Scratchbuilder
SMF Supporter
Waiting for a couple of bases to dry after adding the ground texture, had a look through the stash and came out with this.
![20240524_110931_HDR.jpg 20240524_110931_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377723-950825f4e58ccc9fca725918e67f4b68.jpg)
But I had forgotten that I had done some earlier work to change it into a Mk.12....
![20240524_114458_HDR.jpg 20240524_114458_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377724-e1eec5f9e6a48a8824845680ec7fa5a6.jpg)
![20240524_114509_HDR.jpg 20240524_114509_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377725-3333d6908af2d29025d54132042d232c.jpg)
![20240524_114517_HDR.jpg 20240524_114517_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377726-09b992b03579cfe894ab9325a6d3ef17.jpg)
I had started off with just the mantlet, then added the front top of the turret and realised that the turret now had to be re-shaped... So set to work with filer and two part putty before getting the basic shape with a knife and finally sanding to shape. Then a final coat of filler (Tamiya) and a sand down got me where I wanted to be.
![20240524_111037_HDR.jpg 20240524_111037_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377727-0d5c5c4df3b37536f87db3447db4832c.jpg)
These are the products obtained for the conversion. The turret roof (SMM) was obtained just in case I totaly messed up the turret, so is now spare. The 'Pagoda' engine louvres are a resin part from Scorpion Miniature Models, Firestorm have provided the wheel 'rubber' tyres as I am too lazy at the moment to get out the casting resin and produce my own... And the tracks are the AFV Club workable Centurion tracks (180 per side)....
![20240524_111045_HDR.jpg 20240524_111045_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377728-399bddfa3c8acb50a34c86336225080b.jpg)
Would not be a build without the etch, so it will be new bins, plus odds and sods, the Bazooka plates will possibly not be used as there are a lot of tie downs to add, but we shall see...
![20240524_115447_HDR.jpg 20240524_115447_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377729-27c004eabff36064d3188a5ea157ed29.jpg)
Here is the reference material in paper format, plus of course the interweb will provide other information. (notice the tie downs....)
![20240524_114148_HDR.jpg 20240524_114148_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377730-e195cf4dfe662e88c4739f435c3b9201.jpg)
First job today was to cut off the rear, ready for the new rear end of the engine bay....
![20240524_114206_HDR.jpg 20240524_114206_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377731-47e1711d55470eb6eff137475c94b270.jpg)
And here it is test fitted, again from SMM, it will not be glued in place untill I am ready to start fitting the engine louvres....
![20240524_114125_HDR.jpg 20240524_114125_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377732-f05950a450f3fbc41a8d0ac7e962ddd7.jpg)
The glacis plate has a new strengthened plate added over it, and I did not forget to remove the awfull injection pins from the underside....
![20240524_114116_HDR.jpg 20240524_114116_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377733-bfe82301b4553ef3abcf1e6fa4800e2e.jpg)
Try taking them off when fitting the tracks....
![20240524_114315_HDR.jpg 20240524_114315_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377734-c96ca853d54ee164237148b9b00eec3d.jpg)
The deck plate has a 3mm piece removed from the rear and the fuel filler caps removed and sanded away, also the 7 bolt holes are filled as they are not required...
![20240524_151514_HDR.jpg 20240524_151514_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377735-043591f86e4a8894a2ec98ec122fc00a.jpg)
And that is where I am at end of play for today, as you can see there is a metal barrel in place - I do have a resin one, but at the moment I am not too happy with it as there are a couple of air holes with one at the muzzle end of the barrel, so I could end up making my own....
More later
Cheers
Mike
![20240524_110931_HDR.jpg 20240524_110931_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377723-950825f4e58ccc9fca725918e67f4b68.jpg)
But I had forgotten that I had done some earlier work to change it into a Mk.12....
![20240524_114458_HDR.jpg 20240524_114458_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377724-e1eec5f9e6a48a8824845680ec7fa5a6.jpg)
![20240524_114509_HDR.jpg 20240524_114509_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377725-3333d6908af2d29025d54132042d232c.jpg)
![20240524_114517_HDR.jpg 20240524_114517_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377726-09b992b03579cfe894ab9325a6d3ef17.jpg)
I had started off with just the mantlet, then added the front top of the turret and realised that the turret now had to be re-shaped... So set to work with filer and two part putty before getting the basic shape with a knife and finally sanding to shape. Then a final coat of filler (Tamiya) and a sand down got me where I wanted to be.
![20240524_111037_HDR.jpg 20240524_111037_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377727-0d5c5c4df3b37536f87db3447db4832c.jpg)
These are the products obtained for the conversion. The turret roof (SMM) was obtained just in case I totaly messed up the turret, so is now spare. The 'Pagoda' engine louvres are a resin part from Scorpion Miniature Models, Firestorm have provided the wheel 'rubber' tyres as I am too lazy at the moment to get out the casting resin and produce my own... And the tracks are the AFV Club workable Centurion tracks (180 per side)....
![20240524_111045_HDR.jpg 20240524_111045_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377728-399bddfa3c8acb50a34c86336225080b.jpg)
Would not be a build without the etch, so it will be new bins, plus odds and sods, the Bazooka plates will possibly not be used as there are a lot of tie downs to add, but we shall see...
![20240524_115447_HDR.jpg 20240524_115447_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377729-27c004eabff36064d3188a5ea157ed29.jpg)
Here is the reference material in paper format, plus of course the interweb will provide other information. (notice the tie downs....)
![20240524_114148_HDR.jpg 20240524_114148_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377730-e195cf4dfe662e88c4739f435c3b9201.jpg)
First job today was to cut off the rear, ready for the new rear end of the engine bay....
![20240524_114206_HDR.jpg 20240524_114206_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377731-47e1711d55470eb6eff137475c94b270.jpg)
And here it is test fitted, again from SMM, it will not be glued in place untill I am ready to start fitting the engine louvres....
![20240524_114125_HDR.jpg 20240524_114125_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377732-f05950a450f3fbc41a8d0ac7e962ddd7.jpg)
The glacis plate has a new strengthened plate added over it, and I did not forget to remove the awfull injection pins from the underside....
![20240524_114116_HDR.jpg 20240524_114116_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377733-bfe82301b4553ef3abcf1e6fa4800e2e.jpg)
Try taking them off when fitting the tracks....
![20240524_114315_HDR.jpg 20240524_114315_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377734-c96ca853d54ee164237148b9b00eec3d.jpg)
The deck plate has a 3mm piece removed from the rear and the fuel filler caps removed and sanded away, also the 7 bolt holes are filled as they are not required...
![20240524_151514_HDR.jpg 20240524_151514_HDR.jpg](https://www.scale-models.co.uk/data/attachments/377/377735-043591f86e4a8894a2ec98ec122fc00a.jpg)
And that is where I am at end of play for today, as you can see there is a metal barrel in place - I do have a resin one, but at the moment I am not too happy with it as there are a couple of air holes with one at the muzzle end of the barrel, so I could end up making my own....
More later
Cheers
Mike