M1Carbine
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Member since: November 2012
Posts: 1,630
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by M1Carbine on Sept 9, 2023 13:06:09 GMT -5
So what do you do when you in a middle of a nasty storm, cant go to the hunting property, and almost drown getting to the LHS. Answer - Start a new project. So my first RFM kit. Yes I know, I can hear it now (Andy....say nothing) LOL So the build starts on the sides of the multi par hull. No issues here getting the drive housing, bump stops and fiddlies in place. Everything fit with no issues and cleanup although some large connection points on the sprue were a quick cleanup. Next were the fiddlies on the bottom and rear portion of the hull. Everything has very finely detailed weld marks which are to scale and look the part. After all of that then its time to mate the sides, rear, and bottom together. Again no fit issues, fine weld marks where they should be. Just take you time and cement a small section at a time to ensure proper alignment. Next its time for the suspension arms and torsions bars. These are all one piece and slide through the hull to the other side. This is a workable suspension but I have some doubts here. There is not enough tension so to speak to keep them all in the downward position. Easy enough fix. If you plan to mount this in a dio scene this will work to your advantage if the beast is resting on some ruble or ruins of some sort. A few fiddlies are left such as the tensioner assembly and ill get that squared away in a few. Once that is in place the typical sprocket, Idler and road wheel assembly begins. This kit does come with workable track links. Although I purchased the Tankraft ones. Ill have a comparison of those coming up. Thanks -Bob
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stikpusher
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Post by stikpusher on Sept 9, 2023 13:51:15 GMT -5
It sure does look like a nicely detailed kit. RFM makes some very good looking kits. This will be a great project to follow. 😏
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buddho
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Post by buddho on Sept 9, 2023 14:32:38 GMT -5
First time hearing of this manufacturer. Looks like a great start, so far, Bob.
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Post by deafpanzer on Sept 9, 2023 15:12:29 GMT -5
AWESOME! I think you will like RFM a lot... I am definitely going to watch you very closely like your parole officer. LOL
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M1Carbine
Senior Member
Member since: November 2012
Posts: 1,630
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by M1Carbine on Sept 9, 2023 16:57:28 GMT -5
Carlos - So far the detail is good. They have some different return roller options and most everything wheel and suspension arms wise have separate end caps with good bolt detail. Buddho - RFM have been around for a bit. I decided to be selective when I got some of there kits. I have the MRAP with full detail and interior and it looks well done from what I can see. Ill know more how the engineer moving forward with this RFM offering. Andy - So far, yes. I do have one peeve so far but Ill get into that a bit later. Pull up a seat brother -Bob
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M1Carbine
Senior Member
Member since: November 2012
Posts: 1,630
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by M1Carbine on Sept 10, 2023 12:37:01 GMT -5
Hi All. Well day two and we are moving along. So I had mentioned that so far the fit is great and no real issues to speak of.....except.....and this is more of a peeve than any thing else. - Adjustable tensioner? Why, there is absolutely no need to do this. This just adds a needles step as you already provided workable tracks and suspension. Second peeve but again no big issue are the large sprue connection points. Each road wheel had 4 and yes that clean up was a pain. So I'm at the track assembly step and remember that research pays off. KV-1 had two two initial types of Track a "Split Link" and normal link. I Was going to go with Tankrafts split link version. But after confirming In early 1942 the soviets did away with the split link and went to the norm. So I will use the kit tracks. These are not bad and will clean up easily. Pins included say they are for hull side and out side but there is zero difference between the two. Jig is provided in the kit. -Bob
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moparmadness
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May 11, 2023 20:39:35 GMT -5
May 11, 2023 20:39:35 GMT -5
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Post by moparmadness on Sept 10, 2023 13:49:15 GMT -5
I’ve been legitimately curious about this one. The torsion bar assembly is a cool touch.
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Post by deafpanzer on Sept 10, 2023 20:06:04 GMT -5
Sometimes it can be overengineered and it can drive me nuts! Nice details on the kit track... be warned it took me nearly four hours to do my RFM kit tracks last time but the details were great!
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M1Carbine
Senior Member
Member since: November 2012
Posts: 1,630
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by M1Carbine on Sept 11, 2023 0:30:57 GMT -5
Mopar - there was no need. I would say yes if it had an interior. Again working suspension and adjustable idler was not needed.
Andy - Brother, took about 5 hours to cut and clean. I drank after that……lol
-Bob
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ogrejohn
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Go away or I shall taunt you a second time!
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Jun 1, 2012 17:33:59 GMT -5
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Post by ogrejohn on Sept 11, 2023 5:48:07 GMT -5
Looking good! I've been thinking about getting one of these so you sure have my attention.
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M1Carbine
Senior Member
Member since: November 2012
Posts: 1,630
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by M1Carbine on Sept 12, 2023 14:08:17 GMT -5
Happy to have ya along John.
-Bob
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kaktus
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May 5, 2013 3:26:51 GMT -5
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Post by kaktus on Sept 13, 2023 0:48:04 GMT -5
Nice looking build! What color scheme are you planned?
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Post by 406 Silverado on Sept 13, 2023 4:19:16 GMT -5
Just found this Bob and it's looking great so far. That's RFM for ya on that adjustable tensioner. They've got somoe really good detail and their kits are truly amazing and all but sometimes I wonder if they were influenced by Trumpeter on their engineering in the use of excessive parts to get the job done. Those tracks look amazing but man.....TWO pins for each link??!! WOW!! That outta be fun. Looking forward to more......
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Post by chromdome35 on Sept 13, 2023 11:22:01 GMT -5
The one complaint I've repeatedly heard about RFM kits is the needless complexity, your experience seems to be this as well.
I have had my eye on several RFM kits so I'm looking forward to your build.
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M1Carbine
Senior Member
Member since: November 2012
Posts: 1,630
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by M1Carbine on Sept 13, 2023 13:39:39 GMT -5
Brian - You are correct, sometimes there is just no need for the added niceties. Its not a toy that a kid is going to play with, save us the pain.........LOL
-Bob
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M1Carbine
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Member since: November 2012
Posts: 1,630
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by M1Carbine on Sept 17, 2023 14:33:32 GMT -5
Hi all; Well lost most of the assembly photos as the SD card was bad. Build is completed and now time for some pain. Overall fit was fine. I do think way to many un-necessary fiddly bits that were not needed. Tracks went together well with no real issues. Paint next -Bob
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Post by deafpanzer on Sept 17, 2023 20:19:15 GMT -5
Looking real good especially the tracks! Now get her painted!!!
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ogrejohn
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Jun 1, 2012 17:33:59 GMT -5
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Post by ogrejohn on Sept 18, 2023 6:17:44 GMT -5
Looking fine Bob!
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M1Carbine
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Member since: November 2012
Posts: 1,630
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by M1Carbine on Sept 23, 2023 19:42:49 GMT -5
Hi All. Apologies for the delays. it has been hell week at work. Was finally able to get to the bunch last night and most of today. Vallejo 4BO is down and I did a fist pass dot filter. After that dried I hit it with another clear coat and commenced on the first pass of filth. I sealed that in with Alclad matt. This will sit overnight to cure and its off to more filth ("Eric, there's some lovely filth down here"). Tracks will get the track brown treatment tomorrow as well and I can start on the steel effect on the road wheels, Idlers and sprokets. More on the way. -Bob
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Post by rbaer on Sept 24, 2023 9:12:20 GMT -5
That looks a lot like how Trumpeter engineers their KV kits, aside from the workable idler and torsion bars. I've been curious about the RFM kit myself, almost enough to make me want to pull the one Trump KV-1 kit I have in the stash out and get going. I have a set of Friuls and some basic PE for it, and having built one a few years ago (the same variant as this kit) and enjoyed it, it's tempting. Good job on this so far, looking forward to seeing it wrapped up.
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Post by 406 Silverado on Sept 24, 2023 9:14:45 GMT -5
Hi All. Apologies for the delays. it has been hell week at work. Was finally able to get to the bunch last night and most of today. Vallejo 4BO is down and I did a fist pass dot filter. After that dried I hit it with another clear coat and commenced on the first pass of filth. I sealed that in with Alclad matt. This will sit overnight to cure and its off to more filth ("Eric, there's some lovely filth down here"). Tracks will get the track brown treatment tomorrow as well and I can start on the steel effect on the road wheels, Idlers and sprokets. More on the way. -Bob This is just intense work going on in this thread Bob. Love all the work you're putting into this in regard to paint and weather work.
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M1Carbine
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Member since: November 2012
Posts: 1,630
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by M1Carbine on Sept 24, 2023 15:10:19 GMT -5
rbaer - Thank you. I would agree 100% on the trump type engineering. I had options for the tracks but is seems RFM did a really decent job in the individual track links and pins. Very reminiscent of Modelkastens. I have the Tankcraft ones but there was not need so Ill use them on another project. Dig that puppy out and get to it Joe - Thank you brother. Still a ways to go but almost there. -Bob
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M1Carbine
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Member since: November 2012
Posts: 1,630
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by M1Carbine on Sept 24, 2023 15:15:42 GMT -5
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buddho
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Post by buddho on Sept 24, 2023 16:06:27 GMT -5
Amazing weathering on the KV1...truly a fantastic build.
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M1Carbine
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Member since: November 2012
Posts: 1,630
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by M1Carbine on Sept 24, 2023 16:49:22 GMT -5
Thank you buddho.
-Bob
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M1Carbine
Senior Member
Member since: November 2012
Posts: 1,630
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
Nov 16, 2012 2:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by M1Carbine on Sept 24, 2023 18:45:06 GMT -5
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creading
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alive & breathing
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Apr 30, 2020 15:32:21 GMT -5
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Post by creading on Sept 24, 2023 19:22:18 GMT -5
Nice build. Are those the kit decals? They are pretty cool looking.
Cheers, C.
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Post by 406 Silverado on Sept 24, 2023 20:06:32 GMT -5
Dude!! This is A LOT of progress for one day's worth right here Bob. Just screaming through the rest of this build man.
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Post by deafpanzer on Sept 24, 2023 21:05:52 GMT -5
WOW! You have made a huge progress on it just in a week! I totally love the art work of the bad guy with silly mustache being blown into pieces!
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stikpusher
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Post by stikpusher on Sept 24, 2023 21:35:24 GMT -5
Gorgeous work! I like your weathering technique here with the light multiple layers.
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