_GOTOBOTTOM
Campaigns
Where Armorama group builds can be discussed, organized, and updates posted.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Richard S.
Only SHERMAN TANKS Build
terrybarrett
Visit this Community
North Carolina, United States
Joined: November 20, 2010
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 180 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2013 - 04:30 AM UTC
Thanks Joel! Trust me, I struggle! Feels like I spend half my model time on all fours scouring the floor for some microscopic piece!

A good p/e tool is essential. Here's the one I use:
http://thesmallshop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=9/
Dragon164
#226
Visit this Community
British Columbia, Canada
Joined: February 20, 2012
KitMaker: 1,909 posts
Armorama: 1,066 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2013 - 09:21 AM UTC
Pedro,
The turret ring fits both high and low bustle turrets, it's included because the kit needs two commanders cupolas there are also a bunch of extra HVSS sprockets and idlers.

Cheers Rob.
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
Visit this Community
New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
Armorama: 1,143 posts
Posted: Friday, March 22, 2013 - 03:56 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks Joel! Trust me, I struggle! Feels like I spend half my model time on all fours scouring the floor for some microscopic piece!

A good p/e tool is essential. Here's the one I use:
http://thesmallshop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=9/


Thanks Terry, I've put off buying one, and it's become evident to me that I really need one. Will be ordering it over the weekend as there are some other tools I need as well.

Still, your PE work is 1st rate. You seem to have the perfect personality to spend hours working with PE. I get frustrated quickly, even at my age.

Joel
SHAKY962
Visit this Community
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Joined: May 21, 2012
KitMaker: 765 posts
Armorama: 438 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 23, 2013 - 02:13 AM UTC
Wll, finally I finish.....


Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
Visit this Community
New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
Armorama: 1,143 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 23, 2013 - 05:03 AM UTC
Jose, nicely done. I like that used but not abused look.

Joel
SHAKY962
Visit this Community
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Joined: May 21, 2012
KitMaker: 765 posts
Armorama: 438 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 23, 2013 - 05:25 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Jose, nicely done. I like that used but not abused look.

Joel

Thanks for your coment Joel
1721Lancers
Visit this Community
England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: March 21, 2012
KitMaker: 1,673 posts
Armorama: 1,640 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 23, 2013 - 05:31 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Wll, finally I finish.....




Nice one Jose, I like the camo looks like something I should try. That also reminds that I should get my build into the Gallery before I totally forget it and it´s too late


Paul
SHAKY962
Visit this Community
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Joined: May 21, 2012
KitMaker: 765 posts
Armorama: 438 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 23, 2013 - 05:46 AM UTC
Thanks for remember me that Paul.... I forget!!!!!
MichaelSatin
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
AEROSCALE
Visit this Community
Colorado, United States
Joined: January 19, 2008
KitMaker: 3,909 posts
Armorama: 510 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 23, 2013 - 11:12 AM UTC
So, it's Saturday and I'm sitting at my modeling bench (which I fondly refer to as "chaos") busily sticking bits to other bits when I take a break and have a look at what I'm actually building. What the heck is this thing? It has way too many wheels and no wings at all. So I look around for the boxes I'm taking parts from and lo and behold:



It's the Tamiya M1 Super Sherman with Tasca running gear! The Tasca stuff is a VAST improvement on the Tamiya kit.

Here's where I suddenly find myself:




(the upper hull is just sitting on the lower to check everything is fitting so far)

Seriously, the way you armor guys slam these things together then paint them so fantastically is beyond this poor old wingy thingy builder's experience. Still, I'm giving it a shot!

I found the reference I was looking for on the color. In his first volume of Lion and Lioness of the Line Robert Manasherob refers to the color of the earliest M50s as French OD, which was somewhat more brown than US. Since the Israelis got the M1s from France at about the same time, I figured they would be the same color. I'm using XF-62 mixed with some brown, a color I mixed up per instruction from the Wingnut Wings S.E.5a kit for PC-10. Waste not want not!

I expect I will be asking for some weathering ideas before long, but based on what I've seen here so far I'm sure I'll get some great advice!

Michael
1721Lancers
Visit this Community
England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: March 21, 2012
KitMaker: 1,673 posts
Armorama: 1,640 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 23, 2013 - 08:03 PM UTC
Hi Michael,
you obviously missed the link I added for you the first time you asked about paint:
http://idfmodelling.free.fr/article01.html

But still looking good, not bad for a Wingy thingy builder


Paul
kruppw
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: March 17, 2006
KitMaker: 1,117 posts
Armorama: 1,115 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 24, 2013 - 11:14 AM UTC
Here is just a small update on my build. Finished with the oil fading and dust streaking. I’ve also started to weather the spare tracks. More to follow soon.



Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
Visit this Community
New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
Armorama: 1,143 posts
Posted: Monday, March 25, 2013 - 07:30 AM UTC
Chris, looking real good. When are you going to add the drive sprockets and tracks? I've found that adding the tracks after basic paint, makes weathering go just a little easier as everything is weathered as a single entity.

Joel
kruppw
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: March 17, 2006
KitMaker: 1,117 posts
Armorama: 1,115 posts
Posted: Monday, March 25, 2013 - 10:48 AM UTC
Thanks Joel for the comments I'm actually almost finished with the build. The tracks and some minor touch ups are the last thing I need to do now. Hoping to have it all wrapped up tomorrow.
Charlie-66
#186
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: May 24, 2006
KitMaker: 771 posts
Armorama: 750 posts
Posted: Monday, March 25, 2013 - 03:32 PM UTC
Made some progress on Honky Tonk that I'm pretty excited about. I've always had issues with the DS tracks. Even when cut the right length they want to keep their oval shape and end up pulling up the #1 and/or #6 roadwheel. They also tend to float above the return rollers as well.


I recently saw a gizmo from a company called Hobbytrax reviewed here on Armorama, and bought the one for early VVS Shermans. So once I took out two track blocks I put the track onto the Hobbytrax jig, using my hobby knife handle as the handle for the jig.


Following the instructions that came with the jig, I submerged the track and jig into some very hot water for a few seconds, removed it from the water, and pressed the track around the curves of the jig. Then ran it under some cold water and removed.


The DS track held the shape and was completely undamaged! I put it on Honky Tonk and the roadwheels stay flat. The track is a perfect fit. Maybe a small thing to others, but I'm lovin it!
Charlie-66
#186
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: May 24, 2006
KitMaker: 771 posts
Armorama: 750 posts
Posted: Monday, March 25, 2013 - 04:11 PM UTC
Jose, nice build! I really like the cammo on that one. Buen trabajo!
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
Visit this Community
New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
Armorama: 1,143 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 01:12 AM UTC
Interesting way to handle tracks. I've always found that on USA WW11 armor, the tracks are pretty tight, but I still glue them to the wheels and the return rollers. I was under the assumption that if the wheels on the 1st and last bogies were slightly forced up from the angle of the tracks, that it also occurred that way in real life.

Joel
Charlie-66
#186
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: May 24, 2006
KitMaker: 771 posts
Armorama: 750 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 02:16 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Interesting way to handle tracks. I've always found that on USA WW11 armor, the tracks are pretty tight, but I still glue them to the wheels and the return rollers. I was under the assumption that if the wheels on the 1st and last bogies were slightly forced up from the angle of the tracks, that it also occurred that way in real life.

Joel


Joel, it doesn't work that way. All the roadwheels stay flat on the ground unless they break a torsion bar (more modern vehicles) or the terrain causes them to move.
PantherF
Visit this Community
Indiana, United States
Joined: June 10, 2005
KitMaker: 6,188 posts
Armorama: 5,960 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 03:27 AM UTC
Nice work on handling those DS tracks!










~ Jeff
SHAKY962
Visit this Community
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Joined: May 21, 2012
KitMaker: 765 posts
Armorama: 438 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 03:45 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Jose, nice build! I really like the cammo on that one. Buen trabajo!


Thanks for your comment Guy de Young!!!
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
Visit this Community
New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
Armorama: 1,143 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 03:54 AM UTC
Guy, thanks for the info. As an armor neophyte, I'm always learning new things here.

Joel
Charlie-66
#186
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: May 24, 2006
KitMaker: 771 posts
Armorama: 750 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 04:20 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Guy, thanks for the info. As an armor neophyte, I'm always learning new things here.

Joel


joel, no worries. I served on tanks for 11 years and I'm still learning from others here on the site!
Shermania
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: January 30, 2013
KitMaker: 537 posts
Armorama: 531 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 05:12 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Made some progress on Honky Tonk that I'm pretty excited about. I've always had issues with the DS tracks. Even when cut the right length they want to keep their oval shape and end up pulling up the #1 and/or #6 roadwheel. They also tend to float above the return rollers as well.


I recently saw a gizmo from a company called Hobbytrax reviewed here on Armorama, and bought the one for early VVS Shermans. So once I took out two track blocks I put the track onto the Hobbytrax jig, using my hobby knife handle as the handle for the jig.


Following the instructions that came with the jig, I submerged the track and jig into some very hot water for a few seconds, removed it from the water, and pressed the track around the curves of the jig. Then ran it under some cold water and removed.


The DS track held the shape and was completely undamaged! I put it on Honky Tonk and the roadwheels stay flat. The track is a perfect fit. Maybe a small thing to others, but I'm lovin it!


Guy, The tracks look amazing! Now I definitely have to get those jigs. I think they make one for HVSS too. I've been using regular cement and CA to put my rubber band tracks on, but the results are hit and miss and CA is very unforgiving. You literally have one shot to get it right and that's it.

here is an update on the M4 hybrid I've been working on. I just finished putting the T-48 DS tracks on her last night.
Shermania
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: January 30, 2013
KitMaker: 537 posts
Armorama: 531 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 05:20 AM UTC
Here are some other examples of other shermans I have in various stages of completion. All with rubber band tracks, some AFV, DS, and Tamiya. I have a couple with Tasca tracks on them but couldn't find them in my storage shed is a mess. As you can see the results are too inconsistent and I have to remember to order those jigs. will you share more on the hot/cold water process?
AFV
DS

Shermania
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: January 30, 2013
KitMaker: 537 posts
Armorama: 531 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 05:24 AM UTC
and a few more:
more DS

and Tamiya
Shermania
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: January 30, 2013
KitMaker: 537 posts
Armorama: 531 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 05:29 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Interesting way to handle tracks. I've always found that on USA WW11 armor, the tracks are pretty tight, but I still glue them to the wheels and the return rollers. I was under the assumption that if the wheels on the 1st and last bogies were slightly forced up from the angle of the tracks, that it also occurred that way in real life.

Joel


Joel, it doesn't work that way. All the roadwheels stay flat on the ground unless they break a torsion bar (more modern vehicles) or the terrain causes them to move.


Absolutely correct, I had to start glueing the bogies on firm before doing any track stuff, but sometimes that is still not good enough to keep the front and rear wheels firm as the tension from rubber band tracks will bend them back up.
 _GOTOTOP