Thanks Peter, the devil will be in the detail with this one, when you look at the photo there is quiet a lot going on, but thats what I love about doing this, hopefully I will get a passing resemblance to the photo.
I was just nervous as this was my first ever campaign, and first ever showing of something I've built.
Problem now is I also enlisted in the tank destroyer campaign, then like a madman, I have to get ready for my Golden Memories campaign which starts 01 Feb .. lol.

Nothing like a bit of pressure to give you focus

Err, I have joined 7 GB's here for the year, two of which I am hosting as per my sig image...

At least I have 2 at paint stage already

… no pressure

Lower hull pretty much assembled:



I'm experimenting with different ways to paint running gear and tracks, because I haven't been happy with all glued in place (difficult to paint) or paint track separately (had couple of surprises with track not fitting on wheels).

Personally this way never worked for me Pasi but I hope it suits you. A lot of guys do this quite well.

Had my share of issues with keeping it all separate too, and breakages in track runs when you try to fit them.

Good luck.

I hear you, Pasi. This is now my preferred way to do wheels and tracks - when possible! I'm so sick of lovely painted tracks *that fit perfectly* when unpainted going all !@#$%^&*() when fitted after paint!

Pasi, looks great. I use the same approach as you - having the whole track run glued together, but seperate from the hull.
Sometimes I fit everything in place, but only for heavy weathering and if the mud needs to be added uniformly to the entire lower hull and suspension/tracks.

Hi all, I'm looking for a ruling here, basically how far can I bend the campaign rules
The question revolves around these pictures:


I found them years ago and told myself I would someday put this totally practical camo scheme on one of my builds. Only problem is I can't find any info about these pics besides "Cuban parade early 2000s". No units, no other images, no direction. Since all I can discern is that they are mobile SAM batteries used by Cuba, I propose to build Trumpeter's 1/72 SAM-6 and paint it in the style of these pictures for this campaign.

I can easily understand the arguments against this move, but I wonder if enough of you want to see this camo scheme in 1/72 plastic as much as I do! As always when I try to shoehorn myself into a campaign, I will accept whatever judgment results

The idea seems interesting. I will follow her with pleasure.

Not sure if this link will work but it tells you about these missile systems.

https://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Legacy-SAM-Upgrades.html

Apparently Cuba made various hybrid systems using obsolete T54/55 chassis's with several SA systems, that one is the SA 3 I think.

Appreciate the info, John! Anyone else have input if my planned build is acceptable for this campaign?

Hi Robby.

I suggest you PM Richard S and ask him, as he is running the campaign and has the final say.

If you are unsure how to do that, just go to the first post on page 1 of the thread where he posted under the name Gulfwarrior. Under his name are 4 boxes and the third from the left is a box that says 'message' - just press that to start the private message.

Cheers.

I'm so tempted to source all the items and do the Cuban SA-2 TEL you can see in the link ... It looks massive and would be great to see.

Sorry guys. Work stuff's been getting in the way lately.

I'm gonna give the go ahead to Robby and I'd look favorably on Johnny if he chose to do an SA-2 in that Cuban paint scheme.

Thank you kindly, I hope I won't disappoint!!

It Will be great to see builds from the Cuban zoo. At least those camouflage schemes will be strikingly to see. Very cool conversions and something out of the ordinary!

Looking forward to see more

I must admit, have been a bit pre-occupied with 2 other builds I am doing at the moment, but after the next few days at work, I will crack on with the turret detailing and the hull on the Panther.

Finally got a chance to post some pictures of my build. So far so good. I've built a number of the DML PZ 3's and I love the way they go together.



Thought I'd show how I do the Magic Tracks. The road wheels, sprockets and idler wheel are all dry fit. Once the track dries everything slides off for painting. I cut up ear plugs from work to help with the track sag.

Looking good, Guy. Looks like the track sag is perfect and not overdone.

Looking forward to see more 🙂

As Jesper says, very good looking thus far ... liking the track sag, very convincing.
The running gear and hull detail in general looks very crisp so far. looking forward to seeing more.

John and Jesper,
thankyou gents. I was able to get a lot done this past weekend and hope to be able to post pictures this week. Where I get slowed down is once its time to paint.

Very nicely done Guy. The sag is great. One thing you might consider next time is the straight lengths between Drive sprocket and first road wheel, and Idler and last road wheel. These lengths should have a subtle curve as gravity draws the centre links downward when the tank is parked up. Just a little thing, but it does add to the build.

Great point Peter. From the pictures you posted it appears to vary with either the Sprocket 1st road wheel taut and idler 6th road wheel slack, or vice versa. Maybe depending on which direction they were steering when they came to a halt?

Without getting overly technical, that is the reason Guy, whether you were going forward or reverse or neutral and which steering brake had been applied in the final drive output.
If you ever get to see a wagon having a track change you can see how the sag/slack and tightness differ when each side is done and you try to get all the slack to front or rear to split the track.
You use to find a very extreme track sag on a Challenger 1 first thing in the morning. It would look like it had all been deflated and the suspension had failed. And it wouldnt get taught until the hydro gas units had warmed up/got to pressure.

Yeah, what John said

This is the best part about group builds, where you learn stuff you didn't know, or someone explains why something you know about actually occurs.

It is also why building to a photo is such a great idea. When you study a picture, you often see things you never noticed before.

Looking forward to seeing all the builds in here. Still haven't settled on what I will do, but a bit of time left yet.

Peter, and John,

I tanked for 15 years (M60A1's and M1A1's) and so like you have experienced the joys of breaking and replacing track in garden spots like Hohenfels, Germany. Best job I ever had!

The Pz III is progressing nicely.

Upper hull is done. The semi-cirlces which I suppose were to help seal the turret were in PE. Got frustrated with them so used the PE parts as templates and refashioned out of styrene.


Back deck was the standard DML assembly except for the covers on the air intakes.



turret is done



and everything dry fit. It all breaks back down for painting.