Members Mikester Posted June 9, 2019 Members Share Posted June 9, 2019 That really looks good! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 10, 2019 Author Share Posted June 10, 2019 18 hours ago, DocRob said: Your Zim is looking great, I like it more than the pre formed stuff from Attac and the Eduard PE, it looks more 'applied' Cheers Rob Thanks Rob! I'm happy with the hand made look too. The Atak sheet looked too perfectly square from what I saw. Same with the Dragon kit that has the zimmerit pre-moulded onto the hull. 13 hours ago, Mikester said: That really looks good! Thanks Mike! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 10, 2019 Author Share Posted June 10, 2019 I've pretty much finished applying all the zimmerit now. I got the front done today With the grid cut into it. A 3/4 view to see how it ties together. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 10, 2019 Author Share Posted June 10, 2019 Next up was the rear hatch and some more work on the engine deck. Hopefully I'll get that all done tomorrow and can get onto some painting soon. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 13, 2019 Author Share Posted June 13, 2019 Well, I haven't finished the smaller details yet but I am getting closer. The PE grills are done along with the various hooks on the engine deck. I've also started on the main gun breech. So I'm still plugging away at it. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted June 13, 2019 Share Posted June 13, 2019 Looking good Carl, how are you finding Meng? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 13, 2019 Author Share Posted June 13, 2019 3 hours ago, Bomber_County said: Looking good Carl, how are you finding Meng? Thanks Phil! I'm enjoying it so far. Everything seems to be going together nicely without any issues. Carl 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 13, 2019 Author Share Posted June 13, 2019 I finished off most of the hull details and got some paint on. There's a couple spots where the zimmerit is a bit thick but overall I'm happy with the way it's turning out. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share Posted June 15, 2019 Ok now the fun part. If you think cutting, trimming and gluing 550ish tiny pieces together to make some tracks is fun. The Meng track links are each three parts and each link has three attachment points. Then there's two teeth per link that need to be trimmed and glued on. Thankfully there's no ejector pin marks on them but you still need to do 87 links per side. I thought I was going to be clever and use some Dragon tracks I found in the stash. They're from a Panther kit that ended up as landfill. No sprue clean up needed and pretty much ready to assemble. I even had the links that are made to go around the drive sprocket. Then upon closer inspection I noticed they're different than the ones in the kit. So back to square one. Or do I order some AM tracks and put this on hold for a bit? 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 Only three parts per link, that's a simple track by Meng's standards. I built their T-90 and if I remember it right there were five to six parts needed per link, depending if you wanted to use rubber pads or not. I used them nevertheless, though I also had some Friuls. The plastic ones by Meng were better looking and functioning then the white metal stuff. One evening sweetened by a bottle of wine and the job is done . If you leave your path of leaving models clean, you can spare some time with spilling dust or mud. C'mon it's armor . Is such a predator supposed to be totally clean? Cheers Rob 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share Posted June 15, 2019 Thanks Rob. I know, three parts isn't that bad. Modelkasten tracks for the Sherman are 8-10 pieces per link. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share Posted June 15, 2019 So here's what the Meng tracks look like. A pile of the track horns and links. After taking about a minute per link and getting through a dozen, I went for Plan C. I pulled out my Rye Field Models Panther G kit and swiped the tracks from it. They're also individual link but have fewer sprue attachment points. The teeth are also moulded integrally with the links. The fun part is they use pins to hold together so they work after assembly. There's different pins for the inside and outside edges of the tracks even. There's a jig included to help put them together. What also helps is the pins are moulded so that they plug right into the links five at a time so they go together much quicker. A quick snip to remove the sprue and done! Now to finish the rest of them. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazzaS Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 Some great progress! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Buddee Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 Looks great Carl! I used the Ryefield Models track links on my AFV late Tiger 1. The same as yours, three parts per link, five if you include each track pin. 96 links per side and it took me way longer than a single evening to do both sides but it was so worth the effort. They articulate just like the real thing with a natural drape over the road wheels and drive sprocket. It looks like the box top illustrated camouflage pattern for your model is very similar to the one I used as well. Lots of fun with the airbrush! Cheers, Wolf 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 And this is the reason why my almost finished T-90 is sitting in the closet ready for further examination 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 16, 2019 Author Share Posted June 16, 2019 8 hours ago, GazzaS said: Some great progress! Thanks Gaz! 5 hours ago, Martinnfb said: And this is the reason why my almost finished T-90 is sitting in the closet ready for further examination I hear you Martin. I've got a Leopard and M24 in the same situation. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 16, 2019 Author Share Posted June 16, 2019 7 hours ago, Wolf Buddee said: Looks great Carl! I used the Ryefield Models track links on my AFV late Tiger 1. The same as yours, three parts per link, five if you include each track pin. 96 links per side and it took me way longer than a single evening to do both sides but it was so worth the effort. They articulate just like the real thing with a natural drape over the road wheels and drive sprocket. It looks like the box top illustrated camouflage pattern for your model is very similar to the one I used as well. Lots of fun with the airbrush! Cheers, Wolf Thanks Wolf! Great looking Tiger too. So very clean. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 16, 2019 Author Share Posted June 16, 2019 And..... ........She's done! Just kidding. Well, the tracks are done anyways. I threw on Fellowship of the Rings while I was at my bench and had them done by the time the movie was over. Then I couldn't resist fitting them, the roof and gun to see what it'll look like. Carl 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikester Posted June 16, 2019 Members Share Posted June 16, 2019 That's really looking good, Carl! 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 Carl, just catching up, stunning as ever. I’d heard about Meng’s approach to tracks, looks fairly straight forward. Is the beast ready for the booth and weathering?.... 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackster Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 She's a big beast, thats for sure. Looking very good! Cheers Kev 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 16, 2019 Author Share Posted June 16, 2019 6 hours ago, Mikester said: That's really looking good, Carl! Thanks Mike! 4 hours ago, Bomber_County said: Carl, just catching up, stunning as ever. I’d heard about Meng’s approach to tracks, looks fairly straight forward. Is the beast ready for the booth and weathering?.... Thanks Phil! The Meng tracks aren't that fussy. I just found I could get the Rye Field ones together easier and quicker. I did end up using them for the spare track links that are stored on the hull. 4 hours ago, Jackster said: She's a big beast, thats for sure. Looking very good! Cheers Kev Thanks Kev! She is big, especially compared to a Sherman. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted June 16, 2019 Author Share Posted June 16, 2019 I promised my son he could try airbrushing so after his session at the bench I got to work on the camo I used AK Real Colors for the green and brown. Once that dries, it'll be time for stickers and then a bit of weathering. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazzaS Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 Nice! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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