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Post by rbaer on May 4, 2015 10:57:51 GMT -5
Just because I can: The story: What if (don't all good yarns start that way?) instead of the French selling the Israelis more used-up Shermans when Pershings were in the pipeline, the French sold the IDf some M26s as the M46 became available? It's bit of a stretch, but go with me here...... Since the 105mm gun was already in a few M51 Shermans, it would be pretty much of a no-brainer to put it in a more suitable turret (M26) and use the left-over 90mm M26 guns in Shermans that would have been M51s. (Hmmm, next project?) Anyway, I started last night.
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Post by TRM on May 4, 2015 11:26:05 GMT -5
And as you should Russ!! LOL!! Awesome!! Count me in! I could not resits the lure of the IDF this past weekend...picked up (all Rob's fault) Trumpy's IDF Tiran 6!! Bring on the building my friend!!
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Post by wbill76 on May 4, 2015 12:55:39 GMT -5
Might as well put the parts you've got to good use!
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Post by rbaer on May 4, 2015 13:37:25 GMT -5
Todd, what can I say? The IDF bug bites deep. Ed Zachary, Bill. I think my stash of partial kits now outnumbers the virgins.
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Post by rbaer on May 5, 2015 11:44:53 GMT -5
Some work on the mantlet, and gun tube: There's nothing like a big gun to settle things up.
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Post by rbaer on May 6, 2015 11:05:09 GMT -5
You know how you usually say "I 'worked' on a model last night"? Well, this one is too much fun, I 'played' on a model last night. I didn't like all four smoke launchers on one side, so I moved two. I'm still thinking about moving them all to the front.... I also added rails to the turret, rear sides, and attached the MG mount on the counterweight. Hull and suspension went together last night, now I've got to get serious about what I'm going to do with the rear deck: Do I leave it close to "stock" or make it really obvious the Ford V8 is now a Cummins V8? For sure it'll get a really big exhaust pipe. I'm going to raid my stash of Dragon M50/51 kits for jerry cans, racks, maybe a few other bits, for sure a ventilator fan on the turret roof, but for now it's off to Mexico for a few days. See ya!
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Post by wbill76 on May 6, 2015 11:20:41 GMT -5
Have fun 'playing' at the other location Russ! Looks like another productive round at the bench.
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Post by rbaer on May 6, 2015 13:16:27 GMT -5
I'll be playin' in Playa, for sure! Thanks, Bill! Yep, a productive night last night, but I have to give credit where due: the Tamiya Pershing kit is a gem. It may not be the most detailed kit out there, but it goes together like a dream, and it's very accurate for a mid-late M26, OOB.
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Post by Leon on May 6, 2015 17:09:52 GMT -5
Off to a good start on the IDF Russ! I'll be following along.
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Post by rbaer on May 13, 2015 11:44:50 GMT -5
Thanks, Leon. Some changes: I put the smoke launchers in a more normal location, and removed the front track-holder on the left side of the turret. Now I like it. I also added two ventilators to the turret roof. More soon, I hope.
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Post by Leon on May 13, 2015 16:26:36 GMT -5
Nice work on the turret bits Russ! Looking good.
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Post by rbaer on May 13, 2015 18:22:00 GMT -5
Thanks, Boss!
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Post by dupes on May 13, 2015 19:01:57 GMT -5
That is a big frickin' gun!
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Post by deafpanzer on May 13, 2015 20:24:40 GMT -5
Great touch with those handle bars!!!
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Post by rbaer on May 14, 2015 10:20:32 GMT -5
Thank Andy. Dupes, there's just something about a big gun on a Pershing. I'm currently lining up bits to do a "production" Super that was photographed after near-destructive testing, shown with no fenders, tools, and rubber-chevron tracks. Nuthin' but gun.... So Bobo got busy last night: I cut a block-off plate for the original exhaust, added a cover and "pipe" made up from MP and Academy parts, then added a rear bin from Academy's M51 with a Tamiya travel lock. The engine intake covers are Tamiya M51 parts, left over from my M1 Super Sherman project. I've turned the pieces I used front-to-back, in order to clear the bottom of the turret bustle, and added hinges cut from some M26 pieces. Also added is a searchlight mount from either Academy or Tamiya, it's starting to get easy to lose track of tan parts and where they're coming from. Pretty sure now I have all my construction hurdles behind me, just details and bits now. Also still deciding on which tracks to use. There's a show coming up, and a couple of the normal vendors usually have some Friuls along....
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Post by Leon on May 14, 2015 16:10:14 GMT -5
Great progress Russ! Engine deck looks great.
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Post by rbaer on May 14, 2015 17:52:07 GMT -5
Thanks, Leon. This is a fun one.
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Post by rbaer on May 16, 2015 9:39:02 GMT -5
Girl's night last night.... assembly basically finished. I need to scrounge up some US-style tow cables to drape around somewhere, and build some US jerry cans as well, then think about "soft" stowage, but nless something jumps out at me, primmer soon. Oh, and decide what tracks to use, leaning towards some DS T80E1.
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Post by Leon on May 16, 2015 10:27:05 GMT -5
Great progress Russ! Looking pretty mean.
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Post by rbaer on May 16, 2015 19:40:51 GMT -5
Thanks, Leon. Been gone all day, outdoor "festivals", now it's way too humid to paint, so maybe tomorrow....
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Post by wbill76 on May 18, 2015 9:21:44 GMT -5
Thanks, Leon. Been gone all day, outdoor "festivals", now it's way too humid to paint, so maybe tomorrow.... Sounds like weather is conspiring against you Russ. Looking forward to seeing it with paint on.
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Post by rbaer on May 18, 2015 10:54:37 GMT -5
As soon as P-bucket works, I'll be back. It's all tan now..... Okay, here we go: I'm going a slightly different direction than normal here, doing all my base-coating and washes prior to adding stowage. We'll see....
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Post by TRM on May 18, 2015 11:48:46 GMT -5
Missed the start but certainly picked things up at the good part....MMMmmmm...PAINT!! Fantastic work as usual Russ!! Keep it going!
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Post by rbaer on May 18, 2015 14:02:55 GMT -5
T'anks, boss!
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Post by rbaer on May 20, 2015 11:32:59 GMT -5
Decals, from Tamiya's M51, mostly from the "Unidentified unit, 1973" scheme, seemed appropriate..... And the bane of my life, painting tires:
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Post by wbill76 on May 20, 2015 12:47:13 GMT -5
Got to love those 'unidentified unit' markings...no one can really question it!
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Post by rbaer on May 21, 2015 10:18:38 GMT -5
Yep. I brought a bag of HobbyBoss tracks with me to work today, may tackle them at lunch. I decided I want to save to DC steel chevron tracks for a Korean war-era M26. My stash is down to one complete Tamiya kit and one HB Super pilot, time to "tank up".
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Post by Leon on May 21, 2015 17:41:22 GMT -5
Paint and markings are looking good Russ! Keep it rolling.
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Post by rbaer on May 27, 2015 11:30:47 GMT -5
Thanks, Leon. Weather in Texas kept me stuck in KC an extra day, hope to get busy here shortly. There's a show this weekend that I really wanted to have this one ready for, looking doubtful now.
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Post by rbaer on May 28, 2015 10:32:21 GMT -5
Well..... I did a little bit using commercial washes (a first for me) the night before we went out of town, then got back at it last night. I picked up a couple of ModelMaster acrylic washes at HobbyTown last week, and I have to say I like them. No water marks, they flow well, thin with water and don't bead up. Nifty! Pics: After the rest of the detail painting, it's time for dust, no chipping but maybe a little scuffing around high-contact areas, and then stowage. I went ahead and assembled the HobbyBoss tracks, only took a couple of hours, primed with Krylon and painted them with MM burnt umber. I really want to use something else for tracks, but these will look the part until I can scare up some more T80s. Being ready for this weekend is doubtful, but I may make it.....
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