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Post by rbaer on Jun 14, 2019 21:01:17 GMT -5
First thing: It was a gift, from my wife, over 15 years ago. Yup, it's old-school Academy, not hugely accurate, but looks the part, mostly. Second thing: I started it, 15 years ago, building the suspension and assembling some Friuls. I did adjust the position of the swing arms to try and hide the too-deep hull, and I also started taking off all the molded on tool locator lines, intending to use better tools. I think I shelved it after all the comparison reviews came out, it vs. the AFV Club kit, or maybe when I test fitted the upper hull. Anyway, it went back in the box, and has been working its way to the back of the bottom for a while. Well, I'm on a mission to build, or finish building, every model my wife has ever given to me, for a number of reasons. The stash box T-34 was the last one I did, and after knocking together the Meng S-35, I felt brave, so I pulled this thing out. First to do was get the hull halves mated up, and correct as close as possible the goof on the rear hull plate. It took a lot of putty, an obscene amount of putty and enough sanding to give me tennis elbow, but it's presentable. On the front, the pieces just didn't line up, so it took putty and sanding and replacing lost bolt heads. On the rear, Academy made the whole rear plate flat, when in fact it curls under on the lower outboard edges. More sanding and putty. Then I had to putty and sand all the gouges I left when I started cleaning up the hull sides and top, more sanding. It's a good thing Academy made the hull pieces thick.... After all that, I was finally able to start assembling and installing hull details. In the end, I expect it to look like a Hellcat, as long as I don't look too close. Pics so far: IMG_2311 by Russel Baer, on Flickr IMG_2310 by Russel Baer, on Flickr IMG_2309 by Russel Baer, on Flickr IMG_2308 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
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george
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Posts: 266
Feb 4, 2014 15:26:25 GMT -5
Feb 4, 2014 15:26:25 GMT -5
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Post by george on Jun 15, 2019 19:35:37 GMT -5
Way to go, rbaer! Keep working on it ).
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Post by rbaer on Jun 21, 2019 16:01:01 GMT -5
Hull is done, tools all on, fighting compartment painted and weathered. Turret: in a word, ugh. Nuff said there, interior is OOB, and in. I'll be doing some heavy weathering, maybe even covering part of it with a tarp. I used an aluminum gun tube, the Academy part was about the same size as a 90mm barrel, so an old Sherman 76mm part is in there, much nicer. Next is turret exterior stuff, with lots of stowage. I also sliced off the radio access panel on the left front hull since its shape appeared to be different than in any pic I have and did one in the white stuff. IMG_2371 by Russel Baer, on Flickr IMG_2372 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
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george
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Member since: February 2014
Posts: 266
Feb 4, 2014 15:26:25 GMT -5
Feb 4, 2014 15:26:25 GMT -5
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Post by george on Jun 21, 2019 20:15:54 GMT -5
Nice work on tools!
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joelsmith
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Member since: July 2012
There no winners in war, only survivors.
Posts: 1,404
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
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Post by joelsmith on Jun 21, 2019 22:45:22 GMT -5
I never figured you for Olive Drab. Good to have you!
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Post by rbaer on Jun 23, 2019 15:25:33 GMT -5
Thanks George, and nice pic! JS, I dally in OD now and then, it's good for the soul. So, turret basics are done, and I think I'll be stowing it up like the one in George's pic, if for no other reason than to cover up all those molded-on hooks. Plus, I like the look. IMG_2374 by Russel Baer, on Flickr IMG_2373 by Russel Baer, on Flickr Almost forgot: I'm still pondering what to do with the spare track rack on the rear of the turret bustle: make an empty one, use the kit part and cover it with stowage, or make one from scrap PE and extra Friuls. I'm leaning towards using the kit part and covering it. Cheers!
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george
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Member since: February 2014
Posts: 266
Feb 4, 2014 15:26:25 GMT -5
Feb 4, 2014 15:26:25 GMT -5
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Post by george on Jun 26, 2019 20:23:00 GMT -5
I would cover it with stowage - American tanks used to have a lot of goodies on...
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joelsmith
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Member since: July 2012
There no winners in war, only survivors.
Posts: 1,404
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
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Post by joelsmith on Jun 26, 2019 20:47:51 GMT -5
As George said, US tanks were like circus wagons!
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Post by rbaer on Jun 27, 2019 17:24:09 GMT -5
Cover it I will. Oh will I. Oh yes, it will be covered. Dang it, I'm funny.
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joelsmith
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Member since: July 2012
There no winners in war, only survivors.
Posts: 1,404
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
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Post by joelsmith on Jun 28, 2019 6:58:26 GMT -5
Funny ha ha, or, funny strange?
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Post by rbaer on Jun 28, 2019 15:02:00 GMT -5
Yes.
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joelsmith
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Member since: July 2012
There no winners in war, only survivors.
Posts: 1,404
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
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Post by joelsmith on Jun 29, 2019 19:50:48 GMT -5
OK, glad I know you!
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Post by rbaer on Jul 1, 2019 16:11:48 GMT -5
So, stowage is done, aside from tidying up some straps and adding a buckle or two. I ended up making some and scrounging the rest. The only pieces I'm not super happy with are the two pieces on top of the front/side stowage bins, but they're on there good. I may add a couple more tarps..... Straps are masking tape, easy to use. I add PE buckles trimmed to just fit over the strap, then I fold the strap, easy peasy. I made a camo net from colored gauze and used tea, held in shape with diluted white glue. IMG_2988 by Russel Baer, on Flickr IMG_2989 by Russel Baer, on Flickr IMG_2990 by Russel Baer, on Flickr IMG_2991 by Russel Baer, on Flickr OD soon!
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Post by Leon on Jul 1, 2019 16:24:09 GMT -5
Stowage looks really good Russ!
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Post by Tobi on Jul 2, 2019 6:10:56 GMT -5
Starting to look like a true Hellcat.
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Post by rbaer on Jul 2, 2019 8:17:14 GMT -5
T'anks y'all! I'm thinking some more little stuff, ammo cans, a bucket, that kind of stuff is in order.
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 2, 2019 10:06:22 GMT -5
Looks like this crew is well-stocked for the road Russ! Looking good so far, just beware the 'Verlinden Trap' when it comes to adding more stuff...listen to that little inner voice that tells you "when".
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Post by mustang1989 on Jul 2, 2019 10:56:03 GMT -5
I really like all of these additions. Can't wait to see 'em all painted up.
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Post by rbaer on Jul 2, 2019 16:22:13 GMT -5
T'anks all. The rule is: If it interferes with anything operational at all, it doesn't go on. That includes any vision device, any air intake or exhaust grate, turret traverse.... all that stuff. The pic George put up was my inspiration (blame George) but I have similar pics of Hellcats both in action and just transiting, stowed up enough to make the Clampetts look neat and tidy.
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Post by dupes on Jul 3, 2019 9:34:03 GMT -5
Cripes! That is an AWFUL lot of sanding. Better you than me, Russ!
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Post by rbaer on Jul 3, 2019 18:52:51 GMT -5
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 4, 2019 9:58:53 GMT -5
Now the detailing fun begins!
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adt70hk
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Member since: November 2015
Currently attempting to build something decent!!! ;)
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Nov 17, 2015 7:23:30 GMT -5
Nov 17, 2015 7:23:30 GMT -5
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Post by adt70hk on Jul 4, 2019 14:53:45 GMT -5
Looking very nice indeed!!
Well done.
Andrew
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george
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Member since: February 2014
Posts: 266
Feb 4, 2014 15:26:25 GMT -5
Feb 4, 2014 15:26:25 GMT -5
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Post by george on Jul 7, 2019 8:43:27 GMT -5
Looks nice! Looks like a real Hellcat.
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Post by mustang1989 on Jul 8, 2019 10:44:52 GMT -5
Looking forward to the painting process.
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Post by rbaer on Jul 8, 2019 11:35:16 GMT -5
T'anks folks. Hoping to do some more painting later today.
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Post by mustang1989 on Jul 9, 2019 13:27:12 GMT -5
T'anks folks. Hoping to do some more painting later today. Looking forward to the pictures.
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Post by rbaer on Jul 10, 2019 15:40:25 GMT -5
I got some painting done, mainly blocking in the stowage items. Shading is heavy now, but weathering will soften that up a bit. IMG_3364 by Russel Baer, on Flickr IMG_3363 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
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Post by rbaer on Jul 10, 2019 17:44:01 GMT -5
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Post by mustang1989 on Jul 11, 2019 8:23:35 GMT -5
Looks really good Russel. I've attempted a few times with the darker color shading/ wash and it works very well. Another tip that I picked up from here. Looking forward to the decals.
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