Dragon 6807 Flamethrower

[Deleted]

For my first tank, decided to build the Dragon 6807 M4A3 HVSS PAO-CWS-H5 Flamethrower from Korean War 1951. So this will be challenging, not having built one before.

Started by building the Bogies.

Then sprayed the lower hull, bogies and wheels with Dupli Color Acrylic Flat Black. Then applied the first three shades of AK Green Modulation.


Then to cut all the wheels from trees and clean up. Started the 5 million Track Links. Man, there sure are allot of them!!

[Deleted]

Thanks Dicky! Really don't know what I'm doing, so if anyone has any tips, I'm always open to constructive criticism. Already figured out why it shows trimming off the rear lugs on the bogies to allow attachment to the lower hull. Wonder if there's an easier way to clean up all the track links?

[Deleted]

Here's what I mean by shaving off the lugs on the bogies.

Glued up all the wheels and mounted them to their positions.

Now to glue them to the hull.


Man that's fulfilling to see them all come together! Now to attack the upper hull and tracks.

[wbill76]

Neat project here Bruce, looking forward to watching this one come to life.

[Leon]

Off to a great start Bruce.Looking good from were I'm sitting.I'll be following this.

[Deleted]

This is a bit funny. Whilst gluing up the Flamethrower barrel, put too much Pro Weld down the barrel and melted it Now, have to make one out of copper and aluminum tubing.

[deafpanzer]

Funny I like the improved cooper barrel!!! Now you don't have to worry about damaging it again. Great work... count me in please?

[wbill76]

Sometimes accidents have happy endings! Copper and aluminum replacement looks good.

[TRM]

Yup, the fellas have it right...the best things sometimes started out as mistakes!! Looking good there....keep up the great work!

[Leon]

Great fix on the barrel Bruce.Making really good progress.

[joelsmith]

Be careful mounting the sprockets! If you mount them the way the instructions tell you, they will be too close to the hull, and, the guide teeth will not line up. I forget what the thickness of the spacer I used, but ask Russ Baer!, he just built a M50 Israeli Sherman and, If I recall correctly, his kit had the same problem. HTH, Joel.

[Deleted]

Now you tell me!


Already mounted them, but think I may be able to get them loose. I can see that looking at the front.They are off about a 1/16". I'm just going to have to be more patient. Already glued the outer rollers on too, which is going to make it difficult to get the tracks on and off. Luckily have another kit of this one. Hope I make all my mistakes on this one. The copper barrel does look better:)

[pt109]

Looking really nice Bruce....nice fix on the Flamethrower barrel at least you didn't have to worry about rifling.

If I recall correctly this version was used in the Pacific by the Marines?

Paul 

[Deleted]

Yes Paul, they were used at the end of WWII in the Pacific to root out Bunkers and also in Korea. Believe this is the modified version used later in the Korean War.Did they use this style Bogie in WWII? Not sure.

[Deleted]

nice choice of an interesting variant

[Deleted]

Thanks. Attached all the small handles, guards, etc., then took them out to the spray booth for base coats.

[Leon]

Mighty fine work your doing Bruce ;)Keep it coming.

[wbill76]

Looking good Bruce, making nice progress on this one.

[bullardino]

Very nice

[Deleted]

Finished up the side squirts and added 3 more shades of green. She's ready to clear out and decal. May add some Crew men to it also.

[wbill76]

Looking good with the green on Bruce, nice!

[pt109]

Looking good with some color on Bruce....

These Bogies were the HVSS version (Horizontal Volute Suspension System) there was a large horizontal volute spring which controlled the up and down movement of each wheel...to answer your earlier question.

This suspension was used late war by the M4A3E8 or "Easy Eight" for example...was also used on the M40 155 SPG.

Paul

[Deleted]

Aha! Had to go and look it up in a book.

[armorguy]

This is a spot on green paint job mate !

[deafpanzer]

Great painting job! You have me wonder where did they store the extra fuel for flame throwing... inside? Too scary...

[Deleted]

This model had twin storage tank for the flame thrower. Need to look up the plumbing for them, because the picture shows hoses along the sides. Not a good idea to me!

[Deleted]

Nice build, want more.....

Hoses and what looks like plain old galvanized water pipe too.

One of the old WWII war movies was filmed in California in the 50's. There's one of these in a sequence showing a flame thrower tank on "Iwo Jima". Closeups of the hero lying on the left side of the hull behind the turret distictly show the plumbing.

That pipe ends about a foot down the hull, making me believe it's a vent of some sort.

[deafpanzer]

And he is laying on top of it... being suicidal he is! Thanks for the great info... always learning something.

[Deleted]

Awesome! Thanks! Yesterday was Decal Day.




They were OLD and a real bear to put on. Had to resurface them with liquid decal film.

[wbill76]

Good job on the decals Bruce, almost time for the weathering fun!