|
|
Post by wbill76 on Feb 1, 2013 15:21:09 GMT -5
No matter which way it breaks it's going to be a great game Tread! Looking forward to Sunday!  |
|
afvfan
Senior Member
Member since: December 2012
Bob
Posts: 1,772
Dec 10, 2012 17:32:38 GMT -5
Dec 10, 2012 17:32:38 GMT -5
|
Post by afvfan on Feb 1, 2013 20:11:52 GMT -5
Oh darn! Here I saw new posts on the thread and was hoping to see a bit of an update.
|
|
|
|
Post by wbill76 on Feb 1, 2013 20:55:52 GMT -5
Sorry Bob, between work, classes, and football I've not had time to get back to the poor Neubau! It's waiting patiently though as it knows it will only be a matter of time before I get to it. |
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Feb 1, 2013 22:10:59 GMT -5
Bill looking good,thats alot of wheels
|
|
|
|
Post by wbill76 on Feb 1, 2013 22:22:44 GMT -5
Thanks Leon, those wheels are a big reason why the build has stopped...can't proceed until I get the painting done and that requires a good block of time due to all the little suspension elements and wheels that have to get done. |
|
|
|
Post by wbill76 on Mar 16, 2013 18:35:54 GMT -5
Life has a way of getting in the way at times in terms of building models but for the first time in a long time I was able to get back to the bench and make some much-needed progress on this build. I had done all the major construction with the initial plan of painting everything and then adding the suspension, tracks, and fenders but I decided to go a slightly different route instead. After looking at how the fenders install, I'm going to put in the suspension and tracks and then add the fenders and do the paint work for the vehicle in two stages. The first stage involves the lower hull, so I masked off the glue-line for the fenders so they will have a clean surface to mate up with for installation. I used MM Italian Dark Brown to lay down a primer coat by airbrush.  After primer, the base coat of MM enamel Panzer Schwarzgrau was applied by airbrush. One of the little side lights came off in the process, will add that back later on when it has less of a chance of getting knocked off again. The little sponson extensions that trap the idler were held in place with blue-tack and have not yet been glued in position. Camo pattern and some post-shading on the panzer gray will be done later when the rest of the hull is painted.  At the same time as I worked on the hull, I did all of the suspension components as well including the numerous road wheels. They were primered just like the hull and I airbrushed MM enamel Gunmetal for the rubber portions. Using a draftsman's circle template, the hubs were airbrushed with the Schwarzgrau to round things out.  Next up will be the fun of putting all the suspension components together and making sure it all sits level before tackling the tracks. |
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Mar 16, 2013 18:46:28 GMT -5
Bill good to see you back at the bench.Paint looks like it's coming along nicely. |
|
bigjohn
Reviews member 
Member since: December 2011
John Hale
Posts: 3,438
Dec 21, 2011 2:17:45 GMT -5
Dec 21, 2011 2:17:45 GMT -5
|
Post by bigjohn on Mar 16, 2013 18:58:27 GMT -5
Nice to see this one making progress again Bill. Looks like lots of paint work ahead, nice start!
|
|
|
|
Post by bbd468 on Mar 16, 2013 19:15:26 GMT -5
How does it feel Brother Bill to be back at tha bench...nice huh? Now then...lets see some Magic buddy!  Gary |
|
sfcmikej
Full Member
Member since: December 2012
Peace through superior firepower.
Posts: 153
Dec 4, 2012 10:00:36 GMT -5
Dec 4, 2012 10:00:36 GMT -5
|
Post by sfcmikej on Mar 16, 2013 19:27:14 GMT -5
Bill
Good to see you back at this one. Now I need to get my Panzer IV back on track.
Mike
|
|
|
|
Post by tonylee-Rest In Peace on Mar 16, 2013 19:32:05 GMT -5
Hey Bill did you get a, no I better not ask that. Hey Bill did you feel like you just had, I better not ask that either. OH WELL heck, You got to spend some time on it and Bill i'm happy for you buddy. Tony lee |
|
|
|
Post by wbill76 on Mar 16, 2013 20:02:17 GMT -5
Hey Bill did you get a, no I better not ask that. Hey Bill did you feel like you just had, I better not ask that either. OH WELL heck, You got to spend some time on it and Bill i'm happy for you buddy. Tony lee My mind boggles at the prospect of exactly what your questions might have been Tony!  My wife commented that she hadn't heard the sound of the paint booth exhaust fans in so long she forgot what that loud sound meant! Leon, BJ, Gary, and Mike thanks for commenting, good to be back! |
|
|
|
Post by tonylee-Rest In Peace on Mar 16, 2013 20:05:19 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by 406 Silverado on Mar 16, 2013 22:15:03 GMT -5
Good to see you at the bench again Bill. Love the PG.
|
|
|
|
Post by deafpanzer on Mar 16, 2013 22:28:40 GMT -5
My gosh!!! My knee pain has vanished mysteriously. My TV remote is no longer acting up. My dish washer is not leaking anymore. God, it is great having you back buddy! |
|
|
|
Post by TRM on Mar 16, 2013 22:34:34 GMT -5
"Ahh, I love the smell of enamel in the morning.....smells like...victory"!!! Great to see you back at the bench Bill!! Looking superb as usual...enjoy!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by bullardino on Mar 17, 2013 5:13:41 GMT -5
The odd named thing is on the bench again Great progress, Bill, I'm very happy to see you working on it. I'm sure it'll turn a masterpiece |
|
reserve
Senior Member
Member since: July 2012
Si vis pacem para bellum
Posts: 2,372
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
|
Post by reserve on Mar 17, 2013 9:57:56 GMT -5
Good to see ya have time to get back at it
Lotsa little round things I see
I said that last time didn't I
Regards,
Mark
|
|
|
|
Post by wbill76 on Mar 17, 2013 10:07:58 GMT -5
Thanks Rob! T, yep, nothing like the smell of curing enamels to get you going in the morning! Luigi, the Germans deliberately chose complicated names I'm sure for propaganda purposes! I'm happy to be back working on it again. Been a long three months in the modeling wilderness. Mark, even if you did, it bears repeating! This sucker has a ton of road wheels...and all of them tiny! |
|
|
|
Post by fightnjoe on Mar 17, 2013 10:10:50 GMT -5
bill i have to admit i miss seeing your builds on a regular basis. i was hit and miss for them off of fsm. you always show the skill of a master and the patience of a teacher when you do your work.
joe
|
|
|
|
Post by wbill76 on Mar 17, 2013 18:44:42 GMT -5
bill i have to admit i miss seeing your builds on a regular basis. i was hit and miss for them off of fsm. you always show the skill of a master and the patience of a teacher when you do your work. joe Thanks joe, you're too kind! I enjoy sharing what I'm building with the gang here since that's how I learned how to do what I know and how I continue to learn as well! |
|
|
|
Post by wing_nut on Mar 18, 2013 16:05:48 GMT -5
A little birdie told me that you were gonna be back it it for s spell. Wassup with Tony? goin' off the deep end? |
|
|
|
Post by wbill76 on Mar 18, 2013 19:27:22 GMT -5
A little birdie told me that you were gonna be back it it for s spell. Wassup with Tony? goin' off the deep end? Can't be held responsible for Uncle Tony's recent madness...blame it on the weather! Nice to see you back posting again Marc. |
|
|
|
Post by tonylee-Rest In Peace on Mar 18, 2013 22:03:21 GMT -5
It's all this GREEN Marc and I sure hope the the padded walls of my cell are white. I'm family Bill, it's your duty to look after the elders.  Tony lee |
|
|
|
Post by wing_nut on Mar 18, 2013 22:25:32 GMT -5
They say green is the most relaxing color. maybe you're just a wee bit too chilled Thanks Bill... good to be back. |
|
|
|
Post by wbill76 on Mar 24, 2013 15:00:19 GMT -5
Work continued in the latest session on the lower hull and suspension. The design on this vehicle is a bit tricky and Dragon used a modular approach with a separate plate for the trucks to install to with the plate installing into the hull sponsons. The real challenge in this approach is getting all 10 wheels lined up correctly on either side by trapping them between the truck mounts. I made an attempt to leave the wheels able to rotate but found it necessary to glue them in place on their mount pins as the truck halves didn't have enough natural tension to keep them from popping out otherwise. Both sides were assembled and allowed to dry thoroughly before proceeding.  As already mentioned, the suspension on this vehicle is a complex design. After studying things for a bit, I determined the best route was to install the front idlers, tension wheels, and support plates first to ensure I had a straight alignment between them, the drive sprockets, and the return rollers that would install along the top run. The return rollers are similar to the road wheel trucks in that they trap the roller between two mount halves. The installation of the roller mounts into the sponsons must be precise as all four have to align perfectly for the track runs to come. Dragon molded a small step on either side of the sponson openings to help with the positioning and the fit tolerance here is tight. It was necessary to scrape paint with a needle file to get the right fit and the position of the outer half of the mount is the key since it has a small stop in its base to prevent it from sliding in too far on the position step. After I had installed the rollers on both sides, some light touch-up with the panzer gray used earlier tied everything together. I also took the opportunity to create the sprocket teeth wear using some MM non-buffing Metalizer Steel and dry-brushed enamel Burnt Umber since this is the last time it would be easily accessible.  The next step was to assemble the track runs and test them for fit and sag. The instructions call for 124 links per side and that worked out perfectly for the right side but the left needed 1 more link to get things in shape. Each track side consists of 4 parts of 30-35 links that can be separated for painting and weathering off the vehicle. The runs will be allowed to set up thoroughly for 24 hours before moving on to the next phase.   |
|
|
|
Post by bbd468 on Mar 24, 2013 15:13:06 GMT -5
SHAWEET!!! Great update Bill. Lookin good brotha! On the track link count, ive had 2-3 kits that i had to add one extra link to one side and im pretty sure they were all Dragon kits. Anyways, nice to see ya makin steam buddy. Gary |
|
|
|
Post by bullardino on Mar 24, 2013 15:20:38 GMT -5
What a nice progress, Bill |
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Mar 24, 2013 15:26:23 GMT -5
That is looking sweet Bill.Nice job on the tracks. |
|
|
|
Post by wbill76 on Mar 24, 2013 15:49:43 GMT -5
Luigi and Leon, thanks for the comments as usual! SHAWEET!!! Great update Bill. Lookin good brotha! On the track link count, ive had 2-3 kits that i had to add one extra link to one side and im pretty sure they were all Dragon kits. Anyways, nice to see ya makin steam buddy. Gary It's a common thing, I think it's down to the fact that there's always a little bit of play in terms of how the links fit together. This creates fractional mm differences when you start stringing 100 or so of them together! Feels good to be making steady progress on this one again! Wow!!! I know nothing about these vehicles except they're interesting as hell - looks like a complicated build but yer've done sterling work here so far and provided some invaluable info fer anyone plannin' one of these. Excellent descriptions, coupled with superb, mag-quality pictures and this is really as impressive as blogging gets - A1 sir! Right, about yer absences from the build threads...and I don't want any excuses about schoolwork and suchlike...we want a note from yer Mom next time ok? We'll let yer orfe this time but only cos yer did real good on this update! I've got a soft spot for these inter-war/early-war hybrids, have to admit! You can easily see why this ended up a dead-end...big, slow, thin-skinned, and prone to break-downs. Not exactly a sterling combination! Thanks for the 'pass' on the prolonged absences, won't happen again!
|
|
My wife commented that she hadn't heard the sound of the paint booth exhaust fans in so long she forgot what that loud sound meant! 
