AFV Club Valentine MkI 04/03/14 FINALLY FINISHED!!

[wbill76]

Looking good with the shoes on Pete.

[bullardino]

Great looking tracks, Pete

[Teabone]

Sniper

I think Andy might have something there, after the first mud puddle they will never pass inspection, got too darken them up a bit or find where Andy keeps his Duwk we never get to see again.

Bones

[Deleted]

Thanks guys the main construction is now complete and very nice it looks too. As said previously the tracks are very tight against the mud guards and I would recommend leaving off the return rollers if you are going to use after market tracks.













all that's needed now is to make some tarps for stowage.

[deafpanzer]

LOVE your work on PE especially on the rear of turret. Impressive!

[bullardino]

I agree, the antenna mount looks gorgeous

Can't wait to see some paint on it

[Deleted]

Great progress there Pete!

[Deleted]

Cheers guys, that rear antenna mounting was VERY time consuming being made up of multiple PE parts. The spring was scratched from brass wire as it's missing in the kit.

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

I just came straight to the last page and almost had a stroke Pete.
I saw those white links and thought you had scratch built those things.

What a relief
Tony lee

[wbill76]

Nov 5, 2013 15:51:50 GMT -5 @dickyf said:

Superb work Pete - details look great on this one fella, excellent build, now let's get slinging some colour

Ditto! (saves on typing)!

[Teabone]

WildBill and Nemo got it right I have to go with a DITTO too.



Bones

[Smudge]

Oct 27, 2013 10:18:12 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

COUNT ME IN!!! Couldn't figure out how they came up with the design to hold the MG at the top... hopefully your build will help me understand.

Thats the Lakeman Mount. The principle was a balance of arms and springs, like an office desk lamp, the idea being to reduce the weight of the weapon when used against aircraft...apparently it was pretty unpopular

Check here theres some decent drawings that'll show how it worked www.o5m6.de/bren_gun_lakeman.html

The new TMD (ex Tiger Model Designs) sell one www.newtmd.com/Lakeman-AA-MG-Mount-w-MG-Assy-TAM

Smudge

[Smudge]

Great job Smudge

I do like a Valentine or two

You doing this in its UK scheme? I have plenty of photos if it helps?

Smudge
(the other one...obviously )

[bbd468]

Pete, i think you have me sold on gettin one of these kits. I think its a killer lookin little tank and seems a fine kit as well. Great build my friend!

[deafpanzer]

WOW! Thank you Smudge! Always learning something here...

[Deleted]

Nov 6, 2013 11:02:46 GMT -5 Smudge said:

Great job Smudge

I do like a Valentine or two

You doing this in its UK scheme? I have plenty of photos if it helps?

Smudge
(the other one...obviously )

Cheers guys glad you like it, Gary it is a cracking kit go for it! Smudge yes indeed it will be in a UK scheme, any pictures would be very helpful as I have not found that many on the web.

[robbo]

Nice work all round mister, will you be leaving them tracks on for painting or will you be removing them?

[Deleted]

Hey,Pete....just trying to play a bit of 'catch up',and with you AND Tim Stevens doing Vallys,it'll be interesting to see the contrast between the builds.You using AM tracks,and Tim using the bandies(I think?)
Good to see you're recovering well mate!..Keep it that way,eh?

Great looking build so far mate!

[Tim Stevens]

Pete,

Every day's a school day as they say. Having not researched the subject I didn't know about the spring on the aerial mount so will have to rectify that. Along with a few other issues that I can see on my build of the mount. But having had it apart several times to get what I had I am sure that won't be a problem

As Cee Bee said, will be interesting to see the final outcome on each of these. I have got the indy tracks but opted to stay with the kit option to give more flexibility to portray the working suspension.

So in to the spray booth for both, but mine will lag a little behind me thinks.

Tim

[Smudge]

Hi Smudge

Here’s a few on exercise in the UK and Northern Ireland. I have more if you want me to post them?

To be fair some are probably MkIII although my preference is for the three man turreted Valentines.

Still they may give you inspiration. Let me know if you want more ?









If you want locations, units and dates point me to the pic you like and I’ll do my best mate

Smudge
(not you the other one )

[Deleted]

Cheers Smudge great pictures, like the first one with the crew wearing the very early style helmet very interesting. If you have more please do put em up!

[Leon]

Pete,the Vally is coming along nicely mate.Looking forward to seeing some paint.

[Smudge]

Hi Pete

That photo’s dated 20 Dec 1941 no unit. I have no idea what the formation sign is any thoughts? The crew are wearing the padded crash helmet. The 1936 padded crash helmet, or "Crash Helmet, RTR" was modernised in 1939 and later simplified to become the "Crash Helmet, RAC (1941)", an austerity version based on mining helmets of the time. If you wanted to scratch those I have pics. They’re also wearing early long strap holsters.

Here’s a few more for you; I like the one with the landing craft in Scotland, 1941. Note the ones with white crosses are 'playing' OpFor.

I’ll post more later










Smudge

[Smudge]

Pete

Here’s a few more












I like the one with The Home Guard attacking OpFor Valentines with sticky bombs, and the Polish Vally almost taking off. The factory shot with the old men…the average age at that factory was 71 wow. Kids and families in the background/forground are always nice so we don't forget the Homefront.

These are all UK photos. Hope they’re useful?


Still have a loads left LOL but might leave it there UNLESS you want MORE

Smudge

[martyncrowther.]

Excellent work Smudge, I really fancy building one now!

Martyn

[Deleted]

Cheers Smudge some real gems there mate thanks for putting em up. I like the one with the little girl next to the exhaust, bet she wouldn't be standing there if the tank was running!

[Deleted]

Nov 8, 2013 6:08:02 GMT -5 Smudge said:

Hi Pete

That photo’s dated 20 Dec 1941 no unit. I have no idea what the formation sign is any thoughts? The crew are wearing the padded crash helmet. The 1936 padded crash helmet, or "Crash Helmet, RTR" was modernised in 1939 and later simplified to become the "Crash Helmet, RAC (1941)", an austerity version based on mining helmets of the time. If you wanted to scratch those I have pics. They’re also wearing early long strap holsters.

Here’s a few more for you; I like the one with the landing craft in Scotland, 1941. Note the ones with white crosses are 'playing' OpFor.

I’ll post more later










Smudge

Looks like the same Loch where Nemos Sundodger sank a Post Office Van!!!!! .....

[Smudge]

Nov 8, 2013 16:39:28 GMT -5 @snipersmudge said:

Cheers Smudge some real gems there mate thanks for putting em up. I like the one with the little girl next to the exhaust, bet she wouldn't be standing there if the tank was running!

Thats five year old Pat Brooker chatting to Trooper Bill Blackett, the driver of the Valentine of 29th Armoured Brigade, 11th AD at Rottingdean in Sussex, 25 June 1942.

The wonders of research, and yes she wouldn't be standing there with the engine running LOL

Smudge

[Deleted]

Well I've had a bit of a disaster with the valentine, I sprayed the model but was not happy with the colours so decided to strip it back and start again. SO using my usual method of mr muscle oven cleaner it got a liberal coating and was left for a few hours. On cleaning the paint off I found that the mr muscle had eaten away at the flipping barrel!!

Never had this happen before so am scratching my head as to why it happened. Bit of a bugger really so I'm on the hunt for a new barrel and this is in the pile of doom until I do!

[bullardino]

Ohhh... That's strange. Oven cleaner shouldn't affect either plastic and metal, so there's no reason why the barrel had to be eaten.