next update... turret is now complete (if I go further I risk overcrowding and not having room for some nice numbers and the texturing) - have reworked the mantlet a little to try to make it look more "moveable". External fuel tanks done and the mounting points fitted - they too will be textured (may be tomorrow). Fender brackets on so its time to look at where tools/storage can go. Have some spares for boxes but some will be scratchbuilt (oh and I guess at some point I need to look at the tracks!!!!!)



IMG_20180527_190714 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180527_190724 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180527_190743 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180527_190736 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180527_190829 by Robert Worth, on Flickr

In the morning, the engine cylinders were not ready.
Apparently, the muse has come to make them.
Very well, Bace.It's getting better.
Cheers and success.
I still wonder what to take part in. Ideas in my head a lot, but ...
I hope to have an insight soon.

Robert, with every passing day, what you're doing, I'm getting intrigued. I'm following him with interest.

Yes Kalin, it was a long Sunday.
Robert- the tank looks amazing!

Initial work on the body:




Grille and roof are separate modules and will need some trimming.
More to come next weekend,

Happy modelling!

stunning work Angel.... looking great.

new found tool of choice - Mr Surfacer 500!!! Turret & Fuel tanks "cast" (nice to see them looking "unified"). Storage started. Going to take a break and tackle the tracks - well at least remove from sprue. 189 of the things!!!!



IMG_20180528_135326 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180528_161049 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180528_161118 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180528_161129 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180528_161100 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180528_161225 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180528_161250 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180528_161438 by Robert Worth, on Flickr

True wizard(Mr.Surfacer 500), Robert-I've also used it on my build.
Your venture into plastic cutting is really paying off!

Hi gents - please see some updates on my Irish Army Rangers Ford F-350 - see if you can spot where even this build received some Mr Surfacer!

ok here we go:











As you can see, this build includes all sorts of odds and ends to build, with all sorts of materials to choose from.

And a few of it dry fit:











So it's getting there. Not quite done yet though. I've got to say, I do like how it sits - when I changed out the coil springs, I also raised the height enough to level the truck - the real thing does indeed lean forward - but, I just don't care for that look...As a general observation, the Meng base kit is very good, goes together as planned etc - and, it's huge! physically large that is.

As for this build, it probably isn't the most complicated thing I've ever scratch built, but is has presented a variety of unique challenges - like getting the thin rods into the grill guard and to look good! (parallel and level etc) and getting the gunner's ring deck in the bed to go together and to sit generally square and level! I've built more elaborate elements with rods, but this was a big headache! ideal for a campaign!

cheers
Nick

nick, thats great work - love the frame work. Noticed you have 2 (I assume) 3D printed guns. where did you get them from? I looked at one for my tank (I managed to scratch one in the end as they were fairly simple design - and I could put any inaccuracy down to "made under licence in Hungary") and nearly went for one from a website

Robert, the texture is great. The beast is really coming to life now.

Angel, you continue to amaze me.

Nick, superb work as well. Very tidy work

Excellent work Angel.

Nick-what a vehicle!
I hope you will enter another build-once you finish your Irish Army Rangers Ford-love to see your excellent scratchbuilds!

Peter-thanks, mate!
I thought you were already pedalling (up and down) in Croatia

Greg-thanks for your kind words!
Really appreciate them.

Robert, I am pretty sure Nick is sourcing his 3D printed parts via Shapeways.

thought so - thats where i had seen them - was a little expensive for something i didnt know the quality of but now I have seen Nick using them I may have to see what else they do

more small additions. Light on the front (not really happy with the "wiring") and a turret air ventilation system (made from a Crusader exhaust system I believe) - hey its a WHIF.



toying with the idea of rear fuel drums (typical soviet design) but not sure if I am getting too close to a straight copy of the T-54/55) - its just calling out for "something"



IMG_20180530_215052 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180530_215101 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180530_215126 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180530_215117 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180530_215144 by Robert Worth, on Flickr

Maybe just a different design of fuel drum?
Luggage rack?
Unditching beam, but that's just as "Made in Russia" as the fuel drums
/ Robin

I had thought of the Panther style rear stowage.... will continue to think on it. I want to work the tracks before I go any further really - if I dont have enough tracks then I will need skirts - and if I do and have spares I could perhaps have them mounted in racks on the back....

No Angel, off on Saturday night. BTW, Bulgaria is on the Bucket List, but the wife wants to do all the tours offered by this one company first... better the devil she knows

I pointed out there are a few mountains to climb in Bulgaria so she needs to do it before I'm too old (she has no problems with mountains - she races her cycle for fun here and is a strong cyclist)

Robert, have you considered a fuel tank like the Aussies did on our Centurions? Different to the usual Russian options and not too hard to whip up from scratch

Hello fellow scratch builders! You are correct, the weapons shown are from Shapeways. As this build is in 1/24 scale, military parts are harder to find than the abundance we see in 1/35. The quality is quite nice, but I will say, because of the semi transparent material, it is a bit difficult to see the fine detail or and unusual features, like the fine apparent “layers” created during the print process. There also seems to be some sort of residual film covering the part. I’ve had decent luck cleaning some of it off with acrylic paint airbrush cleaner - not perfect but ok.

Angel, yes, I hope to build a couple more projects for this campaign. I scratch built a Navy SEAL FAV just before this campaign kicked off - I should have waited, but, I had a pile of styrene and some time, so now I have a 1/25 scale FAV! I’m really not sure of what to try once the Ford is done. Ive still got some details to add then it’s off to the paint shop!

Cheers
Nick

Safe trip, Peter!Enjoy your stay on the Balkans!

Nick, I am in the same position.Will soon finish the ZIF-55.Then will try to finish some idling scratchbuilt projects.Or will start something new...

On a side note-while speaking of my idling scratchbuilt projects- I have to say, that my first scratchbuild: a Bulgarian 3-K anti aircraft gun- was inspired by the work of a brilliant Russian modeller Sergey Voicehovich.

This morning I've learned, that Sergey passed 4 days ago...
We lost a tallented master, teacher and researcher.
My condolences to all he left behind.

Hi Angel,

I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your friend - very sad news. Condolences to you and his friends and family.

It’s hard to write more about our hobby, at this point. I did though go back to work on the gun ring on this truck. I cut the weapon and it’s mount off of the deck, then reworked the ring, and built a whole new bracket and mount. There’s something I missed or didn’t get about the geometry - the gun placement was either too far forward or backward. So, I reversed the direction of the gun harness, so it now leans forward, instead of backward. This allowed me to establish a more reasonable location for the pintle location. I’ll post this another time. I also installed the antenna and rear smoke grenade launcher. It’s coming along. I still need to make some seatbelt harness brackets. These are a bit odd as they are attached to the rollbar which is in the bed. I’ll figure something out.

Nick

 on the tracks. going to do both sides to over the front & rear wheels first then see if there is enough to fill in the top on both sides. if not, i will do skirts (think I could do something rusty and unfinished if I did so may do it anyway)



IMG_20180601_222633 by Robert Worth, on Flickr

managed to get the tracks done (still my do skirts - at least mock them up to see what they look like) and spare tracks on the fender and on the rear. I need to add extra storage to the other side of the rear. Next attention is the glacis. The light is on but not overly happy, and I dont want to leave the front so "boring" (or simply add tracks) so need to have a look - one option is a patriotic slogan (have the words "Russkik Haza" or something like that to handwrite on the front)..



hope by this time next week there will be primer on it (going to do B&W shading again)



IMG_20180602_165153 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180602_165210 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180602_165205 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180602_165249 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180602_165315 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180602_165336 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180602_165259 by Robert Worth, on Flickr

Robert, I see your WHIF is nearing construction finish- well done.
A lot of cutting,trimming,sanding went into this vehicle, but I'm sure-a lot of fun also!Looking forward to your paint job.

Nick, thanks!
You know, mate- a picture is worth a thousand words
Hope you'll upload some soon.

I took a break from my ZIF-55 scratchbuild this week.
I felt like building something OOB.Well not exactly OOB, because I couldn't resist converting the initial kit.
But the build is not eligible for this Campaign.
I'll upload it to the Conversions and Scratchbuild's thread of Mike Koenig.

I'll continue with my ZIF-55 next weekend, till then
Happy modelling everyone,

Hey guys, Angel - well, you'll get a few words and a few pictures. As noted, I rebuilt the gun ring and weapon mount - and at least looks closer to being correct - and, added on rear bumper and smoke launcher, antenna, and seat belt harnesses - please take a look:









and since then, off to the paint shop - it's getting there - which means, I need to seriously think about project two....

Happy model building

Cheers
Nick

That's superb super-detailing Nick!
Look forward to see it painted,

C[]

great work Nick... I love the base pick-up so seeing it armoured it a winner....

i think the build is done... going to leave off the storage on the rear plate. Only thing I cant decide is on the skirt - anyone ? keep or leave off (of course if I do add then 1 or 2 will be missing, there will be damage - and does open up options for sheet metal so heavily rusted (perhaps I will paint them up then decide - and of course the patriotic slogan could be on them!!!)



IMG_20180605_200348 by Robert Worth, on Flickr


IMG_20180605_200358 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180605_200412 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180605_200422 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180605_200444 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180605_200436 by Robert Worth, on Flickr

Hi guys -

Robert - man, you've put a lot of work into that build! Wow -it's looking good - and yes, I'm still eager to see it painted!

I'm calling the Irish Army Rangers Ford truck done - as a reference:



Above, you can see what I based the build on. It is an older version of the F-350 - But I can live with that - and below, some post paint shop images:









and last but not least:



And there you have it - one down! I've been on sort of a 1/25, 1/24 scratch building kick through this spring - please see below - the F-350, the Navy FAV, and a "what if" Chevy truck build:



But, now I think I'll go back to 1/35....I have a few ideas in mind - one though, was inspired by Angel's Zil truck build - I have a remnant Kraz 260 tractor - and plan on adding a bed etc - I'm just starting the version with a multiple pile driver.

Unhappily, I cant read any of the site's I've found with pictures so I can't tell you what the formal name of the truck is, but I have enough to begin with...

OK --happy scratch building!

Nick