Anyone interested in this one ?

I'll try to make this a quick build.

The Track that I'm using is Trumpeters After-market E100 Track, it doesn't come with the kit. The kit track is too stiff.




That's all for now.
Donald

I have some more done.


When installing the rear plate, beshure the end of the sponson floor touches the rear plate. If not the upper hull will not fit right, I test fitted it.

There are some pieces used to thicken the lower hull on the front and back. The seams will need a lot of filling as they don't fit really good.

Here we have the wheels , the edges will need a lot of clean-up but they fit together well.



I'll be pre-painting all of this before installing the wheels.

Finished for now.
Donald

The lower hull and wheels are painted & installed.



I'll be using Trumpeters E100 track.


That's all for now, I have a lot of track parts to clean up.
Donald




As a side note cut the small square off on the idler shafts this will allow you to adjust the track tension.

Hi Donald, I for one will be following this build as I love all the versions of the E100.

I completed the trumpy E100 super heavy tank a while ago, and it underwent some extra add ons, and the PE set for certain bits and an IR set for Comd's cupola. on the whole, I thought it was a great kit and went together really well.

As they are what if's I will soon be doing a different 3 tone cam paint finish, probably 2 greens and a nato black .... possibly lol. Hope you dont mind but i will 2 pics of where i am with mine so you can see.




keep up the great work with yours and look forward to more soon.

John

Nice, REally Really Nice.

Donald

I have Trumpeters Track assembled and ready for paint.

I hope my explanation on how I did it is understandable.

First I separated the Sprues into sections based upon the parts.

Next I removed and cleaned the parts placing them in small bins.

Pic. 17 through 22 gives a general assembly procedure.

Actually you will need 52 shoes for each track run.

That was a test run I actually built in 4 sections of 10 and one of 12 for a total of 52 main shoes.

It's easier if you install the end parts to the main shoes before starting assembly.


Apply glue sparingly to the horn/ shoe contact area through the holes in main shoe.

Repeat repeat and so on.

The Sprocket teeth are too thick and need to be thinned on the inside surfaces or the track will not fit.

The Sprocket teeth engage the track on the same shoe that has the guide horns.


The tracks are a little delicate so it's easier to join them in a loop.


Next to paint and install them.
Finished for now.
Donald

That looked like a long labour of love do those links Donald, but they do look superb now you have them finished, mine came with the one piece ones and although not as detailed in the track guide areas as yours are, once they get a good weathering they will be ok. I did try a dry fit on mine, but didnt get them on all the way as they are super tight. I think if I do another E100 with those tracks I will leave the rear idler axle and secure that last to get an easier fit with the track.
Looking forward to your next instalment. Are you using any aftermarket ?

Hi John.
The kit didn't come with these tracks, They are after market from trumpeter.
The band track is very stiff and doesn't fit quite right.
If you do use the band track becarefull you don't snap off the idler wheels, they are very fragile.
I would recommend getting the Trumpeter E100 track.
They are relatively cheap say $15 to $20.
The hardest part of using them is the clean up.
The assembly as I have shown here is really straight forward.

Regards
Donald

Ps as for the after-market question, I have the Aber metal gun barrel, and it is huge.
Hey 170mm in 1/35th. scale

PPPs I just checked , Hobby Easy has them on clearance sale right now for $10.95 now that's cheap
time checked 6.33Am. eastern time 4/7/2020

Yeah, those band tracks are super tight and that was just trying the dry fit, so as you said about the idler, I saw it was struggling with the pressure so I eased off.

I have a work round for it though, I am going to remove the guide horns just before the fit in that idler wheel area, and fingers crossed the tracks will just slide on then and the actual wheel will hide the lack of guide horns.

That after market barrel on yours sounds a real beast, I wonder if its going to front heavy ? counterweights just in case ?

Nah, I'll just glue the trunions in place. I don't play with them.

The Track is painted and installed.



If you didn't glue the idler shafts you can now adjust the track for the correct tension.

Now to start the upper hull.
Finished for a while.
Donald

very nice, a great target for my t29!

Haha, bring it on Mark. I think with my 128mm and Donald's 170mm and both in good hull down positions we would be out shooting you by a good 500 to 1000m ......

He won't be even able to look at mine, after I paint it hot pink with lime green and purple poky dotz
Donald

Upper Hull installed .


Kit gun test fitted, I think it looks a little too thick ?

The Aber gun is longer and skinnier than the kit gun.




I really don't know which is right, but hey it's only a paper panzer.

Finished for now.
donald

I dare you to do that paint job Donald .... That would put any gunner off lol.

As to the barrels, I agree with you that the kit one does look thick, and on a personal level, I prefer the Aber barrel, looks more refined and better detailed.
It looks a big old beast with the hull on... Can't wait for more.

This trumpy is now on my tick wish list


Just for your info Donald, my side skirts on the super heavy weren't a perfect fit, they took a bit of hidden slicing and dicing to fit, but yours may be ok. I won't be fitting all mine anyway.

Just a quick note, I've found a easy way to mount the side skirts.
I'm taking Pics. now and will post them tomorrow.

Regards.
Donald

Here's a easy way to mount the side skirts.

Drill holes in the sides of the hull the same size as the center holes in the mounts on the side skirts.

Insert Plastic rod or wire the same size as the holes into the mounts on the side skirts letting them protrude about 1/4"

Test fit.

An easy fix Yes ?
finish for now
Donald