Thanks for the comments Yaman and John. I'm glad you like it
Yaman, I will write a more comprehensive tweaks list later after the build is complete. The Azimut conversion is really nice but still needs some work to get a more accurate model and fix some fitting issues.

Olivier

Bison- Thats a great looking AMX ! The camo is top notch, and excited to see the build continue

Jeff

Here are a couple updated photos.





The cab isn't glued together to facilitate painting the interior. The doors and bed are being left unglued until the painting stage is over. Also working on figuring out what to load it up with.

The suspension was a REAL challenge. Very flimsy feel to it compounded with convoluted DML instructions. 1st time using Magic Tracks and 1st time masking a window. Really out of my comfort zone but hoping it turns out well.

Amazing work so far by everyone involved.

Cheers

Jeff

Almost ready for primer and paint! I just have a few more details to add such as the jib crane and the tow bars.









Bison great build on your AMX! Mat i really like your Ward LaFrance Wrecker, I have wanted to do one since Accurate Armour released it.

Jeff I really like your build! I think a great payload would be a mayback tiger or panther engine on blocks or disassembled.

PS: for masking clear plastic parts its best to put down as little paint as possible and if you do get any seepage under the tape you can use a wooden toothpick to clean it up, with care the wood should leave no marks on the clear plastic.

Jeff and Irvin - you guys are doing great ! Olivier - awesome result !!

trying to catch up now --

primer on the trailer



decided to try AK Interactive US desert camo colour --



well it looks grey/green to my eyes? It does not look at all correct.

So the scheme is - 3- colour camo for the tractor, a sand camo trailer and a grey container - sort of hotch potch.



Im going to correct that colour using some filters and other paints.





Mark

Mark,

Great paint job! My Sherman is ready for paint.

Irvin
your Sherman looks really great. I'm a pure noob concerning the WWII stuff. Was your ARV a field modified tank or something built in a factory ?

Oliver:

I know for sure it’s not a field modification; this was a standard issue to all armor divisions using Shermans. An ARV version of the Cromwell very similar was also produced. Each regiment had a few with the arm of service marking of 51 52 or 53 on a red square 51 being the most senior of the regiments. At division level for armor, the royal engineers operated a few, those having a 99 on a red yellow and blue square. England modified many different Shermans for beach assaults used in Normandy and mine clearing. The Beach Armored Recovery Vehicle or BARV is very unusual and a model I hope to do some day. It was water tight almost like a boat so it could go deep into the serf and recover tanks by pushing them with the large bumper attached to the front.

This is a Mk I later in the war a Mk II was produced with better protection for the crew and a large earth spade at the rear, I would think they were made from damaged tanks sent back to England for remanufacture since this model of Sherman the M4A4 production stopped in September of 1943. Almost all of the M4A4s went to England; the US Army used them for training in the US for some time but not for combat in Europe. The reason being the engine was a nightmare for maintenance. It was five automobile engines around a central shaft; this meaning that there were five of any part pumps etc. to replace any meant removing the entire engine. When they were worn out from use the tanks were remanufactured and sent to England. England was so badly in need of tanks they were willing to take them.

I hope this answered your question, sorry but you got me started!

i have to say i really like your AMX30D, i know some about French tanks from WWII but very little of post war and modern armor. Your conversion is an Azimut kit, Did you have much clean up on the resin?

Irvin

wow..another modified Sherman!! Excellent work. I haven't much experience w/ WWII armor..but this might get me to try one!

Looking forward to further updates

Thanks for the answer Irvin. It's always interesting to learn something so don't worry about the long answer ;-)

To answer your question I would say the cleaning of the resin parts was not that tedious. Honestly I have already dealt with worse kits. There was very few flash, some molding lines and a couple of pouring lugs that required some attention. As usual with resin parts, the few warped ones were plunged into hot water to straighten them.

Olivier

Jeff,

Thanks! The new Tasca Shermans are so accurate i recommend them highly. Im planing to mount it on a base with at least one figure.

Irvin

Oliver,

The resin castings look so good i'v never had such luck with any of the azimut kits i have. I stopped getting their kits, yours is so good I'm going to look into azimut again. we have so few sources here.

Irvin

Irvin,
originally this conversion was developed by MR Models of Germany and was handed over to Azimut after a long wait period for some reason I totally ignore. MR Models also had a mine-clearing AMX30 in their range.
My guess is the German company developed the master and probably the molds for the main parts and Azimut just completed the remaining parts.
I bought my conversion set quickly after the release by Azimut so this may explain why the casting is pretty good. The molds were not yet damaged.

Olivier

Irvin - your making we want to build a Sherman ARV ! It really looks awesome. I do like engineering and recovery stuff !!

Im feeling more confident now - the trailer is painted in a more realistic colour a mix of tamiya sand and tan. I also applied a wash and decals are on the container.





detailing the details.





Quite a lot of weathering to do. Also the cargo chains and binders.

cheers
Mark

Mark,

Thanks for the comments! I like to build unusual subjects, I'v had this kit for a real long time I think i got it in the late 90's. The weathering and paint chipping looks great. What colors do you use for the weathered metal?

Irvin

I'm making very slow progress on the painting. The Friul tracks are set in place. It just misses some tiny details. I'll start the weathering during the week-end.









Olivier

Olivier and Mark couple of great looking builds there guys, looking forward to seeing them both finished even though I dont build modern stuff

Hi Sal - big thanks - i build all sorts of subjects - but this big rig was a must have ! A lot of fun

Olivier - awesome work - it really looks cool. Very tempted to do something similar now.

Irvin - thanks, I use lifecolour rust base colour as a starter and sponge some other rusty metal shades. I think I have SBS somewhere - I will try to find it.

cheers
Mark

I'm going to try using a sponge. It looks great, lots of little parts! Keep up the great work.

Irvin

Oliver,

Your AMX is looking fantastic, those Fruli tracks look great.

Irvin

Nice to have a peek at the DML RSO, especially the tracks. I have built and have a few of the Italeri kits and their tracks ... well, they're not good.

I see Friuls are the ticket for my AMX30. Again, the kits tracks are awful.

Nice work so far guys! And, 1790 parts? What a monster of a kit and where to put it after it's finished?









~ Jeff