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Post by Paul B on Oct 30, 2020 20:05:58 GMT
Right then, it's time to get the lovely working suspension fixed in place . The correct ground clearance of the T-55 is 42.5cm, this works out to be 12.1mm in 1/35. But it looked a little too high to honest, so I have set the running gear at 10.5mm . To get all the wheels at the same height I used a piece of wood that just happened to have that measurement . The lower hull and running gear have been primed and painted in Lebanese green. Now this green is as dodgy to get right, as is Israeli grey . Miniart call out Vallejo colours for this, but they don't say which ratio these have . The colours are RLM70 Black Green 71.021 and Panzer Grey 71.056. I tried a straight 1/1 mix first, but this was too dark. So the next mix was 15 drops of RLM 70 and two and half drops of Panzer Grey.... I think this works . Next up will be the tracks, but I have decided against the Miniart ones . More on those next time
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Post by Armorguy on Oct 30, 2020 21:15:59 GMT
How good does that look!!!
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Post by Boots on Oct 30, 2020 22:52:05 GMT
Stonkin`
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Post by Snipersmudge on Oct 31, 2020 5:16:27 GMT
Nice mate I think you've nailed that green colour
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Post by dukemaddog on Oct 31, 2020 17:20:27 GMT
Beautifully done Paul! I like that green!
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Post by Paul B on Oct 31, 2020 18:20:06 GMT
Guy, Boots, Pete, Duke, cheers fellas . I must admit that the green has turned out better than I first thought .
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Post by Paul B on Oct 31, 2020 18:54:36 GMT
Okay chaps, as I said yesterday I have tackled the tracks today . I decided against the Miniart parts, as these have some rather annoying sprue connections that run onto the inner surface of the links . Replacements came from good ole Trumpeter . These got painted on the sprue and then added to the tank, the good thing about these is the connection points are right in the middle of the track front and rear edges . More soon dudes
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Post by Snipersmudge on Oct 31, 2020 19:39:40 GMT
Nice bit of track work mate, nice and simple but very effective and nicely detailed by the looks of them.
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Post by Paul B on Oct 31, 2020 20:02:50 GMT
Cheers Pete . These are indeed nicely detailed , even if they don't have the casting numbers molded on as the Miniart ones do . But still, I reckon these Trumpeter tracks ( kit no. 0622) are the best T-55/62 styrene tracks on the market. You just have to be careful with the glue choice, anything like TET etc... will cause them to shrink . You'll end up with the dreaded track shrinkage, which makes a subtle sag totally disappear .
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Post by PorcoRosso on Oct 31, 2020 20:22:14 GMT
Great looking tracks there Paul.
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Post by Boots on Oct 31, 2020 23:05:41 GMT
Tracks look cooool mucker..........very nice job sir
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Post by jabbly on Nov 1, 2020 6:41:26 GMT
Oh yes the good old Miniart tracks, one of the reasons my T-54 became a box queen. Why put the sprue connection point somewhere that’s hard to access.
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Post by Ian H. on Nov 4, 2020 19:13:07 GMT
Chassis and tracks shaping up nicely, Paul!
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Post by Paul B on Nov 6, 2020 19:04:54 GMT
Jase I gotta agree with you there mate, those attachment points really suck . Ian, many thanks indeed ole chap . Okay, over the last day or two I have done a tad more on here. A big problem was finding a good colour for Lebanese soil or dirt, after looking at pics on the net I came to the conclusion that the only pigments that come close, seems to be Mig 3011 Airfield dust. So a liberal application was made to the tracks, and after priming and base painting the fenders the same mix was slapped on there to. Oh yes, I also scratched the Israeli style front wings of the fenders. Now it's time to get the rest of the little bits in place and then start o the mount for the gun . More soon dudes, I'm working on the exhaust now. But only the bottom side
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Post by Boots on Nov 6, 2020 19:22:34 GMT
I don`t think anyones gonna pick fault with ya track colours mucker.......unless they`re soil anylists ,i dare say wet Lebanese soil would be darker when wet and lighter when dry just like any mud would be..........Lebanese or not!!! Looks bluuuuuurdy orsome mate
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Post by Robbo on Nov 6, 2020 19:31:44 GMT
Lovely building
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Post by PorcoRosso on Nov 6, 2020 20:21:50 GMT
The soil in the tracks looks very realistic Paul. Very nice.
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beano
Glue slinger
Posts: 966
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Post by beano on Nov 7, 2020 16:55:21 GMT
Looks muddy to me 👍
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Post by Paul B on Nov 7, 2020 17:36:43 GMT
Boots, cheers ole chap . You are probably right, but i would like the dirt to at least be a tad close to the area where this lives Ian, are you still watchin with one eye from behind the sofa ? Many thanks fella Joe, well appreciated mucker . John, that was the general idea so I'm glad you agree Might get a small update in later, I'm playing around with all the little bits I left off earlier now. Also working on the headlights, the kit ones are naturally the wrong kind
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Post by SteveM on Nov 8, 2020 8:58:17 GMT
Impressive progress with the parts monster Paul. I think the mud looks good too, you can always lighten the dried areas to give the variation you’re looking for
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