thing Tasca does is make the bogies articulate. They do this using thin rubber pads that you insert. On later releases, they included a plastic spacer as an option to lock the bogies in place. Since I didn't have the spacers I made my own from strip styrene. Six sets of finished bogies: With those done, I attached them to the hull and had the primary assembly done. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 14, 2018 Author Share Posted September 14, 2018 Now the fun really begins. Tasca give you decent looking rubber band style tracks. Decent but still rubber bands. Going through the stash, I found two boxes of these: They're very realistic, working tracks that are well, a serious pain to assemble. Here's the pads and pivots. The cleat is a separate part you attach. These are the end connecters which have a separate bolt to attach to each one. So, 9 pieces per link X 83 links per side.... = Fortunately, I found a set of Fruil metal tracks in another Firefly box. Slightly less painful in that you just have to cut the pivots from steel wire . Installed on the lower hull: Now to repeat for the other side. Carl 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 That looks sweet ! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators JeroenPeters Posted September 14, 2018 Administrators Share Posted September 14, 2018 Wow! I’d go with friul too... i love the weight they add Loving this. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grunhertz Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 Go with fruil 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 8 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said: Fortunately, I found a set of Fruil metal tracks in another Firefly box. Slightly less painful in that you just have to cut the pivots from steel wire . For pain reduction while assembling, there is a solution. AK has some white metal tracks of (at least to me) unknown brand which can be bought PREASSEMLED for some extra Euros. https://ak-interactive.com/product/sherman-t54e2-cuff-design-metal-tracks-2/ I bought two sets for a Panther and a T-34 / SU 85. They look good and are great time savers. Cheers Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 16, 2018 Author Share Posted September 16, 2018 On 9/14/2018 at 5:48 AM, Maxim said: Actually I think Master Club are the best currently. They give you real pins not wire to join the tracks. M4 Sherman shown. Those look good. I like that they give you a jig as well. Might have to try a set on one of my future builds. On 9/14/2018 at 7:44 AM, DocRob said: For pain reduction while assembling, there is a solution. AK has some white metal tracks of (at least to me) unknown brand which can be bought PREASSEMLED for some extra Euros. https://ak-interactive.com/product/sherman-t54e2-cuff-design-metal-tracks-2/ I bought two sets for a Panther and a T-34 / SU 85. They look good and are great time savers. Cheers Rob Rob, I'd almost be willing to play that to not assemble them. Years ago, when I was racing 1/5 RC cars, the tires were an absolute pain to mount onto rims. I actually dislocated my thumb doing it. I asked the RV shop I dealt with how much they charged and when they said $20, mostly to cover the cost of the glue I couldn't throw my money at them fast enough! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 16, 2018 Author Share Posted September 16, 2018 Speaking of tracks, I started work on the second run. Learning some tricks from building the first set made this one go much faster and I was able to complete them in just two sessions at the work bench. Now to start adding the smaller details and settle on some markings. Carl 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grunhertz Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 Must look into a set for the Stug...... They look great 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted September 17, 2018 Share Posted September 17, 2018 CarL Good choice on the AM tracks; yikes, thevwork involvrd is insane but gorgeous. Keep ‘em comin Peter 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 3 hours ago, Peterpools said: CarL Good choice on the AM tracks; yikes, thevwork involvrd is insane but gorgeous. Keep ‘em comin Peter Thanks Peter! Yeah, they can be a bit fiddly but like you said, well worth it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 Time to show the LCM some love, I worked on finishing the upper deck. The centre needed a couple supports to stay flush sonic added these from scrap styrene. RN LCMs had a different style of boarding ladder so I filled in the holes in the rear bulkhead. I then made a new ladder from styrene rod. This was then installed onto the LCM. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 Back to the Firefly, I started work on the turret. With the turned barrel installed, the mount got a bit droopy. Once the mantlet was installed, this rectified itself thankfully. Then I started on the paintwork. I'm using AK lacquer paint for the SCC15 green. It goes on dead flat which I was surprised by. I guess I'm used to the Gunze paints being a slight semigloss to them. Carl 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harv Posted September 17, 2018 Share Posted September 17, 2018 Awesomesouce !..... Harv . . 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grunhertz Posted September 17, 2018 Share Posted September 17, 2018 Nice!!!! Love the ladder and the firefly 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted September 17, 2018 Share Posted September 17, 2018 Lovely work Carl, I like the siplicity of the basic Sherman design , magnified by the length of the barrel. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 19, 2018 Author Share Posted September 19, 2018 On 9/17/2018 at 11:53 AM, harv said: Awesomesouce !..... Harv . . Thanks Harv as always! On 9/17/2018 at 12:53 PM, Grunhertz said: Nice!!!! Love the ladder and the firefly Thanks! I'm trying more and more scratch building. It's kinda fun. On 9/17/2018 at 2:35 PM, Martinnfb said: Lovely work Carl, I like the siplicity of the basic Sherman design , magnified by the length of the barrel. Thanks Martin and I agree. Nothing like a huge gun on a Sherman. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 19, 2018 Author Share Posted September 19, 2018 Ok, the stickers are on. Now to continue adding the smaller details and then a light weathering. Carl 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grunhertz Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 Lovely 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GusMac Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 Nice, what's the plan for the tracks? Are you going to use some of the 'blackening' solutions available? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 5 hours ago, GusMac said: Nice, what's the plan for the tracks? Are you going to use some of the 'blackening' solutions available? I'm not sure yet. I'll look into those but may just give them a quick coat of paint. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 16 hours ago, GusMac said: Nice, what's the plan for the tracks? Are you going to use some of the 'blackening' solutions available? I love to blacken white metal tracks or brass pe and turned parts as a first step. the colour you achieve looks just about right for me, matte brownish black and you can control the effect with the amount of time you leave the tracks in the bath. Another plus-side is that you don't get a thick coating, so the function of the tracks will stay intact. Three things are really important in the process, The tracks have to be clean, that means fat free and CA free. Move the tracks in the bath, air bubbles will leave their unwanted signature. Use fresh chemicals, because the effect will be less in used up liquid. The chemicals you need can be bought relativey cheap as fluids for burnishing tiffany lamps by the litre. Cheers Rob 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 Thanks for the info Rob. I'll look into burnishing fluid at my local home improvement store. Carl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Carl I'm right with Harv plus 2 ..Awesomesouce Keep 'em comin Peter 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted October 2, 2018 Author Share Posted October 2, 2018 On 9/22/2018 at 8:02 PM, Peterpools said: Carl I'm right with Harv plus 2 ..Awesomesouce Keep 'em comin Peter Thanks Peter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now