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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
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Any tips for building a Monogram M29C Weasel?
DUKWsinarow
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: October 08, 2007
KitMaker: 124 posts
Armorama: 100 posts
Posted: Friday, January 18, 2008 - 04:08 PM UTC
I recently purchased a Monogram M29C “Amphibious Weasel” kit which the (E-bay) seller claims dates from 1966.

While I have pictures of real M29C’s, and am friends with a guy who own a real M29C

http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=67242&highlight=

and can use all of these sources for help constructing the model, I must say that the actual instructions that come with the model leave much to be desired. I was wondering if any of you have ever constructed a Monogram M29C and, if you have, what useful tips and advise you might be able to offer.

Thank you in advance.
steelrudi
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Iowa, United States
Joined: July 17, 2007
KitMaker: 243 posts
Armorama: 104 posts
Posted: Friday, January 18, 2008 - 04:15 PM UTC
I have this kit as well. I am going to do some heavy mods, so it will be a French machine as used in Indochina. If you would like, I have some links I can send. Let me know.
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 02:10 AM UTC
The kit actually dates back to 1957. Someone here did a feature on how to do leaf springs, I remember that area and the road wheels are spots that need some work/updating.
samkidd
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Alaska, United States
Joined: January 06, 2006
KitMaker: 530 posts
Armorama: 450 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 02:25 AM UTC
Ray,

Would you mind sending me those links as well? I am entered in the "War in the Pacific" campaign and am doing a weasel as well. Any and all reference that I can get would be greatly appreciated as I am building the infamous Bluetank "mixed up scales/hopelessly inaccurate" 1/24 version. While the box says it is 1/35, the vehicle specs out closer to 1/24 and the figures included are around 1/48th scale. The only things salvageable in this kit are the hull and side skirts and even these will need quite a bit of work. I love this kit, it's a scratchbuilder's nightmare and dream come true all in one.

Thanks,
Jim
Large Scale Armory
AJLaFleche
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: May 05, 2002
KitMaker: 8,074 posts
Armorama: 3,293 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 03:30 AM UTC
I built that about 45 years ago, so my recollections of the build are pretty dim. Probably took 15 or 20 minutes to build, though.
steelrudi
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Iowa, United States
Joined: July 17, 2007
KitMaker: 243 posts
Armorama: 104 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 06:15 AM UTC
All the sites I will be sending require work on your part. There are pisture in various areas, and you will need to find them. some I will get for you directly. The hunt is part of the sport dont you agree?
DUKWsinarow
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: October 08, 2007
KitMaker: 124 posts
Armorama: 100 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 06:52 AM UTC
These are some of the links to the pictures and articles I’ve been using in the construction of my M29c.

If any of you happen to have additional links, or are aware of books or other material regarding the M29c’s, or the construction of the Monogram kit, please feel free to post them.

http://www.itzproductions.com/images/Shep_Paine/Weasel_1.pdf

http://www.itzproductions.com/images/Shep_Paine/Weasel_2.pdf

http://www.grandpasoldcars.com/articles_studebaker.htm

http://news.webshots.com/photo/2642641700031780957wJWwzl

French Weasels;

http://transpolair.free.fr/routes_polaires/epf/weasel.htm

http://modelscale.free.fr/photoscopes/Weasel_P/index.html

Restoration in progress;

http://www.geocities.com/militairvehicles/weasel_LKver.html
steelrudi
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Iowa, United States
Joined: July 17, 2007
KitMaker: 243 posts
Armorama: 104 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 07:15 AM UTC
http://www.m29cweasel.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=1;t=000385
http://www.angelfire.com/pro/bison/35042.html

Here are a couple of links, and I have some pic's that need fixing of French Crabs. Will post when done.
samkidd
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Alaska, United States
Joined: January 06, 2006
KitMaker: 530 posts
Armorama: 450 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 03:15 AM UTC
Thanks guys!

Thank you for sharing those sources with the rest of us. I am looking through them slowly but already I've discovered a big flaw in the kit I have that will need to be corrected. Yep, one of only three pieces in the whole kit I'd planned on keeping and it'll need surgery. Thanks again! By the way, if anyone else would like to experience the joys of the Bluetank kit I have extras!

Jim
Large Scale Armory
GeraldOwens
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Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 3,736 posts
Armorama: 3,697 posts
Posted: Monday, January 21, 2008 - 01:27 AM UTC
I enjoyed building the Weasel during Monogram's first re-release of their armor kits in 1966, and it went together in less than an hour, including painting (consider that I was nine, so that was pretty perfunctory). If you want the whole thing to meet modern standards, you're going to have to scratchbuild almost all the surface detail. The hull detail is crisp, but it is all molded in place, so for every part, you'll have to decide, sand it down and scratchbuild a replacement or just dry brush and move on. Suspension, likewise, is just a couple of parts, and nothing to suggest that there were four wheels per axle. Again, modify, replace, or just let it go--it's up to you. The sideskirts disguise much of the missing spring detail, but that would have to be added if you wanted to convert it to the basic, non-amphibious M29 Doodlebug. The rudders and the support arms are massively thick, so thin them down or replace them. Photoetch or real wire screening for the muffler cover would be a nice, eye-catching improvement. The real tracks had a wire reinforcement outboard of the wheels, which could be added from fine wire and superglue. I've thought about building one I've stashed since the re-release in the 1970's, but it would be a six week project to do it absolutely right. I guess if I ever build it, I'll just replace those details that are most likely to be noticed and let the rest slide (Shep Paine's diorama for Monogram's 1973 edition featured the Weasel surging up out of a marsh onto a muddy bank, so the kit's worst sins were covered by Plastic of Paris swamp water--very slick).
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