alexb
Glue slinger 
Posts: 720
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Post by alexb on Dec 23, 2021 5:58:08 GMT
It does look sharp. It's big but the low profile makes it look sleaker. Definitely looks better than a E50 and it appears the kit maker remembered to include a gunner's sight...unlike Trumpeter. Interested to see this one build-up.
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Post by Paul B on Dec 23, 2021 9:31:43 GMT
Thank you kindly for joining this pure fantasy ride down the 1946 road chaps  . I'm sure you'll find it, lets say amusing  . Marco, there are way to many of those so-called experts on this planet  . I am sure you could build an excellent rendition of any German main-stay battle tank  . Alex, good to see you hear my friend. I kind of knew you'd be up for this one  As Alex mentioned, the gunners sight was just a hole in the roof with the sliding plate (like the JagdpanzerIV or Jagdpanther has), which I have already added a sight to. You can also see just the heads of the Scissor periscope too (also molded in situ), these I shall cut out later and add a proper scissor sight. The sloping frontal armour plate, needs some work on the side interlocking sections. The weld grooves are too small, so I'll open these up and add the torch cut texture to the plate. The front join to the lower hull has no interlock at all, so these need creating. I shall add some armour plate over the engine air intakes, as seen on late Panther tanks. I'm also trying to work out where the driver sits in here? Difficult to say, because the commander is on the right, and the gunner on left. The loader will need some room too even if my version has 2-piece ammo it'll still be tight in there. More soon dudes 
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alexb
Glue slinger 
Posts: 720
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Post by alexb on Dec 24, 2021 7:16:04 GMT
Commander should be in mini-turret. Gunner should be seated in front of him. Driver should be in front of gunner. Other side is ammo storage and loader hatch. That's what I used for my E50...based on the layout of Hunting Panther and/or StuG. A driver's vision block would be simple to fabricate....but given it's a paper panzer...I'm wondering if they placed the driver on the other side to use the front periscope. As low a profile as this thing seems to have...having a driver's scope on the roof might be necessary. I think whatever you decide...nobody's going to argue with you. There is a build thread on it over on Finescale boards. I got to admit I'm really digging the side profile of this thing. Some of the issues are mentioned there...like the suspension. link
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Post by Paul B on Dec 29, 2021 18:17:07 GMT
Alex thanks for that link, it at least warned me about the running gear  . Also that huge casting block wasn't on my kit, maybe they have done make-over now. Anyhows, I'm back on the monster today. The spare PE fan covers have been added, the armour plates over the intakes also. The kit rear sloped armour plates are a tad crude with huge ejector pin holes in them, so they got binned and new ones made from sheet. Also the torch cutting on the armour has been added as has the welding. The smeared on putty is my way getting the rolled armour plate look. Also the suspension has been drilled out to accept 2mm rod for the wheels (thanks again for that link Alex). Tomorrow I'll get the inner sides of the wheels primed and then sort the whole running gear out.   
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Post by Ian H. on Dec 29, 2021 18:38:33 GMT
Looking fine, Paul, and nice modifications. Probably a lot simpler than filling huge punch-craters.
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Post by Snipersmudge on Dec 29, 2021 18:42:47 GMT
Very nice mate, like the look of this very much.
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Post by Paul B on Dec 29, 2021 19:08:27 GMT
Ian cheers mucker  . And yes it was certainly easier than filling this  :  Pete, thank you ole chap  .
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Post by Ian H. on Dec 29, 2021 19:12:58 GMT
Wow! Yeah, I would say so!
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Post by Robbo on Dec 29, 2021 19:25:48 GMT
What a cracking vehicle
I've got one of them little what-if German vehicles a few extras would make that fun.
We should have saved them for a GB
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Post by Paul B on Dec 29, 2021 19:40:38 GMT
Cheers Ian  . Maybe 2023 we could have a what if group build  , I still 3 more of these characters in the stash
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Post by Robbo on Dec 29, 2021 19:48:50 GMT
Sounds great, this is what I've got 
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Post by Paul B on Dec 29, 2021 19:58:13 GMT
That's cool, maybe we could squeeze a dual or mini group build in next year? I've got an E-10, E-50 and Panther 3 in the stash 
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Post by Robbo on Dec 29, 2021 20:00:07 GMT
Sounds like a date
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Post by Armorguy on Dec 29, 2021 20:22:02 GMT
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Post by PorcoRosso on Dec 29, 2021 20:31:23 GMT
Coming along most excellent Paul. I'd be up for a mini What-if. Maybe stretch it over 6 months.
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Post by Paul B on Dec 29, 2021 20:35:17 GMT
Ian that sounds odd  . Guy, no don't you dare  . Joe, what have you got in mind? I have just seen an Arado 555 lurking in the stash 
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Post by PorcoRosso on Dec 29, 2021 21:06:18 GMT
Joe, what have you got in mind? I have just seen an Arado 555 lurking in the stash  Paul, your Arado 555 sounds good. I've only done one What-if, and that had wings. I'd go for one again.
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Post by Eric R. on Dec 30, 2021 13:14:09 GMT
 ...That's all I got!!
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Post by Paul B on Dec 30, 2021 19:55:41 GMT
Thank you monsieur Eric  . As promised yesterday, I installed the running gear today  . The link and length tracks are real pain in the backside, even with using Revell Contacta Pro glue it was a tedious job. The tracks have a very tight fit and once the glue goes on it sets extremely fast, so it is best to work in portions.    The wheels, idlers and sprockets haven't been glued to the hull, so I might be able to take running gear off for painting. If however it seems to get tricky when removing, then I'll glue the lot in situ and paint that way.
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Post by Ian H. on Dec 30, 2021 19:59:22 GMT
Nice progress, Paul, and talk about a low profile. Bet that would have given JS-3 and M-26 crews a tough time in hypothetical land.
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