reserve
Senior Member
Member since: July 2012
Si vis pacem para bellum
Posts: 2,325
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
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Post by reserve on Jul 7, 2018 18:55:50 GMT -5
OK 106 degrees yesterday, 96 today I am back down in my hole where it's a nice 65 or so. What I've been doing 007 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr I needed an M-3 with interior for the project in mind so regrettably the Takom offering was out. The Academy kit isn't too bad altho fit is pretty poor in some areas 006 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr As evidenced by the first of at least three glue and clamp stages to get the upper and lower hull together. There's also and enormous gap running along the port side sponson which is an annoyance but will fill up pretty easy with strip and putty 008 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr The M-31 looks pretty good in the box. There are assemblies that surprise me but we'll see how it goes as I'm not far from starting it. I'm not so fond of the length and link tracks but I if I recall correctly Unc Tony did one of these and did not report any difficulty Regards, Mark
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joelsmith
Full Member
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 Jul 7, 2018 21:09:43 GMT -5
Good looking so far! BTW has anyone heard from Tony lately?
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Post by Leon on Jul 8, 2018 3:47:20 GMT -5
Off to a good start Mark!
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Post by dupes on Jul 8, 2018 16:46:28 GMT -5
I'm working on the Academy Grant right now myself...I'll echo the "poor fit" sentiments! Hoping I can find a way to get the entire hull assembly together.
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 8, 2018 19:14:25 GMT -5
Off to a good start on the pair! Sounds like you've got a 'wreck' scene in the works...
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reserve
Senior Member
Member since: July 2012
Si vis pacem para bellum
Posts: 2,325
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
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Post by reserve on Jul 9, 2018 12:37:38 GMT -5
Thanks gents Dupes hang in there and don't be afraid to use LPC and clamps. It took three different stages of glue and clamp to get mine all sealed up which adds time, but it can still assemble into a decent looking model Bill not a wreck but a broken down vehicle recovery's what I have in mind Primer 001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr 002 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr The M-31 starts today. There are many holes to be drilled for locating pins in various spots and of course they are called out in metric sizes. This means the first hour or so I'll be sitting there with a calculator converting measurements like 0.8mm and such to decimal inches since I'm unwilling to purchase a metric pin drill set. Besides, it's been said that doing arithmetic calculations keeps Altzheimer's at bay Regards, Mark
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sturmbird
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Member since: June 2012
Posts: 1,406
Jun 21, 2012 13:51:45 GMT -5
Jun 21, 2012 13:51:45 GMT -5
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Post by sturmbird on Jul 9, 2018 14:32:39 GMT -5
I've got the M31 and a Takom late M3. Kinda looking around for an early M3 or even a mid M3 to do a Lend Lease tank. Are you aware that they are going to kit a cast hull M3 series? I'll be all over that one! Also kinda waiting to see if Takom comes out with some of the other M31 versions. Most differences are with the boom and winch system. Plus there's a couple turretless versions I'd like to see. gary
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 9, 2018 14:45:21 GMT -5
Now you can finally say that the math you learned in school is being applied in a real-world setting Mark! I'm with you, I don't have metric drill bits either. I just test the bit to the hole size until I find one that fits and go with it. A sharp knife point can always help open things up a smidge more when needed!
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sturmbird
Full Member
Member since: June 2012
Posts: 1,406
Jun 21, 2012 13:51:45 GMT -5
Jun 21, 2012 13:51:45 GMT -5
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Post by sturmbird on Jul 9, 2018 22:06:28 GMT -5
Now you can finally say that the math you learned in school is being applied in a real-world setting Mark! I'm with you, I don't have metric drill bits either. I just test the bit to the hole size until I find one that fits and go with it. A sharp knife point can always help open things up a smidge more when needed! honestly all you need is a number drill set. With that you've pretty much got every base covered for small holes. Not sure where my set is at the moment, but I've got it and a letter drill set as well. gary
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captfue
Full Member
Member since: October 2012
Posts: 311
Oct 1, 2012 22:25:19 GMT -5
Oct 1, 2012 22:25:19 GMT -5
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Post by captfue on Jul 9, 2018 22:54:21 GMT -5
Always like the M3s
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 10, 2018 19:44:37 GMT -5
Now you can finally say that the math you learned in school is being applied in a real-world setting Mark! I'm with you, I don't have metric drill bits either. I just test the bit to the hole size until I find one that fits and go with it. A sharp knife point can always help open things up a smidge more when needed! honestly all you need is a number drill set. With that you've pretty much got every base covered for small holes. Not sure where my set is at the moment, but I've got it and a letter drill set as well. gary That's what I use Gary...I have a # set ranging from 60-80 as well as finger drills and some larger Dremel-style drill bits. Between those, I've never had a problem finding one that fits...but it does often require some checking first!
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reserve
Senior Member
Member since: July 2012
Si vis pacem para bellum
Posts: 2,325
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
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Post by reserve on Jul 13, 2018 1:55:42 GMT -5
Thanks gents M-31 done except the boom rigging 001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr Takom gives you a braided copper cable for this, but I'm going to use nylon string as without fail paint will flake off the metal if you look at it crossways. This would be OK if it were a soft steel wire but I don't think I could get away with copper color showing thru my supposed scale steel cable. This is gonna require some fudging as the string I'm using is a bit bigger than the cable ends allow for. I got a plan... Regards, Mark
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Post by Leon on Jul 13, 2018 4:47:17 GMT -5
M-31 and M-3 look good Mark!
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 13, 2018 14:28:56 GMT -5
Coming along nicely Mark! Something I've done with string in the past (that might also work with the copper if you wanted to test it out) is to dip it in Future. Makes it stiffer and holds paint really well, it might just do the same for the copper...a kind of primer approach that would still allow the copper to remain flexible without running the risk of paint flaking off quite so easily. All theoretical ramblings in my mind of course...no idea if it would actually work.
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reserve
Senior Member
Member since: July 2012
Si vis pacem para bellum
Posts: 2,325
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
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Post by reserve on Jul 19, 2018 18:49:34 GMT -5
Thanks gents Bill by the time I read your idea I'd already done up the cable ends to accept the string thanks for the thought I put the Academy bandies on the M-31 as Takom in their wisdom gives you an articulating suspension and rigid length and link tracks duh. I got some ModelKasten M-4 workable tracks for the M-3 This is enough parts for four links 004 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr and here's how they go together 003 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr Gonna be a grind Layout idea 001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr with a blown track on the left side as long as I'm going thru the effort of indy workable links. The pinwash seems to have vanished beneath successive layers so I'll have to shiny coat it again and redo. I think I'll fade it a bit more also. Primer still tacky on the M-31 but I've noticed MM enamel primer takes awhile to cure thoroughly. Don't matter, those tracks are gonna take forever Regards, Mark
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Post by Leon on Jul 19, 2018 19:26:43 GMT -5
I like where this is heading Mark! Don't know if i would want to tackle those tracks.
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 20, 2018 9:59:57 GMT -5
You're a brave man tackling MKs as the workable option for this one Mark, but it should pay off in the end!
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reserve
Senior Member
Member since: July 2012
Si vis pacem para bellum
Posts: 2,325
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
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Post by reserve on Jul 27, 2018 1:57:55 GMT -5
Cheers gents Well after one MK track run came apart in my hands for the third time while trying to test fit the garbage bucket got fed lunch. I will model this with bandies and a partially thrown track; it'll have to do. The 31 is now in base coat with two faded OD filters, here's the duo at this time 006 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr The thrown track looks OK but I'm a bit disappointed that the MK's did not work out as a broken track would have looked better I think. Base size and partial layout 001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr Project stalled 'till ScaleHobbyist coughs up the goodies I ordered today Regards, Mark
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Post by Leon on Jul 27, 2018 4:40:49 GMT -5
Bad news on the tracks Mark! The pair and base layout look good.
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 27, 2018 12:28:42 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about the MKs falling down on the job Mark, especially after all the work you put into them. Maybe look into a set of Masterclub tracks instead? They have some new ones out that are supposed to be very user-friendly for assembly.
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Post by rbaer on Nov 15, 2018 18:57:07 GMT -5
Those have interesting possibilities....
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