Here are pics of an M24 where the weld line is not forward of the ventilator

http://www.modellismopiu.net/m+gallerie/main.php?g2_itemId=611477

http://www.modellismopiu.net/m+gallerie/main.php?g2_itemId=25577

I don't see the Bronco mistake when compared to these 2 samples. The bend is clearly a welded joint for two separate roof plates.

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The bend is clearly a welded joint for two separate roof plates.

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Roy,
I don't know how tanks are fabricated so this is more a question than a challenge, but how do you know those two sections are welded together, versus bent or formed that way? I would assume by the period they were making Chaffees that not everything was created using flat steel.

Thanks,
Jim

Can someone repost the original three images in something other than "red X" format, please?

I still see the original posters pictures fine. Browser is Firefox 8.0.1 running on Windows XP.

Alan

PS: Sorry, Frenchy, still no go for me.

What Chris's pictures show is that there are variations and if building tanks has taught me anything it is that there are differences in the same vehicle make deppending on who and where it was made and when it was made. I would expect exactly the same with the Chaffee.

I didn't see the original pics just red Xs and I'm no expert on this vehicle but I've read a number of threads over the years where new kits get slated before they even reach the shelves. I've never yet seen the perfect plastic injection kit and I doubt I ever will. The Bronco kit is a vast improvement on the older Italeri kit but even that one can be done well if you take time and effort.

Personally I think there was a different agenda here, but if someone wants to take the time to research the issue fully and come up with a workable fix if one is needed then fine. Isn't fixing things up part of the fun and doesn't it keep AM producers in business?

I'll wait for the review and some well reseaerched data.

Al

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PS: Sorry, Frenchy, still no go for me.

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OK...So I've uploaded the pics to my Picasa album :

This should work now

Frenchy

To my eye, I can see a weld bead on photo 776, but I don't see one on the other example. To me it illustrates two ways of achieving the same result in production.

What Chris's pictures show is that there are variations and if building tanks has taught me anything it is that there are differences in the same vehicle make deppending on who and where it was made and when it was made. I would expect exactly the same with the Chaffee.

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To my eye, I can see a weld bead on photo 776, but I don't see one on the other example. To me it illustrates two ways of achieving the same result in production.

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and

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What Chris's pictures show is that there are variations and if building tanks has taught me anything it is that there are differences in the same vehicle make deppending on who and where it was made and when it was made. I would expect exactly the same with the Chaffee.

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All of the pictures show the same thing: The turret roof plate was asymmetrical. On the left it ended shortly behind the kink, and was welded to the TC hatch plate. On the right the turret roof plate went back uninterrupted to the loader's hatch.

Let's not create any new myths about factory variants or production types, OK?

KL

With regards to the turret ventilator, I haven't found any WW II era pics of it with the bullet splash guard welded around it. Would you happen to know if they were added as some sort of post-war MWO or rebuild? Maybe added only to MDAP vehicles?

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With regards to the turret ventilator, I haven't found any WW II era pics of it with the bullet splash guard welded around it. Would you happen to know if they were added as some sort of post-war MWO or rebuild? Maybe added only to MDAP vehicles?

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It might be, or it might have been added later in production. I haven't examined M24s at all and there is very little with regards to change documents like TBs or MWOs. (The only one I've found added handles to the driver's hatches.)

KL

Sorry KL,

But if you haven't examined the M24 at all how do you know there are not production diofferences? I'm not going down the road of half truths from 2 pictuers. Many people with much more knowledge than me insisted the British didn'nt have the M4 DV in Normandy only to be proved worng and there are many other examples form 'experts' gettiing it wrong - so please don't patronise me.

As I said I'll wait and see what proper in depth research comes to light, not jump to conclusions based on 2 pictures that I can''t see.

Cheers

Al

Well this guy [Abraham] probably works for AFV Club, but whatever.

It looks like a chaffee to me....