Dragon 1/35 Saladin Armoured Car

J

John Rixon

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OK,decided to leave resin for a while and do the Dragon kit of this Vehicle. A strangely empty box by their standards, which isn't a problem for me! Here are the sprues:


saladin 1.jpg


And the start of the Hull


saladin 2.jpg


So far so good, the fit isn't bad, but not what I'd expect for a new tool model - that is, with the last two Tamiyas I built, the hull and deck fitted totally perfectly,but this isn't too bad.just started on the suspension, which in both build logs I'm following (http://www.armorama.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=234211


  and http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235007428-dml-saladin/ is not as straightforward as it may seem, so I'm gonna be reet cautious - I'd quite like all six wheels to be touching the ground!! Some very odd positioning of sprue gates, making clean-up very tricky, and more seams than I'd have expected in a new kit. But aside from these issues, I reckon its going to look a belter :smiling3: .
 
J

John Rixon

Guest
suspension1.jpg


The wisdom seems to be don't glue yet, this is 2 hours of painstaking and delicate work!still a bit more clean up needed, but it was fun, I have to admit!
 
D

dubster72

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Glad to see you've jumped in with this one John as it's definitely on my wishlist!


I agree with what you've said about fit & seams; I've 2 fairly new Dragon kits that don't seem quite as good as somewhat older kits.
 
J

John Rixon

Guest
Yep, a bit odd really, but as I said, it's beginning to look the part, and its so nice not to have to paint up 42 wheels!!!!!
 
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Ian M

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I'm glad that you bit the bullet and got this one. So far all looks good.
 
J

John Rixon

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I'm glad that you bit the bullet and got this one. So far all looks good.

I think that if I get the suspension right, that's the tricky part! it is fiffly, but im not glueing it until all wheels are done, which means I have to be really gentle with it!
 

monica

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nice start to this one,John,dose look to have a lot of detail,whit the suspension, :D
 
J

John Rixon

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Cracking on with this - the suspension needs utmost care when assembling, dry fit, then dry fit again! It's easy to mess it up, so take care! you could spend a week cleaning up all the suspension parts, there are seams everywhere, but it's worth noting that most of it will be obscured by a wheel...


Heres what I mean by annoyingly places sprue gates...
 
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J

John Rixon

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There are quite a few of these, and they are tiny! good luck if you dont have a magnifier.


tie down.jpg


And look carefully here - these are a bugger to clean up, again, take time and use a gentle touch!


Inner wheel.jpg
 
J

John Rixon

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There is a lot of shaving material away, luckily I know woodworking techniques, which become really handy at a time like this - also an inexhaustable supply of 11A and 15 Swann Morton blades ;) . Having said all this, I really am enjoying it, makes a refreshing change to be dealing with big wheels and tyres!


couldn't resist a dry fit of the wheels!


wheeled up.jpg


Am thinking it'd be nice to paint this bad-boy up in desert colours - so much more scope for weathering than dark green. I have two images, any ideas where thay may have served Patrick?


old Sally 2.JPG


old Sally.JPG
 
D

dubster72

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That looks kinda cool without the fenders - like an armoured beach buggy!


I remember reading that they served in Dhofar from reading a book about the SAS. Also they were in Vietnam with Australian forces - think of all that red dust! :smiling3:
 
J

John Rixon

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Flying through this (realitively speaking, for a Dragon kit!) loads of minute parts, but carpet has eaten nowt so far...


toyed with getting some after market for it, then bottled it, I'm gonna do this OOB.


IMG_3933.JPGIMG_3934.JPG


This could stimulate a whole series of wheeled vehicles for me, no tracks, no tiny wheels, oh yes! (clear signs that I ought to move on from tanks...)
 
J

John Rixon

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That looks kinda cool without the fenders - like an armoured beach buggy!


I remember reading that they served in Dhofar from reading a book about the SAS. Also they were in Vietnam with Australian forces - think of all that red dust! :smiling3:

This would be a beast to drive on the beach!!! Vietnam eh? I'm gonna have to de a bit more digging, or just paint it green ;)
 

monica

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this is real looking good John,do like it,a lot, :D


as you where saying about the spur points on the wheels,been finding that a lot with the,Dragon kits,


I have some with up to 4 per wheel,and big fat ones,as well, :S
 
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