Minicraft 1/48 T-34

[jeaton01]

This is my current project, along with a Hasegawa 1/72 B-47E which is a longer term project.  It's a nice kit, you will see in the seat photos that molded in belts and my brush painting skills are a poor match, I will probably grind them off and use PE.  The model is a dedicated tail sitter with little room for nose weight, and it needs a full ounce according to the instructions.  However, much of the nose is taken up by the nose gear well.  My approach was to press clay into the void areas and make a mold with silicone mold making material.  Lead was heated with a propane torch and poured in to the mold, and after a little file work it fit and also filled just about the entire open areas and ended up weighing 1.2 ounces.  I hope the main gear can handle the weight!  I also made instrument panel decals using a photo from a T-34 flight manual I've had around for about 40 years.  Here's the photos of where the project is now.

[jeaton01]

[Tojo72]

Good work John,funny I looked at your heading and I was thinking a 1/48 Russian tank,you had my attention since I never heard of Minicraft making one !!! 🤔

[jeaton01]

Nah, here's my Bandai/HobbyBoss 1/48 T-34/76:

[Tobi]

Mar 10, 2023 19:49:17 GMT -5 Tojo72 said:

Good work John,funny I looked at your heading and I was thinking a 1/48 Russian tank,you had my attention since I never heard of Minicraft making one !!! 🤔

Same here! 

[Tobi]

Interesting method to make a snug fitting counter balance.

[Steve Zuleski]

Ya, me too, lol. Great work so far.

[mustang1989]

Great job on the IP decals John!! Yup.....this one's gonna be a two-bucket popcorn watch here!!!

[jeaton01]

Ah, you tracklayers!

Got the wings and tail on. I think Minicraft overshot by .2 ounces on the needed nose weight, it is not likely to ever rest on its tail. Great fitting kit, having a good time.

[Leon]

Coming along nicely John!

[mustang1989]

Looks like it's going together well John. It also appears that there is little to no seam line to deal with on this one.

[jeaton01]

Not too much, but there is some work needed on the bottom aft fuselage, the wing join is well aft. Very nice fitting kit.

[handiabled]

John that's a great looking office!

[jeaton01]

More progress on the T-34.  Areas that were irregular or with radii were made with a Cameo vinyl cutter, it was easier to do the other areas with masking tape.

[plasticjunkie]

Looking super fine!

[jeaton01]

Thanks, Brent and Joe, and Leon too.

[ogrejohn]

Very nice!

[jeaton01]

Thanks, you Ogre!

Considerable more progress over the last week.   I often use a gloss blue under natural metal finishes, on the theory that on a nice day what you are actually seeing is a reflection of the blue sky.  On this one after sanding with 2500 I followed that with a rub down with SNJ aluminum powder, which certainly showed where I needed to do more work, and also since it is dry naturally the process can be rapidly repeated until everything is fine, or rather what is usually my case, my limited patience is exhausted.  Whatever.  Sue me.. Then the minimum coat of Alclad II ALC 101 aluminum was applied as there was already a base coat of the SNJ powder, and Tamiya flat black for the anti-glare panels.  I used Caracal decals which were very good to work with, and the Microscale decal solutions.

[mustang1989]

That's a very good job on the Alclad John. I've never done it but do decals apply alright over the Alclad with no paint marring? I seem to remember reading that Alclad is sensitive to the decaling process.

[jeaton01]

Thanks, Joe.  I've never had an issue, and yes the decals like it fine. I think the key with Alclad II is very dry coats, if you get it on too wet it doesn't work well.